Case Studies

You have worked in health and safety ever since you graduated from university with a Chemical Engineering degree in 2006. Did you always know health and safety was what you wanted to do?
The short answer is “No”! Although I had studied plant and process design and risk management as part of my degree, they initially seemed like basic principles for managing everyday life and more specifically, fundamental concepts across all engineering disciplines. It felt as though these concepts would be part of the backdrop to my future life, and not the primary focus of my career. Health and safety only truly came to the fore after I graduated.

How did you secure your first health and safety role?
In 2004, two years before my graduation, I joined Nestlé North-East Africa as an Engineering Intern. I was fortunate that this work placement led me to secure a part-time position with the company while I finished my degree. When I graduated, I faced a significant career choice: I could either stick with my original plan, which was to seek employment in the Oil and Gas industry, or I could try and secure a permanent full-time position with Nestlé.

Within a month of graduating, I was given the opportunity by Nestlé to take up a newly introduced EHS Officer role at one of their three plants in the region. Surprised by the offer and uncertain about the future of this role and career path, I embraced the challenge of shaping and developing the EHS department and agenda. Thus began a remarkable 20-year journey in EHS.

You completed your NEBOSH International General Certificate (IGC) in 2010 and were named the best candidate for this qualification that year. What an amazing achievement! How did it make you feel when you heard this news?
In December 2010, amidst unprecedented political disruption in Egypt, I received a letter that left me in disbelief. So much so that I thought it might have been sent to the wrong address! The congratulatory letter was an overwhelming surprise to me, my family, colleagues and tutors. I was immensely proud to be the first Egyptian female to receive this award!

I flew to Warwick with my husband to accept the honour at that year's graduation ceremony and it was a wonderful day. The entire celebration and arrangements were phenomenal, with smiles and pride radiating from the faces of candidates and their loved ones as they celebrated their achievements. When I returned from the ceremony, my managers and colleagues arranged further celebrations, recognising that this achievement was of huge significance to the company as well as for me personally in terms of my professional growth.

How have your IGC studies helped you in your career?
The IGC played a pivotal role in enhancing my professional resume, technical knowledge and skills. It boosted my confidence and credibility, opening pathways to international opportunities as they arose. Additionally, it provided an excellent opportunity to expand my EHS network across various industries. This was my first NEBOSH experience, and since then, driven by ambition and a commitment to continuous professional development, I have gone on to successfully complete several NEBOSH qualifications throughout different phases of my EHS career.

You moved to PepsiCo in 2017. Can you please tell us about the company and its H&S ethos?
After 11 years with Nestlé, I joined PepsiCo as its Regional EHS Senior Manager for North Africa. PepsiCo aims to demonstrate industry-leading practices by maintaining a global EHS risk reduction strategy designed to achieve consistently high standards across its global operations, thereby reducing the overall EHS risk profile. PepsiCo invests in a wide range of engineering and technological solutions, as well as administrative initiatives, to support its 'Beyond Zero - Pursue Positive' EHS vision.

The company is large-scale, fast-paced, and has a diverse and competitive culture. Securing this role and dealing with the organisational differences between the two companies, marked a professional turning point for me. Transforming and growing as an EHS leader was crucial if I was to enable PepsiCo’s compelling vision and mission through a robust EHS strategy.

2017 was a busy year for you as you also completed the NEBOSH Environmental Management Certificate. Can you tell us:

• Why you chose this qualification?

In 2017, shortly after returning from my second maternity leave, I felt a renewed motivation to advance my growth and exposure. I felt that the Environmental Management Certificate would be a valuable and relevant addition to my professional development and would complement the robust capability-building plans that PepsiCo had put in place for me.

• What you gained from taking this qualification?

Taking this qualification enhanced my environmental management knowledge and skills, in the same way that the IGC has boosted my health and safety competencies. Holding both qualifications helped me become a more well-rounded professional across all three EHS disciplines. Additionally, earning this globally recognised environmental management qualification opened greater and more promising career advancement opportunities.

All your health and safety roles to date have been in food and drink manufacturing. What do you see as being the key health and safety issues in this sector?
Common health and safety risks in food and beverage manufacturing include slips, trips, and falls, manual handling, machinery hazards, on-site traffic management, stress resilience and mental health, and fatigue, particularly in fleet operations. Common process safety concerns in the sector include dust explosions, leaks of ammonia, a commonly used refrigerant, and fires.

