Our senior team

Our senior structure is divided into four divisions; Commercial, Corporate Services, Membership and Policy. Each division is headed by an Executive Director and the Executive Director Team (EDT) reports to the Chief Executive. The team's broad spectrum of expertise is key to achieving our strategic goals.

Chief Executive
Rob Strange OBE

Rob Strange became Chief Executive (CE) of IOSH on 1 January 2001. He joined the Institution in August 1997 as Deputy Chief Executive with specific responsibility for developing the range of commercial health and safety training courses and products, as well as for the secretariat and financial functions, before becoming CE (designate) in February 2000. He became a Trustee of IOSH in November 2005, and until recently was also a Trustee of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA).

Rob was created an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list announced in June 2008.

Commercial
Caroline Holden, Executive Director

Caroline joined IOSH in 2000 in a senior management position, bringing with her extensive marketing expertise from the service sector, particularly in education. In addition to being Executive Director, Caroline is director of IOSH’s trading subsidiary, IOSH Services Ltd. She is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) and a Chartered Marketer, and has an MSc in Strategic Marketing.

Caroline provides strategic direction for IOSH’s Commercial division, leading on corporate marketing, the development of training courses and services, promotion, customer service, individual contracts and quality control of the training delivered by IOSH’s respected network of training organisations.

Corporate Services
Colin Gore, Executive Director

Colin joined IOSH in 2000 and now leads the Corporate Services division. Together with his supporting staff he is responsible for managing the institution efficiently and effectively; the accurate and timely production of management information; budgets; statutory accounts; information systems strategy and operations; internal and external audit and administering the Risk Management and Audit Committee. He also looks after HR, Facilities, governance and legal issues and, through his PA, Council elections and supporting the Presidential Team.

Colin is a Chartered Accountant with an MBA from Warwick University and a Diploma in Marketing. After qualifying Colin moved into industry where he worked for a variety of privately and publicly owned SMEs, primarily in manufacturing. Before joining IOSH Colin had over 15 years’ Board level experience.

Membership
Hazel Harvey, Executive Director

A Chartered Member of IOSH, Hazel is a textile chemist with an M Phil in Applied Physics. She joined IOSH as Professional Affairs Manager in 1993 after working at DeMontfort University. She was employed to launch Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and the Safety Awareness training programmes, and to develop an academic accreditation system.

As Membership Executive Director, Hazel’s role covers all aspects of the regulation of the profession. This includes development of academic programmes leading to membership, registration of membership, Initial Professional Development, CPD (now going into its third version), Professional Development training programmes and the Regulation of the Profession and Code of Ethics. In addition, Hazel is responsible for the Networks, International and corporate events aspects of IOSH's work.

Policy
Dr Luise Vassie, Executive Director

Luise joined IOSH in 2005 as Research and Technical Services Manager, before becoming Head of Research and Technical Services in 2008. She has been a member for more than 10 years. Luise leads our Policy division, including our 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 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.

Ian Smart, Head of Communications

Ian joined IOSH in 2010 leading a team that looks after IOSH’s press and media relations, e-communications, book and journal publishing, branding and design, website development, market research and campaigns. He is responsible for directing IOSH’s communications strategy and raising the profile of health and safety and the influence of IOSH.

Ian is a very experienced marketing and communications professional with 15 years’ strategy and team leadership experience in the voluntary, public and private sectors, working in construction, further and higher education, social care organisations and now a membership body. Ian  holds postgraduate qualifications in Management and Education, membership of the Chartered Institute of Marketing and the Institute of Directors.

Sarah Hamilton, Networks and International Director

Sarah joined IOSH in 1998, initially developing the Institution’s international remit. She has over 15 years’ experience in information service environments, through working in a European Information Centre linked to the European Commission, and providing international business information to small and medium-sized enterprises.

Sarah became Networks and International Director in February 2008, taking responsibility for both the Branches and Groups departments. She is now responsible for the development and promotion of IOSH’s vibrant and thriving branch and group networks, as well as managing a wide range of European and international occupational safety and health projects, including the strategic and operational co-ordination of IOSH’s international relationships, together with responsibility for the delivery of all IOSH events.

Caroline Patel, Head of Campaigns & Publishing

Caroline worked as a journalist and in a range of publishing and communications roles before joining IOSH in 1995. She developed her experience at the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management and at The Work Foundation, as well as in her work for two commercial publishers.
 
Caroline leads the work of the Campaigns and Publishing team, which writes, edits and designs virtually every piece of communication (printed and online) on behalf of IOSH. She also leads IOSH’s brand and creative development and shapes and manages our campaign programme.

Helen Metcalfe, Head of Corporate Service

Helen joined IOSH in 2002 as HR Officer, progressing to HR Manager a year later and then Head of Corporate Services in 2008.  Helen is responsible for the provision and development of the human resources, facilities (including health and safety) and reception functions and the delivery of an efficient committee administration service for the Board of Trustees, Council and the Nominations Committee.

As well as being a law graduate, Helen is a chartered member of the Institute of Personnel and Development.  Her previous experience includes working for large multi-national organisations in telecommunications and financial services.

Craig Darlison, Head of Information Systems

Craig joined IOSH in1992 as Accounts Clerk and took on a series of roles before becoming Head of Information Systems in 2008. Craig is responsible for managing all information systems and telecommunications, data security and data protection, and business consultancy services, advising the Institution on efficient business processes and enabling it to maximise new opportunities and make use of new technologies.

Before joining IOSH, Craig worked in a small computer consumables supply company where he gained a wealth of experience in all aspects of business with an IT and finance background. He completed a number of business studies and finance courses to complement his hands-on experience.

Carolyn Issitt, Head of Membership Development

Carolyn joined IOSH in March 2007 as Membership Development Manager and became Head of Membership Development in May 2011. A marketing and business development specialist, Carolyn has developed a strategy to increase membership recruitment and retention. In turn this aims to widen IOSH’s visibility as a professional body. Additionally, she has overseen the introduction of a rolling renewal process, online joining process and an improved service to members using our customer relationship management platform.

From 2009 Initial Professional Development (IPD) and Continuing Professional Development (CPD) has been a key focus to help members create a structured career path, as well as safeguard their professional status.

Richard Jones, Head of Policy and Public Affairs

Richard has worked for IOSH in a senior management position since 2000 and has been a member for more than 20 years. He leads on the development of IOSH policies, positions and guidance, responses to consultations and public affairs activities, including, lobbying and support of campaigns and media activities. He also manages IOSH’s external representation and liaison activities and leads on projects within the policy division.

Richard has a Masters degree in Risk Management and Safety Technology; the NEBOSH Diploma in OSH; and is a Chartered Safety and Health Practitioner and Fellow of the Institution. His experience includes 33 years in marine and aerospace engineering, including designing specialist tools and quality, health, safety and environmental management.