Case Studies

When did you decide you wanted to work in health and safety, and how did you know it was the right career for you?

When I was younger, I worked in the leisure industry as an Operations Manager. During that time, we experienced a significant health and safety incident that had a profound impact—not only on the individual who was injured but also on colleagues, the public, and the families of those involved. The injury was entirely avoidable had the right training, supervision, and management controls been in place. Although the incident occurred on a different shift and with a different team to the one I was overseeing, I witnessed firsthand how suddenly health and safety became front and centre. I was involved in the subsequent investigation, and from that point on, I was convinced: I wanted to dedicate myself to ensuring people remain safe at work.

I found health and safety fascinating—the layers, the complexity, the human factors—and I wanted to better understand how it lives and breathes in a workplace. After the incident had concluded, I took it upon myself to self-fund the NEBOSH General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety. The course further ignited my interest and confirmed that I wanted to pursue a new career path. I soon transitioned into a full-time health and safety role.

My first dedicated health and safety position was at a metal foundry (Downstream process of copper/gold mining)—an ideal learning ground for a safety professional. The site was a constant hive of risk and opportunity to learn: heavy vehicle movements (dumper trucks, telehandlers, forklifts, HGVs), DSEAR, dust and COSHH, molten metal, conveyors, crushing hazards, significant manual handling, confined spaces, working at height, and complex lifting operations. It was a hands-on, fast-paced environment that taught me the “bread and butter” of health and safety—how to practically apply legislation, engage with the workforce, and drive improvement through collaboration and understanding.

From that point forward, I was fully committed to a career in health and safety. I genuinely enjoyed the work—especially connecting with people from all walks of life, understanding how and why they work the way they do, and helping to shape safer ways of working. I quickly realised that strong communication skills were crucial to success in this field. Whether speaking to frontline operatives or senior leadership, tailoring the message to the audience is vital to ensure it lands effectively and drives meaningful change.

 

Tell me about your employer and your current job role. What would you say is the best thing about this job?

I currently serve as the Health, Safety, Environmental and Quality Director for the Nuclear sector at Dalkia, an EDF group company. Dalkia brings together high-performing technical teams and an exceptional operational capability, enabling us to work across the full nuclear lifecycle—from construction through to maintenance and decommissioning. Our expertise spans both the civilian and military nuclear sectors, allowing us to deliver tailored, high-quality services in uniquely challenging environments.

Dalkia Nuclear provides a diverse portfolio of services to the nuclear industry. As the Health, Safety, Environmental and Quality Director, I am responsible for leading and overseeing all aspects of Health and Safety, Environmental, Quality and Radiological compliance and performance across eight nuclear sites. I directly manage a team of 10 professionals, consisting of nine Industrial Safety Managers and one Radiation Protection Advisor. Together, we ensure the highest standards are met across highly regulated, high-risk environments.

What I value most about my role is the opportunity to change perceptions and drive a proactive, world-class health and safety culture. I engage regularly with both client stakeholders and front-line teams, building relationships that enable collaboration and shared ownership of safety outcomes. I’m passionate about continuously improving our safety systems, enhancing compliance, and creating environments where safety is not only a requirement—but a shared value. Working closely with my team, I enjoy mentoring and shaping approaches that lead cultural change and embed sustainable improvements across all levels of our operations.

 

In 2025 you were named the Best Candidate Overall, for the NEBOSH Level 6 National Diploma for Occupational Health and Safety Management Professionals. Congratulations! Could you tell us why you chose your NEBOSH qualification and how taking it has helped you?

I had aspired to complete the NEBOSH Diploma for several years, building on a strong foundation in health and safety developed over the past decade. I completed both the NEBOSH National General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety and the NEBOSH Environmental Management Certificate 11 years ago. Achieving these qualifications marked reinforced my passion for the profession and were the start of my commitment to continuous professional development.
I have always found NEBOSH qualifications to be both challenging and deeply rewarding. They demand a high level of academic commitment, determination, and a clear understanding of health and safety principles. Having successfully completed three NEBOSH qualifications so far in my career, I’ve experienced first-hand how rigorous and meaningful the learning process is. NEBOSH has consistently deepened my knowledge, not only in theoretical areas but also in practical application, enhancing my ability to identify, manage, and respond to workplace risks effectively.

