Speakers

Jim joined Kent Fire & Rescue Service in March 1998. Following the completion of his 4-year qualification period, he was successful in becoming a member of the Kent Contingent of the UK International Search and Rescue team in 2004. At the time, urban search and rescue within the UK was in its infancy, and Jim made the decision to follow this path within the Fire Service. In 2023, he continues his work as an Operational Watch Manager leading Kent's USAR & Technical Rescue Teams. Jim has attended many incidents over his career, both domestically and overseas. These include the Indonesia earthquake in 2009, Haiti earthquake in 2010, and the Grenfell Tower fire where he spent a week post-fire working to stabilise the structure and assist with the DVI Process. Jim also undertook a capacity-building trip to Myanmar during the refugee crisis in 2017, and following the Turkey-Syria Earthquake in 2023.