FEU badge
INTERSCHUTZ logo

FEU Leadership Conference 2026

On 3–4 June 2026, international fire chiefs and strategic leaders will gather at INTERSCHUTZ for the first FEU Leadership Conference 2026 — Safeguarding Tomorrow.

INTERSCHUTZ, Deutsche Messe, Hannover (Germany) · the world’s leading trade fair for fire & rescue, civil protection, safety and security.

Europe’s Fire Leaders. One Mission: Safeguarding Tomorrow.

On June 3–4, 2026, senior fire chiefs and strategic leaders will meet in Hannover, Germany, for the inaugural FEU Leadership Conference, held in partnership with Deutsche Messe as part of INTERSCHUTZ 2026, the world’s leading trade fair for fire and rescue services, civil protection, safety, and security.

Organized by the Federation of European Fire Officers (FEU), this high-level event unites Europe’s strategic fire leadership network to confront the challenges shaping our collective future.

Over two days, the conference will feature thought-provoking keynotes and dialogues with senior voices from the European Commission, NATO, and leading international agencies. Together, we will explore how Europe’s fire and civil protection services can strengthen resilience in a world defined by hybrid threats, climate extremes, AI revolution and evolving leadership dynamics.

Get ready for two days packed with bold conversations, fresh perspectives, and powerful ideas. The program ahead brings together leading voices and forward-thinking minds, all united by a shared mission: to future-proof Europe’s fire and civil protection services in a time of rapid change.

We’re excited to welcome you into this important dialogue and to co-create a more resilient tomorrow.

Program

FOREWORD FEU LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE 2026, SAFEGUARDING TOMORROW
As Europe and the world face an era of accelerating disruption - from hybrid threats and societal transformation to the escalating impact of climate change - the need for decisive, future-oriented leadership in fire and civil protection has never been greater.

The FEU Leadership Conference stands as Europe’s premier platform for leaders shaping the future of our Fire & Rescue Services. This two-day high-level event convenes decision-makers from across Europe and beyond, including senior representatives from the European Commission, World Bank, leading national agencies, and international partners from North America, South Asia and Australia. Together, they will define the strategic direction for how our sector must evolve to safeguard communities in an uncertain world.

Designed as a meeting point where policy, strategy, and operational leadership converge, the conference delivers a unique blend of thought leadership, actionable insights, and peer-to-peer exchange.

Day 1 | June 3rd 2026 - GLOBAL STRATEGY AND SECURITY

Theme: Adapting to Disruption – Building Strategic Readiness in a Volatile World

Senior voices in fire & rescue services, civil protection, security policy and international development. As hybrid warfare, geopolitical tensions, and digital threats redefine the emerging hazards landscape, this day anchors the conversation on Europe’s collective readiness and leadership capacity. Keynotes and high-level dialogues address how fire and rescue services can support the wider security architecture, bridging national systems, public resilience, and global perspectives from Europe to Asia and beyond.
From To Program headline Speaker Notes
10:00 12:25 Registration & Welcome Delegates arrive and connect
11:30 12:25 Lunch Sponsored by MSA Safety
12:30 12:55 Official Opening – Europe’s Leadership in Resilience Stephan Wevers, President, FEU
Hadja Lahbib, European Commissioner (video)
Dr. Jochen Köckler, Chair Deutsche Messe
Daniela Behrens, Minister of the Interior, Lower Saxony (video) 		Setting the stage: welcoming notes from FEU President, European Commission, Deutsche Messe and State Secretary.
13:00 13:25 Keynote – From Policy to Protection: Europe’s Civil Response to Complex Crises Maciej Popowski, Director-General, DG ECHO, European Commission How Europe responds to crises through civil protection, cross-border cooperation, and operational solidarity, when disruption becomes the norm rather than the exception.
13:30 13:55 Keynote – Rebuilding Under Fire: Ukraine’s Frontline Lessons Serhiy Kruk, Energoatom Real-world leadership in war. Stories of resilience and coordination under extreme pressure.
14:00 14:25 Networking – Coffee Break
14:30 14:55 Keynote – Estonia: Resilience and Civil Readiness in an Age of Permanent Disruption Margo Klaos, Director-General, Estonian Rescue Services Agency How civil defence, emergency services, and societal resilience form the backbone of national security in an era of hybrid threats and geopolitical instability.
15:00 15:25 Keynote – Innovation and Preparedness in Asia Eric Yap, Commissioner, Singapore Civil Defence Force Insights to SCDF’s pioneering journey in harnessing AI to transform emergency response and public safety.
15:30 15:55 Keynote – Investing in Preparedness at Scale Elif Ayhan, Lead Disaster Risk Management Specialist, World Bank World Bank’s perspective on how assessments are approached when engaging in large-scale investments or financing related to resilience and preparedness.
16:00 16:15 DIREKTION Award for Technological Progress DIREKTION Award ceremony recognising outstanding technological progress in fire and rescue services.
16:15 16:30 Closing Remarks – The Day’s Strategic Takeaways Jakob Vedsted Andersen, Commissioner GCFRS Summarising Day 1’s insights and setting the stage for Day 2.
16:30 18:15 VIP Tours – INTERSCHUTZ Experience Exclusive guided visits to the exhibition floor for speakers, sponsors, and senior delegates.
18:30 20:30 VIP Dinner – Hosted by FEU & INTERSCHUTZ Gold Sponsor – Kenneth Macie, Dräger Premium networking moment with EU representatives, senior fire chiefs, and key decision-makers.

