Meet The Team
Sem Kneeshaw
Managing Director & Trustee
Sem is a passionate advocate for professionalising the passive fire protection industry. He was among the first to pass the ASFP/IFE level 3 qualification and received the academic award for highest achievement.
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Bill Jarret
Commercial Director
Bill joined us in September 2024 as Commercial Director. He has extensive experience across the leisure, FMCG, property, banking and service industries as a consultant and director.
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Chris Barkway
Commercial Manager
Chris has worked in the construction industry for 35 years, progressing from roles like Plant Store Manager to Estimator and Project Manager, ultimately becoming a qualified Quantity Surveyor.
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Steve Patterson
Passive Fire Protection Manager
Steve brings over 35 years of experience in the Passive Fire Protection industry. He joined us as Contracts Manager in February 2017 and was promoted to Passive Fire Protection Manager in 2021.
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Kris Konieczka
Fire Door Manager
Kris joined Golden Thread Fire Delay 5 years ago in November 2020 , first as a Fire Door Contracts Manager and in Aprill 2025 he took the role of Fire Door Manager leading entire division, Kris have been responsible for the end-to-end management of our fire door programs. His duties encompass directing labour, procuring materials, defining technical specifications, and ensuring rigorous regulatory compliance for all installation and maintenance projects.
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Barry Beavis
Sales & Marketing Manager
Barry possesses a decade of experience in the passive fire industry, having earned accreditation as a Passive Fire Protection Specialist. Throughout his career, he holds a Level 3 IFE Passive Fire Protection qualification, and has served on Council at ASFP. Barry’s commitment is to ensure the safety and satisfaction of all stakeholders while fostering strategic growth and innovation in the passive fire protection field.
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Lorraine Holland
Financial Manager
Lorraine has worked for GTFD for 15 years as the office and finance manager. It has been a privilege to be part of this Company during its growth and to work with such a dedicated and professional team. I am also a Trustee since our transition to Employee Ownership in November 2022.
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Paul Church
Compliance Manager
Paul oversees our compliance with fire door installation standards. With five years of experience in PFP and a background in operational leadership across the public and private sectors, Paul brings both rigour and adaptability. He is currently undertaking IFE and ILM qualifications to further enhance our QA systems.
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Moe Elmasry
Technical Manager BSc, MIFSM, NACE CIP Level 2
Moe, who joined us in July 2022, boasts over 15 years of experience in the fire protection industry. He’s worked with prominent manufacturers like Nullifire, International Paint, and Promat, as well as contractors such as Checkmate Fire Solutions. Moe is actively engaged in presenting at trade shows, serves as a Council Member for ASFP, and is a proud member of the Institute of Fire Engineers.
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Hassan Elmahdey
Small Works Contract Manager
Hassan joined in the company in March 2025 , he has 6 years experience in Fire doors, starting as fire door Surveyor, becoming Report compliance officer with his previous company in January 2023, he also conducted training forums for the surveyors on the company’s SOP requirements for surveying, he currently has his Level 2 certification in PFP from the Institute of Fire Engineers (IFE) and holding a Diploma in Fire Doors from the Fire Door Inspection Scheme (FDIS) and currently working on gaining his level ASFP level 3.
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Vineesh Vinayagam
Passive Fire Protection Estimator, B.Eng, TIFirE
Vineesh, after graduating with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, began his career in marketing before transitioning to the Passive Fire Protection (PFP) industry. He has over 10 years of experience in PFP and working in various roles, including Fire Protection Engineer, Specification Specialist, and Estimator. He worked with prominent manufacturers such as Sherwin Williams and Hempel. Additionally, Vineesh holds a Level 3 certification in PFP from the Institute of Fire Engineers (IFE).
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Mark Holland
Passive Fire Protection Estimator
Mark has worked at Golden Thread Fire Delay for nearly 7 years, starting as a Systems Administrator before moving into the estimating department as an Assistant Estimator after gaining his IFE Level 2 qualification. He is currently working towards a Construction Management HNC and IFE Level 3, continuing to build his expertise in the passive fire protection industry.
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Phillip Brewster
Health and Safety Manager
Phil has over 18 years’ experience in this complex field. He can draw from over three decades in policing and the construction industry, overseeing the risk assessments of all areas of our business, from small scale operations to larger more complex projects.
Competent in investigations, RAMS, site audits, emergency planning, and face fit training to name a few. With NEBOSH qualifications, he is also a Technical member of IOSH, a Member of IIRSM and member of ISRM. The future is a dynamic one where he is on a path to gain chartered membership of one or more of these important institutions.
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Neve Colton
Operations Administrator
Neve recently completed her Level 3 Business Administration apprenticeship and has since progressed into the role of Operations Administrator. Over the past 15 months, she has gained valuable experience across various areas of the business, developing a strong understanding of day-to-day operations and administrative processes. Neve also plans to further her education alongside her new role, continuing development both professionally and academically.
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Faye Copping
Commercial Officer
Faye started working at Fire Delay in November 2012 as the Office Administrator & then worked her way up to Commercial Assistant in October 2016. Faye is currently working on a ILM Level 3 Certificate Qualification in Leadership & Management where she is gaining new skills and developing her knowledge.
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James Kramer
Passive Fire Protection Consultant
James joined Golden Thread Fire Delay in April 2025, bringing with him over 12 years of expertise in construction and design management. With a dedicated focus spanning eight years in the coordination of Passive Fire Protection (PFP) design and installation, James is widely recognised for his technical precision and practical insight.
Holding an IFE Level 3 Qualification, James blends deep industry knowledge with a hands-on approach to ensuring fire safety compliance throughout every phase of a project. His leadership is instrumental in delivering robust, regulation-aligned solutions that protect lives and infrastructure. James is committed to expanding our specialist design and consultancy services, helping a growing portfolio of clients achieve excellence in passive fire protection. His strategic vision and collaborative ethos make him a trusted partner for architects, contractors, and developers seeking peace of mind and long-term safety assurance.
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Tudor Casian
Survey Manager
Tudor joined Golden Thread in June 2023 as a Managing Surveyor and has since progressed to Survey Manager. With over seven years of experience in passive fire protection, he started his career as an installer before moving into supervisory and inspection roles. Tudor holds an IFE Level 3 in Passive Fire Protection and is currently working towards Level 4 in Fire Safety. He manages survey enquiries and reports, ensuring high standards and compliance across all projects.
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