Our Team

Abdalla A. F. Lozon
Senior Fire Engineer
See Bio

Abdulkadir Omar
Project Consultant

Ahamed Thoufeeq
Regional Director
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Albert Chang
Student Engineer
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Alina Nathan
Marketing Specialist

Armando Jr. Custado
Fire Consultant
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Arstella Joy Silva
Executive Assistant
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Ashhad Siddiqui
Finance Manager
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Barbara Boakyewah
Project Consultant
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Benjamin Hughes-Brown
Director – Australia

Brad Robson
Project Engineer – Australia

Chris Joseph
Project Engineer – Australia
See Bio

Danielle LaFleche
Financial Controller

Dicpalsinh Solanki
Senior Fire Engineer
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Elizabeth Johnson
Project Manager – Australia

Faimeen F. Shah
Managing Director
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Firoz Khan
Fire Engineer
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Gopi Kannan
Senior Fire Engineer
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Heather Austin
Project Consultant

Hiren Patel
Project Consultant

Ishraat Masood
Winnipeg Lead
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Jabir Jamal
Senior Fire Engineer
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Jack Keays
Principal Canada

Jay A. Puno
Senior Fire Engineer
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Kareem Morsi
Fire Engineer
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Katherine Brownlie
Finance & Proposal Coordinator
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Leena Othman
Fire Engineer
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Mahmoud Ehab
Fire Engineer
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Nishant Verma
Project Consultant

Oprite Bobmanuel
Project Consultant

Padmanabhan Kaushik
Principal Fire Engineer
See Bio

Rahul Rawat
Fire Consultant
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Ramesh Ravindranathan
Principal Fire Engineer
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Samuel A. Boadi
Project Consultant

Sarah Curl
Toronto Lead

Sheik Salahudeen
Senior Fire Consultant

Sheik Ibrahim
Senior Fire Engineer
See Bio

Tom J. Wood
Regional Director
See Bio

Yolybeth Doropan
Senior Fire Engineer
See Bio

Vanessa Tantalo
Director, Special Projects

Zitian (Dylan) Zhou
Student Engineer
See Bio
Arstella Joy Silva
a.joy@vortexfec.com
Arstella Joy is a qualified Executive Assistant with over 15 years of experience in Administration and Finance industry. She specialises in building client and vendor databases, billing & finance processes, preparing reports, standard documentation and managing front desk and other office operations. She is dedicated, resourceful and team player who is willing to work above and beyond the call of duty.
Arstella has been instrumental in developing and maintaining the Vortex’s ISO 9001 certification and ISO 17020 accreditation. She is one of the qualified auditors and responsible for ensuring Vortex’s Integrated Management Systems is being implemented.

- Bachelor of Science in Business Administration Major in Marketing Management, Lyceum of the Philippines University (Philippines)
- Certified Office Administrator (American Certification Institute)
- Computer System Technology (Japan School of Advance Technology, Philippines)
- Certified Office Administrator (Blue Ocean Academy, Dubai)
- ISO QMS 9001:2015 Foundation Training (Bureau Veritas, Dubai)
- ISO QMS 9001:2015 Internal Auditor Training ( Bureau Veritas, Dubai)
- QuickBooks – Accounting software (Webinar, Dubai)
- Apprenticeship – Management Skills training (Paragon Int’l, Philippines)
- English as a Second Language (Paragon Int’l, Philippines)
- Train the trainers – T3 (Philippines)
Barbara Boakyewah
Project Consultant
B.Boakyewah@vortexfec.com
Barbara holds a Master of Applied Science Degree (M.A.Sc.) in Civil Engineering from Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada, with a specialization in Fire Safety Engineering, and a Bachelor of Science in Fire and Disaster Management from UENR, Ghana.
Barbara assists in Building Code consulting, Fire Code Consulting, Fire Evacuation Design, Accessibility and other Fire Engineering and Structural Engineering related tasks. She added significant value to research at Carleton University by using CFD/FDS (PyroSim) to conduct a Numerical Simulation on the impact of make-up air velocities on the smoke conditions in an atrium.

Alina Nathan
a.nathan@vortexfec.com
Alina adds value to both internal and external stakeholders, with her vast experience in marketing and an in-depth knowledge of real estate development.

