Who We Are
Fire Safety & Protection Engineering for the Built Environment
OUR TEAM
PAUL WOOLLATT
Operations Director
Paul has a National Higher Diploma in Mechanical Engineering from Natal Technikon and is a registered PR Tech with the Engineering council of South Africa. He has over 25 years of mechanical engineering and project management experience in the construction industry, both in South Africa and throughout Africa. His experiences ranges from contracting at a large HVAC firm, being the local engineer for an internationally renowned air-conditioning supplier, to being the Regional Director at a large international multi-disciplinary consulting firm.
HAMILTON CLARKE
Technical Director
Hamilton has a Graduate Diploma from the Institution of Fire Engineers, qualifications in Fire Safety and Fire Dynamics from the University of Leeds and professional membership in various industry associations. In addition to his numerous industry qualifications, Hamilton has over 20 years of experience in all spheres of the fire industry, ranging from training and working in Fire Departments locally and internationally, to fulfilling the role of Senior Fire Engineer at a large international multi-disciplinary consulting firm.
JOHN GEESON
Design Engineer
John is a Sprinkler specialist with over 35 years of Sprinkler Design, engineering and project management experience in all spheres of the construction industry. He is a member of the South African Institute of Draughtsman and has an extensive understanding of numerous design codes including SANS, ASIB, BS and NFPA.
GARTH WILL
Garth is a qualified auto electrician red seal from Olifantsfontein. He has over 10 years’ experience in the flame proofing industry designing, building, commissioning, and auditing of various equipment. He has had training both locally and internationally.
STRUAN FLIGHT
Struan has gained experience in fire engineering with experience ranging from basic design to documentation, contract supervision, administration, site management and the completion and commissioning of many diverse engineering projects which include fire detection, firefighting and sprinkler protection systems.
He also has extensive experience in repair and maintenance type projects being responsible for overall contract supervision, preventative and corrective maintenance tasks and general project management of these projects.
Struan has worked on site and has gained valuable skills in all MEP related services on remote sites. This includes experience in Pipelines, Sewerage. Water treatment works, Pump stations soil and waste reticulation. Water supply reticulation. Mechanical Systems that include Boilers and Chiller plant. Fire Fighting and Sprinkler protection systems. Electrical Reticulation and Components.
LODEWYK SUTHERLAND
Lodewyk is a Certified Project Management Professional (PMP) with 30 years’ experience in the Industrial engineering field. Lodewyk’s experience includes planning, leading, and managing all cycles of high value projects and portfolios. Past positions include roles as Instrument Technician, Automation Engineer, Project Manager, and an appointment as Fire Risk Champion at an international mining and metals company.
HEINN ESPACH
Heinn has completed several certifications in fire engineering and gained experience ranging from basic design to documentation, contract supervision, administration, site management and the completion commissioning of many diverse engineering projects which include fire detection, fire fighting and sprinkler protection systems .
He also has experience in repair and maintenance type projects being responsible for overall contract supervision , preventative and corrective maintenance tasks and general project management .
CHRIS KRUGER
Projects Engineer (Gauteng Office)
Chris is a Project Management specialist with over 10 years’ Project Management experience in the Occupational Health & Safety and Fire Protection sectors of the industry.
Chris heads up the Johannesburg office and tends to projects and clients in the region.
GREG PETTIFER
Greg is a Professional Accountant (SA), Certified Independent Reviewer and holds a Bachelors Degree in Accounting Sciences. He has over 12 years of experience in auditing, accounting and tax from his days as an accountant in private practice.
First from working his way up the management structures of a medium-sized accounting and audit practice, to later establishing, growing and eventually selling his own successful practice, before joining the Woollatt and Clarke team as Financial Director in 2018.
SIPHELELE MDLETSHE
Siphelele has a B Tech in Civil engineering from the Durban University of Technology and is registered as a Candidate Technician with the Engineering council of South Africa. He has over 7 years of structural engineering experience primarily in design, draughting and project management.
He has worked on various projects across South Africa and in throughout Africa, being a structural technologist at a large international multi-disciplinary consulting firm. He currently holds a Level 2 IFE certificate in Fire Science, Operations and Safety, a project management certificate and several other qualifications. He is an associate member of SAICE and has served in the organization as chair in student chapter, served in the Durban branch committee and as well as in the national SAICE Young members committee.
CRAIG HUTTON
Craig has a BTech Degree in Electrical Power Engineering from the University of Johannesburg as well as a Diploma in Project Management and will be furthering his studies with the Institution of Fire Engineers.