While addressing current risks, it is also essential to monitor and address rapidly emerging risks such as technological integration (e.g., automation, robotics, and AI), climate change, extreme weather conditions, and psychosocial risks.

Another overarching aspect across this sector is micro EHS culture and how it's embedded in the macro-organisational culture. James Clear, author of "Atomic Habits", has a quote that perfectly relates to culture and our organisational habits: “You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems”. From organisational to site level, the EHS management system should be a core and integral element in organisational culture. Furthermore, continually improving and governing it through training, inspections, audits and reviews is vital for the health and success of the business.

In 2021 you completed your NEBOSH International Diploma. Can you tell us:

• Why you chose this qualification?

I hoped that achieving this qualification would give me an internationally recognised credential that would pave the way for numerous professional prospects including further career advancement and international job opportunities.

• How have your NEBOSH Diploma studies helped you?

Pursuing the NEBOSH Diploma significantly revitalised and enhanced my EHS expertise and knowledge, boosting my confidence and credibility. Consequently, I received recognition for my continuous professional development, with the NEBOSH Diploma being a noteworthy milestone in this journey. Additionally, this qualification also serves as a crucial stepping-stone towards my goal of pursuing further and higher educational degrees in EHS.

In November 2023, PepsiCo promoted you to the role of AMESA EHS Director—Governance and Performance. Can you please tell us about your roles and responsibilities?
In my current role as AMESA EHS Director, I lead the EHS governance and performance agenda for manufacturing and non-manufacturing operations across Africa, the Middle East and South Asia. My core responsibilities across the region include leading the internal and external audit plans, developing and reviewing management system policies and safe work practices, reviewing investigations of serious incidents, identifying and sharing incident learnings and best practices, leading EHS performance reviews and building EHS capabilities in the areas of risk assessment, management of change, emergency response, and auditing.

What do you enjoy most about being a health and safety professional?
On the people front, being able to protect the health and safety of others is one aspect I particularly enjoy. I love being able to influence people to adopt a safer and healthier mindset, addressing any challenges that could get in the way. Moreover, collaborating with others to effect positive change and witnessing it unfold slowly and steadily is immensely rewarding.

On the business front, I enjoy being a business partner and thought leader rather than a compliance lead. It is always about being part of the solution rather than merely identifying the problem. Additionally, I enjoy being an enabler to safer and faster growth, legal compliance, and business continuity.

When you look back at your career so far, what are you most proud of?
With nearly 20 years of experience in the field of health and safety, there's so much to be proud of! Firstly, the learning I gained and the empathy I have developed are priceless. I had the opportunity to unleash my creativity in transformational concepts, including establishing an interactive “play & learn” centre.

If I can bucket my proud moments, I’d start with “people” moments which are closest to my heart. I've seen incredible results and progress from the various teams I've been a part of. From small steps to big leaps, I'm proud of the opportunities I had with colleagues to positively influence EHS culture and inspire others to shift towards a safer lifestyle and mindset.

Moreover, I've had the honour of nominating and qualifying numerous teams and markets for gold and silver awards from prestigious organisations. I'm particularly committed to ensuring that those who demonstrate a genuine commitment to health and safety receive the recognition they deserve.

I am particularly proud of being a female influencer in my ever-growing network. On many of the sites where I have worked, I have been the first female EHS professional. Along my journey, I have enjoyed seeing more and more women enter and pursue a career in EHS.

Lastly, I am proud of what my family and close ones see I stand for. Helping and protecting others is a source of invaluable personal fulfilment. My journey started with this being “just a job” but now it is in my DNA.

What would your advice be to anyone who wants to work in health and safety?
I prefer to consider this a summary of professional life lessons rather than advice, as I am still on my own learning journey:

1)Obtain a renowned qualification: Pursue recognised professional qualifications such as NEBOSH or equivalent to empower yourself with a solid foundation in health and safety fundamentals.

2) Stay informed and keep up to date: with the latest regulations, industry standards, and best practices. Avoid the complacent mindset of “I’ve seen and know it all.” Continuous learning is key to staying effective.

3) Win with your leadership skills: develop your leadership skills as diligently as you work on your technical knowledge. Both are crucial for successful career progression.

4) Adopt a predictive mindset: Embrace the mindset of “expect and plan for the worst, and drive for the best.” Start by building or promoting a positive health and safety culture. Have a clear vision and strategy with phased milestones built into your plan. Patience and resilience are key traits to many successes, which are ultimately attainable.