- Bachelor of Administration Studies, Honours Degree Marketing, York University, Toronto, Canada
- Certificate Digital Marketing, Camp Tech, Toronto, Canada
Ashhad Siddiqui
a.siddiqui@vortexfec.com
Ashhad has more than 13 years of diversified professional experience in finance, accounting and audit in the UAE, Oman, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan.
His experience has included working across various industries and Big4 accounting firms.
His area of expertise is corporate finance, operational finance, financial reporting, budgeting, treasury and P&L management.

- ACCA, Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, United Kingdom
- Master of Science in Professional Accountancy), University of London, United Kingdom
- Bachelor of Commerce, University of Karachi, Pakistan
Albert Chang
Student Engineer
a.chang@vortexfec.com
Albert is a recent graduate from the University of Sydney in NSW, receiving degrees in Civil Engineering (structural) and Design in Architecture. His experience on projects from alternative fire engineered design solutions, product code compliance and advice, to FDS fire simulation, has allowed him to work on several projects ranging from offices, schools, shopping centres and multistorey residential developments under the guidance of the Senior Engineers within Vortex Fire.
Through his knowledge in the architectural and engineering background, Albert provides strong support in developing performance-based fire engineering solutions and communicating with stakeholders.

- Certified Financial Professional (CFP)
- Certificate IV in Business Administration (equivalent HNC / NVQ3)
- Accounting and Bookkeeping (Certificate)
- Diploma in Social Media & Digital Marketing
Abdulkadir Omar
Project Consultant
a.omar@vortexfec.com

- Bachelor of Science in Engineering (Mechanical – Specialization: Thermofluids Stream) with a Management Minor, University of Manitoba, 2015
- Engineers Geoscientists Manitoba, Professional Engineer
Katherine Brownlie
Finance & Proposal Coordinator
k.brownlie@vortexfec.com
Katherine is an accomplished financial operation professional with over 20 years of expertise in banking, account management and financial reporting. Skilled in empowering and engaging teams, fostering cohesive relationships, and investigating and analysing data to improve processes with 10 years of her career based in the UAE.
Her experience has included working extensively with business finance, project management, HR, coordinating proposals, tenders, & trade finances, along with collaborating with cross-functional teams to ensure successful outcomes while working on finance and operations within a variety of industries located in Australia, UK and Dubai.
Her expertise is in planning & analysis, budgeting, accounting, financial reporting, and project management, along with proposal development and coordination.

- Certified Financial Professional (CFP)
- Certificate IV in Business Administration (equivalent HNC / NVQ3)
- Accounting and Bookkeeping (Certificate)
- Diploma in Social Media & Digital Marketing
Dicpalsinh Solanki
Senior Fire Engineer
d.solanki@vortexfec.com
Dicpalsinh is a Chartered Professional Engineer with over 10 years working experience around the globe, including over 3 years in the Middle East.
Dicpalsinh has wide range of experience working with several international codes such as NZ Building Codes, BS, IBC, NFPA, Qatar/Dubai Civil Defence Codes etc. His wide ranging experience with several international standards helps him to provide holistic approach to projects, adapting to individual client requirements and facilitates him to provide technical solutions ensuring client benefits.
He possesses profound knowledge to use standard fire engineering software packages such as FDS, Pyrosim, C-Fast and B-Risk.

- Master of Science – Fire & Explosion Engineering, University of Leeds, UK
- Bachelor of Science – Fire, Gujarat University, India
- Chartered Professional Engineer (Fire Engineer), Engineering New Zealand
- Member of Institution of Fire Engineers (MIFireE)
- Professional Member of Society of Fire Protection Engineers (PMSFPE)
Kareem Morsi
Fire Engineer
k.morsi@vortexfec.com
Kareem is a bilingual engineer fluent in Arabic and English. He is an accomplished Mechanical Engineering graduate with a strong passion for tackling complex engineering problems. With a solid academic foundation and an accelerated Master’s program in Mechanical Engineering, he possesses a profound understanding of the field. Kareem’s experience includes preparing fire life safety strategies for buildings in accordance with the UAE Fire & Life Safety Code of Practice and NFPA 101 Life Safety Code.
Through leadership programs, he has honed his interpersonal skills, becoming an effective communicator and valuable team player. With technical expertise, practical experience, and a drive for problem-solving, Kareem is poised to make a significant impact in fire engineering field.

- Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, American University of Sharjah, UAE
- Accelerated Masters Program in Mechanical Engineering, American University of Sharjah, UAE
- Member of the Mechanical Engineering Honor Society (Pi Tau Sigma), USA
- NFPA 101 Essentials (2021 Edition): Life Safety Code Certificate
Leena Othman
Fire Engineer
l.othman@vortexfec.com
Leena is a graduate in the field of chemical engineering, equipped with a solid foundation in her field of study. She has developed a keen interest in the preparation and review of fire life safety strategies, aligning her expertise with the requirements set forth by the UAE Fire & Life Safety Code of Practice and the NFPA 101 Life Safety Code. Fluent in both Arabic and English, she effectively communicates her ideas and collaborates with diverse teams.
Leena’s detail-oriented approach and commitment to continuous learning set her apart. Her dedication to meticulousness and her strong foundational knowledge makes her an emerging talent in the field of fire engineering. She is poised to make a meaningful impact in promoting fire safety and contributing to the development of sustainable and secure structures.

- Bachelor of Science (Chemical Engineering), American University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
- NFPA 101 Essentials (2021 Edition), Life Safety Code Certificate of Completion
Zitian (Dylan) Zhou
Student Engineer
z.zhou@vortexfec.com
Zitian is an imminent graduate from the Australian National University in Canberra, where he will receive a master’s degree in Machine Learning and Computer Vision. Prior to this, he graduated from the University of Tasmania with an Honours degree in Engineering, specializing in Electronics and Communication.
His involvement in projects, spanning from fire engineered solutions and product code compliance consulting has given him the opportunity to participate in a variety of undertakings. These projects span across various sectors, including office buildings, apartments, and other diverse fields. Zitian offers robust support in the development of performance-based fire engineering solutions and excels in liaising with relevant stakeholders.

- Master of Machine Learning and Computer Vision, The Australian National University, Australia
- Bachelor of Engineering (Electronics and Communication) with Honours, University of Tasmania, Australia
Ramesh Ravindranathan
Principal Fire Engineer
r.ramesh@vortexfec.com
Ramesh has more than 21 years of professional experience in fire safety consultancy and inspection in the UAE, Qatar and India.
He is an experienced fire consultant with expertise in preparation of fire life safety reports, risk assessments, gap analysis reports, inspections etc. for new projects and existing buildings. This includes airports, high rise buildings, residential, commercial, industrial buildings, hotels, resorts, shopping malls, hospitals, etc. He has thorough knowledge of codes & standards such as NFPA, IBC, British Standards, UAE FLS Code and civil defence authority requirements.

- Bachelor of Technology – Mechanical Engineering, University of Calicut, India
- NFPA Certified Fire Protection Specialist (CFPS)
- Member, National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
- Member, Society of Fire Protection Engineering (SFPE)
- Certified by Urban Planning & Development Authority – Qatar
- Approved ADCD and DCD Engineer
Rahul Rawat
Fire Consultant
r.rawat@vortexfec.com
Rahul is an experienced BIM FLS Consultant with more than 12 years of experience. He specializes in industrial, commercial, residential, and healthcare projects, overseeing them from concept to completion. With responsibilities ranging from project coordination to designing and detailing, work distribution, QA/QC review, and MEP services coordination, he possesses a comprehensive skill set. His expertise extends to a deep understanding of Codes and standards, including NFPA, NBC, UAE, Qatar, and Saudi local bylaws, combined with proficiency in construction techniques. Rahul extensive knowledge and diverse skill set greatly enhance the value he brings to any project.