Day 2 | June 4th 2026 - CLIMATE, INNOVATION & LEADERSHIP

Theme: Leading Through Extremes – Resilience and the Human Factor

Extreme climate and the leadership that disruption demands. Frontline voices from Los Angeles, Australia and London join experts from academia and the science of cultural intelligence to examine how fire and civil protection services must lead in a world of accelerating climate extremes and rising societal pressure. A cross-continental panel brings three continents into one room, because the extremes don’t stop at borders, and neither does the leadership required to face them.
From To Program headline Speaker Notes
09:45 09:55 Opening Remarks – Setting the Tone for Action Stephan Wevers, President, FEU Day 2 kicks off with a focus on extreme climate, innovation, and human leadership.
10:00 10:20 Keynote – Lessons from the LA Fires Anthony Marrone, Fire Chief, Los Angeles County Fire Department A frontline perspective on megafires at the wildland–urban interface: leadership under pressure, rapid escalation, media scrutiny, and multi-agency coordination in real time.
10:25 10:45 Keynote – Response to Extreme Climate Events Jason Heffernan, Fire Chief, Australia Fire Services Managing wildfires in a permanent state of risk: preparedness, resilience, community engagement, and the human dimension of long-duration crises.
10:45 11:10 Networking – Coffee Break
11:15 11:35 Keynote – Wildfires & Cross-Border Cooperation Jelmer Dam, National Wildfire Strategy Manager, Dutch Wildfire Management Coordinating and scaling response to extreme events — from policy to field operations — through advanced technology, data-driven decision-making, and trans-border cooperation.
11:35 12:10 Panel Discussion – Leading Together When Extremes Collide Anthony Marrone · Jason Heffernan · Jelmer Dam
LA County · Australia · Netherlands 		Audience Q&A & interactive discussion
12:10 12:55 Lunch Sponsored by Threema
13:00 13:25 Keynote – Future Leadership in Times of Change Ritika Wadhwa, CEO & Founder, Prabhaav Global The next generation of leadership, creating the optimal workforce for the future of fire and emergency services.
13:30 13:55 Keynote – Transforming Through Leadership Jonathan Smith, Fire Commissioner, London Fire Brigade Organisational transformation, ensuring inclusion and navigating cultural diversity in a large urban fire service.
14:00 14:30 Networking – Coffee Break
14:30 14:55 Keynote – Mastering Disaster: The Human Factor Kristian Cedervall Lauta, Professor of Law and Disasters, University of Copenhagen Bridging academia and practice: leading with awareness of how chaos and crisis affect citizens.
15:00 15:15 Closing Remarks – From Insight to Action Stephan Wevers, President, FEU and Jakob Vedsted Andersen, Commissioner GCFRS Call to action and European cooperation priorities for the coming decade.

About FEU

The Federation of European Fire Officers (FEU) is an independent professional body comprising 24 national associations and state fire services from across Europe, including the United Kingdom and Norway. Its members are senior professionals responsible for the strategic oversight of Fire and Rescue Services at municipal, regional, and national levels. The FEU’s mission is to facilitate the exchange of knowledge and best practices to advance fire and life safety for all European citizens.

At a glance
24 national associations Senior leaders & strategists Pan-European network Public safety & leadership

Sponsorship Packages

Choose the level that fits your objectives
Diamond Sponsor
€30,000

Command Partner (exclusive, 12-month visibility).
Headline sponsorship at major FEU events including the 2026 Leadership Conference, Officer Development Programme Leadership Training, and two biannual FEU Council Meetings. Prominent brand visibility on-site and across event materials and digital communications, plus homepage presence on the FEU website for the full period. 10-minute presentation opportunity at your selected event.

Platinum Sponsor
€20,000

Resilience Leader (exclusive).
High-visibility sponsorship of the 2026 Leadership Conference with prominent branding at the entrance, main stage, and throughout the venue; recognition in all event materials (programme, website, app); 5-minute opening speech; VIP access to all events including dinner and networking; inclusion in pre-event promotions.

Gold Sponsor
€12,000

Pathfinder Level.
High-visibility branding at the conference dinner; opportunity to speak or present at the dinner; prominent logo placement on dinner materials and signage; invitations to VIP pre-dinner reception; premium networking. Includes Digital Partner & Program Sponsor benefits.

Silver Sponsor
€8,000

Lunch Sponsor.
High-visibility branding during the conference lunch (both days); speaking opportunity; prominent logo placement; networking with key decision-makers and international delegates. Includes Digital Partner & Program Sponsor benefits.

Network Sponsor
€6,000

Network Break Sponsor.
High-visibility branding during the network break; speaking opportunity; prominent logo placement; networking with key decision-makers and international delegates. Includes Digital Partner & Program Sponsor benefits.

Digital Partner
€2,000
  • Company logo on the official FEU website leading up to the event (year-round presence).
  • Recognition across digital marketing campaigns, newsletters, and reminders.
  • Visibility to a broad audience of fire service professionals worldwide.
Program Sponsor
€1,000
  • Full-page, high-quality A5 ad in the printed conference programme.
  • Enhanced visibility throughout the event (every delegate receives a copy).
  • Ideal for promoting your brand, products, or services.

Sponsors

Dräger
MSA
Threema
Ocab
Westward Scania

Ready to sponsor?

If you’re interested in promoting your organisation, raising brand awareness, or showcasing new products or services at the FEU Leadership Conference, contact our sponsorship team.

Email: secretary@f-e-u.org
Useful links