Since 2008 Paul has worked with NGO's, UKSAR, UN Agencies and Government Departments. Operationally, he has responded to major UK flooding events, migrants in distress in the Mediterranean and monsoon flooding in Bangladesh. He has worked for NGO’s, provided technical consultancy to the Inter-Sector Co-Ordination Group, World Health Organisation, UNHCR, the World Food Programme and IoM. In Bangladesh he devised a programme to train community responders in the World’s biggest refugee camp to respond safely in the event of a flood, this programme has since been increased, through United Nations funding which Paul successfully secured, to train over 3500 responders.
During his time in the Mediterranean, Paul assisted in the rescue of thousands, he has worked operationally as a 'Rescue Swimmer' and as a Search and Rescue On-Scene Commander. In 2017 Paul was part of a team that was recognised by the International Maritime Rescue Federation (IMRF) for their actions in assisting over 1800 individuals in one 48 hour period.
In addition to providing technical consultancy, Paul has presented extensively on his work to schools, universities and corporate bodies. He has lectured on mass casualty rescue at Bristol University Medical School and leads workshops and simulation exercises on Emergency Preparedness and Resilience as well as leadership and team work under pressure. Paul draws on his unrivalled practical experience and wealth of knowledge to deliver focused results to often complex problems.
Paul is currently based in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh where he is supporting UN Agencies, International NGO's and The Bangladesh Cyclone Preparedness Programme where he is providing SAR training, support and consultancy to what is currently the Worlds biggest refugee camp and over 50,000 volunteer responders throughout Bangladesh.
After a major fire event in January 2021, Paul was given the remit to develop a Refugee led fire response programme to adequately respond to the potential of a major fire in a refugee setting. He has been successful in securing over $2 million USD in funding to develop this throughout 2021 and 2022. Culminating in 2023, the project has trained almost 3000 volunteers, provided over 800 powered pumps equipped with hoses and seen a dedicated water supply installed throughout the worlds largest refugee camp in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh.
Paul is now recognised as a global leader on fires in Refugee Settlements and has presented on the topic as the 2021 Global Shelter Cluster meeting, the 2021 Asia Shelter Forum the 2023 Camp Co-Ordination and Camp Management converence in Geneva and the 2023 Shelter Meeting. He is one of a small number of international specialists who have activly fought a fire in a refugee settlement. To date he has acted as incident commander at 3 major refugee camp fires.
Paul is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, a Fellow of the Institute of Civil Protection and Emergency Management, a Fellow of the Institute of Search and Technical Rescue, a member of the International Association of Emergency Managers and a member of the British Fire Services Association, advisor to 'Kindling' a global fire safety NGO, and has co-authored two academic papers along with the University of Stellenbosch in South Africa and the University of Maryland in the USA on fire response in refugee camps and spent two years researching child drownings in the worlds largest refugee camp for an independant report published in 2020.
He has successfully applied for funding for his work on emergency response from UNHCR, WFP, USAID, GIZ, IoM and AUSAID.
He regularly travels throughout Asia, the Middle East and Europe.
"Paul has been working directly with me on the flood mitigation/risk assessment project. I’ve found him to be an excellent resource on all things flood/cyclone related and is certainly a subject matter expert in this field. His inputs on not only this project but the recent ISCG TTX on cyclone preparedness have been invaluable"
Senior Security Officer, United Nations World Food Programme, Bangladesh
"You should be very proud of what has been achieved Paul. Need identified, assessed, action taken. Well Done"
Team Leader - Natural Disasters and Humanitarian - Fire & Rescue Service, New South Wales, Australia
"It has already been proven that the fire response training significantly contributed to the preparedness and response plan of our camp. The magnitude of impact could be more strengthened if this training could be provided to the rest of our volunteers."
Refugee Camp Manager, ActionAid Bangladesh
"I've been aware of your work for some time, and can only admire what you do!"
Retired UK Chief Fire Officer & EU Civil Protection Advisor
"This project would have floundered and failed, where it not for you and your team. Your contribution to the lives and well-being of the Rohingya is one that few involved in the response can match."
Special Projects Officer, United Nations World Food Programme, Bangladesh
"Brilliant work Paul. To give people a purpose like this is a really great thing, the rest will follow. Well done."
Lead Wildfire Specialist & Forestry Inspector, Irish Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
"Your input and persistence on fire safety in the camps has made a difference"
Head of Shelter Operations, IOM - UN Migration, Bangladesh