IOSH Chief Executive Bev Messinger has been named ‘Rising CEO Star’ at the Charity Times Awards 2019.

Messinger won the award after overseeing the transformation of IOSH to enable it to deliver its five-year strategy, WORK 2022, to shape the future of the occupational safety and health profession.

Part of this transformation included the ‘Attraction and Induction’ project to improve IOSH’s offer as an employer – and this was named ‘Change Project of the Year’ at the awards ceremony, held at Park Plaza Westminster Bridge, London, on Wednesday 2 October.

Messinger joined IOSH in October 2016 and has led the organisation through a period of change. This has included the development and implementation of its new strategy, which was launched in April 2017 to enhance the occupational safety and health profession, collaborate with like-minded organisations and influence and strengthen its impact globally.

She appointed a new senior leadership team and began a five-year ‘Transforming Together Programme’ that has made IOSH more modern, flexible and agile in order to deliver the new strategy. This has focused on three key areas – IOSH’s people, its ways of working and its operating model.

The result has been an improvement in how IOSH recruits, retains and develops employees, better systems and processes, and significant financial improvements.

All of this has helped the Institution continue to strive toward its vision of a safe and healthy world of work.

Award judges said she was, “recruited into a challenging position and has rapidly instigated a programme that has returned the organisation to stability, whilst introducing new policies and a culture that has created new opportunities”.

After picking up her award, Messinger said: “I am delighted that IOSH has been recognised by these prestigious awards. It is testament to the collective work that has been done over the past three years.

“We are halfway through delivery of our WORK 2022 strategy, through which we are shaping the future of occupational safety and health to ensure millions of working people worldwide are protected.

“Key to this has been transforming IOSH as an organisation, to make us more business-like and customer focused, so we continue to meet the needs of our members.

“As Chief Executive, I am proud to lead an amazing team who are delivering this transformation and would like to thank all the staff at IOSH for their hard work. I am also grateful for the support of our members, in particular the Presidential team and our Council, and our Board of Trustees.”