Agenda
Welcome & opening remarks from the host
Strategies to get first-level supervisors to prioritise safety
Supervisors are uniquely placed to influence safety performance. If they demonstrate they prioritise safety, they show what is expected and how it’s done! So, what can stop safety from being a supervisor's priority, and what can we do as safety professionals to make sure this doesn't happen?
Panel discussion: Advancements in Middle East-focused PPE
New technologies and smarter designs are reshaping PPE. For organisations in the Middle East, adopting these innovations is critical to protecting workers in extreme conditions.
In this panel session, industry experts will explore the latest advancements in PPE – what’s available now, what’s next, and how to choose the right solutions for your workforce. Topics include:
- Wearable tech: Smart helmets, watches, and other devices offering real-time hazard detection and performance tracking.
- Heat stress solutions: PPE designed to manage high temperatures through better ventilation and heat-resistant materials.
- Sustainability: Reducing PPE’s environmental impact through less frequent washing and the use of eco-friendly materials.
- Design for comfort: Why comfort still lags in PPE—and how better design can improve safety, especially for drivers and mobile workers.
- Future-proofing: How to stay ahead of PPE trends and ensure long-term safety outcomes.
- Cost vs durability: Balancing budget pressures with safety performance.
Managing risk at scale: Health and safety in Middle East mega projects
The Middle East leads the world in mega and large-scale construction – from NEOM to the Palm Jebel Ali, New Ras el-Hekma and beyond. But with scale comes complexity, especially regarding health and safety.
This session brings together experts to discuss managing risk and protecting workers across vast, high-pressure projects. You’ll hear insights on:
- Productivity in extreme heat: Hydration protocols, cooling tech, PPE selection and effective work-rest cycles.
- Regulatory compliance: Navigating evolving safety standards across borders and jurisdictions.
- Lessons learned: What the region’s mega-projects can teach us ahead of Saudi Arabia’s 2034 FIFA World Cup.
- Supply chain risk: How to enforce consistent safety practices across contractors and subcontractors.
- Training and reporting best practices: How to ensure effective training, skills, and incident reporting structures when dealing with multiple teams.
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NEBOSH’s Chief Quality Officer, Dee Arp is a Chartered Safety and Health Practitioner of IOSH and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Educational Assessors. Dee became a qualified health and safety practitioner 25 years ago whilst working at RoSPA, where she developed and taught a wide range of courses and helped several boards to implement safety governance.
As NEBOSH’s Chief Quality Officer, Dee has responsibility for providing leadership on qualification development and assessment and on all compliance matters.
Dee previously studied with Cambridge University for the Certificate of Continuing Education (Principles and Practice of Assessment) and is now undertaking further study with Cambridge University for a Masters in Education.
Dee is President of INSHPO, a RoSPA Ambassador and is a judge on several Industry Awards including the RoSPA Health and Safety Awards, the IIRSM Risk Excellence Awards and the SHE Excellence Awards.
John Dunne is the Group Head of Health & Safety at Red Sea Global (RSG). He was appointed in August 2023, bringing more than 25 years of experience as a Health, Safety and Environment professional from a diverse background in manufacturing, construction, engineering, consulting and the military.
John worked previously as Group Health, Safety, Environment, Quality and Sustainability Director at Wates Group, where he successfully drove changes in behavioural safety, wellbeing and sustainability and led award-winning health & safety and environmental campaigns. Before Wates, John was Balfour Beatty's Global Head of Safety, Health & Environnment, overseeing a dramatic improvement in worker safety at the company's businesses in the Middle East, Hong Kong and the United States.
John is a chartered member of the UK-based Institute of Occupational Safety and Health.
James Russell is a business development leader with a strong track record of driving technology adoption in the health and safety sector across the Middle East. As Vice President Commercial, EMEA at 36Zero, he leads enterprise sales with a focus on geofencing, safety, and workforce mobilisation in high-risk industrial environments.
With over 15 years of experience in technology and commercial strategy, James has helped scale IoT solutions that improve efficiency and protect frontline workers. He previously spearheaded the development of wearable technology integrated into smart textiles, overseeing the deployment of 180,000 smart garments for the Qatari government ahead of the FIFA World Cup.
In addition to his commercial work, James is a recognised heat stress and hydration consultant, specialising in blue-collar worker welfare across construction, oil and gas, and heavy industry.
Kate is an award-winning thought leader, author and keynote speaker covering all aspects of human and social sustainability. With over 20 years’ experience across all sectors, from Regulator to Consultant, Kate leads BSI’s global strategy for creating human-centric workplaces and communities. Kate uses her voice and work to reach global audiences to champion cultural change, which puts purpose, trust, and well-being at the forefront. Providing human centered insight on topics such as modern slavery, diversity and inclusion, future of work, AI, purpose driven organizations and sustainable procurement. Kate developed the first global training and certification program for psychological health and safety and BSI’s Prioritising People Model© focused on creating a culture of trust which has reached global audiences in excess of 4 billion.
Jason has more than 30 years of experience within the access industry, gained with equipment manufacturers, rental companies, and training bodies.
He arrived in the Middle East some years ago with a drive of promoting safety for workers who work at height. Key focus points include reducing the risk of accidents and increasing awareness of the workforce, among management tradesmen and training providers.
His connection with many safety associations from local to international supporting the HSE professionals. His aim is to boost safe practices whilst working at height. He collaborate with safety groups and governing bodies throughout the Middle East and South Asia.