- What inspired you to start a career in fire engineering?
I studied civil engineering at Sultan Qaboos University. As part of my degree, I was given the opportunity to work on a research project that allowed me to explore fire engineering. During this project, we examined a steel structure at an elevated temperature and, after a successful project outcome, I decided to explore the fire aspect of engineering further. I then attended a fire engineering conference that turned out to be the catalyst for me pivoting my career and focusing on fire engineering consultancy.
I joined Tenable FEC in 2011. In 2015, after completing five years of practical experience where I had the privilege to work on prestigious projects such as Muscat International Airport, I was accepted onto a Masters degree program to study fire engineering.
- What does it mean to be part of the Tenable FEC team?
Being part of the Tenable team means a lot to me, and I see the company as my second home and my colleagues as my extended family. Having the opportunity to work with Tenable has opened a door for me, allowing me to take a different career path than what I had initially set out for myself. I am encouraged and supported to develop myself professionally, and I’m always learning something new, whether it’s from my reading or through the projects we work on. In addition to my involvement in technical development, I am now part of the management team, which allows me to enhance my leadership skills daily through interacting with the team. I believe my bright future started at Tenable.
- What are some of the highlights from your Ten years with Tenable?
Firstly, Tenable has allowed me to become one of Oman’s fire and life safety experts, and the incredible support I received from the team to reach this stage in my career has been immeasurable. Secondly, I have worked on some of the regions most notable and iconic projects, including Muscat International Airport, Duqm Refinery , an independent 2000MW power plant, Mall of Oman, Oman Conference and Exhibition Center, Oman Royal Opera House, Oman Across Ages Museum. Finally, I could not have successfully completed my Master’s degree without the support and encouragement of Tenable. Within the last ten years, I have become a different person technically and as a leader, and I will always be grateful for the trust I received from our Founder, Sultan.
- Is there a stand-out project you have worked on you are particularly proud of?
Muscat International Airport took many years to complete and, during that time, I was able to acquire a new skill set during each stage of the project. I was able to meet many experts across all business areas beyond fire engineering. At the time of the project, fire engineering in Oman was still a relatively new part of the construction industry, so our involvement enabled Tenable to play a significant role in setting the benchmark for future projects and industry evolvement.
- What unique challenges have you faced throughout your career?
Fire engineering was a new field when I joined, so taking the leap into this career has been the biggest challenge. As I was only introduced to the concept in my final year of university, I was not even aware of all the different codes used within the industry. However, with time, many long nights in the office and determined effort, I am proud to now call myself an expert principal fire engineer.
As we win more and more projects across different industries, we all face the challenge of learning the intricacies of each sector as well as the relevant country and international codes. Additionally, increasing awareness around the vital role fire engineering plays within a buildings life cycle continues to be a challenge. However, we envisage this will change when the next Oman code amendment is released.
- Who has been your most important mentor – and what did you learn from them?
There are too many to name! During my ten years with Tenable, my mentor has been Sultan Al Maskri. Sultan was the person who encouraged me to join Tenable, gave me the chance to build a long term career and supported me as I studied for my Master’s degree. He has also placed an incredible amount of trust in me, allowing me to work across different business departments to ensure I was gaining as much knowledge as possible about the business. I worked in the marketing and proposal department for over a year. I also worked as a consultancy engineering manager. I am now part of the management team, contributing to business strategy and team training. All of these roles have helped to shape the person I am today.
- What advice would you give to your younger self?
Don’t only depend on your qualifications for success. To progress, you must gain as much experience as possible and work to develop yourself as a person. I think being a well-rounded professional with expertise across a number of business functions puts you in a much better position to make critical decisions and act not only on your own behalf but on the behalf of the business and your colleagues.
- What do you predict will be the most transformative or disruptive factor in your sector in the next decade?
I believe we have a bright future as a sector, and the increased support we continue to see from the local authorities will be what elevates fire engineering to the next level.