LINDSAY LUND
Lindsay is a mechanical engineer with extensive experience in the building services environment and mining. He has a Diploma in Mechanical Engineering and a Diploma in Business Management.
Lindsay was previously a Technical Director of an International Consulting firm. He has over 30 years’ experience in the construction industry, with design and project management experience in HVAC, Fire Protection and Wet Services. He is a member of SAID (South African Institute of Draughting), SAIRAC (South African Institute of Refrigeration and Air-conditioning and SAIMechE (South African Institute of Mechanical Engineers).
LAURA STEYN
Laura completed her mechanical engineering degree at the University of Pretoria and is registered as a Professional Engineer with ECSA. She has also completed various courses including a certificate in forensic fire investigation and non-destructive testing of materials. Laura has worked in the built environment for over 15 years and has specialised in both HVAC and fire protection systems in her role as design engineer. She has extensive experience in engineered solution design for fire protection of buildings using various international codes such as the NFPA, British Standards, SFPE and FM Global.
KEVIN GLOVER
Kevin is an ASIB registered Competent Person with 35 years of experience in the Fire Protection Industry, both in South Africa and the rest of Africa, and a Member of the IFE. He is experienced in the design, technical documentation, administration and management of fire protection engineering projects comprising of Automatic Sprinkler and Special Risk Installations in the Mining, Industrial, Aviation and Petrochemical industries, as well as in Commercial Property.
Technically orientated, with excellent knowledge of Local and International Fire Protection Codes i.e. ASIB, SANS, NFPA and FM Global, for all applications of Water Based Fixed Fire Protection Systems and a good understanding of Fire Detection Systems.
THOMAS CLARKE
Thomas has a Degree of Master of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering. His current memberships are with the Institution of Fire Engineers as an Associate Member and with the Society of Fire Protection Engineers as a Professional Member. He has successfully completed post graduate studies (NQF Level 9) at Stellenbosch University which involved (a) routine application of standard fire design codes and principles, (b) and critical analysis of routine or analysis of complex non-routine fire behaviour.
Thomas has been awarded the IFE Level 3 Diploma in Fire Science and Fire Safety from the Institution of Fire Engineers. Other studies include Structural Fire Protection from Lloyd’s Maritime Institute. Thomas has also had research published in the peer-reviewed journal Fire Technology and has extensive knowledge of the fire based CFD model – Fire Dynamics Simulator.
THERESSA GLOVER
Theressa has 15 years’ experience within the Fire Protection Industry, where she started as a Contracts Administrator, developing into a Draughts Person over the past 2 years. Theressa forms part of the Gauteng region and supports all the Fire Engineers.
JOHN NETHERLANDS
John is a Graduate Member of the Institution of Fire Engineers and has served as a council member of the
Institution. He is registered as a Chartered Building Engineer with the Chartered Association of Building Engineers (UK) and is a registered Eng Tech with the Engineering Council (UK).
John has 40 years+ of service in the fire protection industry. His experience includes risk assessment, cost analysis, design, engineering and technical support, project planning and contract management.
He has held various related management positions and has served on the board of directors of his previous company.
John’s field of expertise is water based fire protection systems, including automatic sprinkler systems, deluge water spray systems, fire service reticulation, firefighting foam suppression, and dedicated water supply installations.
His experience in this field has been gained across various industries from conventional fire protection systems for commercial entities to special risk fire protection for industrial applications.
John is well versed in the relevant codes of practice applicable to my field, i.e., ASIB, SANS, NFPA, FM, GAPS.
CLAIRE FISHER
OUR PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
- Registered Professional Engineering Technolgist (PR Tech - 201170259) with the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA)
- Registered with the Institution of Fire Engineers SA (IFE)
- Registered with Automatic Sprinkler Inspection Bureau (ASIB)
- Graduate Member of the Institution of Fire Engineers UK
- Committee Member of the Institution of Fire Engineers SA
- Committee Member of the South African Qualifications & Certification Committee Fire (SAQCC)
- Committee Member of the FIre Fighters Traders Association
- Member of the South African Institute of Refrigeration & Air-Conditioning (SAIRAC)
- Member of the South African Federation of Hospital Engineers (SAFHE)
- Member of the South African Institute of Draughtsman
OUR COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
Woollatt & Clarke is committed to the empowerment of previously disadvantaged people and the development of their skills. When possible, we draw on the resources of the communities in which our projects take place, enabling us to uplift the area through the transfer of skills. This is an intrinsic component of betterment in an engineering environment, as well as in administration areas.
We also assist our clients to meet the requirements of their own policies and targets, by adapting our approach wherever possible. Where we engage with joint venture partners, the skills transfer is maximized to suit the project.