Clearview National February 2019 - Issue 207 | Page 6

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Women in Industry
Fiona Critchley, Head of Communications at
Gerda Security Products Limited, was announced
as Chairperson of DHF’s (Door & Hardware
Federation) Timber Doorset Group in 2018.
She is one of a number of successful women
currently thriving in a ‘male-dominated’ sector.
» » FIONA CRITCHLEY IS AN
accomplished woman who has worked
successfully in industry for more than
20 years. With a BA (Hons) in Modern
Languages and Economics and a Diploma
in Marketing, Fiona is a Fellow of the
Chartered Institute of Marketing and
Representative for fire doorsets for the Fire
Industry Association. Yet, despite these
individual achievements, she believes that
working collaboratively is really the key to
growth and success.
“I worked in the electronics components
industry for 11 years for organisations such
as Standard Telephone & Cables Plc, Eurodis
HB Electronics and as the UK General
Manager for Evox Rifa AB, a Swedish
manufacturer of capacitors (formerly part
of the Ericsson Group),” she explains. “As a
graduate in French, German and economics,
I have always had a strong interest in a career
in industry and international marketing,
which led to me working in the doorset
industry with British manufacturer, Gerda
Security Products Limited. Whilst both
industries have been predominantly male-
dominated, I do believe that success comes
from people working together as a team.”
In 2018, Fiona was appointed the new
Chairperson of DHF’s Timber Doorset
Group and has been working hard to
progress its objectives. Representing
companies associated with Locks & Building
Hardware; Doorsets; Industrial Doors &
Shutters; Domestic Garage Doors and
Automated Gates, DHF now has more
than 450 members and is the ‘go to’ place
for technical advice and training in a bid to
6 » F EB 2019 » CL EARVI E W- UK . C O M
raise industry standards. However, despite a
history dating back to 1897, DHF couldn’t
be a more progressive and forward-looking
organisation, with its sights set firmly
on future growth. Much of this current
development can be attributed to another
successful woman in the industry, its recently
promoted Commercial Manager, Patricia
Sowsbery-Stevens:
“When we were seeking a new
Chairperson for the Timber Doorset Group,
we automatically thought of Fiona based on
her previous pro-active contribution to the
group and are delighted that she agreed to
take on the position of Chair,” says Patricia.
“The industry is brimming with successful,
hard-working women who are making a real
impact. In fact, Tina Hughan, Marketing
Director of ASSA ABLOY, is the Vice-
Chair of the same group. It’s wonderful that
women are choosing to enter the industry
and are being rewarded with enjoyable and
fulfilling careers. Indeed, more than two
thirds of DHF’s employees are women.”
‘Whether a man or a
woman, having a strong
belief in what you do,
drive, perseverance
and a respect for
one another is a vital
ingredient to the success
of any organisation’
The ethos of DHF is strong as a trade
association that represents manufacturers of
timber and metal doorsets (a ‘doorset’ being
the complete end product supplied through
a single source manufacturer). It is a fierce
advocate for factory control and third-party
certification for the manufacture, installation
and maintenance of timber doorsets, it
produces guidance publications and notes
regularly, responds to market trends and
is highly regarded across the industry and
widely acknowledged as the ‘go to’ for the
latest on standards.
Fiona hopes to continue the good work
of DHF in her role as Chairperson of the
Timber Doorset Group by helping to
raise the profile of its continuing work,
liaising with other trade associations and
encouraging like-minded manufacturers to
join the federation.
“As an organisation, DHF has effectively
contributed to the on-going debate and work
taking place within the fire doorset industry
to result in best practice since the Grenfell
tragedy,” she says. “It is so important that we
continue to improve the built environment
and DHF is pleased to note the reference
for the need for third-party certification
within Dame Judith Hackitt’s report¹. In
looking at the ‘golden thread’, I also believe
it is important that product manufacturers
can maintain direct communications with
building owners and managers of the built-
environment.
“Whether a man or a woman, having
a strong belief in what you do, drive,
perseverance and a respect for one another
is a vital ingredient to the success of any
organisation. At Gerda, I am joined by a
diverse management team and each member
– gender aside - has a valued contribution
to make. I enjoy working for a company
that places great significance on product
development, innovation, third-party testing
and certification.”
¹ Building a Safer Future. Independent
Review of Building Regulations and Fire
Safety. May 2018 - Dame Judith Hackitt,
DBE FREng