Staff Profiles

Details on the Fire Safety Unit staff.

For general fire safety queries, please contact us using the following number or email address, but individual members of staff in the Fire Safety Unit are listed below.

Wes Boulstridge

University Fire Safety Adviser 

Wes joined the team as the University Fire Safety Adviser in March 2022 having worked in the same role at Strathclyde University for seven and a half years.

Wes previously served as an RAF firefighter before joining the Fire Service. Having served in both operational and fire safety enforcement roles for 25 years, he moved into consultancy with DDS International for three years before joining the HE sector. Wes has significant experience in fire safety management and fires safety related training.

Mr Wes Boulstridge

University Fire Safety Adviser

Contact details

• Email: Wes.Boulstridge@ed.ac.uk

Rab Taylor

Fire Safety Adviser

Rab joined the team as a Fire Safety Adviser in May 2018 having worked in the same role at Edinburgh Napier University for three and a half years.

Previous to that Rab served for nearly 31 years with Lothian and Borders Fire & Rescue Service as an Operational Group Commander for the City of Edinburgh. He has significant experience within fire safety, fire investigation and training.

Tam McGrath

Fire Safety Adviser​​

Tam joined the Fire Safety Unit in May 2018 as Fire Safety Adviser. He retired from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service as Group Manager in July 2017 having served 31 years and has a wealth of fire safety, fire investigation and operational experience and knowledge.

Prior to starting with Edinburgh University, Tam was the Fire Safety/Health and Safety Adviser to Southside Property Management and responsible for all fire risk assessments and health and safety compliance standards.

Colin McIVor

Fire Safety Adviser

Colin joined the University of Edinburgh having worked in the same role of Fire Safety Advisor at Heriot Watt University.

Colin began his career at Scottish and Newcastle Brewers where he worked as a laboratory technician in the micro biology and chemistry laboratories. He then joined the Fire and Rescue Service serving 35 years in various departments including operations (firefighting), training, community safety and fire safety.

Brian Quinn

Fire Safety Co-ordinator

Brian joined the Fire Safety Unit in 2005 after serving 27 years with Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service.

On retiring Brian was a Manager in Newcraighall Fire Station.

Peter Rae

Fire Safety Co-ordinator

Peter joined the University in September 2015.

Prior to working for the Fire Safety Unit, Peter spent 10 years working for Forth Fire Protection.