Jonathan O’Neill OBE, MD of the Fire Protection Association, was lauded for his contribution to “improving the resilience of the built environment” as he received a lifetime achievement award at the latest Fire Industry Association (FIA) AGM.The AGM, which included lunch for more than 300 industry leaders, was also an opportunity to highlight the association’s achievements over the last year and set out its priorities.
Commenting on O’Neill’s award FIA CEO Ian Moore cited some of his achievements and said: “I cannot think of anyone better connected within the fire industry than Jonathan – he has been consistent in his support for improving the resilience of the built environment and has provided educated and informed challenge where it is due both within the UK and internationally.”
In October 2017 O’Neill was presented with an OBE at Buckingham Palace by Prince William, Duke of Cambridge.
O’Neill, who has been at the helm of the FPA since 1999, sits on several government and ministerial advisory bodies, including the Business and Community Safety Board, the Arson Control Forum, the Integrated Risk Management Advisory Board and the Operational Guidance Strategy Board.
Martin Harvey and David Murfitt both claimed the FIA Honorary Award, which recognises sustained, outstanding volunteer contributions to the FIA. The pair played pivotal roles at the association since its inception in 2007, when it emerged from a merger of FETA (Fire Extinguishing Trade Association) and BFPSA (British Fire Protection Systems Association).
Mock the Week comedian Ellie Taylor provided the after-lunch entertainment.
The FIA is a not-for-profit trade association promoting professional standards in the UK fire safety industry.
The FIA AGM is held annually in association with FIREX International, the world’s leading fire safety exhibition.
It’s been a busy couple of years for the FIA. It has lobbied and advised government on its response to the Grenfell Tower fire and developed a new career pathway to address the skills crisis in fire alarm engineering. FIA CEO Ian Moore discussed these issues and the impact of Brexit in a recent interview with IFSEC Global.
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