Asila Al Busaidi

Ihave always had a passion for the safety and protection of people and a keen interest in how the built environment is constructed and operates. As a woman, the protection of people, especially our families, is instinctual. I knew from an early age that I wanted to pursue a career where I could make a difference and contribute to the overall safety of people in the places where they work, live and visit. Engineering has always fascinated me from an early age, as it is a vast industry with numerous fields to specialise in. The perfect career path for me was one that combined my interest in engineering and my desire to keep people safe.

When I was ready to focus my studies on my chosen career path, I was awarded a scholarship at Oman’s International College of Engineering and Management. The college was the only institution in the region with specialist courses in fire engineering and health and safety, which sparked my interest. Once I had chosen this engineering path, I knew I had made the right choice. Not only did it meet my criteria for what I wanted from a career, but it also empowered me as it was a field that not many other women had chosen to study. In 2016, I completed my final year of study in the United Kingdom at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) on another scholarship and sponsorship provided by Tenable Fire Engineering Consultancy (FEC), and was awarded my Bachelor’s Degree in Fire and Safety Engineering.

I started my professional career in fire engineering during my studies. My first role with the Ministry of Health as a trainee fire and safety engineer allowed me to understand the requirements of fire and life safety in the field, which included conducting health and safety investigations at facilities and carrying out inspections in several healthcare facilities. I was encouraged as one of the few women in the field, and I felt a great sense of responsibility to continue my professional development with a specialist consultancy.

In 2016, I joined Tenable FEC as a junior fire engineer. Working with a specialist fire and engineering life safety consultancy that provides services to multiple sectors enabled me to develop my communication and organisational skills very quickly. I was excited to work across various projects and develop relationships with numerous clients from different backgrounds. It further fueled my interest in the different sectors and how I could cater to each client’s specific needs. Within two years, I had proven my ability to form and nurture value partnerships and work alongside the authorities for the approval of projects. I was the first female fire engineer to work closely with Oman’s Civil Defence and Ambulance Authority (CDAA), which is one of my proudest achievements to date.

Seven years into my career with Tenable FEC, I am now a senior fire engineer and a team leader. Throughout the years, I have received encouragement and support from the entire team and have been lucky enough to have been mentored by Sultan Al Maskri, Tenable FEC’s CEO and founder. Sultan is an inspiration for both women and men in the company. His words of support and focus on team development and progression are evident in our day-to-day operations. In my role as a team leader, I hope to be as inspirational to the team I oversee, one of which is another female fire engineer, and motivate and aid in their career advancement.

I believe that every individual brings positive qualities to a workplace, regardless of gender. Part of my role is to invest in each employee, not just in the team I lead but also across the entire business. I am proud to have contributed to the company’s ongoing success, which I have impacted through developing strong client relationships and helping achieve clients’ goals through value engineering and specialised service delivery suited for each individual project.

As Tenable FEC continues to grow internationally, there are fresh challenges in the navigation of approval processes in different overseas markets, but we are overcoming these obstacles together as a team. I am responsible for multiple projects and work with clients in Oman, the UAE, KSA, USA and Kenya. Dealing with international clients and the requirements of multiple industry and country fire codes and practices allows me to further develop my fire engineering knowledge. Women are generally regarded as strong communicators, and I excel in building long-term, mutually beneficial relationships with clients. I am driven by career development and enhancing my knowledge and skill-set, and it is rewarding to be part of a company that fosters this culture, which allows me to have a positive impact on the overall success of the business on a global scale. www.tenablefec.com

The key to being successful as a female in the engineering industry is to trust in yourself. Nothing is impossible once you set your mind to it. I am independent by nature but have quickly learned that your greatest support comes from the team around you. It’s important not to doubt yourself but to learn from others and work as a team, as this is what helps you grow. In every industry and career, there will always be challenges, and what shapes you as a professional are the methods you employ to overcome these temporary obstacles. It’s important to find passion in your work, and I have found mine as a woman in fire engineering with a company that supports the ongoing development of male and female employees equally.

Founded in Oman in 2010, Tenable Fire Engineering Consultancy provides a comprehensive range of high-quality, fire and life safety services, including code consulting, fire system design, performance-based fire design and third-party verification within the built environment.

Tenable FEC adapts the latest fire engineering techniques to ensure the architectural integrity of a project is never compromised. Using the latest code requirements, engineering expertise and fire modelling tools, they improve building safety performance, protect architectural design aspirations, optimise floor plans and reduce unnecessary construction costs.

With offices in Muscat, Dubai and London, Tenable FEC executes regional and international projects of any size in the Middle East, Europe, Africa and Asia. The team approach projects with leading talent and innovative technologies while adhering to international best practices, design codes and standards.