NEBOSH and Bapco Energies launch Middle East HSE stakeholder community

NEBOSH and Bapco Energies convene regional HSE leaders

NEBOSH has partnered with Bapco Energies to launch a new VIP Health, Safety and Environment stakeholder community for senior leaders from across the Middle East, with the inaugural meeting held on Monday 17 November 2025 at the Bapco Club in Awali.

The organisations said the community has been set up to advance occupational health and safety practice across the region by creating a structured forum for dialogue between industry and education.

The event was co-chaired by Dr Abdulrahman Jawahery, Acting Managing Director of Bapco Energies and Chief Executive Officer of Bapco Refining, and Andy Shenstone, Chief Executive of NEBOSH.

According to the organisers, the initiative is intended to encourage ongoing collaboration, promote shared learning on HSE topics and address common challenges facing the region’s HSE professionals.

Expert sessions cover industry, education and contractor safety

The inaugural meeting included expert-led sessions on risk tolerance in high-hazard environments and the influence of human factors on safety performance.

Participants also heard lessons drawn from the Bapco Modernization Program, including how large-scale investment projects can affect HSE management.

NEBOSH outlined its strategic vision for qualifications and training in the region, focusing on how programmes can align with changing expectations from employers and regulators.

Sessions also examined the role of environment, health and safety in higher education, the evolving needs of industry and approaches to managing contractor safety.

Industry and academic contributors share Middle East HSE perspectives

NEBOSH reported that the meeting brought together contributors from a range of regional organisations.

Industry representation included Dr Aissam from Fujairah Oil Industry Zone, along with Mohamed Ebrahim and Ms Maram Al Sabbagh from Bapco Refining.

Regulatory and advisory input came from Dr Waddah S Ghanem Al Hashmi of the Federal OSH Committee – UAE and Dr Chitram Lutchman of OEMS Erudite Corp.

Academic and broader industry perspectives were provided by Dr Rahaf Ajaj of Abu Dhabi University and Mr Hari Kumar of ENOC.

The agenda also included a roundtable discussion on collaboration opportunities among these stakeholders.

Discussion topics covered how to ensure NEBOSH courses reflect emerging regional demands and how partnerships between industry and education can be strengthened.

NEBOSH outlines long-term commitment to Middle East HSE

NEBOSH said the new stakeholder community is intended as a long-term mechanism to keep its qualifications and services aligned with Middle East HSE requirements.

The organisation highlighted that feedback from the stakeholder forums will help shape future programme development and delivery across the region.

Andy Shenstone, Chief Executive of NEBOSH, emphasised: “NEBOSH is dedicated to supporting the Middle East’s HSE community with world-class qualifications and training tailored to local needs.

“This stakeholder community is a vital step in ensuring our programmes remain relevant and impactful.”

How the NEBOSH initiative supports HSE practice

The new stakeholder community focuses on issues such as risk tolerance, human factors and contractor safety that are central to the work of HSE leaders in high-hazard industries.

For oil and gas safety officers, petrochemical and refining fire chiefs and emergency and disaster response managers, the sessions on the Bapco Modernization Program provide case-based insight into managing HSE during major capital projects.

Training officers, instructors and fire engineering consultants can use the outcomes of the roundtable discussions to understand how NEBOSH intends to adapt courses to regional expectations around competence and accreditation.

For academic partners, including those involved in environment, health and safety teaching, the emphasis on EHS in higher education shows how universities can align curricula with practical industry needs in the Middle East.

The participation of organisations such as Fujairah Oil Industry Zone, Bapco Refining, ENOC and Abu Dhabi University indicates that the community is intended to operate as a shared forum for ongoing dialogue rather than a single one-off event.