This year's Institution of Fire Engineers AGM and International Conference is being held at the Stratford Manor Hotel, Stratford-upon-Avon. The Lord Lieutenant of Warwickshire, Martin Dunne, welcomed guests to a pre-conference reception last night supported by BRE Global and Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service.

Watch the Lord Lieutenant's pre-conference welcome address:

The theme of this year's event is 'New Technologies in the Built Environment' and will include presentations from chief fire officers Roy Wilsher (Hertfordshire), Vijith Randeniya (West Midlands), Ron Dobson (London), Paul Hancock (Cheshire) and Graeme Smith (Warwickshire). The latter will be speaking for the first time at length on the Atherstone-on-Stowe tragedy. In addition, Fire Minister Bob Neill will open the second day of the conference.

The Institution's new journal, International Fire Professional, published by Pavilion Publishing and Media, will be launched at today's AGM where former London Fire Brigade Deputy Commissioner Roy Bishop will become the International President.

FIRE will be providing full coverage throughout the conference - follow @FIRE_Editor on Twitter and check back on the website for news stories and exclusive interviews.