Dr Ioanni Toutoungi - Vice Chair
IOSH membership grade:
CMIOSH
Why I serve as a Committee Member:
Serving on the LMB committee offers the opportunity to
contribute to the ever developing sector of health and safety. In
return I get to meet a variety of safety professionals and stay in
close proximity to any changes or developments in our, I might say,
labyrinthine occupation.
My specialist skills & knowledge:
My academic background has always been in Management/Business
Administration culminating with a Doctorate in organisational
culture and safety in a high risk work environment (i.e., oil
industry). Consequently my areas of expertise range from
behavioural safety, culture change and stimulating safety values in
multicultural work settings where the concept of safety, may be
diluted amidst other practices, such as uncontrolled time
pressures, underlying religious superstitions and not uncommon in
some regions, profitability before good safety practices.
My background and experience:
Safety related experiences in short, include: the rail industry,
teaching at a Scottish university, conducting research in the oil
industry and working in the oil industry. What I have learned is
that it’s fascinating how much information is out there awaiting
absorption. I always found that small but committed steps can lead
to incredible achievements that if analysed or reflected upon,
translate to collective experiences what may define the essence of
who we are.
My interests:
By far, the one activity I enjoy most is travelling to places
where I can absorb the local culture and practices. In effect such
experiences can be found as close as visiting a neighbour to listen
life inspired events, or as far as a small village at the base of
Everest. I have travelled to 36 countries but aim to experience as
many as possible in the coming years. Have lived for a long time in
Lebanon, Sudan, Egypt, Greece, and now in the cosmopolitan UK.
My favourite music:
Music is cultural reflection of our era and we tend to like what
made us feel comfortable at a time; I would then say that the
70/80s are what I listen to …
My favourite book:
Love to read Kazantzakis, (he authored ‘Zorbas the Greek’), a
Cretan philosopher thirsty to identify the meaning of life. In his
books, the answers he provides are not as paramount as the search
of them.