Arstella Joy Silva

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)

Barbara Boakyewah

Project Consultant

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

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

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.

Albert Chang

Student Engineer

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.

Abdulkadir Omar

Project Consultant

Katherine Brownlie

Finance & Proposal Coordinator

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.

Dicpalsinh Solanki

Senior Fire Engineer

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.  

Kareem Morsi

Fire Engineer

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.

Leena Othman

Fire Engineer

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.

Zitian (Dylan) Zhou

Student Engineer

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.

Ramesh Ravindranathan

Principal Fire Engineer

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.

Rahul Rawat

Fire Consultant

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.

Jabir Jamal

Senior Fire Engineer

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.

Elizabeth Johnson

Project Manager – Australia

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

Chris Joseph

Project Engineer – Australia

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.

Benjamin Hughes-Brown

Director – Australia

Mahmoud Ehab

Fire Engineer

Sheik Salahudeen

Senior Fire Consultant

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.

Sheik Ibrahim

Senior Fire Engineer

He has been involved in the design and execution of numerous projects in accordance with local and international codes and standards.

Oprite Bobmanuel

Project Consultant

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.

Heather Austin

Project Consultant

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.  

Armando Jr. Custado

Fire Consultant

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. 

Yolybeth Doropan

Senior Fire Engineer

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.

Firoz Khan

Fire Engineer

• Bachelor of Technology in Civil Engineering, (Ram Manohar Lohia University India)
• Diploma in Civil Engineering, (Luna Institute, Kerala, India)
• AutoCAD (Autodesk)
• Revit MEP (Autodesk)

Abdalla A. F. Lozon

Senior Fire Engineer

• Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, American University of Sharjah, UAE
• NFPA 101: Life Safety Code, National Fire Protection Association, USA

Padmanabhan Kaushik

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

Gopi Kannan

Senior Fire Engineer

• Bachelor of Electrical and Electronics Engineering (First Class), Manonmanium Sundaranar University, India, 2002
• NFPA 101: Life Safety Code, National Fire Protection Association, USA

Faimeen F. Shah

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

Jay A. Puno

Senior Fire Engineer

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

Ahamed Thoufeeq

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

Tom J. Wood

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

Jack Keays

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

Sarah Curl

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

Samuel A. Boadi

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

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

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

• 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

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

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