“Shirley Talks To…” is our interview series where Brand Ambassador Shirley Parsons sits down with influential voices in Environment, Health, Safety, Quality and Wellbeing to hear their stories, insights and views on the future of the profession.
Leadership, Longevity and a 21-Year Professional Partnership
In this episode, Shirley speaks with James Pomeroy, Global HSEQ Leader, about his 34-year journey in health, safety, environment, and quality.
James and Shirley have worked together since 2000, when she supported him with a role early in his career. What began as a recruitment conversation developed into a long-standing professional relationship that has run alongside many of the defining moments in his global career.
During the conversation, James, reflects on how his career began unexpectedly following asbestos-related fatalities early in his engineering career – a pivotal experience that shaped his long-term perspective on occupational health and risk.
Having worked across Europe, Asia, North America and Australasia, and in sectors from aviation and oil & gas to infrastructure and construction, James shares insights on how culture, leadership and character influence safety performance around the world.
"Shirley Parsons has run throughout my career. Some of the pivotal moments that really shaped my path came from roles you put me forward for, including the opportunity to work globally.”
Highlights from their conversation include:
How international experience shapes leadership perspective
Why transferable skills across sectors are often underestimated
The importance of technical depth early in your career
Hiring for character, influence, and executive presence — not just qualifications
Why “cultural fit” should still allow space for constructive challengers
The value of learning beyond safety, from MBAs to environmental law
"The best kind of people in safety, quality and environment are agitators, people who can enact change, but not so disruptive that they don't take people with them or it becomes a one person show."
We’d like to thank James for sharing his experience and insights, and for being part of the Shirley Parsons journey over the past 21 years. His reflections highlight the value of character, long-term partnership, cross-sector learning and continuous development in building safer, more resilient and effective organisations worldwide.
Other episodes in the series:
