The Protecting the Protectors Stage returns to The Emergency Services Show 2026, delivering a CPD-accredited platform focused on health impacts on the frontline, keeping people safe in public spaces, and being informed about hazards and risks. Featuring expert-led sessions and operational insight designed to support workforce resilience, situational awareness and safer frontline operations.

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FOCUSED CONTENT THEMES

Health Impacts on the Frontline

Emergency responders operate in high pressure environments that can have lasting physical and mental health impacts. This session explores the realities facing frontline personnel, from fatigue and trauma exposure to long-term wellbeing, while highlighting strategies, support systems and innovations designed to protect those who protect others.

Keeping People Safe in Public Spaces

As public spaces continue to evolve, so do the challenges around safety, preparedness and incident response. This session examines the approaches, technologies and multi-agency collaboration helping organisations strengthen public protection, improve situational awareness and respond effectively to emerging threats.

Being Informed About Hazards and Risks

Fast, accurate information is critical when responding to operational risks and evolving hazards. This session focuses on the tools, intelligence and best practices enabling emergency services and resilience professionals to improve risk awareness, support decision-making and enhance operational readiness.
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10:00
  1. Climate threats: building a resilient ambulance service  
    Protecting the Protectors Stage Sponsored by MSA Safety
    30 mins
    We open with a look at how the ambulance service is preparing itself to operate in a climate of extremes. How well do ambulances cope with extreme weather when it comes to fleet, equipment, staff and operational capability?

    What can we do to ensure paramedics wellbeing is taken care of when the sun is beating down and shelter is at a premium? Be part of the discussion about what’s working, what needs more thought and how well the ambulance service of the future is resilient to climate threats. 
    Speakers
    Speaker image for Jo Hodson
    Jo Hodson, Head of Contingency Planning - North West Ambulance Service
    Speaker image for Stu Holliday
    Stu Holliday, Strategic Head of EPPR - NEAS
10:35
  1. Climate threats: the role of faith in resilience
    Protecting the Protectors Stage Sponsored by MSA Safety
    30 mins
    When disaster strikes, communities come together to respond and they also have a role in the prevention and mitigation space too. In this short ‘heads-up’ session, find out about the National Preparedness Commission report on Faith and Resilience and take the learning back your community.  
    Speakers
    Speaker image for Roger Abbott
    Roger Abbott, Senior Research Associate in Natural Disasters - The Faraday Institute, Cambridge
11:10
  1. Climate threats: preparing for extreme heat and wildfires
    Protecting the Protectors Stage Sponsored by MSA Safety
    40 mins
    In the first of this two-part special session, former BBC Environment Editor, David Shukman leads the discussion how how well the emergency services are prepared to respond to climate threats. Starting with heat and wildfires, he draws on his latest book The Response, to frame a discussion with those leading the response to see what it’s really like to be at the frontline of climate change. 
    Chairperson
    Speaker image for David Shukman
    David Shukman, Author, Editor, Speaker, Consultant
    Speakers
    Speaker image for Alex Woodman
    Alex Woodman, CFO - Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service
    Speaker image for Jon Charters
    Jon Charters, CFO - Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service
    Speaker image for Jonathan Smith
    Jonathan Smith, Commissioner - London Fire Brigade
11:55
  1. Climate threats: preparing for flooding 
    Protecting the Protectors Stage Sponsored by MSA Safety
    40 mins
    The second part of our sessions where we frame this discussion around David Shukman’s book, The Response, sees the panel focused on flooding. David describes in breathtaking detail the impact of flooding on the residents of a north London suburb and the urban fire response, but what about those working in mountain and lowland rescue teams? What have we learned so far and how can we improve the response to what seems to be an increasing trend? 
    Chairperson
    Speaker image for David Shukman
    David Shukman, Author, Editor, Speaker, Consultant
    Speakers
    Speaker image for Gav Kearsley
    Gav Kearsley, GMFRS Coordinator - UK International Search & Rescue Team
    Speaker image for Will Oliver
    Will Oliver, Water Officer - MREW
    Speaker image for Sophy Brough
    Sophy Brough, Deputy Paddlecraft Lead, High Risk Search Team
13:25
  1. Under pressure: Is your workforce ready?
    Protecting the Protectors Stage Sponsored by MSA Safety
    50 mins
    This interactive session will challenge how confident you are in your organisation’s preparedness. It explores how the National Occupational Standards for Resilience and Emergencies support workforce development, and how a scenario-informed approach assesses preparedness in practice. It will explore how decision-making, coordination and workforce sustainability are tested under pressure - and what organisations can do to strengthen capability when it matters most. 
    Speakers
    Speaker image for Ben Hall
    Ben Hall, Operations Director - Resilience Advisors Network
    Speaker image for Dave Winspear
    Dave Winspear, Regional Head of EPRR - UK Health Security Agency
    Speaker image for Laura Schell
    Laura Schell, Client Services Director - Workforce Development Trust
    Speaker image for Jon Freegard
    Jon Freegard, Client Delivery Director - Workforce Development Trust
14:20
  1. An uplifting session on navigating hard times from the UK’s leading expert on disaster recovery 
    Protecting the Protectors Stage Sponsored by MSA Safety
    50 mins
    Returning to The Emergency Services Show for a second time, Lucy Easthope shares poignant stories that provide a ‘roadmap for resilience in the face of adversity.’  Armed with two decades of experience and her latest book, Come What May, Lucy brings her insights to this valuable fireside chat where she shows she is the perfect person to provide life-changing lessons for coping with crisis.  
    Chairperson
    Speaker image for Catherine Levin
    Catherine Levin, Editor - Emergency Services Times
    Speakers
    Speaker image for Lucy Easthope
    Lucy Easthope, Director - Whatevernext
15:15
  1. Communicating the truth in crisis when wading through AI slop
    Protecting the Protectors Stage Sponsored by MSA Safety
    40 mins
    In a world where no conversation is complete without at least one reference to AI, how do those who are responding to crisis know what is true and what is not? Generating nonsense, hallucinating and responding to questions may all be in a day’s work for some AI applications but are we all critical enough of what we read and what we see – is that video authentic? Are those voices the people we think they are? It’s a moment at the show to reflect with our experts from the Emergency Planning Society on how to communicate the truth when all is not what it seems.  
    Chairperson
    Speaker image for Jeannie Barr
    Jeannie Barr, Chair - EPS
    Speakers
    Speaker image for Keith Still
    Keith Still, Director - Crowd Risk Analysis
    Speaker image for Stephen Arundell
    Stephen Arundell, Vice Chair - EPS
    Speaker image for Andy Holdsworth
    Andy Holdsworth, Founder / Director - Holdsworth Consultancy Ltd
16:00
  1. What the threat of war does to your emergency planning – the view from Sweden and the UK
    Protecting the Protectors Stage Sponsored by MSA Safety
    45 mins
    We wrap up the first day of the show by looking up and out beyond our borders. In this fascinating conversation brought to you by fire chiefs from Stockholm and London, they consider how the threat of war affects daily operations and why there is a continuum from emergency preparedness, civil defence to total defence.  
    Speakers
    Speaker image for Peter Arnevall
    Peter Arnevall, Chief Fire Officer - Stockholm Fire Brigade
    Speaker image for Pat Goulbourne
    Pat Goulbourne, Assistant Commissioner for Operational Resilience and Control - London Fire Brigade
10:35
  1. Moving the conversation about fire contaminants and cancer forward
    Protecting the Protectors Stage Sponsored by MSA Safety
    40 mins
    After years of campaigning, John Lord has increasingly influenced the way that firefighters think about the way they operate, how they view their health and, most importantly, how GPs view the risks they face and bring home to their families. He wants to move the conversation forward with this panel discussion on how to change behaviours and practice and what you can do to add your voice into one huge, unmissable bellow that can be heard by politicians, GPs and fire chiefs. 
    Speakers
    Speaker image for John Lord
    John Lord, CEO - Simtrainer
    Speaker image for Chris Thornton
    Chris Thornton, Station Manager - Biggin Hill Airport Fire and Rescue Service
    Speaker image for Ian Ray
    Ian Ray, Health and Safety Adviser - Surrey Fire and Rescue Service
11:15
  1. Protecting police officers and what it takes to get the kit to fit
    Protecting the Protectors Stage Sponsored by MSA Safety
    45 mins

    ‘Cheap, uncomfortable and scruffy’ these are the words that delegates at a recent policing conference used to describe their own uniform. Last year we brought you the results of the Police Federation led uniform survey and now we bring you up to date with this NPCC led panel to share how they are taking a pragmatic, scientific approach to developing uniform and body armour that works for everyone. A single national policing catalogue could well be the answer – but do you agree? Join our panel to contribute to this discussion about uniform today and find out about the Future Uniform Project.   

    Speakers
    Speaker image for Dan Ivey
    Dan Ivey, Commander - Metropolitan Police
    Speaker image for Steph Parker
    Steph Parker, Assistant Chief Constable - Greater Manchester Police
    Speaker image for Hayley-Jade May
    Hayley-Jade May, Inspector - Metropolitan Police
12:05
  1. Women in search and rescue – kit designed for men and what needs to change  
    Protecting the Protectors Stage Sponsored by MSA Safety
    45 mins
    If we want women to feel included and respected in the workplace, we must ensure that the equipment we give them is fit for purpose. We shouldn’t expect women to have to think about how they will remove it to go to the toilet, when they need to be laser focused on the job and its hazards. Join our panel to hear their experience but more importantly their advice on what needs to be done to change the design of kit. For anyone involved in women’s PPE, this is for you.  
    Chairperson
    Speaker image for Lanna Deamer
    Lanna Deamer, Deputy Editor - Emergency Services Times
    Speakers
    Speaker image for Bianca Thomas-Mourne
    Bianca Thomas-Mourne, Coordinator - Breaking Boundaries
    Speaker image for Lottie Robinson
    Lottie Robinson - Bowland Pennine Mountain Rescue
    Speaker image for Abby Hannah
    Abby Hannah, International Technical Sales Director - PBI
    Speaker image for Paige Williams
    Paige Williams, Station Manager - Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service
14:00
  1. Is your building ready for Martyn’s Law?
    Protecting the Protectors Stage Sponsored by MSA Safety
    40 mins
    With the long-awaited guidance for how to comply with Martyn’s Law published and the enforcement regime under the Security Industry Association out for consultation, this session is perfectly timed to consider what training and equipment venues should have in place should the worst happen. Our panel will talk about their preparations, the role of bleed kits, defibs and other healthcare equipment that are appropriate and proportionate to the risk. It’s a practical session and we are delighted that the Director of Security at the home of the show will share his experience with us too. 
    Speakers
    Speaker image for Lynn Thomas
    Lynn Thomas, Medical Director - St John Ambulance
    Speaker image for Henry Havis
    Henry Havis, Director of Security - NEC Birmingham
14:45
  1. Keynote: Figen Murray, the accidental campaigner
    Protecting the Protectors Stage Sponsored by MSA Safety
    45 mins
    Figen Murray OBE is a formidable campaigner who has changed the way we see security in buildings long before the frontline responders arrive. We are honoured that Figen can join us at the show. She will be talking to Catherine Levin in an unmissable fireside chat, reflecting on the nine years since her son Martyn was killed in the Manchester Arena bombing and why April 2027 is such an important date for her and public safety in this country.  
    Chairperson
    Speaker image for Catherine Levin
    Catherine Levin, Editor - Emergency Services Times
    Speakers
    Speaker image for Figen Murray OBE
    Figen Murray OBE, Public Safety Campaigner

 

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