Meet Our Mentors

Empowering the next generation of talent

We’re excited to be launching our brand‑new mentoring programme in September 2026, designed to support emerging talent as they take their next steps in their careers. To make this possible, we’re bringing together a diverse group of mentors who are passionate about guiding others, sharing their experience, and making a real impact.

ceranda

Ceranda Argue

claire gould

Claire Gould

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Priya Bharath-Meades

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Charlie Hopkin

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Ashley Gill

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Kremena Angelova

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Julia Bariotakis

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Nikki Barrow

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Zoe Dunn

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Katie Murphy

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Ceranda Argue

 

I returned to full time education in 2009 and graduated from Letterkenny Institute of Technology in 2012 with a BSc in Architectural Technology and a BSc Honours in Fire Safety Engineering. I began my career as a graduate fire engineer in 2012 and have worked in the industry ever since. My career has given me the chance to work on a wide range of projects across the UK, Ireland and the Middle East, including residential developments, hotels, shopping centres, theme parks, airports, football stadiums, and major master planning schemes. I am now an Associate Fire Engineer with Ashton Fire. I joined the team in March 2021 and established the Ashton Fire Ireland office in Buncrana, Co Donegal. What began as a one-person office has grown into a strong team of 14, including engineers from graduate to associate level and two operations staff. I lead the Fire Engineering Team in Ireland and enjoy supporting both our people and our projects. I am excited about taking part in the Women Talking Fire mentoring initiative launching in September 2026

claire gould

Claire Gould

 

Claire Gould is a design and marketing manager with over 16 years of experience, driven by a mix of creativity and strategy. Her current work at Valcan (Manufacturer of non-combustible Cladding Products and Systems), involves diverse projects in branding, design, and communication, drawing on a broad background that includes sectors like local government, education, engineering, and technology. She is passionate about building authentic brands, translating complex ideas into compelling visuals, and ensuring marketing feels genuinely human. Claire actively seeks new challenges, values the opportunity to connect and share knowledge within her professional network, and is committed to continuous learning.

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Priya Bharath-Meades

 

I’m a positive, ambitious woman with a legal background, thriving in a full-time fire safety career and proudly raising two children. In just over three years, I’ve worked my way up through project management and quantity surveying, qualified as a Fire Risk Assessor, and now serve as a Director of a successful fire safety consultancy. I’m passionate about breaking clichés, proving you can be successful, lead with confidence, and still be an amazing mum. I’m a dreamer who truly believes that if you can dream it, you can become it. Women may be a minority in this industry, but we are one powerful force! I’m proud to be part of Women Talking Fire, which exists to support, empower, and amplify women’s voices, helping you be your best self whilst being heard.

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CHARLIE HOPKIN

 

“I am a chartered engineer with 12 years of experience in fire safety engineering, currently serving as a director at Ashton Fire and holding visiting research positions at the University of Manchester and University of Liverpool. At Ashton Fire, I oversee technical areas including fire and smoke modelling, people movement, software and research. I lead and mentor colleagues in computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modelling, evacuation modelling, and performance-based design, specialising in applying these methods to quantify fire dynamics and human behaviour as part of fire safety strategies. In my academic roles, I have published research covering evacuation behaviour and modelling, fire dynamics, CFD and other computational methods, suppression systems, residential design, and the history of fire safety guidance. I also participate in British Standards Institute (BSI) committees FSH/14 (fire precautions in buildings) and FSH/24 (fire safety engineering).”

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Ashley Gill

 

Ashley is an Associate Technical Consultant specialising in passive fire protection. She has over 10 years of experience in the construction industry, focused on passive fire protection for the past 3 years. She is passionate about improving fire safety standards and supporting others in the sector and promoting inclusivity within the wider fire safety industry.

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Kremena Angelova

 

With a background in structural engineering and fire protection, Kremena brings specialized expertise in the rehabilitation and retrofit of existing buildings. She has a strong interest in passive fire protection and building envelope resilience, with a solution-driven approach that enhances safety and sustainability. She is also active in professional organisations, supporting the development of young engineers through mentorship and outreach. Kremena is also a proud member of our committee.

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Julia Bariotakis

 

Julia MIFSM is a Fire Alarm Commissioning Engineer and the CEO and Founder of Proper Property Protection. Julia is passionate about empowering more women to enter and thrive within the fire and security industry, sharing her experience to inspire and support the next generation of professionals. Julia is also a proud member of our committee.

nikki barrow

Nikki Barrow

 

I use marketing-led communication skills in my Building Safety Coordinator role to ensure critical safety information is clear, accessible and meaningful for residents, operational teams and stakeholders. I focus on engagement rather than instruction, simplifying technical content, tailoring messages to different audiences and using consistent, empathetic communication to build trust and encourage participation in safety processes.

Alongside written communication, I produce short, purposeful videos that explain building safety projects in a transparent, easy‑to‑understand way. These support internal teams with project updates and compliance messaging, and help residents understand what work is happening, why it matters and what to expect. I take a person‑centred approach to scripting and accessibility to ensure content is inclusive and proportionate.

This marketing-informed approach strengthens safety culture, supports resident confidence and improves the delivery of building safety duties.

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Zoe Dunn

 

With over two decades of experience in the built environment, I bring a unique blend of operational and technical expertise to my role as Managing Director of my External Wall Specialist company. I began with 10 years in Property Management, gaining a strong understanding of building performance, tenant and leaseholder relations, regulatory compliance and long‑term asset value. This hands‑on experience managing diverse portfolios highlighted the importance of external wall integrity and effective fire safety systems. This foundation led naturally into nine years in Fire Safety, where I developed deep technical knowledge of fire prevention, risk assessment and complex safety regulations. My work spans passive and active fire protection, with particular expertise in the legislative and practical challenges of external wall systems—cladding, insulation and facades—in the post‑Grenfell landscape.

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I am a property industry professional with over 15 years’ experience across residential lettings, block management and, more recently, fire safety within high‑rise buildings. Throughout my career, I’ve built strong operational and regulatory knowledge, alongside a customer‑focused approach to supporting residents and managing complex property environments.

In recent years, I have specialised in fire safety within high‑rise residential buildings and currently work at Dunn as a Project Coordinator. I support the planning, coordination and delivery of fire safety works, ensuring projects are carried out efficiently, compliantly and with a clear focus on resident safety and communication. I work closely with consultants, contractors, managing agents, Fire Engineers and local authorities to help drive essential safety improvements in occupied and often challenging buildings.