Case Studies

Tell me a bit about your school life, what qualifications did you take? Did you have a career in mind when you were at school?

I was very adventurous in my teenage years. I left Indonesia at the age of 16 years old and moved to the UK to pursue my A-Levels. I was really lucky to experience this at a young age; being away from my family forced me to mature and be independent. When I left Indonesia, the career I had in mind was to be a lawyer or psychologist. I’ve always been drawn to ‘people’ – the way people think, behave and human interactions in general. Unfortunately, maths was not my strength at that time, and not having flying colours in maths did prevent me from pursuing degrees such as law or psychology. Instead, I pursued my other passion – ‘places’. I love travelling – learning about the cultures and stories behind the cities, towns and rural areas – so I did my degree in Urban Planning at Newcastle University.

Although I didn’t have a degree in health and safety, looking back it feels like a natural choice for me as ‘people’ and ‘places’ are my passions – there are always positive correlations between people and places.

You began your first health and safety role in 2016, what made you apply for this initial role?

I met my other half in the North East so when I graduated from university I wanted to start my career locally and I came across a QHSE Administrative role not far from where we lived. I decided to give it a go and I’m happy that I chose this path as this one decision led me to a profession where I grow massively, both personally and professionally.

How did you progress in this role? How did you use your qualifications to help in this role?

For me, school life and college life was where I learnt the transferable skills. Skills such as report writing, presentation, gathering information all contributed to my career further down the line.

When I first completed NEBOSH National General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety in 2017, the knowledge and skills gained from the qualification opened a lot of opportunities for me. The NEBOSH National General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety provided me with a great foundation and flexibility to adapt the knowledge gained from the course to various industries.

You moved to Greggs in 2019 as a Safety, Health & Environment Advisor, what did this entail?

This was a unique role and I got to work with some friendly colleagues. I had the opportunity to be part of the team that delivered some unique projects such as a hypoxic warehouse facility and manufacturing process automation; above all I met and worked with some remarkable engineers that I real-ly look up to. I would say it is the beauty of being in the health and safety profession, we never know what project we will come across and who we will work alongside. Every aspect of the job contributes something to your journey within the profession.

Tell me about your role current job. What would you say is the best thing about this job?

To build upon my previous experience in manufacturing and logistics sector, I joined ABB Electrification in April 2023 to broaden my skills and knowledge across other industries.

ABB Electrification is a leading global engineering company that energizes the transformation of society and industry to achieve a more productive, sustainable future. With global presence in over 100 countries, ABB offer a wide range products and service portfolio across the electrification, robotics, process automation and motion divisions.

In my current role as the QHSE Manager at ABB Electrification, I look after four electrification sites in the UK and the Marketing & Sales teams who work remotely from across the country.

Being part of ABB team means that I am part of the wider network of colleagues who are excellent in their professions, I can always tap into my colleagues’ knowledge and learn from their experience. Also, ABB technologies are at the heart of many technology and sustainability advancements – I am proud to be part of a company that helps making a better future for the many generations to come.

Can you see yourself staying on this career path?

Definitely, I love the ‘engagement’ aspect of the health and safety profession and also the opportunity to collaborate with colleagues across different professions. A career in health and safety encouraged me to be curious and to never stop learning.

What would you tell your younger self knowing what you know now about your career and education?

Be patient – It takes time to learn. If it doesn’t work out the first time, don't be disheartened - try again. Strong determination and resilience are often needed in many aspects of life.

Be a curious sponge – I love the exposure to new things, whether it be a new project or a new process. If the knowledge or skill is not needed now, it might be useful at some point in the future!

Can you give younger people some advice about choosing the right career for them? Why should they choose a career in health and safety? How did having a NEBOSH qualification help?

A career in health and safety provides me with a wide range of skills that make me a well-rounded per-son both inside and outside of work. There are not many other professions that provide exposure and opportunity to collaborate in the way that a career in health and safety does.

NEBOSH qualifications provide a great foundation for young people who wish to start a career in health and safety. When I completed my NEBOSH General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety in 2017 it opened a lot of opportunities to start a career in the profession. I have recently started my NEBOSH Level 6 National Diploma for Occupational Health and Safety, which is the next development stage in progressing within the profession.