Sabrina Cohen-Hatton

Sabrina Rachel Cohen-Hatton KFSM (born 1983) is a Welsh firefighter, psychologist and writer. She is chief fire officer of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service. In 2019, she was selected as one of Marie Claire 's Future-Shapers and featured on Desert Island Discs.

Early life and education Cohen-Hatton was born and raised in Marshfield, Newport, South Wales. She attended Bassaleg School.

Sometime after her father's death, at age 15, Cohen-Hatton became homeless. At the end of her school years, she slept in a derelict building, and while living on the streets she endured antisemitic abuse.

In 2001, Cohen-Hatton joined the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service, becoming the first woman firefighter at her station. While serving as a firefighter, she completed a bachelor's degree in psychology with the Open University, and in 2013 she was awarded a PhD in behavioural neuroscience from Cardiff University.

Career Cohen-Hatton's husband is also a firefighter. In an interview, she recalled a moment where she had responded to a fire and found a horrifically injured firefighter whom she thought was her husband. It was not, and she credits that experience to promoting her interest in reducing human error and making firefighters safer. This was also the driver for her to study psychology.

As part of her research, Cohen-Hatton investigated different training interventions, including virtual reality, firehouse training and live burn. She completed her PhD. Her work helped to shape national fire service policy and informed the National Fire Chiefs Council. She co-supervises a research group at Cardiff University with Rob Honey, supported by the National Fire Chiefs Council, that considers decision making in the emergency service environment.

Only 3.1% of firefighters in Britain are women, and Cohen-Hatton has worked to inspire girls to become firefighters. She was assistant commissioner seconded to Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services and as deputy assistant commissioner for the London Fire Brigade. Her first book, The Heat of the Moment, was published by Penguin Books in 2019. She was appointed chief fire officer of the West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service in 2019. 2014 FIRE/GORE Research Excellence prize 2016 American Psychological Association Early Career Award from the Society for Experimental Psychology and Cognitive Science 2017 People's Choice Award at the Cardiff University Innovation and Impact Awards 2018 Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) Innovator of the Year award 2018 American Psychological Association Raymond Nickerson Best Paper Award 2018 Cosmopolitan Millennial Power List 2019 Marie Claire "Future Shaper" 2020 Jewish Care Woman of Distinction 2021 Honorary Doctor of Science Award at Royal Holloway University 2022 Honorary degree of Doctor of the University, conferred by the Open University in Wales 2024 King's Fire Service Medal (KFSM) in the 2024 Birthday Honours

Medal ribbons

Personal life Cohen-Hatton is married to firefighter Mike Hatton and they have a daughter. She keeps Xolo dogs.