Esther Gitau, Testing Technician at Emirates Safety Lab, looks at notable and accomplished scientists and engineers in fire sciences and fire safety engineering.

Fire sciences and fire safety engineering are crucial fields of study and practice, as they aim to understand fire behaviour, prevent and mitigate its negative impacts, and and ensure the safety of people and protection of property.  Over the years, many scientists and engineers have made significant contributions to these fields, bringing innovative ideas, critical thinking, and diverse perspectives.

In this article, Dubai Civil Defense’s Emirates Safety Laboratory highlights some of the notable and accomplished women working in the fire sciences and fire safety engineering fields.

Dr Susan Lamont

Dr Susan Lamont is a renowned fire safety engineer and fire scientist, Fellow of the Society of Fire Protection Engineers and Fellow of Arup, a global engineering and consulting firm where she has spent her career. 

Throughout her career, Dr Lamont has made significant contributions to the field of fire safety engineering and fire sciences, earning her recognition as one of the leading experts in these areas.  Her work has focused on delivering holistic fire safety solutions for Arup clients across a range of new and existing assets in the Middle East, Africa and further afield.

Dr Susan Lamont is a highly respected fire safety engineer and fire scientist who has conducted extensive research over 20 years into the behaviour of fires and the effects of fire on building materials and structures.  She has developed new risk assessment methods for fire spread across existing building envelopes. 

Her research has helped to inform the development of more effective fire safety strategies and has contributed to the advancement of fire sciences as a discipline. Fire safety associated with sustainable forms of construction including emerging technologies and repurposing of existing assets is a focus of her current work.

Engineer Salma Humaid Saeed AlAli

Engineer Salma Humaid Saeed AlAli is a dedicated and accomplished fire safety engineer working for Dubai Civil Defence.  Her extensive knowledge and experience in fire safety engineering and fire sciences have made her an invaluable asset to the organisation.

Eng. Salma’s work has played a critical role in ensuring that buildings and structures in Dubai are equipped with the latest fire safety systems and technologies.  She works tirelessly to ensure that her team assists “major projects” and construction across the Emirate of Dubai and satisfies the UAE Fire and Life Safety Code.

One of her significant contributions has been implementing fire safety regulations and codes in Dubai, which have helped reduce the number of fires and the severity of their consequences.  Eng Salma has worked closely with architects, contractors, and engineers to ensure that all new buildings meet the highest fire safety standards and are fitted with the latest technologies.

In addition to her professional contributions, she is also highly committed to education and training in fire safety.  She has delivered numerous presentations and lectures at various industry conferences and exhibitions, helping to raise awareness about the importance of fire safety for protecting life, properties and the environment.

Eng. Salma has been recognised as a leader in her field on numerous occasions and commended for her dedication and commitment to the fire safety of the Dubai community.

Engineer Salma Humaid Saeed AlAli is a genuine fire safety hero.  Her work has helped make Dubai safer and more secure for residents, and her contributions to the field of fire science and engineering will continue to have a lasting impact for years to come.

Jennifer O’Connell

Jennifer O’Connell is a well-respected professional in the field of fire protection engineering, specialising in regulatory compliance. She currently works as the Director of Regulatory Compliance and Fire Protection Engineer at Vanguard Resources, Inc. 

She has significantly impacted the fire industry with her 20 years of experience with fire protection and life safety within healthcare facilities, new building & construction, renovations, general code consulting, code analysis, standards development, and code compliance.

Her research has been critical in developing building codes and standards for fire protection and safety. Jennifer is a member of several professional organisations, including the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).

Amna Akram

Amna Akram is prominent in the region’s fire and life safety industry, achieving accreditation from leading international professional organisations.  With an all-encompassing educational background, including an MBA and BEng, MIFireE, and CFPS, she contributes to the fire and life safety sector with her extensive experience and expertise.

Eng Amna was the first woman certified as a Fire Protection Specialist in Pakistan.  By achieving this, she has set an example for other female engineers to enter the fire sciences and fire protection engineering field.  She was also the first female member of the Institution of Fire Engineers, Pakistan branch, a respected international organisation promoting excellence in fire engineering and fire safety.

In addition to her local accomplishments, Akram is a member of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the Society of Fire Protection Engineers (SFPE), two other leading international organisations that develop industry standards and guide fire and life safety globally.

