Hayley Burgess appointed international president at Institution of Fire Engineers

Burgess is managing director and principal consultant at the HB Safety Consultancy, which specialises in the provision of fire safety and Health and Safety-related advice for SMEs operating across Northern Ireland. The Chartered company offers auditing solutions, fire risk assessments (Burgess is an IFE-registered fire risk assessor), fire policy advice and evacuation planning strategies.

October 2007 witnessed Burgess assuming the role of Health and Safety officer at Positive Futures before moving to a similar role at Intraining in November 2008, the latter entailing an overseeing remit in relation to Health and Safety operations in Northern Ireland. A circa four-year spell as a Health and Safety consultant with Health and Safety Professionals began in August 2011 prior to the HB Safety Consultancy appointment in April 2015.

Specialising in social care environments, Burgess navigates clients through rigorous fire safety standards and contributes to fire strategy designs across the built environment.

The installation of Burgess as international president took place during the IFE’s one hundredth Annual General Meeting, itself held on 17 October. The transition of leadership was facilitated by former international president Dr Peter Wilkinson.

Honoured and humbled

Commenting on her new role at the IFE, Burgess explained: “I am both honoured and humbled to have been elected as international president of the IFE. Being the first female in this prestigious role is just incredible. I’m really looking forward to representing the IFE in an international capacity and working with more of our outstanding volunteers.”

Burgess added: “I would like to take this opportunity to thank Dr Peter Wilkinson, my predecessor, for his remarkable contributions to the organisation in his time as international president.”

As an organisation, the IFE extends its heartfelt congratulations to Burgess on her appointment and looks forward to the positive impact she will undoubtedly bring to the role.

*Information on the work of the IFE is available online at www.ife.org.uk