New Association Council appointed by ASFP at 2024 AGM

The 12-strong ASFP Council was appointed following a successful election process held in February-March in which 21 nominations were received.

The Association’s chair and vice-chair retain their positions for a further 12 months, with the remaining ten places now elected for a two-year term in office.

Council includes representatives from each of the ASFP’s member categories of contractor, manufacturer, distributor and associate, as well as a representative from ASFP Ireland.

This year, a place for a principal contractor member has been created in order to reflect the growth in membership in this category as well as the ASFP’s increased engagement with this important sector of construction.

ASFP Council members are now as follows:

*Clive Miles (chair) (chair, CLM Fireproofing)

*Sharon McClure (vice-chair) (director, Avesta Scotland)

*Moe Elmasry (technical manager, Golden Thread Fire Delay)

*Alan Curran (fire engineer/technical director, OFR Consultants)

*Carrie Blackshaw (sales director for fire protection, Minster)

*Liam Keenan (managing director/technical director, Compliance + Fire)

*Carl Burrell (regional market director, Sherwin-Williams)

*Jamie O’Hagan (CEO, Structural Fireproofing Systems)

*Matthew Jones (head of fire protection and HVAC, ROCKWOOL International) 

*Ian Outram (technology manager for fire stopping, CPG UK)

*Will Pitt (technical leader for MEICA Specialist Systems, Laing O’Rourke)

*John O’Callaghan (managing director, Complete Coating Services)

Update on operations

The 2024 AGM offered all attending ASFP members their first opportunity to meet the new members of Council. They also received updates from ASFP officers on Association activities during 2023 and the organisation’s future plans, with the ASFP’s vision introduced by vice-chair Sharon McClure.

ASFP managing director Mike Ward provided an update on operations, highlighting the successful purchase, fit-out and occupation of the ASFP’s new office and Training Academy in Coventry.

Ward also detailed key activities in further developing the ASFP’s Competency Pathway, as well as launching new training courses and membership groups, and developing new industry collaborations.

ASFP membership officer Tony Corcoran explained that interest in ASFP membership remains high, with over 57 new members joining since June 2023. Corcoran noted that the growth in membership is across the full supply chain, from principal contractors and architects all the way through to fire risk assessors and facilities managers.

Dr Andrew Taylor (the ASFP’s head of technical) reviewed the current technical landscape, duly providing an update on the latest legislative requirements and highlighting the ASFP’s key role in developing standards and industry guidance. He detailed how the Association’s technical work assists with the development of the Competency Pathway.

Competency Pathway

On that note, the ASFP’s competency specialist Kate Milford provided an overview of progress with the Competency Pathway, explaining that work would continue throughout 2024 to address both individual competence and organisational capability. On an ongoing basis, there’s a willingness to look for opportunities to show leadership and collaborate with like-minded organisations and individuals right across the built environment.

The formal element of the AGM was brought to a close with a keynote address delivered by Chandru Dissanayeke of the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, who provided a detailed update on Government and regulatory progress and also received questions from the floor.

The meeting was followed by lunch, allowing attendees to network with ASFP members, officers and staff and other key fire industry leaders.

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