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Dr Sabrina Cohen-Hatton has officially taken up the role of Chief Fire Officer (CFO) at Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service, succeeding Neil Odin following his retirement after a distinguished 34-year career.
Cohen-Hatton brings extensive experience to the position, having held senior roles at London Fire Brigade, Surrey Fire and Rescue Service, and most recently West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service, which she joined in 2019. In recognition of her service and bravery, she was awarded the King’s Fire Service Medal in the 2023 Birthday Honours.
Her career has also included several national-level secondments, with contributions to the Welsh Government, HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS), and a period as interim Deputy Chief Fire Officer in Surrey. She currently serves as the National Fire Chiefs Council’s (NFCC) Improvement Chair and National Lead for Working Dogs.
Cohen-Hatton first rose to prominence in 2015 when she was appointed Deputy Assistant Commissioner at London Fire Brigade, where she commanded responses to several major incidents, including the Westminster Bridge and Finsbury Park terror attacks, and played a key role in the aftermath of the Grenfell Tower fire.
She takes over from Neil Odin, whose career began in Hampshire in 1991 before moving to West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service for more than two decades. Returning to Hampshire in 2012 as assistant chief, he became CFO of both Hampshire and Isle of Wight services in January 2018. Under his leadership, the two organisations successfully combined in April 2021 to form Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service.
Alongside his local responsibilities, Odin also played a prominent national role, serving as National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) lead for International Affairs and previously chairing the UK Prevention Committee, where he worked closely with government to reduce the risks posed by fire and other emergencies.
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