Dr Barbara Lane is a Chartered Engineer and senior engineering executive with approximately 30 years of experience across multiple technical disciplines and sectors serving the built environment.
An expert in total fire safety, Dr Lane takes a comprehensive approach to creating fire safe buildings that protect life and property throughout the building life cycle. Her work encompasses collaboration, decision making, technical tools and engineering techniques to develop detailed building safety solutions.
She has particular expertise in navigating legislative routes to compliance, from concept design through construction, as well as leading the building handover process following complex construction works.
Fire safety engineering and building safety regulation
Throughout her career, Dr Lane has worked on large scale construction projects internationally and has been responsible for risk management across significant property portfolios.
From 2017 to 2024, she served as an expert witness for the Government Inquiry into the Grenfell Tower fire. She also advised the UK Government on approaches to regulating the fire safety engineering profession as part of the post Grenfell regulatory reform programme.
In 2026, Dr Lane was appointed the first independent Chair of the Building Advisory Committee, one of three statutory committees created under the Building Safety Act 2022.
Recognition across the engineering profession
Dr Lane received the Royal Academy of Engineering Silver Medal in 2008 for outstanding personal contribution with commercial benefit to British engineering.
She became a Fellow of Arup in 2012 and a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering in 2016 for services to fire safety. Further recognition includes Fellowship of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 2018 for services to fire safety research and innovation, the Irish Academy of Engineering in 2025, and Engineers Ireland in 2026.
Her work continues to focus on technical rigour, innovation and ethical practice across engineering and the built environment.
