BAFE completes Group restructure as life safety sector faces change
Lewis Tyler
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BAFE has completed a Group restructure aimed at strengthening its support for the life safety sector amid regulatory and competence changes
The BAFE Group has completed a restructure designed to better integrate its organisations and strengthen its ability to support the life safety sector through a period of anticipated change.
The new operating model brings BAFE Holdings, the BAFE Fire Safety Register and FireQual into a more integrated Group structure, with clearer responsibilities and a shared service delivery model.
BAFE said the changes are intended to make better use of expertise across the Group while creating greater capacity for engagement and collaboration with industry.
As part of the restructure, David Barnes has been appointed BAFE Technical Manager, with responsibility for the operation, monitoring and ongoing performance of BAFE schemes.
At FireQual, Gillian Lees has been appointed Qualifications Development and Assessment Manager, leading the development and assessment of qualifications. She will be supported by Maria Annakin, who has been appointed Qualifications and Assessment Officer and will oversee ongoing delivery and administration.
The Group is also recruiting for a Group Service Delivery Manager and Group Finance Manager.
BAFE restructure responds to changing life safety sector
The restructure follows a series of leadership changes across the BAFE Group in recent years.
Lewis Ramsay joined the executive leadership team as Chief Operating Officer in 2025, while Board oversight has been strengthened through the appointments of Jim Fitzpatrick as Chair of BAFE Holdings, Howard Passey as Chair of BAFE Ltd and Douglas Barnett as Chair of FireQual.
Dr Justin Maltby-Smith, Group CEO of BAFE Holdings, said the completed restructure would provide the foundations for the organisation’s next phase.
“The life safety sector is entering a period of significant change, with evolving regulatory requirements and growing expectations around competence and assurance,” he said.
“The new structure puts BAFE and FireQual in a great position to anticipate those changes and work with our partners and the wider sector to influence how they develop, rather than simply responding as they happen.”
He added that the new model would enable the Group to strengthen industry relationships and collaboration while championing competence, independent third-party certification and assessment across the UK.
BAFE prepares scheme and qualification updates
The restructure comes as BAFE prepares to relaunch several schemes following an extensive programme of review and refresh.
FireQual is also developing new qualifications aligned with the latest British Standards.
Dr Maltby-Smith said the Group’s ambitions extended beyond the day-to-day operation of its schemes and qualifications.
“We want to use our expertise and influence to support higher standards across life safety and help make independently demonstrated competence an increasingly normal and expected part of how the sector operates,” he said.