I attended Grenfell Testimony Week in a personal capacity and to support a friend who was giving testimony. As a former resident of Grenfell (2011 – 2014) and a resident in North Kensington I live on the edges of the ripples of the grief and pain of Grenfell. These reflections are entirely personal. I wrote this to help me make sense of my experience and two dear friends wanted me to publish it, so I am.
This blog explores the systemic issues seen in the Post Office Horizon Scandal and the Grenfell Tower fire, focusing on the silencing of voices through power and knowledge, and the unfair consequences of these events. Both tragedies exemplify the dismissal of non-expert knowledge and misplaced trust, leading to devastating outcomes for ordinary individuals.
Grenfell In the words of survivors runs at the National Theatre from 13th July to the 26th August.
Someone I spoke with today spent nearly 5 years in a Fire Service but took 15 years to get over it. She told me that the actions of her colleagues… Read more The LFB Review of Culture: A quick blog… →
Personal reflections as we approach the fifth anniversary of the Grenfell Tower Fire.
Background Systemic failings in governance, accountability and the role of political agendas are integral to understanding the Grenfell Tower tragedy. Given the extraordinary evidence we have seen in the Grenfell… Read more Grenfell: Governance, Accountability and Political Agendas →
Making the water visible: A methodology.
Crisis response journal article
The Bronx fire raises challenging questions about our approach to fire safety post Grenfell.
I recently published an article: Systemic Change in Complex Times in the Crisis Response Journal. For more information about the journal and how to subscribe, follow this link.
Despite the many post-Grenfell promises we continue to see terrible examples of a failure to engage effectively with residents. This blog explores the difference between consultations, collaboration and co-design and suggests that moving away from tick-box consultations may help restore trust.
Trellick Tower Development, RBKC fail to listen to residents.
Nicky Venables, CEO of New Build Database interviews me about my book, Systemic change and whether we will learn from Grenfell.
On 3 July 2009, 3 week old Michelle Udooka died with her mother, Helen, in the Lakanal House Fire. Lessons were not leaarned and on 14 June 2017, the youngest victim t Grenfell was Logan Isaac Gomes, still-born at seven months.
Watch the BBC Newsnight documentary Grenfell: The 21st Floor.
LBC’s James O’Brien speaks to Ed Daffarn the author of the blog that predicted a catastrophic event at Grenfell.
A technical analysis of what happened at the Grenfell Tower Fire.
This report looks objectively at the design of the cladding system and the way in which it was installed, whilst explaining some of the evidence heard at the Inquiry.
The coverage of the conservative vote against the Grenfell Recommendations is missing the point.
Grenfell Tower Fire: Questions and Answers.
Chartered Architectural Technologist and Fire Engineer shares what happened.
Evidence by main contractor #Rydon at the #Grenfell Tower Inquiry reveals the narratives used to silence the voices of residents.
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Lessons from the Great Fire of London. What are the similarities to Grenfell.
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Power and Accountability. The failure of politicians to be accountable for the psychological contract in the face of catastrophic events such as Grenfell, COVID19 and Hillsborough.
Grenfell, COVID-19 and Learning. Will we learn? Risk Guru podcast.
A timeline of the first 35 minutes of the Grenfell Tower Fire.
Chartered Architectural Technologist and Fire Engineer, Frances Maria Peacock gives her view on the recent advice for building owners issues by. the MHCLG
What lessons are there for us to learn from week 1 of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry
Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 details and background.
Recent decisions about Benita Mehra, Gavin Barwell and Robert Jenrick are perplexing in the symbolic dissonance with the intent for learning and change.
This blog looks at the failures of the LFB in preparing for Grenfell and explores the narratives displacing our ability to learn from Grenfell.
Key facts surrounding the departure of the LFB Commissioner.
A conscious unwillingness to learn from Grenfell
Grenfell Tower, Phase 1 Report, Systemic Change, Learning. The one question it must answer.
In preparation for the publication of the Phase 1 report, I’ve attempted to pull together some key facts about the Inquiry. Please forgive any errors or omissions. I look at:… Read more The Grenfell Tower Inquiry: Key facts… →
LFB Commissioner Dany Cotton said that preparing for Grenfell would be like a space shuttle landing on the shard. This article explores why this statement is problematic.
It looks at the failures of the LFB to understand and mitigate catastrophic risk and to create a learning culture.
Transcript of Prof Torero speech – the real lesson of Grenfell. Accountability, complexity
Grenfell Never Again. Transcript of speech given at Fire Brigade Union event at the Labour Party Conference.
Grenfell Tower systemic change and learning. Compliance, Leadership and reality.
BBC Radio 4 Beyond Today Podcast. Gill Kernick with Matthew Price and Kate Lambe.
Grenfell Tower Interview Gill Kernick BBC R4 Today program 2 days after the Grenfell Tower Fire
How can authorities respond to concerns around air and soil contamination in a way that builds, rather than erodes, trust?
Dr Stan Schofield offers ways the approach taken with Piper could be applied to Grenfell. Stan spent 16 years in HSE’s Offshore Safety division in the wake of Piper Alpha.
Summary of the expert evidence heard at the Grenfell Tower Inquiry in November 2018.
Preventing catastrophic events such as the Grenfell Tower fire will require that we deepen our understanding of the nature of risk.
We cannot allow firefighters to be blamed for actions whilst those with accountability at senior levels in the fire brigade, government and contracting firms ‘seek refuge in a judicial cocoon’.
Learning from the Grenfell Tower Fire, Gill Kernick
Uploading a blog Martin Stanley and I wrote in September 2017. I believe this thinking will be important for Phase 2 of the Grenfell Public Inquiry.
The first submission I made to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry. Arguing for including the thinking of Major Accidents in understanding what happened at Grenfell.
