Risk management specialist and leader, Louise Hosking, commenced the Presidency with the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) following the AGM on 16th November 2021. In the year that lies ahead her focus will be on People, Sustainability and Putting the Heart into Health & Safety.
Louise commented: “My year as IOSH President will focus on how we - in the OSH profession - can enhance our skills beyond the technical to reach out and positively influence each other and our stakeholders. We will talk about #PowerSkills and what good practice looks like, demonstrating the value we bring to businesses of all sizes.
“We are at a pivotal time in history. In order to solve some of the most complex challenges we are facing, where the only constant is change, we need a global work force which is innovative, creative, and inclusive. To do this they need to feel that their safety, their health, and their well-being is valued. We need modern Health & Safety leaders with a wide range of interpersonal skills, who care, ready to work alongside businesses to help to achieve this.”
She aims to tackle sustainability in its broadest context. She said: “Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” This aligns with the IOSH Catch the Wave campaign, which focuses on harnessing the value of social sustainability.
Louise advises that her focus on ‘creating value’ will be based on the ‘five Cs’ of collaboration, compassion, creativity, curiosity and courage. And that “together, we will be the change we want to see.”
As President, Louise will continue to promote mentorship and member support to create opportunities for a diverse range of professionals with a variety of skills, backgrounds, and knowledge to create clear pathways for future leaders all the way through to those in the latter stage of their career.
“Our branches and sector groups around the world are the heartbeat of IOSH. As we come together, we will use our new connections and greater reach to support one another and develop our skills,” added Louise.
She intends to encourage strong and effective governance through a professional, outward looking Council and will be the ambassadorial head of IOSH supporting its work as a professional body with the ILO, ISSA, and Commonwealth.
She concluded: “Together we will inspire and support a pipeline of new professionals and future leaders with complementary skills across a range of areas - all of them looking for a meaningful career where they can make a personal and collective difference.”
