Members’ dedication recognised

Peter Williams and Tom Beswick-Brown received President’s Commendation Awards for their work on peer review panels. They have given generously of their time and expertise over several years. They have both chaired over 200 peer review interviews, which assess members’ suitability for membership upgrade. In 2024 alone, Peter chaired 54 interview panels. They have made a significant difference to individual members and to the profession as a whole.

Since Syed Mazhar became Chair of the UAE Branch in 2021, it has grown to over 3,500 members, becoming IOSH’s second largest branch. Syed has built important relationships with other organisations, which have benefitted the branch specifically and IOSH generally. He has been instrumental in effecting introductions for our IOSH for Business team. For his contributions to advancing IOSH’s cause, Syed received a President’s Commendation Award.

President’s Distinguished Service Awards

Outstanding contribution and impact are recognised by a President’s Distinguished Service Award.

Stan Brown has served on IOSH Council, as a former Chair of IOSH Scotland branch, as a member of Forth and Tay Branch committee and as a member of IOSH West of Scotland Fellowship group. In all of these capacities, Stan has supported many members to pursue their goals. Over the years he has consistently given constructive criticism and challenged others to extend themselves. His skill for identifying potential in others is coupled with energy, positivity and humour. As one of his nominees stated, “Without Stan, it is very unlikely that I would have continued my own journey towards Fellowship and could have ceased my journey, but Stan encouraged me.”

Jamie Sutherland-Pownall chaired the Nominations Committee, a committee of the board responsible for recruiting board committee members. Jamie set out to make a number of improvements to processes by which the Nominations Committee operates, ensuring fairness, robustness and transparency for the candidates as they enter into the recruitment process. As a result of his leadership, the Nominations Committee has become more effective in its work. This increases the likelihood of getting the best people for the positions we have available to make IOSH as effective as possible for the benefit of our members.

Ian Scott has been an IOSH member for over 35 years and a member of the Fire Risk Management Group. He has promoted OSH through opinion pieces, press releases and magazine articles. He wrote and promoted the original FRMG back-to-basics webinar campaign and has authored four e-books on fire investigation, fire safety and fire prevention. All of this, from someone who admits to ending up in OSH by accident, starting off as a trade union representative!

IOSH President Kelly Nicoll said: “It’s been an absolute pleasure to make these awards to some very deserving members. They have been an inspiration to anyone in the profession who’s had the good fortune to have met or worked with them. They are a credit to IOSH, and I’m extremely proud to call them my fellow members. I encourage you all to nominate IOSH members – and indeed non-members – who you feel have made an outstanding contribution to the profession.”