ASFP announces new Council for 2026-2028

Indeed, the new Council reflects the depth and diversity of the ASFP’s membership, spanning as it does manufacturers, installers, distributors and specialist service providers: all of them firmly committed to raising standards and driving competence within the industry.

The ASFP’s Council plays a vital role in shaping the direction of the Association, ensuring that it continues to lead on technical guidance, training and industry engagement. Its core responsibilities include setting the organisation’s vision, mission and values, shaping strategy and governance structures, delegating authority to the Executive Board and management team and maintaining accountability to members, while also remaining responsive to the wider built environment and regulatory landscape.

Nadine Saxon, operations director at the ASFP, commented: “We’re really pleased to welcome the newly elected ASFP Council for 2026-2028. There’s a great mix of familiar faces and new voices joining us. It’s an exciting time for the ASFP. We will continue to play a key role as we strengthen our technical guidance, broaden our reach beyond the UK and build on the progress we’ve made to date. A big ‘thank you’ goes to our 2024-2026 Council for everything they’ve contributed over the past couple of years. That commitment has made a real difference. Looking ahead, the Council’s support and strategic direction will be crucial in helping the Association to stay focused, supported and ready to take on the opportunities ahead.”

Here are the key details concerning the new ASFP Council, along with individual credentials and experience.

Chair: Sharon McClure (director | Avesta Scotland Ltd)

As chair of the ASFP, Sharon McClure brings over 20 years’ worth of experience in passive fire protection and a deep commitment to advancing fire safety standards across the UK.

In her role as co-founder and co-owner of Avesta Scotland Ltd, McClure has dedicated her career to championing Best Practice and innovation in the built environment. Her involvement in multiple construction industry Working Groups and Boards has helped in shaping policy and driving collaboration across the sector.

McClure is now focused on leading the ASFP through a period of significant change, supporting its members and strengthening the collective voice to ensure a safer future for all.

Vice-Chair: Jamie O’Hagan (CEO | Structural Fireproofing Systems)

Jamie O’Hagan brings over 30 years’ worth of experience in fire protection to bear in this role. Since starting out in 1992, O’Hagan has progressed through various roles, amassing a wealth of expertise.

His career journey has provided him with a deep understanding of both the technical and practical elements of fire protection. Now, in his role as ASFP vice-chair, O’Hagan is wholly committed to supporting the Association through all regulatory changes and more.

Moe Elmasry (technical project manager | CLM Fire Proofing)

Moe Elmasry has been operational in the passive fire protection industry for over 17 years, combining with various manufacturers before moving to work with passive fire protection-focused specialist contractors.

At present, Elmasry is serving as a technical project manager for CLM Fire Proofing, leading the technical and Building Information Modelling functions to assist early engagement with various stakeholders and design teams, thereby ensuring ‘Safety by Design’ is achieved to further improve passive fire protection compliance across a range of project types.

With a BSc in Chemical Engineering, a Level 4 Diploma in Fire Safety and a Level 3 Award in Passive Fire Protection from the Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE), Elmasry brings extensive knowledge and experience to help improve passive fire protection design and installation.

For the last two years, he has served as an ASFP Council member and is actively involved in various ASFP groups. Indeed, Elmasry chairs TG9, which is currently drafting the Gold Book to provide industry guidance on the golden thread of information.

Peter Long (fire and certification director | Optima Systems)

Peter Long has spent over 40 years in the construction sector. He’s an active individual member of the ASFP and supports Optima Systems’ corporate membership, participating in technical groups and contributing content to the Clear Book.

Further, Long chairs the FIS Partitions, Pods and Doors Working Group and the Fire‑Resistant Glazing Competence Group.

He leads a specialist team within Optima Systems, all qualified to IFE Level 3, supporting the business to ensure early project evidence compliance. He also writes and presents Continuing Professional Development material on fire‑resistant glazing aimed at the A&D community and Tier 1 contractors, always ensuring the content remains technical rather than sales‑driven.

Nick Pickles (passive fire protection process and assurance lead | Laing O’Rourke)

Nick Pickles is an experienced passive fire protection specialist. He works as a senior member of Laing O’Rourke’s central fire team, providing expertise across major projects.

