Airport Fire Officers Association signposts 2026 Annual Conference

Formed in 1998, AFOA is a proactive professional organisation wholly dedicated to supporting and advancing the interests of airport fire officers and Fire and Rescue Services, primarily within the UK and Ireland, but also now with an increasing international reach.

The 2026 Annual Conference begins on the afternoon of 20 April, with workshops and the exhibitor set-up. There will be an evening buffet for all attending, held in the exhibitor area and providing the opportunity for networking and meeting all the exhibitors.

Conference begins on 21 April and continues on the morning of 22 April, concluding with lunch. AFOA is also hoping to offer a tour of the Gatwick Airport Fire Station on the Wednesday afternoon.

There will be a gala dinner on the evening of 21 April, including the presentation of a long service award, entertainment and a charity raffle.

Delegate places

A total of 150 delegate places are available for AFOA members. Together with the Monday workshops, the Annual Conference will be an approved Continuing Professional Development activity.

Delegate places are priced at £595 plus VAT, which includes the welcome evening buffet, full attendance at the conference, breakfast and lunch on the Tuesday and Wednesday, the gala dinner and two nights’ accommodation on the 20 and 21 April.

Interested parties should e-mail Catherine O’Brien at [email protected] to book delegate places. Delegate places are currently limited to two per organisation. This limit will be reviewed nearer to the time of the event.

In order for delegates to attend, organisations will need to be a fully paid-up member of AFOA. When invoices are issued for delegate places, AFOA will include the cost to renew annual memberships from 1 April (that cost being £125 plus VAT).

Improving industry standards

As an organisation, AFOA is wholly dedicated to improving industry standards in airport fire safety, emergency response and leadership through training, information sharing and ongoing collaboration.

AFOA maintains strong relationships with the Civil Aviation Authority, the National Fire Chiefs Council and comparable organisations overseas in order to raise the profile of airport Fire and Rescue Services.

*Further information is available online at www.afoa.org.uk