Page 24 - IOSH JanFeb24_Full LR

PASSING IOSH strategy work in South Africa and
West Africa, Japan, Cameroon, Korea,
Gibraltar, Malaysia, Singapore and
Finland; they also worked with the Future
THE BATON Leaders Steering Group, and promoted the
Activate 2028 campaign; and participated
THE KNOWLEDGE PRESIDENTIAL HANDOVER
in awards judging.
Much of this was communicated to the
IOSH membership and further afield via
social media, but Lawrence emphasised
Lawrence Webb CFIOSH hands over to that not all those posts were about him.
‘It was really important to me that people
Stuart Hughes CMIOSH, who hopes to
saw what it was that the presidential team,
change the perception of health and safety. Council and also IOSH as an organisation
were doing for members and volunteers, in
WORDS JOANNE PERRY particular, but for the world of work across
the globe,’ he said.
‘Putting all of those different messages
and videos out was always part of the plan,
CA select audience witnessed the and it’s great to see that Stuart’s doing the
ceremonial handover from Lawrence
(far right) to Stuart (far left) same. It’s really important that people can
see the impact and influence that we can
and do have.’
He talked about ‘making the most
of our profession’s place this side of
the pandemic’, with a safe and healthy
working environment now acknowledged
by the International Labour Organization
as a fundamental principle and right.
For Lawrence himself, it had also been
important to champion themes close
to his heart, including supporting
neurodiversity and the next generation of
OSH professionals.
From his position as group SHE
Lawrence said. He acknowledged that director at Costain, Lawrence has moved
it had been a busy year, with many on to become chief safety officer at the
the passing of the IOSH new projects launched, and that it was UK government’s Defence Science and
presidency from Lawrence definitely the right moment ‘for someone Technology Laboratory – and is now IOSH
Webb CFIOSH to Stuart else to take up the mantle’. immediate past president.
THughes CMIOSH was marked He thanked the presidential team Stuart, who officially became president
by a ceremony at the University of for their hard work during his tenure, at the IOSH AGM in mid-November, is
Westminster in late November. IOSH supporting a raft of activities, including also head of health and safety at Mercedes-
CEO Vanessa Harwood-Whitcher thanked 76 branch and sector group events, 75% AMG Petronas Formula One Team. Taking
Lawrence for his leadership over the year, of branch AGMs, six expos and other the floor, he described himself as ‘a fallible
saying he had ‘worked tirelessly’ and been live events, numerous media interviews human, capable of errors and mistakes’ as
‘an authentic voice of our membership’. and podcasts, as well as 17 webinars on well as ‘vulnerable, with a mix of emotions,
‘A week is a long time in politics, but topics as diverse as Blueprint, student doubt and excitement’. But, he said, he PHOTOGRAPHY: ANDY ANDREWS
a year as IOSH president and chair of employability and neurodiversity. On top has ‘a simple belief: that a healthy and
Council is absolutely no time at all,’ of that, Lawrence and team supported safe work environment is a fundamental

24 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024 | IOSHMAGAZINE.COM

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