- Diploma in Mechanical Engineer from Institute of Mechanical Engineers, India.
- Engineering Technician (EngTech) from Institute of Mechanical Engineers (UK).
- Member of Institute of Mechanical Engineers (UK).
- Registered member of the Engineering Council (UK).
- NFPA 101 NFPA 101 (2021), Life Safety Code Essentials Certificate of Completion.
- NFPA 13 Standard Installation of the Sprinkler Systems-Certificate of Completion.
- NFPA 20 Installation of Stationary Fire Pumps-Certificate of Completion
- CWBSP Certified Water-Based Systems Professional Certificate of Completion
- NFPA 25 Inspection, Testing & Maintenance Certificate of Completion
- CFPE Fire Protection and Life Safety Systems Review-Certificate of Completion
Jabir Jamal
Senior Fire Engineer
j.jamal@vortexfec.com
Jabir Jamal is a Chartered Professional Engineer (Fire Safety) with The Institution of Engineers Australia. Specialising in fire safety for transport projects, he has contributed to the development of transport projects across Australia, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia.
With extensive experience, he is capable of designing and implementing effective fire safety measures for a wide range of structures, including rail and road tunnels, metro stations, stadiums, and large-scale commercial buildings.
He is also proficient in widely used fire engineering software packages, allowing him to conduct advanced fire simulations, analyse smoke movement, predict fire behaviour, and evaluate evacuation strategies accurately.
His understanding of fire safety regulations and proficiency in developing bespoke performance solutions make him capable of delivering dependable fire safety solutions.

- Chartered Professional Engineer (Fire Safety Engineering), The Institution of Engineers Australia
- Bachelor of Engineering – Mechanical (University of New South Wales, Australia)
- Master of Engineering – Building Fire Safety and Risk (Victoria University, Australia)
Elizabeth Johnson
Project Manager – Australia
canberra@vortexfec.com
Elizabeth is adept at project management, travel management, maintaining databases, billing and finance processes, overseeing branding and document review along with organizing large-scale meetings and workshops along with managing third-party vendors. As a highly self-motivated individual and team leader, she is skilled at multi-tasking and maintaining a strong attention to detail whilst demonstrating professionalism and high communication skills to meet both client and company needs.
After creating and implementing a new project management system, Elizabeth has been instrumental in developing further processes to create greater efficiencies in-house allowing our Engineers more time to focus on their clients and to easily track the progress of projects.

Brad Robson
Project Engineer – Australia
b.robson@vortexfec.com
Brad has an in-depth understanding and proven experience with the application of local and international codes and standards to suite his clients needs.

- Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) – Majoring in Mechanical and Material Systems and a Minor in Electrical and Communication Systems – The Australian National University, Canberra
Chris Joseph
Project Engineer – Australia
c.joseph@vortexfec.com
Christopher began his work in Fire Safety Engineering as a student with Ignis Solutions, and after graduating, he then joined Ignis Solutions as a full-time Graduate Engineer.
His experience on projects from fire engineered solutions, product code compliance and advice, to bushfire compliance and fire testing, has allowed him to work on multiple large projects ranging from theatres, shopping centres and multistorey residential developments under the guidance of the Senior Engineers within Ignis Solutions.
Through his knowledge in the systems engineering approach, data analysis and project management, Christopher provides strong support in developing performance-based fire engineering solutions and communicating with stakeholders.

- Bachelor of Engineering Honours (Mechanical and Material Systems Engineering), Australian National University, Australia
- Bachelor of Business Administration, Australian National University, Australia
Benjamin Hughes-Brown
Director – Australia
b.hughes-brown@vortexfec.com
studies, design and application of fire safety systems for occupant life protection as well as establishing Australia’s first multi-function private fire safety testing and research facility.
Benjamin specialises in working with product manufacturers to establish their materials compliance with the Building
Code of Australia. Benjamin is a proactive engineer with good communication skills and an awareness of the importance of cost effective designs to achieve the required fire and life safety outcomes across a range of engineering projects. Benjamin has experience in communicating fire engineering issues to authorities, fire engineers, principle certifying authorities and design teams. Benjamin displays a high level of commitment to his projects and the clients, who have been impressed with his prompt follow-up and feedback on the relevant issues.