Pickles holds an IFE Level 3 Certificate in Passive Fire Protection and a Level 5 Diploma in Fire Engineering Design. He’s part of an industry-leading team that ensures Best Practice in fire safety design and installation, regularly provides technical guidance and supports improved passive fire protection delivery on complex projects.

He actively supports work to professionalise the passive fire protection sector and always advocates for improved competency, quality and consistency across the industry.

Pickles supports and mentors those entering the sector and shares the ASFP’s stated mission to improve standards, knowledge and professionalism in the passive fire protection domain.

Carrie Blackshaw (business development director for fire and façades | Saint-Gobain)

Carrie Blackshaw harbours over 20 years’ worth of experience in passive fire protection having worked across manufacturing and distribution. Currently, she serves as business development director for fire and facades at Saint-Gobain, duly overseeing product and solution offerings.

Blackshaw holds IFE Level 3 Certificate in Passive Fire Protection and sits on a number of ASFP technical groups. She has extensive experience of product development, testing and the Building Regulations.

Ian Outram (fire stopping technology manager | Tremco CPG Nullifire)

Ian Outram has served in the fire industry for 25 years (23 of those years in a technical capacity for a fire stopping solutions manufacturer), but also across the construction industry for nearly 40 years.

Working with Nullifire, Outram strives to ensure that the latest construction products are tested and accurately portrayed in the marketplace. Working with the ASFP helps to place the correct message in the marketplace, ensuring that interpretations of standards are validated by a peer group, that notifications of changes to industry regulations are shared speedily and also that technical guidance documents are factual and presented in an easily understandable way.

Supporting the ASFP in every way is incredibly important to Outram. Striving to make this industry compliant and understand the limitations of that compliance today is only possible with the support of the ASFP’s team, be that on Council or within the technical groups.

Rob Wakefield (fire certification lead | ROCKWOOL)

Rob Wakefield is a passionate advocate for driving testing and third party approvals that underpin the industry. As a current British Standards Institution technical panel leader and CEN convenor (CEN/TC127/WG2), Wakefield is at the very heart of developing the EXAP standards that will soon come to define UK compliance.

As the Approved Document B framework moves exclusively towards EN classified performances in 2029, Wakefield believes his technical knowledge of European test and classification standards will assist the ASFP’s Council in navigating this transition, ensuring members are technically prepared for the withdrawal of national classes and that the ASFP remains the leading authority on the future of fire resistance.

Paul Gruszka (passive scheme manager | IFC Certification-Kiwa)

In his role as scheme manager for a passive fire protection installation team, Paul Gruszka works closely with installers, managers and auditors to uphold compliance, improve performance and support competence areas that align directly with the ASFP’s mission to enhance training, installation quality and industry practice.

Gruszka brings practical insight, a collaborative approach and a genuine desire to help shape better standards and support the people delivering fire protection on the ground.

Liam Keenan (managing director | Fire Compliance Plus)

Liam Keenan harbours 12-plus years of construction sector experience, including the last nine years spent in the passive fire protection arena. Keenan’s background is in construction, including as an external passive fire protection consultant, technical support operative and technical manager for an industry-leading passive fire protection company.

Keenan holds a First Class (Hons) Master’s degree in Civil Engineering (MEng), a Master’s degree (with distinction) in Fire Engineering (MSc) and is also an associate of the Institution of Fire Engineers.

Additionally, Keenan is involved with the drafting committee FSH/22/-/-16 relating to the development of BS 8623, the BSI Code of Practice on assessments in lieu of fire test data that will replace the PFPF Guide.

Keenan has also been involved with the ASFP through its Council for the last two years, as well as engaging with the PFKG Industry Leaders events, the Technical Committee, Technical Group 2 (Boards and Sprays) and Technical Group 3 (Fire Stopping, Penetration Seals and Cavity Barriers).

Neville White (commercial director for fire protection | Encon Insulation Limited)

Neville White has been resident in the passive fire protection industry since 1980, working for a single manufacturer for 40 years and then, for the last six years, in the distribution arena.

White has continually supported the ASFP at events and AGMs and also serves on the Steel and Competence Working Groups. He strongly believes that distribution should have an active role to play on the Council, all the while using his extensive knowledge to continually support the ASFP.

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