The Growing Impact of Women in the Fire and Life Safety Industry

This is a sector built on protecting lives, safeguarding communities and upholding the highest standards of safety and professionalism. Yet, historically at least, it has been one of the most male-dominated industries. As the sector evolves, addressing this imbalance is not simply about representation. It’s also about ensuring the industry benefits from the widest possible range of skills, perspectives and talent.

Encouragingly, change is underway. More women are entering technical, operational and leadership roles, in turn helping to shape the future of fire and life safety, while also challenging outdated perceptions about who belongs in the industry.

To mark this year’s International Women’s Day, the FIA has spoken with women who’ve built – or are building – successful careers across the sector. They’ve shared insights into how the industry has evolved, the opportunities available and what more can be done to accelerate progress.

According to the latest workforce data, women now account for around 9.7% of firefighters in England, which is up from 8.2% in 2022. Encouragingly, 15% of apprentice firefighters in the year ending March 2024 were women, highlighting progress having been made in attracting more females into the profession.

These statistics highlight two important realities: meaningful progress is happening, but sustained action is required to accelerate change.

Ian Moore OBE, CEO of the FIA, said: “The fire and life safety industry is evolving, and with that evolution comes a responsibility to ensure that it reflects the full breadth of talent available. The growing number of women entering technical, operational and leadership roles is strengthening the sector and bringing valuable new perspectives. At the FIA, we firmly believe that supporting diversity across the industry is not only about fairness. It’s also about building a stronger, more innovative and more resilient profession that’s better equipped to protect people and communities.”

Driving innovation, collaboration and growth

Across the fire and life safety industry, women are influencing how organisations innovate and grow.

Michelle Agius has spent 36 years in the industry and was the first female Board director at Apollo Fire Detectors, appointed in the role of sales and marketing director. In this role, Agius helped to expand the reach of life safety systems internationally, particularly so across the Middle East.

Reflecting on the industry’s development, Agius stated: “When I first entered the fire safety sector, it was an overwhelmingly male-dominated environment. Over the years, I’ve been encouraged to see more women entering the industry and contributing across technical, commercial and leadership roles. The sector benefits when we open the door to a wider range of perspectives and experiences.”

Agius also established an independent panel partnership network that brought together manufacturers to support legislative change and product development. This helped to make the open protocol market more accessible and encouraged wider innovation across the sector.

Sixteen years ago, Agius founded her own company (ie Eurotech Fire Systems) to design, manufacture and supply life safety systems. The business now exports its products to 44 countries and has received numerous industry awards recognising excellence in collaboration, partnership and manufacturing.

“The fire and life safety industry offers incredibly rewarding careers,” noted Agius. “It’s a sector where the work genuinely matters, and where there are real opportunities to grow, innovate and make a difference.”

Agius has served as a main Board director with the FIA since 2018 and currently chairs the Trade Association’s Export and Marketing Group, supporting the UK fire sector’s engagement with global markets.

Leadership that strengthens

Leadership within organisations is equally important in shaping the industry’s future. Elaine Walters, fire and building safety manager at Gentoo, brings almost a decade’s worth of experience in fire safety, supported by earlier roles in planned and responsive maintenance within the housing sector. This background has afforded her a strong understanding of building safety, regulatory compliance and the challenges involved in protecting residents who reside within higher-risk buildings.

Today, Walters leads a team of six fire safety professionals and plays an important role in developing future talent within the sector. She currently supports three colleagues in development roles, including a graduate, a trainee and an apprentice fire and building safety advisor, helping them to build the knowledge and confidence required for progression in the profession.

“Championing the next generation of fire and building safety professionals is something I care deeply about,” affirmed Walters. “By sharing knowledge, building confidence and creating clear growth pathways, I hope to play a small part in shaping a stronger, more diverse and resilient profession for the future.”

Expanding roles

The range of careers within fire safety is broader than many people realise. According to Stacey Adams (project specification and business growth lead at Apollo Fire Detectors), women are now working across every area of the industry.

“From my own experience,” commented Adams, “women are working right across the fire industry, not just in one area or type of role. I see women in technical and specification roles, project delivery, operations, commercial leadership, training, sustainability, compliance and senior management. Many are also heavily involved in industry collaboration and standards work through organisations like the FIA.”

Adams concluded: “Importantly, their contributions are not peripheral. Women are influencing strategic decisions, shaping projects and delivering outcomes that directly affect customers, partners and end users.”

Many professionals highlight that women have strengthened communication and collaboration across teams. Fire safety is highly technical as a discipline, but also relies on trust, responsibility and strong relationships with customers and partners.

As the experiences shared here demonstrate, women operating across the fire and life safety sector are contributing directly towards project delivery, leadership and professional development. From expanding international markets and supporting legislative change through to mentoring new entrants and strengthening training pathways, their work is helping to shape the industry’s continued growth and professionalism.

More inclusive future

Increasing female representation in the fire safety sector must begin with greater awareness of the opportunities it offers. Many women are unaware of the wide range of careers available in fire safety. Early engagement with schools, colleges and universities can help introduce these opportunities through career talks, industry presentations and partnerships with educational institutions.

Employers also play an important role. Apprenticeships, training programmes and entry-level opportunities can create clear pathways into the sector, while inclusive recruitment practices serve to encourage more women to consider technical and operational roles.

Perhaps most importantly, showcasing real career journeys helps to demonstrate that there’s no single path into the industry.

Now a director at APS, Jenny Mair began her career in the civil service before transitioning into the fire safety and compliance sector. “Working in a small and supportive team gave me the chance to learn from experienced engineers, suppliers and auditors who emphasised one key principle: in fire safety, making sure it’s right matters because lives depend on it. That mindset shaped my career. As APS grew, so did my role, progressing from administrator to office manager and director, all while gaining FIA qualifications along the way.”

Mair added: “Fire safety remains a traditionally male-dominated industry, but it’s changing and for the better. My experience has shown me that with support, curiosity and confidence, women can thrive here. I hope more women continue to explore this industry as the opportunities are real, the work is meaningful and the future is increasingly inclusive.”

Looking ahead

The fire and life safety industry has a strong future. As buildings become more complex and safety expectations continue to rise, demand for skilled professionals across engineering, compliance, research and leadership will continue to grow.

Increasing the number of women working in the sector will help the industry reach its full potential. A more diverse workforce strengthens innovation, improves collaboration and supports the industry’s continued development.

In an industry dedicated to protecting lives, embracing the full breadth of talent available is not simply the right thing to do. It’s essential for ensuring the

highest standards of safety and continued progress.

*The Fire Industry Association would like to thank those professionals who generously shared their experiences and insights. We are grateful to Michelle Agius, Elaine Walters, Stacey Adams and Jenny Mair for contributing their perspectives. Their stories serve to highlight the growing impact of women across the fire and life safety sector and inspire the next generation to explore the many opportunities the industry has to offer