- Master of Fire Safety Engineering, University of Western Sydney
- Graduate Diploma Bushfire Engineering, University of Western Sydney
- Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical), University of Technology, Sydney
- Diploma of Engineering Practise, University of Technology, Sydney
- Diploma of Engineering (Mechanical), Canberra Institute of Technology
- Accredited Certifier Program, University of Technology, Sydney, Australia
Mahmoud Ehab
Fire Engineer
m.ihab@vortexfec.com

- Degree (BSc Mechanical Engineering), American University of Sharjah, UAE
- Degree (Minor in Applied and Computational Mathematics), American University of Sharjah, UAE
- Member, National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), USA
- NFPA 101 Essentials (2021 Edition): Life Safety Code Certificate of completion
- Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) Certificate
Sheik Salahudeen
Senior Fire Consultant
s.salahudeen@vortexfec.com
Salahudeen’s expertise includes coordination of architectural design with MEP systems and building fire codes as per the project requirements. He has been involved in the preparation of fire life safety drawings as per the local AHJ requirements.

- Bachelor of Architecture (First Class), Madurai Kamaraj University, India, 2001
- Certified Dubai Civil Defence (DCD) & Abu Dhabi Civil Defence (ADCD) House of Expertise (HOE) fire consultant
- Member, National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), USA
- Registered with Council of Architecture (COA-India)
Sheik Ibrahim
Senior Fire Engineer
s.ibrahim@vortexfec.com
He has been involved in the design and execution of numerous projects in accordance with local and international codes and standards.

- Bachelor of Electrical and Electronics Engineering (First Class), Kuvempu University of Karnataka, India, April 2002
- Certified Dubai Civil Defence (DCD) & Abu Dhabi Civil Defence (ADCD) House of Expertise (HOE) fire consultant
- Member, National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), USA
Oprite Bobmanuel
Project Consultant
o.bobmanuel@vortexfec.com
Oprite has over 2 years’ experience specializing in structural engineering. Having worked on projects across Nigeria, her experience ranges from analysing and designing reinforced concrete (residential, industrial and commercial developments) in accordance with the building code, retrofitting and rehabilitation of existing structures.

- Master of Applied Science (Civil), Carleton University, 2021
- Bachelor of Engineering (Civil), University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria, 2017
Heather Austin
Project Consultant
h.austin@vortexfec.com
Heather has over 10 years’ experience specializing in fire protection engineering technology, building code and fire code consulting. Having worked on projects across Canada, her experience ranges from building reviews and building condition assessments to code interpretation for alternative solutions.

- Master’s Degree – Fire Protection and Administration, University of North Carolina Charlotte, Charlotte, NC, 2013
- Bachelor of Science – Fire and Safety Engineering Technology, University of North Carolina Charlotte, Charlotte, NC, 2011
- Diploma – Fire Protection Engineering Technology, Seneca College, Toronto, ON, 2009
Armando Jr. Custado
Fire Consultant
a.custado@vortexfec.com
Armando has more than 10 years of experience in drafting and designing fire life safety systems as per standards and local authority requirements. His experience includes airport, mixed-use buildings, hotels, commercial, schools, industrial and residential developments.

- Certificate for Comprehensive AutoCAD 2007 with Color Rendering
- Certificate for Autodesk 3Ds Max 2010; Architectural Design and Visualization
- Certification for Autodesk AutoCAD 2D and 3D Training
- Certification for Revit 2015 Training
Yolybeth Doropan
Senior Fire Engineer
y.doropan@vortexfec.com
Yolybeth has more than 13 years of professional experience in passive fire applications and internal inspections in the Middle East and internationally.
Her experience has included hospitals, hotels and airports for gap analysis, inspection and testing & commissioning of passive fire protection systems.
Her area of expertise is undertaking inspections of passive fire protection systems as per local AHJ requirements. This includes reviews and approvals of details prior to application onsite, advising clients and liaising with the client and project team for site issues.

- Bachelor of Engineering (Civil Engineering), University of Southeastern, Philippines
- Certified FM 4991 DRI (Designated Responsible Individual)
- Member of Society of Engineer – UAE
- Certified Dubai Civil Defence (DCD) & Abu Dhabi Civil Defence(ADCD) House of Expertise (HOE) Fire Consultant
Firoz Khan
Fire Engineer
f.khan@vortexfec.com
Firoz is also knowledgeable in UAE Fire and Life Safety Code of Practice, NFPA 101 and NFPA 5000 codes. He has been involved in design reviews of several buildings and preparation of fire strategy drawings.

