International Safety Awards Daytime Conference, Middle East

Upon request, British Safety Council will provide an invitation letter to assist with visa applications. However, we cannot advise on or guarantee visa issuance. Please apply as early as possible; we cannot refund tickets if a visa isn’t obtained.

No physical tickets are issued. Confirmation emails will be sent to the contact provided on the booking form.

• Black tie
• Evening dress
• National dress
• Honours may be worn.

Please indicate any dietary needs on the booking form. The venue is prepared to accommodate a variety of requirements, and we will contact you if additional details are needed.

Mike has been the Chief Executive of British Safety Council since September 2015 and was the driving force behind the establishment of the mental health charity, Mates in Mind.  Mike is passionate about safety leadership, the need to take a holistic approach in managing health, safety and wellbeing, and the importance of safety culture. Mike has spoken at conferences around the world on these topics, and also with the Boards of many organisations in the UK, Middle East and in India.

Mike’s first involvement in safety related organisations was in 2006 when he became the Chief Executive of the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office, a Trading Fund within the Ministry of Defence.  Over five years he grew the business substantially allowing it to better meet its aim of supporting safe, secure and thriving oceans.  After this he co-founded Global Navigation Solutions, the worlds’ leading provider of navigation products and services, supporting the safety of commercial shipping.

Before moving into the maritime services sector, Mike had a successful 15-year career in Financial Services, building HBOS's European Financial Services business and sitting on the Boards’ of HBOS Europe & North America and the Clerical Medical Investment Group.

Mike is a qualified Chartered Accountant and spent a number of years at the start of his career in Audit and Consultancy.

Dr Julie Riggs joined British Safety Council in 2020 as Senior Head of Education, promoted to the Director of Education in 2024. Julie has worked for over 30 years as an OSH practitioner and trainer, operating as a leader in strategic, corporate and global roles with broad cross-industry experience. Julie has an MSc and Doctorate in her field and a Chartered Fellowship with IOSH, she is an established writer, published author and active blogger; her work has featured in the national press and on media programmes such as BBC Radio 4. She has acted as a viva examiner for doctorate candidates and mentors degree students. Julie has also contributed to commercial and Government research projects and advisory standards, including presenting research in the House of Common. She has also volunteered for numerous global charities protecting vulnerable workers.

At British Safety Council Julie works with individual and organisations to build knowledge in safety, sustainability and wellbeing, using targeted education to drive long-term behavioural change, support sustainable development goals, and contribute to building safer, healthier and more resilient societies, with the intent to creating meaningful change to make a difference.

A strategic and results-driven leader, Ian brings a strong track record in health, safety, and wellbeing compliance across training, consultancy, and auditing services. Known for blending commercial acumen with deep technical expertise, Ian delivers measurable business outcomes while championing a proactive and people-focused approach to compliance.
 
An engaging and confident public speaker, skilled at inspiring teams and influencing stakeholders at every level of an organisation.
 
With extensive knowledge of legislation and industry standards, Ian specialises in developing high-impact compliance solutions that strengthen organisational resilience. Ian is also highly customer-focused, experienced in designing tailored programmes and services that meet client needs and generate tangible value. 

Dr. Audrey Fleming is a Chartered Psychologist and Well-being, Health and Safety practitioner with over 25 years of expertise from elite sport, academia, public and private sectors. These roles have included health and well-being assessment and promotion for NHS and local governments, mental skills support with sports and work teams, through to global corporation coaching and supporting strategies to improve psychosocial safety climate and reduce workplace stress.

Audrey has specialised experience in transport, construction, critical industrial services, manufacturing, mechanical engineering and petrochemical industries in the UK, and around the world.

Dr. Marcell Greeff is a distinguished QHSE and Risk Management Specialist with more than 25 years of extensive technical and operational experience across high-risk industries. Known for his results-driven leadership and strong focus on legal accountability, he specialises in organisational strategy, corporate governance compliance, and safety performance in complex operational environments.

Since 2015, Dr. Greeff has led the Health and Safety Department at Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), where he oversees safety strategy and operational risk management across one of the world’s most advanced energy and utilities organisations.

Throughout his career, Dr. Greeff has held senior leadership roles across a diverse range of sectors including deep-level underground gold mining, civil construction project management, international shipping and logistics marine operations, deep-ocean offshore mining, oil and gas, manufacturing, and agriculture. This cross-industry experience has equipped him with deep expertise in managing safety and operational risk in demanding, high-hazard environments.

Dr. Greeff is also an active educator, author, and mentor. He is frequently invited to deliver lectures and guest classes at universities and regularly speaks at international conferences as a subject matter expert in safety leadership, risk management, and organisational culture. He serves on the advisory council for the George Washington University Customer Experience Certificate Program and is a Program Advisor for the University of Richmond in the United States.

Currently, Dr. Greeff is a member of the DEWA Takeover Committee and the Al-Sheraa Building Utilisation Committee, contributing to the development of the world’s tallest, largest, and smartest government Zero Energy Building.

Dr. Greeff holds an exceptional academic portfolio including a Doctor of Business Administration (DrBA), an MBA, a Master of Applied Business Research, a BCom (Honours) in Business Management, and a Bachelor of Technology (BTech) in Safety Management. He has also authored several influential publications, including:

• The Empirical Design of a Safety Culture Maturity Development Model

• Organisational Safety Culture Models: A Business Guide for Developing Corporate Safety Maturity

• Managing Occupational Health and Safety Risks in High-Hazard Industries: A Technical Business Guide

(all published in 2023).

Through his research, leadership, and industry engagement, Dr. Greeff continues to advance the global conversation around safety culture, organisational resilience, and risk management excellence.

Emma Seymour is a senior HR and worker welfare specialist with more than two decades of international experience across the GCC. As Senior Partner at Gratiya Advisory, she advises major developers and contractors on compliance, ethics, and social performance, helping organisations strengthen governance, protect workers, and deliver responsible, high-impact projects in complex operating environments with measurable, sustainable results for clients