Congratulations to the winners of the IIRSM Risk Excellence Awards 2023!

We were thrilled to be able to celebrate the Risk Excellence Awards with our finalists and winners in person on Thursday, 18 May at Church House, London.

Healthcare rm scooped the new DEI Strategy of the Year award. Sponsored by Reckitt, this award recognises a team or organisation that has developed a clear strategy to create a workplace culture where everyone thrives and feels that they belong.

Healthcare rm entered the DEI category because, according to Chief Executive Pamela Gellatly, it’s an area in which the organisation “walks the walk”. She said: “We have people of all ages and different genders, females in senior positions, neurodivergent people, older people and people from different backgrounds, including Indian, Nigerian, Caribbean and Eastern European. They all bring unique insights and benefits to our team.”

Colas Rail UK won the Health and Wellbeing Strategy of the Year award, sponsored by Workplace Options. Head of Wellbeing Jude Tymon launched a wellbeing charter, emphasising the importance of good sleep, nutrition and exercise, as well as emotional, social and financial wellbeing.

Jude said: “Winning this award is a great reflection of all the hard work that’s gone into our strategies. It takes time to change culture, but we are seeing very positive results.”

CBRE picked up the International Risk Initiative of the Year award, while Proactive won the Technology Risk Initiative of the Year category. Dom Taylor, Director at Proactive, said: “We’re a very small team, steadily changing the face of risk in sport. Thank you IIRSM!”

Robbie Canham, winner of the John Bennett Award for Exceptional Young Person of the Year, sponsored by healthcare rm, is a relative newcomer to his role as Safety, Health, Environment and Quality Manager at Terra Firma. However, he has been praised for his “leadership, direction and clarity” when working with colleagues.

Sponsored by Baines Simmons, the Mentor of the Year award recognised the achievements of Jamiu Badmos, a versatile and passionate QHSSE, business sustainability and enterprise risk professional with more than 20 years’ experience.  

Nael General Contracting’s Alwathba Project was awarded the Barry Holt Award for Outstanding Risk Management Practice, sponsored by Cardinus Risk Management.

QBE European Operations plc won the Risk Team of the Year award, sponsored by Barnett Waddingham.

The IIRSM President’s Commendation, which recognises a member or leading industry risk professional who has made a major contribution to the advancement of risk management, went to Jonathan Gawthrop, an IIRSM Fellow and Executive Director for EMCOR UK.    

Ruth Denyer, President of IIRSM, said: “What a fabulous evening. It was amazing to see all the winners and finalists we were celebrating. It is such an important moment to recognise the excellent work in risk management done by individuals, teams and organisations. Celebrating success is really important and taking a moment to consider the impact we have had.”

Andy Hawkes, CEO at Cardinus Risk Management, headline sponsor for the awards, said: “Cardinus was once again thrilled to be the headline sponsor of the IIRSM Risk Excellence Awards and last night we celebrated the outstanding achievements of so many in our profession. We send our congratulations to all the winners, finalists and indeed all who entered. The management of risk is critical to the success of businesses and the health, safety and wellbeing of the global workforce and you are the best examples of why our profession is so important.”

IIRSM would like to thank Cardinus Risk Management, supporting sponsors Sureteam and Yondr, and category partners Barnett Waddingham, healthcare rm, Baines Simmons, Reckitt and Workplace Options. 

Please keep an eye out for the next issue of The Sentinel for more coverage of the awards.