- Bachelor of Technology in Civil Engineering, (Ram Manohar Lohia University India)
- Diploma in Civil Engineering, (Luna Institute, Kerala, India)
- AutoCAD (Autodesk)
- Revit MEP (Autodesk)
- Passive Fire training
- Fire/smoke curtains
- Certified Dubai Civil Defence (DCD)
- House of Expertise (HOE) fire consultant
- NFPA 101 Life safety code
- Autodesk Revit MEP Professional
Abdalla A. F. Lozon
Senior Fire Engineer
a.lozon@vortexfec.com
Abdalla is also fluent in both English and Arabic languages and has been liaising with local Authorities to obtain building approvals. He is also familiar with AutoCAD and has been involved in drafting of fire strategy drawings for numerous projects.

- Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, American University of Sharjah, UAE
- NFPA 101: Life Safety Code, National Fire Protection Association, USA
- NFPA 92: Standard for Smoke Control Systems, National Fire Protection Association, USA
- Master of Fire Protection Engineering, University of Maryland, USA (ongoing)
Padmanabhan Kaushik
p.kaushik@vortexfec.com
Kaushik is a mechanical engineer who has over 15 years of experience in the field of fire protection systems. He has worked in a wide variety of projects including residential buildings, mixed use developments, office buildings, hospitals, airports, aircraft hangars, automobile plants, warehouses, food industry and, oil & gas plants.
Kaushik has in-depth knowledge on international and local codes and standards such as NFPA, IBC, NBC, SBC and UAE Fire & Life Safety Code of Practice. He specialises in façade fire assessments, fire protection engineering and building fire & life safety code consulting.

- Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical Engineering), Visveswaraya Technological University, India
- NFPA Certified Fire Protection Specialist (CFPS)
- Certified Dubai Civil Defence (DCD) & Abu Dhabi Civil Defence (ADCD)
- House of Expertise (HOE) fire consultant
- NFPA Certified online trainings courses on NFPA 13, NFPA 20, NFPA 72 and NFPA 101.
- Member, Society of Fire Protection Engineers (SFPE), USA
- Member, Fire & Security Association of India (FSAI), India
- Incorporated Engineer (IEng) Institute of Fire Engineers – under process
Gopi Kannan
Senior Fire Engineer
g.kannan@vortexfec.com
Gopi is familiar with NFPA codes and standards as well as UAE Fire and Life Safety Code of Practice. He has been involved in several projects developing fire safety strategies, occupant load calculations, egress analysis, design reviews and preparation of fire strategy reports and drawings.

- Bachelor of Electrical and Electronics Engineering (First Class), Manonmanium Sundaranar University, India, 2002
- NFPA 101: Life Safety Code, National Fire Protection Association, USA
- Certified Dubai Civil Defence (DCD) & Abu Dhabi Civil Defence (ADCD) House of Expertise (HOE) fire consultant
- Member, National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), USA
Faimeen F. Shah
f.shah@vortexfec.com
Faimeen is passionate about fire safety and takes pride in assisting clients in developing bespoke fire safety strategies to enhance life safety, protect valuable assets, enhance business continuity, and minimise environmental impact. With over two decades of experience in the fire safety industry, Faimeen’s expertise lies in providing fire safety engineering consultancy, conducting complex fire engineering analysis, and ensuring seamless project execution.
Having worked in Sydney, Melbourne, and Dubai since his early beginnings in Auckland, Faimeen brings a diverse range of perspectives to his work. As a Chartered Professional Engineer (specialising in Fire Safety) and a respected Fellow with Engineers Australia, Faimeen actively volunteers and contributes to various international standard committees, including NFPA, SFPE, and ASTM. Through these engagements, Faimeen strives to promote and advance the adoption of robust fire safety engineering practices on a global scale.

- Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical Engineering), University of Auckland, New Zealand
- Master of Engineering (Mechanical Engineering), University of Auckland, New Zealand
- Master of Fire Safety Engineering, University of Western Sydney, Australia
- Life safety code with focus on occupancies, National Fire Protection Association, USA
- Accredited certifier program, University of Technology, Sydney, Australia
- Strategic leadership & service excellence, University of Melbourne, Australia
- Arabic language beginner, University of Wollongong in Dubai, UAE
- External fire spread risk in tall building design, University of Queensland, Australia
- Fire and life safety design of very tall buildings: challenges and strategies, SFPE, New Zealand
- Certified Dubai Civil Defence (DCD) & Abu Dhabi Civil Defence (ADCD) House of Expertise (HOE) fire consultant
- Chartered Professional Engineer (Fire Safety Engineering) and Fellow, The Institution of Engineers Australia
- Principal (Special Expert), NFPA Technical Correlating Committee, Building Code (NFPA 5000), USA
Jay A. Puno
Senior Fire Engineer
j.puno@vortexfec.com
Jay has more than 20 years of professional experience in fire safety consultancy and inspection in the UAE, Qatar and KSA.
His experience has included commercial offices, residential buildings, malls, hospitals, hotels, warehouse, rail and airports projects.
He is an experienced fire consultant with thorough knowledge of international and local codes and standards such as NFPA, IBC, SBC, ASTM and UAE Fire & Life Safety Code of Practice. He specialises in passive and active fire protection systems; façade fire inspections; witnessing testing and commissioning of fire safety systems.

- Bachelor of Engineering (Civil Engineering), Cebu Institute of Technology, Philippines
- Certified Firestop Specialist in Passive Fire Protection (UL/FM Standard)
- FCIA Special inspection for Firestop Systems
- FCIA Protecting of Perimeter
- FCIA Barrier Management System – New Construction to Existing Buildings
- International Building Codes (IBC) International Code Council (ICC), USA
- IFC Firestop Inspector Course
- General Firestop Systems and Anchor Installation (Hilti)
- Certified Dubai Civil Defence (DCD) House of Expertise (HOE) fire consultant
- Member, National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), USA
- IOSH Managing Safely, Institution of Occupational Safety and Health UK
- International Fire Stop Council, USA
Ahamed Thoufeeq
a.thoufeeq@vortexfec.com
Thoufeeq is a mechanical engineer with more than 20 years of fire protection systems engineering experience. He has experience working in Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman and UAE on many complex projects such as airports, power plants, commercial offices and residential buildings, malls and warehouses.
He is an experienced design engineer with a thorough knowledge of international and local codes and standards such as NFPA, SBC, IBC and UAE Fire & Life Safety Code of Practice. Thoufeeq develops practical and cost-effective fire protection system designs which add value during project execution and life of the building.

- Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical Engineering), Madurai Kamaraj University, India
- NFPA 13: Installation of Sprinkler Systems, National Fire Protection Association, USA
- NFPA 72: National Fire Alarm and Signalling Code, National Fire Protection Association, USA
- NFPA 101: Life Safety Code, National Fire Protection Association, USA
- NFPA 92: Standard for Smoke Control Systems, National Fire Protection Association, USA
- NFPA certified Fire Inspector (CFI -I)
- Associate Member of Institution of Fire Engineers (AIFireE)
- Certified Dubai Civil Defence (DCD)
- House of Expertise (HOE) fire consultant
- Associate Member, The Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE), UK
- IOSH Managing Safely, Institution of Occupational Safety and Health UK
- International Fire Stop Council, USA
Tom J. Wood
t.wood@vortexfec.com
Tom is a Fire Engineering working professional with 14 years working experience, and over 9 years based in the Middle East. His experience has included airports, rail, commercial offices and residential buildings, malls and warehouses.
He is an experienced fire consultant with a thorough knowledge of NFPA, SBC, IBC, EN and British codes and standards. He develops practical and cost-effective fire safety strategies and alternative fire engineered solutions using relevant guidance and present these to Authorities for final approval.

- Bachelor of Engineering – Fire and Explosion (2:1) University of Leeds, UK
- NFPA 101: Life Safety Code, National Fire Protection Association, USA
- Associate Member of Institute of Fire Engineers (AIFireE)
- Chartered Engineer (CEng) under process
- Certified Dubai Civil Defence (DCD) & Abu Dhabi Civil Defence (ADCD)
- House of Expertise (HOE) fire consultant
- Member, National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), USA
- Member, Society of Fire Protection Engineers (SFPE), USA
Jack Keays
Professional Engineer
j.keays@vortexfec.com
Jack has advanced analytical skills with the ability to recognize and address fire safety challenges while developing practical engineering solutions.
With each project, Jack engages both internal and external stakeholders in constructive and collaborative relationships. Jack brings value to each project by taking a holistic approach to fire and life safety and by working closely with a cross section of disciplines to deliver optimal solutions.

