Benjamin Ralph
About Benjamin Ralph
Benjamin Ralph is a Partner and Head of Fire Safety at Foster + Partners in London, where he leads research on building systems and risk-based decision-making tools. He has extensive experience in fire safety engineering, having worked at various prestigious organizations and holding advanced degrees in civil and fire safety engineering.
Current Role at Foster + Partners
Benjamin Ralph serves as Partner and Head of Fire Safety at Foster + Partners, a position he has held since 2021. In this role, he leads a cross-functional horizontal leadership team, collaborating with various departments including architectural design studios, engineering groups, legal, management, and learning and development sectors. His current research focuses on the quantitative analysis of total building systems and the development of risk-based decision-making tools.
Previous Experience in Fire Safety Engineering
Before joining Foster + Partners, Benjamin Ralph held several positions in fire safety engineering. He worked as a Senior Consulting Fire Engineer at OFR Consultants from 2017 to 2018, and as a Graduate Engineer at Ramboll from 2008 to 2009. Additionally, he served as a Fire Science Consultant and Academic Tutor at The University of Edinburgh from 2014 to 2018, where he contributed to fire safety education and research.
Educational Background and Qualifications
Benjamin Ralph holds a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Fire Safety Engineering from The University of Edinburgh, which he completed from 2014 to 2019. He also earned a Master of Engineering (MEng) in Civil Engineering from the University of Southampton between 2004 and 2008, and a Post-Graduate Diploma (PGDip) in Fire Safety Engineering from the University of Ulster from 2012 to 2014.
Research and Specialization
Benjamin Ralph specializes in fire experimentation and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)-based fire modeling. His focus on quantitative analysis of total building systems and risk-based decision-making tools reflects his commitment to advancing fire safety practices. His expertise is further demonstrated through his role as a Guest Researcher at the National Institute of Standards and Technology in 2016.
Diversity and Inclusion Advocacy
In addition to his technical roles, Benjamin Ralph serves as the (dis)Abilities Champion within the Diversity and Inclusion Pillar at Foster + Partners. He is also a member of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers' dyslexia focus group, highlighting his commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion within the engineering field.