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NISO Annual Health & Safety Conference 2026 – Conference Speakers and Presentations

Dr Manal Azzi, Head of the Global Team on Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Policy, International Labour Organization (ILO)

Dr Azzi has most recently coordinated the ILO’s Global Report on Psychosocial risks at work launched at the end of April 2026, and before that the AI and Digitalization and OSH publication and campaign. Prior to that, she coordinated the ILO’s publications on climate change and heat stress and OSH. She has also led some of the ILO’s flagship work on chemical hazards. With over 20 years in the organisation, Dr Azzi played an instrumental role in the process leading to the recognition of occupational safety and health as a fundamental principle and right at work.

Presentation: Revolutionizing health and safety: The role of AI and digitalization at work

Digitalization and automation are transforming millions of jobs worldwide, creating powerful opportunities to enhance occupational safety and health. Automation and smart monitoring systems can reduce hazardous exposures, prevent injuries and improve overall working conditions. However, these advances also bring new potential risks that require proactive and adaptive policy responses.

Orlaith Carmody, Speaker, Carmody Coaching and Consulting

Orlaith Carmody is an executive coach, speaker and consultant, and an expert communications advisor and strategist, who has delivered coaching, training and workshops nationally and internationally. She is the author of Speak Now – Communicate Well in the Workplace which shares her coaching and teaching over 25 years.

Following an early career as a Journalist with RTE, Orlaith subsequently held executive directorships in both public and private companies and was Principal Advisor to Age Friendly Ireland from 2020 to 2026. She has an MA in Communications, is a Fellow of the Learning and Development Institute and is a Senior EMCC practitioner.

Presentation: The Potential in an Older Workforce

With a rapidly ageing population, Ireland is facing a number of challenges specific to the workplace. To be addressed are the clear need and desire of many older people to contribute economically and professionally for longer; the need for sustainable pension funding and workplace succession planning; the need for Government supports to encourage encore careers; and the need for workplaces to offer inclusion and flexibility in later careers and retirement. This presentation looks at the work that has been done in researching the current position in Ireland, and a potential roadmap for the future.

Iain Conlon, Country Manager – Ireland, Bollé

Iain Conlon  is Country Manager for Ireland at Bollé, a global leader in eye protection, established in 1888. With Bollé having protected the eyes of Ireland’s workforce for over 50 years, Iain has been part of the company since joining in 1998. Over nearly three decades, Iain has worked with some of Ireland’s largest global companies, providing specialist eye safety solutions and supporting organisations in protecting their workforce. Iain  is delighted to present the latest details on the new eye safety standard, EN ISO 16321-1.

Presentation: The New Eye Safety Standards

How to Successfully Transition From EN166 to EN ISO 16321 Without Compromising Compliance or Protection

Mark Cullen, CEO, Health & Safety Authority

Mark was appointed CEO of the Authority in October 2025.  Prior to taking on his current role, Mark was appointed as Assistant Chief Executive in April 2018 and with overall responsibility for the Occupational Safety Division within the Authority.

Mark is a qualified Civil Engineer who spent five years working in the UK construction sector before joining the Authority in 1999. Since then, he has served as an inspector across several high-risk sectors, including construction, agriculture, manufacturing, retail and transport. In 2007, he joined the Health & Safety Authority’s senior management team after being appointed Senior Inspector for the South East regional team, where he managed a multidisciplinary team of inspectors. He has also represented the Authority at European, national and regional levels through his work on various committees and working groups.

Presentation: The Regulator’s Perspective: Addressing  the Impact of Digitalisation.

Paul Daly, HSQE Director, Coffey

Paul is a HSQE Director with over 25 years of experience in Construction and Engineering sectors across Ireland and the UK. He is a Chartered Fellow of the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health and the current Chair of the IOSH Ireland Construction Community. He represents IOSH on the Construction Safety Partnership Advisory Committee (CSPAC). He is also a member of the Construction Industry Federation (CIF) Safety, Health & Welfare Subcommittee.

Presentation: Hard hats meet algorithms – the practical use of digital tools, a contractor’s perspective.

Digital technologies continue to transform the construction and engineering sectors. Contractors have an opportunity to enhance safety performance, improve decision-making and empower frontline teams. This presentation explores how practical digital tools, including artificial intelligence, are being applied across engineering projects to support safer and more efficient operations.

