Give your experience and gain a new perspective – the value of mentoring

Whether you're looking to develop your career, share your professional experience or connect with others in the risk and safety community, mentoring can open up new opportunities. Nouredin Albanghazi FIIRSM, Director, Combined Support Services Ltd, explains how...

Could you tell us a little about your career journey and the experiences that have most shaped you professionally?

My professional journey has been shaped by a combination of operational experience, continued academic development, business leadership and a genuine commitment to learning from people at every level. I currently lead Combined Support Services, a security and facilities support business.My work has given me practical experience in security operations, health and safety, risk, compliance, governance, quality management, workforce development and client relationships.

Alongside this, I have continued to invest heavily in professional development, including my MSc in International Business Management at ARU Peterborough, ProQual Level 7 Diploma in Strategic Health and Safety Leadership and Management, IOSH Managing Safely, NEBOSH National General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety, ProQual Level 6 NVQ Diploma in Senior Site Inspection, CMI Level 7 Diploma in Strategic Management and Leadership Practice, ISO 9001 Lead Auditor qualification, and current PhD research at Lincoln University into Public-Private Partnerships (PPP), Strategic Resilience, National Security and Crisis Management.

The experiences that have shaped me most are working with people from different backgrounds, dealing with real operational challenges and recognising that effective leadership is ultimately about creating opportunities for others, not simply progressing yourself.

What prompted you to become a mentor through the IIRSM mentoring programme?

I am proud to be a Fellow of IIRSM and I have always believed that professional success should create a responsibility to support others who are beginning their journey, changing direction or working towards their next step. I have personally benefited from guidance, encouragement and mentoring throughout my own development, including through the Help to Grow: Management Programme, where I had structured mentoring support over several sessions. That experience reinforced how valuable it can be to have access to someone who listens, offers perspective and helps you turn broad ambitions into realistic actions.

Since joining the IIRSM mentoring platform, I have tried to contribute consistently by creating discussion topics, sharing practical articles and engaging with other mentors and members. Giving back means helping make the profession more accessible, supportive and connected, particularly for people who may not have an established network or a traditional route into risk, safety or security.

What do you hope to bring to your role as a mentor?

I hope to bring a practical, honest and supportive approach. My experience has developed across security, risk, health and safety, compliance, business leadership, training and continued study, so I can offer perspective to people interested in career development, leadership, qualifications, professional confidence, operational to management progression, audit preparation, entrepreneurship and building resilient teams. However, I do not see mentoring as telling someone exactly what to do. A successful relationship starts with listening carefully to the individual’s ambitions, circumstances and challenges. It then involves agreeing clear objectives, asking constructive questions, sharing relevant experience where helpful and helping the mentee identify realistic next steps. Trust, openness, mutual respect and accountability are all essential. The mentee must remain in control of their own development, while the mentor provides encouragement, perspective and a safe space to think things through.

You described mentoring as a two-way learning process – tell us more…

I strongly believe that mentoring is a two-way process because every person brings a different perspective, experience, background and way of approaching challenges. Mentors may have more experience in certain areas, but that does not mean they have stopped learning. Conversations with other mentors can create opportunities to exchange ideas, discuss different approaches and reflect on how we support people more effectively. Mentees also bring fresh thinking, new questions and experiences that may challenge assumptions or highlight developments within the profession that a mentor has not encountered directly. This is particularly important in risk and safety, where the workplace, technology, expectations and nature of risk continue to change. For me, mentoring is not only about passing knowledge on, but also about staying curious, listening properly and continuing to develop. Every day remains a school day.

What do you think are some of the biggest challenges facing people working in risk and safety today, and how can mentoring help them navigate these?

One of the biggest challenges is the increasing complexity of professional life. People working in risk and safety are expected to understand changing legislation, organisational pressures, technology, workforce wellbeing, compliance expectations and the practical realities of day-to-day operations. For early career professionals, this can sometimes feel overwhelming, particularly when they are trying to identify the right qualifications, gain experience and build confidence at the same time. Another challenge is that career routes are not always clear. Many talented people have transferable skills from operational, customer facing, technical or management roles, but may not recognise how those skills can support a transition into risk and safety. Mentoring can help by giving people practical guidance, clearer direction and the confidence to take the next sensible step. It can also help bridge the gap between theory and practice, ensuring that professional development is connected to real working environments.

How important is mentoring in developing the next generation of risk and safety professionals?

Mentoring is extremely important because it creates a bridge between experience and potential. The next generation of professionals needs technical knowledge and qualifications, but they also need confidence, professional networks, practical insight and people who are willing to share what they have learned. A strong mentoring culture helps develop future leaders while strengthening the profession as a whole. It encourages people to stay engaged, share knowledge across sectors and build relationships beyond their immediate organisation. It can also make the profession more inclusive by helping people from diverse backgrounds, different career routes and non-traditional pathways see that there is a place for them. In the long term, this creates a more capable, connected and resilient risk and safety community.

What advice would you give to someone considering becoming a mentor, or to a professional who is thinking about seeking one?

For someone considering becoming a mentor, my advice would be not to underestimate the value of your own experience. You do not need to have every answer or be at the end of your career to make a positive contribution. Be honest about the areas in which you can support someone, listen properly and focus on helping the mentee think clearly rather than trying to solve every problem for them. For professionals seeking a mentor, be open about your goals and be willing to take ownership of your development. The right mentor should help you reflect, challenge you respectfully and support you in creating practical actions. It is also important to remember that finding the right match matters. The most effective mentoring relationships are built on trust, shared commitment and a genuine willingness from both people to learn from the experience.

IIRSM’s mentoring scheme helps you become a mentor or mentee to develop your skills, grow your network and receive one-to-one support from a dedicated professional to enhance your career progression.