The British Occupational Hygiene Society announces new President with Shell background and new, extended Board

The British Occupational Hygiene Society (BOHS), a scientific charity and the chartered society for worker health protection, is delighted to announce the appointment of Alison Margary as President for the 2021 – 2022 presidential term. Alison succeeds Kelvin Williams, who now becomes the Society’s Immediate past-president.

Alison Margary has 40 years of experience as an Occupational Hygiene specialist, 35 of which in Shell Oil and Energy and has been actively involved with BOHS since the start of her career. Having been a professional member since 1992, she is now a Chartered Member of the Faculty of Occupational Hygiene and was elected to the Board in 2019, where she became an instrumental member of the Society’s Policy and Technical Committee.

Commenting on her new role, Alison said:

“I am both honoured and delighted to have been given the opportunity to represent BOHS as President. I certainly have big boots to fill in taking over from Kelvin Williams who has worked tirelessly and with aplomb in helping to steer the Society through a challenging year with the pandemic.  Not only a tragic situation, it has also highlighted to the world an absence of good advice on worker health protection and occupational hygiene principles such as the hierarchy of controls, in particular within the Healthcare Sector. I believe that success is enhanced by the strength of the diversity of expertise, both personal and professional. My theme for my Presidential year is collaborative and partnership working and I am looking forward to building on our existing connections and relationships. Through working together, we can better achieve our common goal of protecting worker health”.

Alison will be supported by the new President-Elect, Chris Keen, Immediate Past President, Kelvin Williams and an expanded Board, composed of highly qualified professionals with lots of talents and a wealth of experience in a wide range of fields, in place to drive the Society’s strategy to safeguard UK’s current and future health through the effective management of the workplace environment and address the fact that occupational disease-related deaths are not falling. Kelvin Williams, the Society’s Immediate past-president welcomed Alison: “I am absolutely delighted at the appointment of Alison Margary as BOHS President 2021 / 2022 and welcome the strength and diversity reflected in our recent Board appointments. The BOHS Strategy for 2021 – 2025 could not be better served and I look forward to the continued growth of the Society’s influence.”

Kevin Bampton, CEO of BOHS said: “The expansion of the Board and the Faculty reflects the growing enthusiasm of the membership to be involved and the ambitions of the Society. BOHS has become an authoritative independent voice over the pandemic and sees an important role for its membership in worker health protection, especially post-Brexit. Our ordinary and professional membership has grown this year and we look forward to implementing an ambitious strategy for the next five years.”