David Ball is Professor of Risk Management and Director of the Centre for Decision Analysis and Risk Management (DARM) at Middlesex University. He has a PhD in physics, and after a few years at Bell Labs in the USA and the National Physical Laboratory in Teddington, he transferred to the Greater London Council's Scientific Branch where he started a career in risks posed by environmental pollution. This led to an interest in risk issues more generally, and after the demise of the GLC he moved to the University of East Anglia's Centre for Environment and Risk Management for a decade prior to joining Middlesex. Over the years, he has carried out research and consultancy for numerous agencies on many different kinds of hazard. Currently, his main activities are teaching an MSc in risk management at Middlesex, and acting as an expert witness in legal cases. In 2011, he co-authored the book 'Public Safety and Risk Assessment' published by EARTHSCAN.


Back to top of page

Andrew Miller was educated in Malta, Hampshire and at the London School of Economics, and holds a Diploma in Industrial Relations.

He began his career as a technician in geology at the Portsmouth Polytechnic, where he developed an XRF and XRD laboratory. He then moved into industrial relations and was an official for the Manufacturing, Science and Finance Union where he represented many scientists and engineers working in leading companies from 1977 until he was elected to parliament in 1992.

As Labour Member of Parliament for Ellesmere Port and Neston, Andrew represents just under 70,000 electors. As well as dealing with numerous widely diverse issues at constituency level, he is also Chair of the Science and Technology Select Committee, Chair of the Parliamentary & Scientific Committee, Vice-Chair of the Parliamentary Internet, Communications and Technology Forum (PICTFOR) and a member of the Liaison Committee. Between 1992 and 2001 he was also a member of the House of Commons Information Committee and has served on many other parliamentary committees.

Andrew was a member of the First Steps Team working with the Foreign Office to promote relations with EU and prospective EU member states with specific responsibility for Hungary and Malta, and his liaison work with the two countries continues today.

His particular political interests include communications and information technology, regional economy, science and technology, the environment and industry.

Andrew is the author of 'Information and Communication Technology Tools for Better Government', a paper commissioned by the Cabinet Office Minister in preparation for the Modernising Government White Paper in 1998.

Andrew also presents widely on information technology, e-working and e-government.

Presentation: Rebalancing health and safety: instilling a common sense approach

The government, following the lead of Labour, has set out to tackle unnecessary regulation and to reduce the burden of red tape in many areas. This has been more high profile in the field of Health & Safety and proposals in the Löfstedt Review have looked to consolidate and simplify regulations. The main shift in the reforms has seen a focus of activity away from businesses and workplaces that do the right thing to concentrate on high-risk areas and more serious breaches. Mr Miller will explore whether this new health and safety approach will see an end to the culture of 'tick-box' regulation, bureaucratic paperwork and help to improve occupational health standards.

Back to top of page

Judith Hackitt was appointed Chair of the Health and Safety Commission with effect from 1 October 2007 for a term of five years and became Chair of the Health and Safety Executive when the two organisations merged on 1 April 2008. Judith previously served as a commissioner between 2002 and 2005. She was awarded her CBE for services to health and safety.

Judith worked in Brussels for the European Chemical Industry Association (CEFIC) in 2006/7. She worked at the Chemical Industries Association as Director of Business and Responsible Care (1998-2002) and Director General (2002-2006).

She began her working career in 1975 with Exxon Chemicals where she spent 15 years in various process management roles at Fawley. She was subsequently European Operations Director of a speciality pigments business before becoming Group Risk Manager at Elementis PLC with worldwide responsibility for health and safety, insurance and litigation. She also served for three years as a non-executive Director of Oxfordshire Health Authority.

Judith trained as a Chemical Engineer at Imperial College, London and is a Fellow of the Institution of Chemical Engineers, an Ordinary Member of Council of the Institution of Chemical Engineers, a Fellow of the City and Guilds Institute and an Honorary Vice President of the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health. She was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering in July 2010.

In January 2009, Judith was appointed as a non-Executive Director of the Energy Saving Trust. She became a Trustee of the National Coal Mining Museum for England in June 2009. She has also been named as the president-elect of the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) for 2013/14. She will take up the role of deputy president in 2012-2013.

Presentation: Regulatory change: delivering a proportionate, risk-based approach to health and safety

Health and safety risks should be managed in a sensible and proportionate way. A new policy framework aims to make regulation simpler to understand and to provide greater consistency of approach between HSE and local authorities to better target high-risk areas and prioritise inspections in light of financial constraints. How will the new relationship between HSE and local authorities work? What impact will the broader changes to the health and safety landscape have and how will safety standards be maintained during the delivery of the reforms?

Back to top of page

Dr Luise Vassie leads IOSH's Policy division, including the Institution's public affairs, research, technical and communications activities.

She is responsible for leading the strategic development and communication of IOSH policy, research and technical advice and guidance, including lobbying to raise IOSH's profile and influence and position as a health and safety thought leader.
Prior to joining IOSH, Luise spent 14 years working in academia carrying out research and consultancy and delivering postgraduate teaching and training in health and safety management. She has a PhD in laser physics and is a Chartered Fellow of the Institution.

