Women in Safety & Security: Leading with Strength & Vision

Sujatha Shetty is a highly experienced sales professional with a strong network in the fire and safety industry. Her educational background and extensive experience in direct marketing, which began in the early 1990s, have equipped her with exceptional skills.

Career Highlights: from Early 1990s Began her career in direct marketing for prominent brands, promoting credit cards, yellow pages, and club memberships. Later on Fire Industry (2005): Transitioned to the fire industry as a sales manager for Fire India Expo, organizing events and seminars. Fire Protection Association of India (Mumbai): Conducted events, managed memberships, and facilitated network meets and exhibitions.. Monsher India Safety Equipment’s Pvt Ltd: Served as a sales manager in the product selling division.. Current Role: South India Head at Armor Steel Industries Pvt Ltd, a leading manufacturer of fire fighting equipment.

Working in fire fighting services is an incredibly rewarding career that involves responding to emergencies, putting out fires, and providing medical first aid. Firefighters also play a crucial role in public safety training and announcements, helping to educate communities on fire prevention and safety measures. Despite the fact that firefighting has historically been a male-dominated profession, women are slowly but surely breaking down barriers and making their mark in the industry.

Women like Ms. Harshini Kanhekar, India’s first female firefighter, Ms. Priya Ravichandran, the first female fire officer in Tamil Nadu, and Meenakshi Vijayakumar, a trailblazer in the fire fighting industry, have inspired a nation with their selfless service, bravery, and passion. These pioneers have paved the way for other women to join the fire department, including Seema Singh, R. Sudha, Shantha Kumari, S. Vasanthi, Pratibha Sharma, Rakhi Jain, and Sneha Kulkarni, who have all made significant contributions to the industry.

One of the most significant challenges facing women in firefighting is the fact that they remain underrepresented in the industry, making up less than 20% of firefighters even in countries with the highest female firefighter numbers.

In countries like Australia, women have been involved in firefighting for over a century, with the first all-female firefighting crew formed in 1901 .Today, women like Taniya Sanyal, who became the first woman firefighter to be appointed by the Airport Authority of India (AAI) in 2018, are continuing to break down barriers and achieve greatness in the industry.

Overall, women’s participation in fire fighting and fire & emergency services is crucial for creating a more sustainable, resilient, and effective industry. By supporting and empowering women in firefighting, we can help to create a more diverse and inclusive industry that benefits everyone.

Women’s participation in the workforce has seen a significant surge in recent times, with more women eager to take up jobs in various fields. This shift is attributed to increased education levels, changing social norms, and government initiatives like “Beti Bachao Beti Padhao”

While there’s still a long way to go in achieving gender parity, the progress made so far is encouraging. As more women enter the workforce, it’s essential to address the challenges they face and create a more inclusive and supportive work environment.