Our Leadership
Our Board brings together experienced professionals from across the fire safety, qualifications business communities. With their strategic support and guidance, they help ensure FireQual remains focused on its purpose, meets its regulatory obligations and continues to support the development of a competent and professional fire safety sector.
Lewis Ramsay
Lewis Ramsay is the Chief Operating Officer of BAFE Group, incorporating BAFE and FireQual. Lewis has over 30 years’ experience within the fire safety sector most recently as the Assistant Chief Officer for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service as the Director of Response and Resilience.
Lewis has a held a range of strategic positions within the Fire Service, leading the reform of Community Fire Safety during the formation of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and developing operational doctrine and policy which has been consistently accepted as best practice.
He has led a number of initiatives to promote better regulation and contributed on a UK basis as CFOA’s Director of Prevention, Protection and Road Safety. He has held a number of board positions and has contributed widely to the development of skills within the fire sector.
His long association with the fire sector has allowed him to develop a broad set of attributes based on experience of operational command, change management, project management and process reviews. He remains a keen supporter of firefighter and community life safety and has developed a number of systems to promote safe working through the acquisition of skills, good assessment and the maintenance of competence.
Lewis says: “It is an honour to serve as BAFE Group Chief Operating Officer and to support the BAFE Group’s continued work to improve standards across the fire safety sector. These are very exciting times, and I count myself very fortunate to be taking on this role at a time of change, growth and development.”
Dr Justin Maltby-Smith CEng FIET CMgr FCMI
Justin Maltby-Smith joined FireQual as Managing Director in January 2022 having previously worked within the electrical installation, education, and life safety sectors. As of April 2025, Justin became the Chief Executive Officer of BAFE Holdings, incorporating BAFE and FireQual. The BAFE Fire Safety Register is the trusted independent register of quality fire safety organisations for the UK since 1984.
Prior to joining FireQual, he was Technical Scheme Development Manager at NAPIT following a long tenure at Certsure/NICEIC where he was Head of Schemes and Operations. Justin represents both BAFE and FireQual on multiple national level committees to support the development of British Standards, Codes of Practice and competency frameworks to help deliver a safer fire and life safety sector.
Justin says: “Competence sits at the heart of the fire safety sector and FireQual plays a vital role in providing robust, regulated qualifications that help individuals demonstrate their knowledge, skills and professionalism. I am proud to play my part in FireQual’s continued development and its contribution to raising standards across the sector.
Douglas Barnett
Douglas Barnett is the Chair of the FireQual Board and former Director Mid-Market and Customer Risk Management, AXA Insurance (UK). He has over 30 years’ experience in risk management with an extensive global background focused on fire protection, modern methods of construction, flood, and overall business resilience.
He represents the Association of British Insurers and other commercial groups in consultations with Government bodies and technical groups. He also has several technical qualifications including the Post Graduate European Diploma in Fire Safety Management and is a member of a number of professional bodies.
Douglas has for many years called for improved competence for all stakeholders involved in the design and protection of the built environment as well as the safety of people with a specific focus on vulnerable persons.
Douglas says: “We currently have a once in a generation opportunity to address many issues and make the buildings in which we live and visit safe for all. FireQual provides the vehicle for professionals to demonstrate their competence and provide confidence to fire safety buyers products and services that they are selecting an appropriate person with a proven background knowledge to suitably deliver products and services.”
Sarah Trouten
Sarah is Chief Executive of IOEE, the UK Professional Body dedicated to providing recognition and support to enterprising individuals. She has been involved in starting and running small businesses throughout her life and understands just how critical quality enterprise education and support is to ensure UK small businesses start, survive, and thrive.
Sarah is passionate about the power of education to raise expectations and maximize the potential of everyone, particularly those held back by poverty, gender or academic discrimination.
She commissioned and led a 2019 research report, Unlocking Enterprise which provided insights and data as to the powerful value of enterprise education in the reform and rehabilitation of ex-offenders. Sarah also led a review of the SFEDI national occupational standards for Business Support to ensure inclusivity for BAME, disabled, and female led businesses.
Sarah holds board positions at London South Bank University, Manchester Metropolitan University, and SFEDI, and contributes to a number of regional and national steering groups to influence policy and practice around enterprise education and support.
Sarah says: “FireQual is uniquely positioned to drive real change and value within the sector through the implementation of accredited and quality assured qualifications. I am proud to support FireQual in raising standards across the industry and providing credibility and recognition to professionals delivering services across the fire industry whilst also ensuring that those running micro and SME businesses within the sector are supported to start, survive, and thrive.”
David White
David White is a distinguished fire safety professional with over five decades of experience in the industry. As a former president and current chairman of the Institute of Fire Safety Managers, he has contributed significantly to advancing fire safety standards.
David had a distinguished 30-year career in diverse fire and rescue services, gaining extensive experience in emergency response, fire prevention, safety regulations, and leadership within the industry. Throughout his career, David has been dedicated to improving fire safety across various sectors, including healthcare, education, and commercial industries. His expertise has been instrumental in developing and implementing fire safety regulations, policies, and procedures to enhance safety measures and reduce risks.
His work has not only influenced national regulations but also set benchmarks for international fire safety practices. David continues to drive progress in fire safety, working with industry leaders, policymakers, and organisations to enhance awareness and implement effective safety strategies.
David says: “It was a very welcome offer to join the FireQual Board. I am proud to support its growth to provide the industry with robust regulated qualifications that best represent the skills and knowledge required to work in the industry today.”
Colin Todd MBE
Colin Todd has spent 50 years in fire safety, following completion of a Master’s degree in fire engineering. After fire safety work within manufacturing, third party certification and
insurance, in 1982 he founded his consultancy, CS Todd & Associates, a FireQual Approved Training Centre.
Colin is known for commitment to fire safety, through work on BSI committees, Government led committees and drafting national guidance and professional body work. He is a board member of the FIA and chairs their Fire Risk Assessment Council. He is a Vice President of the IFSM, a previous board member of the IFE and a current member of their Technical Committee.
He has received numerous awards, including a distinguished service certificate from BSI, a lifetime achievement award from the FIA, and the Society of Fire Protection Engineers’ Margaret Law Award for pioneering work in fire engineering. He has received awards from the National Association of Healthcare Fire Officers (twice) and the Association of Building Engineers and has been judged by a panel of experts as one of most influential people in fire safety. In 2020 he was awarded an MBE for his contribution to fire safety, including domestic fire detection, in the UK.
Colin says: “It’s an honour to sit on the Board of FireQual. The importance of training of new and existing members of the fire safety profession cannot be overestimated and has always been a passion of mine. FireQual plays an important role in raising standards across the profession, and I am proud to contribute to that work.”