IOSH is the world's largest membership organisation for health and safety professionals, with more than 40,000 members worldwide.


Presentation: The case for health and safety: Why we need more evidence

• What can employers and the rest of society do to manage risks more pragmatically?
• Developing a dynamic evidence-based approach to the control of health and safety risks
• How sensible, proportionate measures protect workers and save businesses money – a formula for growth


Back to top of page

Thomas Martin is the joint Managing Director of Arco, the UK's leading safety company and a fourth-generation, family-owned business. After several years in London working in advertising and direct marketing, Thomas joined Arco in 1988 having applied for a role in the product marketing team. He gained experience in telesales, product management, purchasing and branch operations before being appointed Supply Chain Director and then joint Managing Director. Headquartered in Hull with a 40-branch local network across the UK and Ireland, Arco now leads the way in providing high-quality, innovative products and services that make work a safer place.

Thomas is actively involved in B2B fund raising for the RNLI and contributing to the local business community through his involvement with the Yorkshire & Humber CBI Council. He is also on the Bondholders Advisory Board and is a BSIF Council Member. The Entrepreneurs Group and Young Enterprise are amongst other diversions away from his desk.

Presentation: Reduce the Red Tape – Don't Relax the Rules

Following his 2011 Keynote Address 'Overstressing Safety' Thomas Martin's presentation 'Reduce the Red Tape – Don't Relax the Rules' focuses on the danger of devaluing health and safety. There is a fine line between reducing the burden of legislation and maintaining good health and safety practices. With a set of robust health and safety regulations in place, the UK has one of the best health and safety records in the world. Thomas examines how we should invest in the future and concludes that it's time that the industry 'gets personal.'

Back to top of page

Lynda Armstrong took up the position of Chair of the British Safety Council in October 2010 having worked for Royal Dutch Shell for 35 years in operational and management roles in oil and gas exploration, and petroleum engineering and production. Her most recent position was Technical Vice President, leading a global technical advice and study organisation with centres in the Netherlands, USA, UK, India and Qatar.

Previous assignments have included New Business Development Director for Shell UK and Exploration Director for Petroleum Development Oman.

Lynda is experienced in managing operations in a safety critical industry. She has also led several major business improvement and restructuring programmes to enhance operating performance.

Presentation: Understanding, identifying and controlling workplace risk

Lynda Armstrong, Chair of the Trustees of the British Safety Council, will set out the views of the organisation and it's members which were fed into the Löfstedt review and four themes vital to the effectiveness of the regulatory framework. Lynda will also detail the agenda set out by the British Safety Council in its manifesto for workplace health and safety, "Working Well", which is being published to coincide with the conference.

Back to top of page

Inspired by a visit his father had received from the then Factory Inspectorate, Stephen Williams joined HSE as a front line inspector in 1977 - inspecting a number of industries including printing, food and construction. As a construction inspector, he was involved in major projects including the Channel Tunnel and the Dartford Bridge. In 1993, he was responsible for initial implementation of the Temporary or Mobile Construction Sites Directive, through the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations (CDM 1994).

Stephen has held a range of posts within HSE, including Head of Railway Policy Division, where he was responsible for the removal of slam door trains from the railway network and the policy relating to the introduction of the train protection warning system. He was also a member of the Bi-National Channel Tunnel Safety Authority.

More recently, Stephen has been HSE's Chief Inspector of Construction and Director for the London Region before being appointed as Director for Operational Strategy with special responsibility for HSE's regulation of the 2012 Games.

As well as his HSE roles, Stephen has worked in central government, including directly advising ministers (both Conservative and Labour) on health and safety policy.


Back to top of page

As RoSPA's occupational safety adviser, Roger Bibbings advises the Society on all matters related to work related risk and helps it expand its contribution to the UK's world-renowned 'health and safety system', which has proportionality at its heart. He contributes to RoSPA's journals, helps organise the Society's Congresses and Awards, services its National Occupational Safety and Health Committee, has oversight of 'key issue' policies including occupational road risk and director action on safety and health, and is Secretary of Safety Groups UK.

Before joining RoSPA in 1994, Roger was for 17 years health and safety adviser at the TUC. In 1990, he was made an MBE for his services to occupational safety and health. He is a Chartered Fellow of the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) and has received the RoSPA Distinguished Service Award. In 2006, he received the IOSH President's Distinguished Service Certificate and in 2011 he received the IOSH Lifetime Achievement Award.


Back to top of page

Gerard Forlin QC of Cornerstone Barristers (previously 2-3 Gray's Inn Square) was educated at Trinity Hall, University of Cambridge and the London School of Economics. His specialisation is regulatory work, including health and safety, aviation, environmental and product liability, which he practises globally. He has been in many of the pivotal cases, including Watford, Southall, Teebay, Paddington, Hatfield and Purley train crashes, and a lift fatality in the City of London and a recent inquest into a 2003 catamaran incident in Greece. Gerard undertakes a lot of inquest work and has lectured, practised or consulted in over 30 countries. He has published over 90 articles and is General Editor of 'Corporate Liability – work related deaths and criminal prosecutions', 3rd Edition 2012 (Bloomsbury). He is also a member of a set of chambers in Sydney. See www.gerardforlin.com.


Back to top of page