Case Studies

Did you always know you wanted to build your career in this profession?
I did not begin my career intending to work in health and safety. It became my aspiration when I realised that the most powerful role you can have in any workplace is one that protects people before anything goes wrong, and that this is what health and safety is all about. I was drawn to the idea that one person’s knowledge, attention, and influence could prevent injuries, save lives, and shape the way organisations operate. From that moment, I committed myself to learning deeply, gaining practical experience, and turning safety from a job into a mission.

You passed your first NEBOSH qualification, the NEBOSH International General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety, in 2021. Why did you choose it?
I chose the NEBOSH International General Certificate after spending over five years working in the field. I wasn’t starting my career; I was refining it. By that point, I had gained significant experience and learnt lessons from real incidents. What I needed was a qualification that could formalise that experience into a structured, globally recognised framework. I wanted to translate years of practice into a professional language that employers, clients, and safety leaders around the world would understand and respect. The NEBOSH International General Certificate did exactly that. It did not just add knowledge; it gave meaning, structure, and confidence to what I had been doing for years. It was the point where experience met credibility, and where I stopped being someone who works in safety and started being a safety professional with a global mindset.

How did achieving this qualification help your career?
Achieving the NEBOSH International General Certificate transformed both my professional image and identity. Before my studies, I relied mainly on instinct and experience. After completing the qualification, became far more structured, and I spoke with the clarity and confidence that comes from knowing my recommendations are grounded in international best practice. Conversations with managers, engineers, and clients changed; I was no longer sharing opinions, I was delivering professional advice backed by a recognised framework.

The qualification did not just add knowledge. It elevated my credibility, expanded my responsibilities, and opened doors to opportunities I had not even considered before. Most importantly, it made me realise that health and safety is far deeper, more strategic, and more impactful than I had initially imagined, and that it was a field I wanted to grow within.

In 2025 you completed the NEBOSH Level 6 International Diploma for Occupational Health and Safety Management Professionals, studying with NEBOSH Gold Learning Partner RRC International. Can you tell us why you chose this qualification and what benefits you gained from this success?
I chose the NEBOSH Level 6 International Diploma because I had reached a point in my career where implementing safety was no longer enough; I wanted to lead it. After years of site experience and achieving the NEBOSH International General Certificate, I could confidently manage risks on the ground effectively. However, I wanted to understand the bigger picture: how safety influences leadership decisions, organisational culture, human behaviour, and business performance.

The Diploma challenged me to think beyond compliance. It pushed me to view health and safety as a strategic function rather than an operational task, strengthening my ability to connect technical risk control with leadership, communication, and long-term business continuity. What I gained was not just advanced knowledge, but a shift in mindset, from being a safety practitioner who ensures tasks are carried out safely, to a professional who helps organisations think safely.

In one sentence, what has been the best thing you have learned through your NEBOSH studies?
That effective health and safety is not about rules and compliance, but about understanding people, managing risk, and influencing decisions before harm occurs.

You have worked for Enova by Veolia since 2016. Can you tell us about the company and its health and safety ethos?
Enova by Veolia is one of the leading facilities management providers in the Middle East, with a strong reputation for embedding health and safety into its way of working. Operating across critical and high-risk environments, the company faces diverse operational challenges every day. What truly stands out is that health and safety is not treated as a compliance obligation, but as a core business value and a key differentiator in service delivery.

Within Enova, safety is non-negotiable and strongly supported by leadership. It is integrated into every stage of the business, from tendering and planning through to execution and day-to-day operations, where it actively shapes decision-making and performance expectations.

More importantly, this commitment is evolving beyond systems and processes into a genuine safety culture, where safety is embedded in everyday behaviours, mindsets, and conversations, and becomes simply the way people work rather than a requirement to follow. A key part of this culture is empowering every employee with Stop Card authority, giving them the confidence and responsibility to stop any unsafe activity immediately, without hesitation or fear of consequences.

In April 2022, you were appointed Regional HSEQ Manager for Egypt and Lebanon, and later your scope expanded to include Turkey. Can you tell us about your role and responsibilities?
As Regional HSEQ Manager for Egypt, Lebanon, and now Turkey, I lead health, safety, environment, and quality performance across a diverse, multi country facilities management operation. I work closely with operations, HR, procurement, and senior leadership teams to ensure that HSEQ is fully integrated into business planning and day to day execution. My role includes managing risk processes, overseeing contractor safety, ensuring compliance, conducting audits, leading incident investigations, and driving continuous improvement across all operations.

Beyond systems and procedures, a significant part of my role focuses on culture. I work continuously to strengthen safety leadership, build awareness, and develop ownership and accountability for safety at all levels of the organisation. The aim is to continue our cultural journey, which began with a strong focus on compliance, so that safety becomes a shared organisational value throughout our organisation.

With your extensive experience in health and safety, what qualities do you believe define a successful health and safety professional?
A successful health and safety professional is defined by a balance of technical competence and strong personal qualities. They must be observant, influential, patient, and credible, with a deep understanding of people as well as hazards. Being able to communicate effectively, build trust, and lead by example is often more critical than technical knowledge alone. Commitment and consistency are also essential, as safety is not achieved through one off actions, but through continuous presence and discipline.

A strong willingness to learn is equally important, as risks, industries, and standards are constantly evolving. Successful professionals stay up to date, continually develop their knowledge, and adapt to new challenges. Ultimately, what truly sets someone apart is the character to influence others authentically, remain calm under pressure, and consistently represent safety as a value rather than a requirement.

What do you enjoy most about being a health and safety professional?
What I enjoy most about being a health and safety professional is knowing that my work has a direct and human impact, helping people return home safely at the end of every day. There is something deeply meaningful about seeing teams work confidently and safely, knowing that behind that confidence sit systems, awareness, and a culture that I have helped shape and strengthen. This impact is not theoretical; it is visible in behaviours, decisions, and in moments where risk is controlled so harm is avoided. What makes it even more powerful is that this impact is continuous and real. Every safe action, every avoided incident, and every improved decision is a reminder that safety is not just a profession, but a responsibility that quietly saves lives every single day.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to build their career in health and safety?
Start by building strong technical knowledge, but ensure it is always supported by real, hands-on field experience. Health and safety is not a discipline you learn once; it is a profession you grow into through exposure, observation, and continuous learning. Be present where the work happens. Your credibility will come from being visible, and the insights you gain will help you make informed decisions. You will see how work is done, rather than how it is theoretically designed, which ensures your advice is grounded in reality. Stay curious, ask questions, and learn from both good practice and mistakes. Most importantly, never lose sight of the purpose behind the role. Health and safety is not about procedures on paper; it is about protecting people. When that purpose guides your decisions, your impact becomes real, meaningful, and lasting.