As a fire safety consultant and leading professional, I develop fire safety strategies and fire protection systems for buildings and industrial sites. With a degree in fire safety engineering from Ghent I work across a broad spectrum of projects. These include hospitals, transport hubs, airport terminals, hangars, industrial facilities, and tunnels, encompassing both new designs and the redevelopment and extension of existing buildings.In my role as Associate Director of the Fire Safety & Security group within Royal HaskoningDHV, our team addresses the full range of fire safety and security issues. We are involved from the initial stages, through design and execution, and throughout the entire life cycle of buildings.My professional focus is on creating a safe environment and applying fire safety engineering (FSE) to provide tailor-made solutions that best fit the project and client requirements. Safety is always a complex balance between the achievable level of safety and the available budget. Fire Safety Engineering can be very useful in obtaining the highest safety level for the budget. To distinguish myself as a Leading Professional in Fire Safety, I aim to:• Innovate: By developing new technologies and methods to enhance fire safety, particularly in the context of the energy transition and biobased construction.• Sustainability: By incorporating sustainable practices into fire safety solutions, focusing on eco-friendly materials and energy efficiency.• Compliance: By keeping abreast of the latest regulations and ensuring our fire safety measures meet the highest standards.• Risk Management: By identifying and mitigating fire risks in complex environments.• Collaboration: By working with diverse teams to provide integrated solutions that support both fire safety and broader project goals.• Leadership and Communication: By leading projects with a focus on fire safety and clearly conveying fire safety risks and solutions to all stakeholders.• Research: By contributing to the advancement of the industry through research and development.• Client Focus and Adaptability: By delivering tailored fire safety solutions that meet client-specific needs by responding flexibly to the dynamic nature of the field.By focusing on these areas, I strive to make a significant impact on the safety and sustainability of the built environment.