The latest issue of IOSH magazine has landed and is dedicated to IOSH's Future Leaders Community, which is celebrating its first anniversary.
More than 6500 new and aspiring professionals have joined the group since it formed last year, when IOSH held its inaugural 2019 conference, which attracted 110 attendees.
During the pandemic, IOSH has continued to support its Future Leaders by hosting virtual events, which have seen more than 1000 members tune in. Its next webinar, focused on OHS in the community and the benefits of volunteering, will be held on 24 November.
Speaking in the latest edition of IOSH magazine, the IOSH Future Leaders Steering Group discussed their passion for the profession and their hopes for the future. Chloe Hughes, a health and safety graduate working at Rolls-Royce, said she wants to challenge the perceptions of what an OSH professional looks and acts like today.
'Without doubt, the Future Leaders Community is making headway and encouraging young professionals to engage with their businesses and pioneer a new age of OSH professional,' she added.
Health, safety and environment manager Jason Kamalu is a Chartered Member of IOSH and volunteers for the IOSH West Africa Network. 'I am proud to be a Future Leader,' he says, 'it gives me an opportunity to mentor and inspire early career professionals and health, safety and environmental enthusiasts.'
Giving the Future Leaders some career advice in a recent Zoom call which saw the steering committee interview a former IOSH president, John Lacey said the most important qualities in OSH are passion and communication.
‘If you are passionate about the safety and health of others – and you’ve got to be that way in this job – then people will see and react to that passion,’ John said.
In IOSH magazine's first episode of its new podcast, new HSE chair Sarah Newton also had some advice for our Future Leaders.
'First of all, be positive – you have a very bright future,' she said. 'This is a fast-moving industry, it’s very dynamic, there are lots of things happening, so always think about taking more courses and CPD, and look at how you can develop yourself. You will probably work in three or four different industries during your career in health and safety, and your work is important in every workplace – whether that’s private sector or public sector – so grasp every opportunity that is available.'
Learn more about the Future Leaders Committee here.
