LEARNING FROM THE PAST
A TALE OF FIVE PRESIDENTS: WHAT THE PAST CAN TELL US ABOUT THE FUTURE OF FIRE PROTECTION
As we forge ahead in the face of ongoing government reform initiatives, Fire Protection Association Australia sought insights from some of our former presidents, and the current office-bearer, about what the future holds. PAUL WATERHOUSE AND HAJNAL NAGY Fire Protection Association Australia
Australia’s peak industry body for fire protection, and the industry’s major technical and educational organisation, Fire Protection Association Australia (FPA Australia) is the descendant of almost 100 years of industry representation. Formed in 1997 through the merger of Fire Protection Industry Association Australia (established in 1926) and the Australian Fire Protection Association (established in 1960), FPA Australia was formed to be a single body that could represent the needs and goals of our industry. Our presidents and board directors are icons of the industry, who have brought a wealth of experience and knowledge to the Association, allowing it to establish itself as the ‘voice of fire protection’. Many of these leaders have maintained their association with FPA Australia, and we took the opportunity to ask five of them—Barry Lee OAM (1991–93 and 1997–98), Neil Bibby (1994–96 and 1998–2000), Peter Johnson (2005–08), Glenn Talbot (2010–12), and Bill Lea AFSM (2018– present)—for their views of our history and where we are headed. 22
FIRE AUSTRALIA
ISSUE FOUR 2021
What is fire protection?
The presidents largely agreed that fire protection (or fire safety) relates to keeping people, property, business operations and the environment safe from the risk of fire by extinguishing or containing it. It poses a never-ending series of challenges, particularly as our communities become more urbanised, population densities increase and civilisation encroaches on bushland areas, all while society’s appetite for risk has greatly diminished. The industry ranges from fire safety design, construction, prevention, maintenance and management to fire brigade operations, covering buildings, transport infrastructure, industrial facilities, community infrastructure and the impacts of bushfires. As an industry, fire protection offers many opportunities, experiences and comradery, and the development of new technologies plays an important role in delivering safer communities.
“If the fire service has to intervene, fire protection has failed.”
– Neil Bibby
How has the industry changed?
Since FPA Australia was created, the industry has seen companies go from taking responsibility for all aspects of fire protection—from manufacture, design and installation to maintenance—to specialising in providing equipment to fire protection contractors or performing specific roles. This has led to changes to training and accreditation systems, so that practitioners can be upskilled and take responsibility for the quality of their work. Both government and the industry strongly support these developments to deliver greater accountability and professionalism. The fire protection sector has long embraced technology and had a focus on technical excellence, and this has seen substantial amendments to standards and regulations that will deliver increased community safety. The increased societal focus on climate change and sustainability has been experienced in our industry too, in part by an increase in the incidence and severity of bushfires in Australia and overseas. This has altered practices, and improved the science of fire, as the industry adjusts to society’s expectations. The sustainability agenda has had an impact in the opposite direction too—a push for energy efficiency was a significant contributing factor to an
