Case Studies

Kavitha Pillai is one of them. She lives in Abu Dhabi, having moved there with her husband and two young daughters back in 2004. The main reason behind the move was her husband’s employment, but with Kavitha’s strong academic and vocational background she was also able to develop a new and exciting career in Environment, Health and Safety (EHS).

In India, Kavitha had completed her first post-graduate degree (MSc) in Aquatic Biology and Fisheries in 1994, gaining a “first rank with distinction” from the University of Kerala. She then took a Master of Philosophy (MPhil) in the same subject, achieving grade A. Her working career began in 1997 as an Aquaculture Expert at the Kerala Government’s Department of Fisheries. Whilst working there she gained an MBA from Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) and later, in 2003, one year before her move to the UAE, Kavitha worked as a Vocational Lecturer in a Fisheries School. Her plan had been to complete a PhD and then teach, however all of that changed when she moved to Abu Dhabi.

Kavitha’s interest in health and safety began when she worked for an auditing business after the move. She took courses to learn more about various ISO standards and OHSAS 18001, which led to a career as an EHS Officer within a hotel group. After just three months, she was promoted to the position of EHS Manager having committed to achieving what she called the “must have qualification for the role” the NEBOSH International General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety. She achieved a distinction, which Kavitha said “was really a turning point in my level of confidence and the way I felt about the role. The qualification was also a stepping-stone to progress in the membership categories in internationally recognised health and safety professional bodies.”

In April 2013, she took on the position as a Cluster EHS Manager for two prestigious Rotana Hotel Management Corporation properties - Yas Island Rotana and Centro Yas Island. The legal requirements surrounding health, safety and the environment in the UAE were broadening at this time. In Abu Dhabi for example, individuals wishing to work in occupational safety and health had to have their competency evaluated so that they could be registered with the Abu Dhabi Occupational Safety and Health Registration Program (Qudorat).

“I really felt the need to have a more advanced NEBOSH qualification. The NEBOSH International Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety is broadly equivalent to a degree and for me, the perfect one to achieve for those who are coming from a different field, such as from a science background for example.”

“Not many have the Diploma in the hospitality industry and so the year and a half of study it took to complete the four modules of the Diploma really paid off. In depth theoretical and practical knowledge of HSE topics for example, regarding qualitative and quantitative risk assessments, enabled me to bring in desirable and positive changes. As well as improving my professional quality, achieving the Diploma also helped my employers at the time as I was better equipped to retrieve and disseminate information and technical knowledge, when my colleagues required them.”

Kavitha’s knowledge and experience has led her to continue to progress in her career and from 2018, she has worked in OSH Management at twofour54 Abu Dhabi (Media and Entertainment Hub). “I feel proud to have achieved my NEBOSH Diploma which has helped me to stand out from the crowd!”