Press release

Two new appointments to the HSE Board

Paul Kenny and Frances Outram Wright have been appointed to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Board as non-executive directors.

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

Paul Kenny and Frances Outram Wright have been appointed to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Board as non-executive directors. Both appointments are for a three year term starting 1 October 2010.

The Health and Safety Executive is the national regulator for workplace health and safety. It aims to prevent death, injury and ill health in Great Britain’s workplaces.

Mr Kenny, General Secretary of the GMB trade union, has been appointed as one of the Board’s employee interest representatives. Mrs Outram Wright, who has extensive human resources management experience, has been appointed as one of the Board’s employer interest representatives, with particular responsibility for small firms’ health and safety interests.

Mr Kenny said:

I am proud to be appointed to the HSE Board. These days we hear  too little about the very real improvements health and safety has brought over the years. As a Board member I will do my best to shift the focus to the true value of protecting workers from unsafe working practices, and to the wider benefits for business and society.

Welcoming her appointment, Mrs Outram Wright said:

I am delighted to be appointed to the HSE Board. I have enjoyed a wide-ranging career in industry and am committed to the importance of occupational health and safety. I look forward to using this experience to ensure that employers’ health and safety interests - particularly those of SMEs - are embedded in the work of HSE.

Notes to Editors

  1. The appointments have been made in accordance with the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments (OCPA) Code of Practice. All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for appointees’ political activity (if any declared) to be made public.  In the case of the two new appointees:
  • Paul Kenny has canvassed on behalf of the Labour Party, and spoken on behalf of candidates, in local and national elections;
  • Frances Outram Wright has no political activities.
  1. The HSE Board has nine non-executive director members. Board members receive an annual remuneration of £16,781 for up to 30 days work a year.

  2. Robin Dahlberg and Hugh Robertson were re-appointed to the HSE Board on 1 April, for further three year terms. Mr Dahlberg was re-appointed as the Board’s public interest representative and Mr Robertson as one of the Board’s employee interest representatives. Both re-appointments were made in accordance with the OCPA Code of Practice and Mr Robertson’s re-appointment followed an open recruitment competition.

Biographical details

1 October 2010 appointments

Paul Kenny

Paul was elected General Secretary of the GMB trade union in May 2006, having become Acting General Secretary in June 2005.  He spent his early working life at Fuller’s brewery in Hammersmith and then as an apprentice gas fitter, prior to working for Hammersmith Council as a park keeper where he first became active in the GMB. In 1979 he started working for the GMB as a full time official and became London Regional Secretary in 1991 before being elected as General Secretary in 2006.

Frances Outram Wright

Frances has over 20 years’ experience - primarily in human resources management - as an Executive Director, Non Executive Director and consultant. She ended her private sector career in 2007, as Group Human Resources Director at the SHL Group Ltd, and is currently a Non Executive Director with the Dorset Healthcare University NHS Foundation Trust.  She was previously a Non Executive Director, Vice Chairman and Senior Independent Director with the Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, and a Non Executive Director with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA).

1 April 2010 re-appointments

Robin Dahlberg

First appointed to the Health and Safety Commission (the HSE Board’s predecessor) in April 2007, Robin has 18 years experience at Managing Director/Chief Executive/Board Member level in organisations in the private, public and non-for-profit sectors. For most of this time, Robin provided commercial IT solutions to major organisations in the city, to government and to multinationals.

He is currently Vice Chair of the Security Industry Authority and a Board Member of the Local Better Regulation Office. He is also Chair of the East End Citizens Advice Bureau and a volunteer Generalist Advisor at Westminster Citizens Advice Bureau. He holds no other public appointments.

Hugh Robertson

First appointed to the Health and Safety Commission (the HSE Board’s predecessor) in April 2004, Hugh is a Senior Policy Officer on Health and Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation at the TUC. He was formerly Head of Health and Safety and Bargaining Support with the trade union UNISON.  He is also a board member of the British Occupational Health Research Foundation.

Hugh is a member and has canvassed on behalf of the Labour Party. He has stood once as a candidate in a local election. He holds no other Public Appointments.

Published 22 July 2010