Meet The Team - Fire Testing Technology

Der Aufsichtsrat

James Haywood

Geschäftsführer

James Haywood is an experienced Board Director, has a Beng, Chemical Engineering, Manchester University and an MBA, INSEAD.

He has previously worked as MD, for another UK Engineering and Manufacturing SME. Prior to that James has held senior international roles at several large corporate organisations and has strategic management consulting experience with Bain & Company.

James is also Managing Director of Aitchee Engineering Ltd and Sircal Instruments (UK) Ltd.

Stephen Grayson

Mitbegründer und Direktor

Stephen Grayson, Chemist with over 40 years’ experience in fire research, co-founded FTT in 1989. Outside of his involvement with FTT, Stephen has set up and managed academic and contract fire research and testing laboratories, published several Books, is the Editor in Chief of the International “Fire and Materials Journal” , published by John Wiley and he Chairs the international Interflam and Fire and Materials conferences.

Together with the inventor of the Cone Calorimeter; Vyto Babrauskas, he developed the Cone Calorimeter usage and several standards in Europe. In 1992 he and Vyto published the textbook “Heat Release in Fires” which reviewed all methods of measuring heat release and using it for predictive modelling. Stephen developed and managed the European Commission (EC) Fire Performance of Electric Cables (FIPEC) project, which formed the scientific foundation for the Construction Product Regulation (CPR) classification testing of electric cables.

Seit 1980 leistet Stephen einen starken Beitrag zu nationalen, europäischen und internationalen Normungsausschüssen, die sich mit Brandschutz befassen, und leitet seit etwa 20 Jahren die ISO-Ausschüsse, die sich mit dem Kegelkalorimeter befassen.

Sandra Pasantes

Verkaufsleiter

Sandra Pasantes hat einen Bachelor of Science. Sie kam 2007 zu FTT und wurde 2015 zum Sales Director ernannt.

Derzeit arbeitet sie an einer Promotion in Feuerwissenschaften, insbesondere an der Entwicklung eines großen Kegelkalorimeters und der Modellierung für groß angelegte Tests.

Sandra ist Mitglied in einer Reihe von nationalen, europäischen und internationalen Normungsausschüssen, die sich mit Brandschutz befassen, und ist die britische Expertin für das ISO / TC92 / SC1 / WG11-Komitee.

Sandra ist außerdem Vertriebsleiterin für Sircal Instruments.

Matthew Backshall

Betriebsleiter

Matthew Backshall hat einen Abschluss in Physik und einen Master in Materialcharakterisierung.

A Chartered Physicist, Matthew has extensive experience in scientific instrumentation, having worked in a range of businesses, including; vacuum science, spectroscopy and medical devices. He has over 25 years’ experience in the industry with over 15 years experience in leading operations teams.

Er kam 2018 als Operations Director zu FTT, nachdem er zuvor bei zwei anderen Unternehmen der Judges Scientific PLC-Gruppe als Operations Director tätig war.

Matthew ist außerdem Operations Director für Sircal Instruments.

Kieran Yaxley

Finance Director

After completing a degree in Architectural Engineering & Design Management at Loughborough University in 2008, Kieran began his professional career by training as a Chartered Accountant with Mazars, qualifying in 2016. He subsequently joined KPMG’s audit department, where he gained further experience working with a wide range of clients across multiple sectors.

In 2017, Kieran transitioned into industry, joining MCL as Financial Controller. Over the next five years, he played a key role in the company’s financial operations, contributing to its growth and development. In early 2022, he was promoted to Finance Director of MCL and later its subsidiary, roles he held until June 2025. During his tenure, he led on strategic financial planning, compliance, and reporting, supporting senior leadership in key business decisions and operational improvements.

Andrew Green

Technischer Leiter

Andrew Green hat einen Master-Abschluss in Maschinenbau und Materialwissenschaften. Er kam 1994 zu FTT und wurde 2018 zum Chief Technical Officer ernannt.

Zwischen 1997 und 2000 war Andrew an der Forschung des Projekts FIPEC (Fire Performance of Electric Cables) der Europäischen Kommission (EC) beteiligt, das die wissenschaftliche Grundlage für die Einstufungstestung von Elektrokabeln durch die Bauproduktverordnung (CPR) bildete. Der erfolgreiche Abschluss und die Veröffentlichung dieses Projekts führten dazu, dass Andrew den FIPEC-Bericht mitverfasste.

Andrew has developed all FTT‘s instrument software, he has worked closely with FTT‘s Engineering Team in the design and development of all instrumentation and is also actively involved in National, European and International standardisation committees dealing with fire safety.