BOHS Welcomes Adrian Parris as New President and Announces Sarah Leeson as President-Elect.
The British Occupational Hygiene Society (BOHS), the Chartered Society for Worker Health Protection, is pleased to announce the appointment of Adrian Parris as its new President, following the Society’s Annual General Meeting held on Friday 6th June. Adrian succeeds Parmjit Gahir and will serve a one-year term, during which he aims to further the Society’s mission to safeguard the UK’s current and future health through the prevention of harmful exposures in the workplace.
Adrian Parris is a Chartered Fellow of the Faculty of Occupational Hygiene with over 25 years of experience across the chemical, steel, and nuclear sectors, including roles at Clariant UK Ltd, Tata Steel, and, for the past fourteen years, Sellafield Ltd. An active BOHS member, Adrian has contributed significantly to the Society’s initiatives. He began as a member of the annual conference committee and has served as an examiner for over thirteen years following his completion of the Diploma in Professional Competence in Occupational Hygiene.
“I am both delighted and honoured to become the President of BOHS,” said Adrian. “My passion lies in protecting worker health, and I look forward to building upon the Society’s recent successes in raising the profession’s profile and educating key stakeholders. It’s essential to support the board in delivering our strategic aims and ensuring the profession’s sustainability by providing members with the tools they need and creating and maintaining strong partnerships.”
The new President-Elect is Sarah Leeson, a Chartered Fellow of the Faculty of Occupational Hygiene, who brings a wealth of experience to the position, having more than 30 years of service in the petrochemical industry working for ExxonMobil. Since 2019, Sarah served as the Registrar of the Faculty of Occupational Hygiene and led the launch of the Register of Occupational Hygiene Professionals, which is accredited by the Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care (PSA). This achievement recognises the Society’s commitment to the highest standards in professional practice, making Occupational Hygiene the first of the occupational health professions to achieve this status.
Sarah commented, “It has been a privilege to lead the launch of the Register of Occupational Hygiene Professionals, and I’m incredibly proud that our work has been recognised through PSA accreditation. This would not have been possible without the dedication and expertise of the Faculty of Occupational Hygiene committee, who continue to uphold the highest standards in our field. As President-Elect, I look forward to helping elevate the Society’s profile further, and continuing to champion the vital role occupational hygienists play in protecting workers’ lives and health.”
The new President will be supported by a dedicated and highly experienced Board of Trustees and Faculty members, all of whom give their time voluntarily to the Society. Representing a wide range of sectors, these professionals share a common purpose: to prevent life-altering and fatal diseases caused by workplace exposures. Their passion, expertise and commitment are central to the Society’s mission, and they will work alongside the new President to advance BOHS’s strategic goals and its reputation as the professional home for occupational hygiene.
You can find more information about the new BOHS President, Board of Trustees and Faculty members here: https://www.bohs.org/about-us/.