Eng Akram works as the Engineering Manager for Fire Protection at CDC | Consulting & Design Consortium (Pvt) Ltd, one of Pakistan’s leading engineering firms.   She is also a registered member of the Pakistan Engineering Council, the regulatory body for engineering professionals in the country. 

Her continued Fire Protection Association Pakistan membership and contribution demonstrate her commitment to fire safety advocacy and standards.  Her contributions to the fire and life safety industry demonstrate her passion, determination, and drive to succeed in promoting fire safety across Pakistan and around the world.

Cristina Perez Domper

Cristina Perez Domper MSc. is a prominent fire safety professional with a degree in Civil Engineering and an MSc. Structural Engineering. Cristina has made significant contributions to the field of fire sciences and the Testing, Certification and Inspection (TIC) industry both in Spain and the Middle East. With over a decade of experience in the TIC industry, she has a wealth of knowledge and expertise in this area.

Cristina’s work in fire safety engineering started with her role as a researcher and engineer at The Spanish Association for the Promotion of Research and Fire Safety Technology (AFITI). During her time at AFITI, she was involved in numerous positions and was notable for recommissioning a fire test laboratory to be an accredited and commercially operating facility. In her current role as the MEA Regional Manager at Intertek Testing Services (ITS) based out of Dubai, Cristina continues to make a significant impact in the field of fire sciences.

As part of her role at ITS, she provides fire safety testing and certification services to clients across the UAE, ensuring that buildings and structures meet international fire safety standards. Her expertise in TIC and fire safety engineering helps clients to achieve safer fire safety products and systems for the wider community. She has been a frequent speaker at industry conferences and events, sharing her insights and experiences with others in the field.

Lori Greene

Lori Greene is a professional in the field of doors and hardware codes and resources.  With over 35 years of experience in the fire industry, she has developed a wealth of knowledge about the various code requirements that pertain to the design, construction, and installation of doors and hardware to ensure that the codes and standards that develop are accurate, up-to-date, and relevant to the industry.  Through her efforts, Lori has become a well-respected and trusted resource in the fire protection industry.

One of Lori’s most notable achievements in her career was the creation of iDigHardware.com in 2009.  This website was created as a resource for industry professionals to access information about doors and hardware codes and the functionality to ask technical questions and share information with others in the fire industry.  Over the years, iDigHardware.com has become a popular resource for those in the industry and has helped to provide access to the information and support that people need to get their projects done right.

Engineer Tamara Arafat

Engineer Tamara Arafat is a seasoned professional in the specialisation of product certification, factory production control auditing, fire safety engineering and fire sciences.  With over 25 years of experience in the manufacturing, consulting, and TIC industry.  She has made significant contributions to the TIC industry, especially working with fire safety products and systems, earning her a reputation as an expert in the area.

In her previous assignment as Certification Support Manager at Warringtonfire Testing and Certification, she was responsible for overseeing the certification process and factory auditing for key clients across the Middle East, North Africa and Indian Sub-continent regions of fire safety products and ensuring that these factories and production met international standards and best practice.  During her time at Warringtonfire, Tamara demonstrated extensive knowledge and experience in fire safety engineering, and she quickly became renowned for her expertise.

In her current role as Certification Business Manager at Emirates Safety Laboratory (ESL), Tamara continues to positively impact the field of fire safety engineering and the TIC industry.  Tamara’s work has profoundly influenced the Middle East’s fire safety industry and has been recognised for her contributions.

Engineer Tamara Arafat’s contributions to the Middle Eastern regions’ fire safety engineering, fire sciences and TIC sector cannot be overstated.  Her work has helped advance the understanding of product certification and improved the safety of buildings and those who occupy them.  Tamara’s dedication and commitment to her work have earned her the respect of the community and industry peers, and she continues to significantly influence the fire safety industry in the area of conformity assessment.

Conclusion

These scientists and engineers have significantly contributed to the fire sciences, fire safety engineering, fire testing, conformity assessment activities and codes and standards development. Their innovative ideas, critical thinking, and diversity of perspectives have brought new insights and approaches to the field and have significantly impacted fire protection as a whole. Their work has advanced fire protection engineering, fire testing, understanding material science and fire behaviour, its impact on people, property, and the environment, product certification and the development of fire safety practices and standards.

About the Author

Esther Gitau is a Testing Technician at  Emirates Safety Laboratory (ESL). She has a background in Mechanical Engineering, having earned her Bachelor’s in 2018. She worked at Kengen, Kipevu ( power production) in Kenya before joining ESL.

Contact Esther at: [email protected]