The Women in Fire Safety Awards has been established since 2021 and honours the outstanding achievements from the exceptional women working within the fire safety industry. The most recent iteration took place in September 2025 at the Leonardo Royal Hotel London and attracted more than 400 attendees.

The Awards have now been acquired by Western Business Media from its founders Chloe Antoniuk and Kate Blake, who will remain with the business as non-executive directors.

There will now be a year-round editorial focus in Fire Safety Matters to shine a light on the achievements of women in the sector with the aim of further increasing diversity in the industry. This will take the form of a new column interviewing different women in the fire sector in each issue, in-depth articles and research, podcast interviews, and seminar sessions at Fire Safety Matters Live events. In addition, the Women in Fire Safety Awards will be hosting workshops to discuss key issues facing women in the sector.

Co-Founders and Non-Executive Directors, Chloe Antoniuk and Kate Blake said: “When we started the Women in Fire Safety Awards in 2021, our mission was simple; to shine a light on the incredible women making a difference across our industry. What began as a small idea quickly grew into something truly special, bringing together an inspiring community of passionate, talented individuals.

Now, it’s time for the next chapter. We believe the Awards deserve to grow even bigger and continue to shine that light even brighter. We’re proud to remain part of it, celebrating excellence, inspiring others, and ensuring that light continues to shine for years to come.”

Mark Sennett, CEO, Western Business Media added: “We are delighted to add the Women in Fire Safety Awards to the Fire Safety Matters portfolio. FSM has always shared the vision that these Awards have, to shine a spotlight on the exceptional women in the fire sector, with the aim of seeing even more pursue a career in this vital industry.

We are excited to take the Awards to a new level and support It with a year-round focus on diversity through editorial, seminars and dedicated women in fire safety workshops. We are also thrilled that both Chloe and Kate will continue to play a key role in the Awards growth by becoming non-executive directors of the Women in Fire Safety Awards.”

The Women in Fire Safety Awards will now move to a larger venue in central London in November 2026, with entries opening next year. Apollo Fire Detectors is the first organisation to show its support for the growth of the Awards as Headline sponsor.

Kate Clarke, Managing Director of Apollo Fire Detectors commented: “Apollo is proud to support the Women in Fire Safety Awards, which shine a light on the exceptional talent driving our industry forward. Championing diversity and celebrating achievement are vital to the future of fire safety, and we’re excited to help inspire the next generation of women in the sector.”

Fire Safety Matters will also be creating a steering committee for the Women in Fire Safety Awards.

Leanne Velez, Commercial Head, Fire Safety Matters said “The Women in Fire Safety Awards were created by women to celebrate women in the sector. We want to continue to grow this by creating a steering committee who can help shape the key focuses of Fire Safety Matters and the WIFS Awards campaign to bring more diversity into the sector. We are keen to hear from anyone who would like to be part of this exciting opportunity.”