- Master of Science, Fire Safety Engineering, University of Ulster, Northern Ireland, 2007
- Bachelor of Science, Manufacturing Systems, University of Limerick, Ireland
- Professional Engineers of Ontario, Professional Engineer
- Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of British Columbia, Professional Engineer
- Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta, Professional Engineer
- Engineers Geoscientists Manitoba, Professional Engineer
- Alternate, National Fire Protection Association (NFPA 5000), USA
Sarah Curl
Professional Engineer
s.curl@vortexfec.com
Sarah provides building and fire code consulting services from conceptual design through to construction completion.
With each project, Sarah helps by transforming building code requirements into valuable design approaches to prescriptive building and fire code requirements.

- Masters Certificate in Project Management, Gardiner Centre (through York University), St. John’s, NL, Canada
- Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical), Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s, NL, Canada
- Professional Engineers of Ontario, Professional Engineer
Samuel A. Boadi
s.boadi@vortexfec.com
Over the years, Samuel has worked on various multi-disciplinary projects, providing building code assessments, conducting life safety audits, and completing third-party reviews for various industries such as healthcare, commercial, industrial, institutional, residential, and highly hazard facilities.
Samuel adds significant value through all stages of projects; he assists design teams with the planning of fire and life safety considerations for proposed design options.

- Master of Applied Science, Civil Engineering, Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada
- Bachelor of Science, Civil Engineering, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Ghana
- Certified in Fire Evacuation Design, Lund University, Sweden
Hiren Patel
h.patel@vortexfec.com
Hiren adds significant value to projects with his expertise in fire and explosion engineering.
Hiren is committed to delivering a code compliant design by identifying smart alternative approaches while ensuring building permit approvals.

- Master of Science, Fire & Explosion Engineering, University of Leeds, United Kingdom
- Bachelor of Science, Fire & Safety, Gujarat University, India
Nishant Verma
n.verma@vortexfec.com
Nishant assists design teams with the planning, fire, and life safety considerations of proposed design options. His project experience includes identifying building code design options, developing alternative solutions, and coordinating with the design teams.

- Master of Science, Civil Engineering, Lakehead University, Canada
- Bachelor of Technology, Civil Engineering, M.D.U Rohtak, India
Ishraat Masood
Winnipeg Lead
Professional Engineer
i.masood@vortexfec.com
Ishraat performs building code reviews for buildings referencing the National Building Code of Canada, Ontario Building Code, and Manitoba Building Code for projects in Canada.

- Bachelor of Science in Engineering (Biosystems – Specialization: Sustainable Building Systems), University of Manitoba, Manitoba, Canada
- Engineers Geoscientists Manitoba, Professional Engineer
- Professional Engineers Ontario, Professional Engineer
Danielle LaFleche
d.lafleche@vortexfec.com
With an educational background in Business & Administrative Studies and a keen detail for numbers, she holds several years of experience in a variety of finance roles. Danielle specializes in billing procedures, payroll, job costing & account management.

- Business & Administrative Studies, Certificate with Honours, The University of Winnipeg, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
- Canadian Certified Administrative Professional Designation Program, CCAP – Association of Administrative Professionals – Canada
Vanessa Tantalo
v.tantalo@vortexfec.com
Vanessa is an experienced registered Interior Designer with a strong focus in project management and technical design. Over the past 17 years Vanessa has focused mainly on Corporate Workplace projects while also gaining diverse experience in other sectors including residential, healthcare, seniors living and retail banking.
In addition to her design and project management experience, Vanessa obtained BCIN Large Building Certification in 2013.

- Registered Member, ARIDO
- IDC Member
- NCIDQ Certification
- BCIN Large Building 42511
- Advanced Diploma Interior Design, Sheridan Institute of Technology & Advanced Learning, 2006