What sets NEBOSH apart, in my view, is its ability to prepare professionals for real-world challenges. It gives practitioners the tools and confidence to anticipate future risks and implement proactive solutions. Every qualification I’ve achieved through NEBOSH has directly influenced the quality of my work and improved safety outcomes in the organisations I’ve supported.
Can you tell us about your ambitions for the future?

In my current role as Health, Safety, Environmental and Quality Director for Dalkia Nuclear, I am responsible for overseeing all Health, Safety, Environmental, Quality and Radiological matters across eight nuclear facilities. This role demands a high level of leadership, technical knowledge, and operational oversight — all of which I embrace with a strong sense of responsibility and commitment.

At the core of everything I do is a simple but powerful ambition: ensuring that every individual goes home safely at the end of each working day. This principle is the foundation of my professional approach and guides every decision I make. I believe that effective health and safety management is not only a legal or procedural necessity but a moral obligation — one that I take very seriously.

As I continue to grow in my current role, I remain committed to furthering my academic development. I have a strong desire to pursue a master’s degree in health and safety, with a long-term goal of undertaking a PhD in the field. I see this academic pathway as an opportunity to contribute more meaningfully to the profession, through research, innovation, and leadership. It will also allow me to bring back advanced thinking into my operational environment, bridging the gap between theory and practice for the benefit of both workers and the wider industry.

 

What achievement are you most proud of?

The proudest moment in my career was leading a complete turnaround in health and safety culture within a challenging operational environment. I was brought into an organisation where the situation was critical: the safety culture was poor, employee engagement was virtually non-existent, team morale was at an all-time low, and the client had lost confidence due to repeated incidents and a pattern of increasingly severe injuries. The workplace was not only high-risk—it was underperforming, and the consequences were real and harmful.

I was brought in with a clear mandate: to transform the health and safety culture, rebuild trust, and implement a sustainable, effective safety management system. It was a tough challenge, but one I fully embraced. I knew that meaningful, lasting change would require collaboration, clear leadership, and consistent action. With a strong team around me, we set about rebuilding the foundations.

We started by focusing on engagement and trust—listening to frontline workers, involving them in the process, and creating ownership of safety at all levels. We introduced a structured health and safety management system tailored to the risks and realities of the operation, while ensuring alignment with best practice and legal compliance. Just as importantly, we fostered positive relationships with key stakeholders, including client representatives, union reps, operational managers, front-line staff and senior leadership, building a united front around our safety goals.

Over time, our collective efforts began to show results. Incident and injury rates dropped to an all-time low, and we saw a dramatic reduction in high-severity events. Frontline engagement increased significantly, with more reporting, better conversations, and stronger accountability. We conducted culture assessments, questionnaires, and case studies that clearly evidenced the shift in attitudes and behaviours. Most importantly, the people who once felt disengaged were now actively contributing to a safer, more collaborative working environment.

This transformation wasn’t just about compliance—it was about changing hearts and minds. It remains the proudest achievement of my career because it showed what is possible when people are empowered, systems are aligned, and safety becomes a shared responsibility.

What do you enjoy most about being a health and safety professional?

I take great satisfaction in the tangible impact that effective health and safety leadership can have on people's working lives. I genuinely enjoy changing perceptions around health and safety—demonstrating that it’s not about creating barriers, but about enabling people to work safely, confidently, and efficiently.

One of the most rewarding aspects of my role is helping others see the value of a "safety-first" mindset, not as a compliance exercise, but as a core part of operational excellence. I particularly enjoy reviewing safety culture across organisations, identifying areas for growth, and working collaboratively to develop meaningful, sustainable improvements. Seeing a shift in culture—where people become more engaged, proactive, and empowered—is where I find the greatest professional fulfilment.

What would your advice be to anyone who aspires to make health and safety their career?

Before making the leap into a career in health and safety, I would encourage anyone to first consider whether they have a genuine passion and emotional connection to the field. Someone once described health and safety to me as being like Marmite—you either love it or you don’t. For me, I fell in love with the ethos and purpose behind it: the drive to ensure that people don’t get injured or become ill as a result of their work.

Health and safety professionals, at their core, are people who care deeply. They want to make a difference—to be part of something meaningful by creating safer workplaces and protecting lives. It’s not just about procedures and checklists; it’s about changing perceptions, motivating others, and coaching individuals and teams to embed safety into the fabric of how we work.

If you’re considering a career in health and safety, make sure you have the drive, resilience, and commitment to lead by example, challenge poor practices, and influence culture. It’s a demanding role—but for those who are passionate about people and purpose, it’s incredibly rewarding.