The Waste Industry Safety and Health (WISH) Forum announces that Toni Robinson, Risk & Sustainability Director at Grundon Waste Management, has been elected as its new Chair.
Robinson will take over the voluntary role from outgoing Chair Chris Jones, who is stepping down after being involved with WISH since the organisation was formed in 2001, and has been the Chair for the last 18 years.
Commenting on her appointment, Toni Robinson said: “It is a huge honour to have been asked to step into Chris’s shoes and I am incredibly grateful to those who have trusted me to take on this very important role.”
“Anyone who knows me, will also know how passionate I am about health and safety. It must be an absolute given and we owe it to each and every one of our colleagues in the sector to ensure they can do their job and return home safely every single day.”
The voluntary role will see Robinson lead the industry forum in identifying, developing and promoting best practice in relation to health, safety and welfare across the recycling and waste sector.
As WISH Chair, she also will be responsible for working closely with government, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and other external stakeholders, partners and sector influencers to promote health and safety.
The WISH forum is a multi-party group made up of organisations broadly representing the waste and recycling industry.
WISH members include representatives from HSE, main trade associations, professional associations, trade unions, recycling organisations and national and local government bodies involved in waste management and recycling.
Chris Jones commented: “It has been an absolute privilege to be at the helm of WISH from the very beginning, and I must pay tribute to the undoubted strengths, knowledge and expertise of all our members, who have done so much to raise the profile of health and safety within our sector.”
“In appointing Toni to this role, I know WISH will be in incredibly safe hands – in all senses of the word – and I look forward to following its continued success in the years to come.”
During her three-decade long career at Grundon, Robinson has previously seen her chair the WISH SME Working Group and part of the WISH Steering Group.