Talking Fire CIC is an independent networking group
for the UK fire safety industry

Director & Founder

Andrea is a fire engineer, fire risk assessor and safety consultant with her own consultancy, A W Fire Ltd. Andrea loves seeing her teenage son progress and grow. She also loves learning and giving back. Having worked in the industry for 20 years, Andrea established Women Talking Fire to bring women working in fire safety together and provide networking opportunities and to support to each other.

Director

Alan Wheal is the Group CEO of EA-RS Group Limited. Alan trained as an apprentice electrician with his father in a heavy engineering company before starting his first business in 1997.

Since then, he has built the industry-leading Fire First Group of 12 specialist businesses. He is happily married for the second time, has 4 children and loves golf, motorsport and riding motorbikes.

Director

Mary is a fire engineer and researcher with a background in psychology. She is passionate about using her experience to improve life safety and to advocate for inclusive design. Mary won the SFPE Foundation’s Dr. Guylène Proulx OC award in 2020 for her research on human behaviour in fire and has been nominated for the 2023 Rising Star Women in Fire Safety Award.

Non-Executive Director

Deepa is a Senior Finance professional and NED, STEM role model, mother of 3 and a leaseholder affected by dangerous cladding as found on Grenfell. As CEO of Building Safety Crisis LTD Deepa is heavily involved in the Polluter Pays legislation with Government and winner of the Women in Fire Safety Awards 2022 for Education. Her aim is to make the residential environment safer for all; regardless of race, gender and social background.

Non-Executive Director

Nicky is an award-winning Risk and Audit professional, who transitioned from Finance to the Construction industry 3 years ago following the identification of fire safety failures in her new build home. Nicky created New Build Database and is also a contributor to amendments to the Building Safety Act and Fire Safety Act. Nicky won ASFPs passive fire advocate of the year and has been a finalist at Women in Housing and Women in Fire Safety. Nicky is passionate about improving the standard of housing in the UK.