Dr Sabrina Cohen-Hatton

Fee Band


One of the most senior women in the fire service, Sabrina combines experience in making tough decisions in pressurised, stressful situations with studying the behavioural neuroscience of decision making. As well as insights into leadership and risk, her own personal story - homeless at 15, a firefighter at 18, combining frontline service with studying for a PhD in Psychology - is a lesson in resilience, determination and achievement.


Biography

Sabrina Cohen-Hatton is one of the few women to have served at the top of the fire service. She combines her role as one of the most senior female firefighters in the UK with work as a Research Fellow at Cardiff University where she specialises in behavioural neuroscience, in particular how humans make decisions under pressure. She has been appointed as the National Fire Chief’s Council (NFCC) International Lead, and is the author of The Heat of The Moment – A Firefighter’s Stories of Life and Death Decisions. 

Showing resilience and determination from a young age, Sabrina was homeless on the streets of Wales when she was fifteen. After two years on the streets selling The Big Issue, she was able to secure accommodation, before joining the fire service at eighteen. She studied at the Open University and then at Cardiff University while working as a firefighter, completing her PhD in Psychology. In the fire service, Sabrina became one its highest-ranking women officers. She climbed the ranks serving in some of the largest fire brigades in the country, whilst maintaining her academic work with Cardiff University. Her subsequent research into high-pressure decision making in the emergency services has not only won awards but has also influenced policy at a global level.

As a researcher Sabrina looks at the fundamentals of decision-making, behaviour, and cognition. As a fire officer, she brings her first-hand experience of how these traits operate in real, emotionally charged, stressful and uncertain situations. She looks at how the brain interprets information, and how events become associated longer-term with psychological and social responses.

In her best-selling book The Heat of The Moment, Sabrina recounts both her early formative experiences, as well as life on the frontline and the extraordinary insights it has brought. From judging when and how to evacuate a building, to which of her colleagues should be sent into a blaze, she takes an honest, human look at the highs and lows of one of the riskiest and most challenging of occupations. While many of these stories seem unique to fire and rescue work, her insights and lessons apply to everyone, in life and in business.

In The Gender Bias: The Barriers That Hold Women Back, And How To Break Them, Sabrina, through an analysis of studies and data, unpicks why women are judged differently, examines why that matters and offers practical solutions on how we can tackle our biases and overcome sustained systems.

An Ambassador for The Big Issue, Sabrina has been named as one of their top one hundred Changemakers, and she has also been recognised for her achievements by Cosmopolitan and Marie Claire. 

Videos

Dr Sabrina Cohen-Hatton: JLA Speakers Breakfast

JLA+ Stream: Women in Leadership

More Details

Books

Book written by Dr Sabrina Cohen-Hatton
Book written by Dr Sabrina Cohen-Hatton

Contact

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JLA Presents

Risk Speakers Breakfast event image.
Event - 17/09/2024 - 09:00

Speakers Breakfast

Navigating Risk and Chaos – Strategies For Coping With An Uncertain World.

Speakers
Clive Myrie, Sabrina Cohen-Hatton, Rt Hon Lord Parker of Minsmere, and Robin Niblett

On Tuesday 17th September we had the pleasure of hearing from a remarkable panel of speakers, who shared their expertise on the challenges of managing Risk in a chaotic world.

The panel featured esteemed speakers, Dr. Sabrina Cohen-Hatton KFSM (Firefigter and Neuroscience researcher), Lord Parker of Minsmere (Andrew Parker, Former Director General of MI5), and Sir Robin Niblett (Former Director and Chief Executive of Chatham House). The event was hosted superbly by Mastermind and BBC News presenter Clive Myrie.

Over the hour, our panellists explored Risk on multiple levels, from global affairs to business environments and personal everyday challenges. They provided valuable insights into how we can better manage and mitigate Risk in today’s unpredictable world.

 

Location

87 Barts Close, 87 Bartholomew Close, London, EC1A 7EB

WATCH
AI Speakers Breakfast event image.
Event - 30/04/2024 - 09:00:00

Speakers Breakfast

Understanding AI Now

Speakers
Priya Lakhani and Anne-Marie Imafidon

We were joined at 87 Barts Close by three brilliant speakers on a panel that delved into the complex world of Artificial Intelligence. Over the hour our panellists de-mystified AI, speaking about AI’s immense promise for enhancing our lives, alongside the apprehension it has generated regarding job security, privacy infringement, and ethical considerations.

Location

87 Barts Close, 87 Bartholomew Close, London, EC1A 7EB

WATCH