FPA Australia – Board of Directors
All Directors are actively engaged in the fire protection industry, working for many of the major names in fire protection. They bring many years of knowledge and expertise to the Association, without personal financial gain. Board members are not paid sitting fees or expenses to attend FPA Australia Board meetings and the cost of their participation is largely borne by their respective employers. Their participation on the Board of FPA Australia helps ensure its continued relevance and standing.
The Board meets on a regular basis and many Directors are involved in various Technical Committees, Special Interest Groups, Australian Standards Committees, the annual Fire Australia Conference and Exhibition and many other fire protection activities throughout the year.
National President, Chris Orr, has been a continuous Board member of FPA Australia and prior to that, FPIAA, since 1993. This is his second term as President, having served from 2002-05. Chris has a Master of Fire Safety Engineering and a Graduate Diploma in Design for Bushfire Prone Areas, sits on a number of fire related Standards Australia committees and brings to FPA Australia a wealth of knowledge on many facets of the industry. Chris works as Group Engineering Services Executive for Brooks Australia Pty Ltd, an Australian family-owned company specialising in the design, manufacture and supply of fire detection and alarm systems and occupant warning systems.
Senior Vice President, Glenn Talbot was elected to FPA Australia Board as a Director in 2006. Glenn is the founder and Managing Director of Verified, a company that provides state of the art management processes for the control of fire protection and building maintenance. He holds an Associate Diploma in Applied Science (Fire Technology) and has been in the fire protection industry for over twenty years. His roles have included State and General Manager of some of the industry's largest service providers.
Glenn has been an active FPA Australia State committee member of FPIA/FPA Australia for over 15 years, holding the position of Vice Chairman of the Victorian division from 2003 – 2006.
Junior Vice President, Trevor Voevodin was co-opted to the FPA Australia board as a director in 2007 and has been involved in the fire protection industry since 1980. His roles have included State and Divisional manager for large industry participants and in 1994 he founded Fire Service Professionals, a company that provides fire protection solutions for customers. He has been involved in FPIA/FPA Australia technical committees since 1985 and has had various state positions with FPA Australia and the Fire Protection Industry Board. Currently he is an active participant on TC2 - Fire detection and alarm systems and CS-072 - Safety in house design.
Treasurer, Mike Donegan was elected to the FPA Australia board in 2007. As a small business operator in the fire industry for 26 years, he understands the challenges small business owners face. It is this small business perspective he will bring to the FPA Australia board. He has been heavily involved in FPA Australia for over 20 years holding the roles of Seminars Committee Chair, State Secretary, State Chair and Executive Officer for FPA Australia NSW State Divisional Committee.
Graeme Thom, joined the FPA Australia Board in 2003 and served as Junior Vice President from 2007-08: he has been involved in fire protection since 1974 when he joined the Queensland Fire & Rescue Service as a recruit. He became a member of the AFPA/FPAA in 1990 as the fire service representative on the Queensland branch of the association. Since then, Graeme has become Queensland’s Senior Fire Safety Officer as the Executive Manager of Community and is also a longstanding director of Queensland’s Fire Protection Industry Board. He has received Australia Day awards including the Australian Centenary medal.
Barry Lee OAM, who is an Honorary Life Member and past president of FPA Australia, runs his own business, Lee Fire Management Pty Ltd, which specialises in fire protection engineering. Barry was awarded the OAM in 1990 for services to industry particularly in the field of fire protection. Barry chairs Standards Australia Committees FP/01 – Maintenance, FP/04 – Sprinklers and FP/08 - Pump sets. Barry’s involvement also extends internationally as member of ISO TC/21-SC8, he chairs the Fire Safety Coordination Group, sits on the Standards Development Board and Building Standards Sector Board, and represents FPA Australia on council at Standards Australia.
Robert Llewellyn has been a continuous Board member of FPA Australia, and prior to that AFPA since 1989. Rob is also a past president, serving in that role from 2000-02. Rob is Managing Director and principal consultant of International Fire Protection Pty Ltd, a company specialising in higher-level fire risk management services, evacuation procedure development, emergency service education delivery and safety audits. Rob is also actively involved in a number of Standards Australia committees. At the 2004 AGM, Rob received FPA Australia Honorary Life Membership.
Roger Thomas works as Technical Manager - Fire with Tyco Fire and Security. Following a year as a co-opted Director, he was elected to the Board in November 2004. Roger has worked in Fire System design and engineering at Wormald for 30 years. He is convenor of FPA Australia’s Technical Committee 4 – Sprinkler and Hydrant, a member of Standards Australia Committees FP/04 - Sprinklers, FP/01 - Maintenance Fire Systems and FP/11 - Gaseous Agent and Water Mist Systems, and has recently taken on the role of NTAC Chair.
Russ Porteous has been working within the fire protection industry for over 21 years. He is CEO of a medium sized business and works face to face with building owners, property managers, fire authorities, regulators, engineers and other industry professionals. Russ bring technical, commercial & financial experience to the Board. As an elected representative Russ aims to ensure that the ‘average member’ can have a say in the direction of the Association and the industry.
Bill Lea was coopted onto the board in the middle of 2009. Bill is CEO of Corporate Platinum member, Infinity Fire Protection and has had a longstanding and valuable involvement with the Association. Bill has contributed to various technical committees and is currently chair of TC4. He has contributed to the Fire Australia magazine and to the annual conference and has also been heavily involved with the NSW State Committee.
Graham Harris was co-opted
onto the board after the 2009 AGM. More information to come.
Peter Johnson is a past president of FPA Australia and highly respected figure throughout the Fire Protection industry. Peter is currently based in London after receiving the prestigious Arup Fellowship, which recognises the highest design and technical achievements of an Arup employee. The Arup Felllow is a life long honorary title awarded only to a select few within the global engineering and design firm. Peter becomes only the second Australian recipient of the accolade.
Scott Williams is the Chief Executive Officer of FPA Australia. Scott has considerable experience at an executive level within the Telecommunications, Electrical/Electronics, OH&S Training/Consultancy, Fire/Safety Services and the Marine industry. Scott has experience in the development of business, marketing, resource and capital expenditure plans that align to corporate strategies. He has a background establishing detailed and comprehensive budgets, as well as reporting and analysis of financial data.