Essex County Fire and Rescue Service leads national conversation on inclusion at AFSA conference

Essex County Fire and Rescue Service proudly hosted the 2025 Asian Fire Service Association (AFSA) Summer Conference, leading national conversations on inclusion, leadership and the role of emergency services in supporting and protecting the communities they serve.  

Held at the Colchester United JobServe Community Stadium under the theme “Inclusive by Design”, the national conference welcomed delegates from across the country to explore how inclusion can be embedded into every part of the fire and rescue sector - from leadership and recruitment to engagement and prevention.  

Opening the conference, Rick Hylton, Chief Fire Officer and Chief Executive of Essex County Fire and Rescue Service, said inclusion must be at the heart of how fire and rescue services operate - shaping decisions that build trust and lead to better outcomes. 

He said: "Inclusion isn’t optional. It must be built in from the start.

"When people feel heard, seen and respected, we build the kind of trust that ultimately saves lives.”  

One of the clearest examples of this approach is Essex County Fire and Rescue Service’s Community Risk Management Plan (CRMP), shaped by conversations with thousands of residents, community groups and partners.   

It shows how listening carefully to communities can lead to smarter decisions and more focused support. 

The plan has already driven more targeted prevention work, stronger links with adult social care, and better planning for long-term risks such as climate change.  

The two-day conference featured keynote speakers from across fire and rescue services and other public services. 

Neil Basu QPM, former head of UK counter-terrorism policing, spoke about leadership and trust. Professor Paresh Wankhade called for better use of data and local insight to drive progress, and Phil Garrigan, Chair of the National Fire Chiefs Council, addressed the need for cultural change across the sector.  

The conference also took a lead in the national conversation on violence against women and girls (VAWG), working alongside partners to promote prevention, accountability and cultural change.  

Chief Inspector Sam Girdlestone, from Essex Police, spoke about challenging misogyny and changing workplace culture, while Lynne Elliot, CEO of White Ribbon UK, outlined how emergency services can lead the way in preventing violence through awareness, training and action.  

Workshops throughout the two days focused on practical change - exploring inclusive communication, youth engagement, allyship, interfaith work and the use of AI. 

Delegates also heard powerful personal stories in the “This is Me” sessions, which celebrated the impact of inclusive leadership.  

Firefighter Dewi Kaylene, who joined Essex Fire and Rescue Service after serving as a cadet, shared how the Service’s Firebreak programme helped him overcome challenges in his youth.

His journey began in 2019 as an on-call firefighter in Maldon, before moving to Clacton and later securing a full-time role with Brentwood’s Blue Watch. Now, he delivers Firebreak courses himself - supporting at-risk young people, mentoring cadets, and leading Duke of Edinburgh programmes across Essex.  

Dr Sidra Naeem DL, the first Asian woman appointed Deputy Lieutenant of Essex, called for more visible role models in public service and urged others to lead by example and inspire the next generation.  

The event closed with a powerful message from Rick Hylton, Chief Fire Officer and Chief Executive of Essex Fire and Rescue Service, who reflected on the importance of hosting the event in Essex:  

He said: "Bringing AFSA to Essex was absolutely the right thing for the people we serve. It’s given us the opportunity to learn, to experience different perspectives, and to grow stronger as a fire and rescue service.

"This is an investment in our people and in the services we provide."

He concluded: "Inclusion is the foundation - how we lead, how we serve, and how we show up for each other every single day.”  

Harjit Singh, Chair of the Asian Fire Service Association (AFSA), added:  “This conference has shown that inclusion must be hard-wired into the very structures and systems of how we work - not as an afterthought or an add-on, but as a fundamental principle of service delivery and leadership.  

“Let the knowledge we’ve gained over the past two days guide our strategies, helping us move beyond good intentions to measurable impact.”