In this forward-thinking episode of "The Art of Safety Leadership," we bring together two experienced minds from within the profession: Liam Tiddy, Head of Executive Search at Shirley Parsons, and Brian Long, Director of Health, Safety and Wellbeing at Wates Group. Together, they explore how safety teams must evolve to meet the challenges of modern business and create genuine value beyond compliance.
This conversation explores what safety professionals should be doing, how they should be structured, and where the profession needs to go to remain relevant in an increasingly complex business environment.
Key topics include:
Why traditional safety team structures are holding organisations back
The shift from compliance-focused roles to value-creating strategic advisors
How AI and technology will fundamentally reshape safety work
The critical skills safety professionals need for the next decade
Moving beyond lagging indicators to predictive risk intelligence
Why safety needs to stop being a separate function and integrate into operations
The future of safety education and professional development
How to demonstrate ROI and business value from safety investments
Whether you're a safety professional navigating career choices, a business leader building safety capability, or an executive wondering how to structure safety teams for maximum impact, this conversation offers essential insights into where the profession is heading.
Liam and Brian don't just theorize—they share practical strategies, real examples, and bold predictions about what successful safety functions will look like in five to ten years. This isn't about incremental improvement; it's about fundamental transformation.
Essential listening for anyone committed to the future of safety leadership and creating workplaces where people thrive while businesses succeed.