Drawing on real-world contractor experience, the session will demonstrate how technologies such as AI-powered assistants, mobile safety applications, data analytics, drone use, digital observations, and automated reporting are aiming to help to identify risks earlier, streamline compliance activities, learn from trends, and free up valuable time for meaningful engagement on site. Paul will highlight some opportunities and some limitations or potential pitfalls of some digital tools in a live construction environment.

Attendees will gain practical insights into how technology can support (rather than replace) professional judgement, ensuring that people remain at the centre of safety in an increasingly digital workplace.

Marian Deasy, Health and Safety Advocate

Marian Deasy is a wife and mother of four boys. One of her sons, Lorcan, was killed in a workplace accident in January 2018, resulting in his death at the age of 31.

As a result of Lorcan’s death, and because she feels that families like theirs, in the greater scheme of things, can have no voice and become another statistic – faceless people – Marian is determined to ensure that Lorcan Deasy is more than a statistic.

This journey began when Marian’s neighbour asked her to speak at her workplace and tell their story of the lifelong consequences of Lorcan’s death for his family.

Marian is a Health & Safety Advocate and Health & Safety Ambassador at Electric Skyline.

Presentation: A family’s story of the consequences of no Health and Safety

A mother’s story of the consequence of a workplace accident, when you hear the words “I’m sorry to be phoning you” but

James Gorry, Health and Safety Keynote Speaker. 

James is a speaker from Monasterevin, Co. Kildare. On 5 October 2005, James had a workplace accident that changed his life and his family’s life forever. From managing director of a construction company to managing director of his own wheelchair, he now travels to tell his story. He tells the story of the consequences of his actions, the choices he made that led to his accident, and the choices you can make to ensure you never end up where he is.

Presentation: CHOICES

The choices that lead to my accident and the choices I no longer have.

Laurence Hoffstadt, PhD, (Acting) Head of Unit, Substance Evaluation and Hazard Identification, European Chemicals Agency (ECHA)

Ms Laurence Hoffstadt, PhD is Acting Head of Unit at the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA). A pharmaceutical doctor with a PhD in Toxicology, she joined ECHA in 2008 after working in the pharmaceutical and chemical sectors.

Her experience covers several EU legislative frameworks, including REACH, CLP and OSH. She has held scientific, regulatory and management roles related to dossier and substance evaluation, hazard identification and stakeholder engagement, supporting the EU institutions, Member States and other stakeholders.

In 2026 she took on to head the unit responsible for substance evaluation, hazard identification, expert group coordination and regulatory science activities.

Presentation: Protecting workers from hazardous chemicals: ECHA’s role in EU chemical safety

The presentation will introduce how the EU protects workers from hazardous chemicals through a combination of legislations, occupational exposure limits, safety data sheets, classification and labelling requirements, authorisation and restriction measures, and enforcement activities. ECHA, as one of the leading EU agencies, contributes by evaluating scientific evidence, supporting the setting of occupational exposure limits, improving hazard communication, and helping identify and manage substances that may pose risks to workers across European workplaces.

Odhran Molloy, Chief Technology Officer, EHS International

Odhran Molloy is an experienced projects and technology leader with expertise across operational technology, systems leadership, digital transformation and organisational scaling. His career spans high-growth and regulated industries, where he has led technology transformation, systems integration and operational development. Odhran specialises in connecting technology, people and processes to improve performance, visibility and efficiency. His expertise includes strategic project delivery, process optimisation, workforce coordination and the development of scalable digital and operational systems that support organisations through significant growth and change.

Presentation: From Reactive to Predictive: A practical guide to improving safety with AI

Most organisations already have significant amounts of safety and operational data. The challenge is understanding how that information could be used more effectively to identify risk before something goes wrong.

In this practical, future-focused session, Odhran Molloy will explore the evolving role of AI and intelligent digital systems in workplace safety, and what a shift from reactive towards more predictive approaches could mean for organisations.

Drawing on real-world workplace challenges, the session will consider how emerging technologies may help organisations make better use of existing information, improve visibility of risk and support more proactive safety decision-making.

But what can AI realistically contribute to workplace safety? Where are the opportunities, what are the limitations, and where does human judgement remain essential?

Cutting through the hype, Odhran will explore the potential of AI within safety management and consider what organisations should be thinking about now as technology continues to reshape how workplace risk is understood and managed.

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