Steve Rae has decided to step down as executive director of the member-led Step Change in Safety.
Rae has been at the helm of the organization since 2019, strengthening the brand, growing national membership and growing internationally, while maintaining a focus on the offshore sector, Step Change in Safety said in a statement from the ‘organization, adding that it has also begun the process of evolving its portfolio of services to ensure it continues to meet the needs of members as they transition to alternative energy production.
Rae made the decision to reduce his working hours and will step down as executive director as a successor is named, the organization noted. He will remain involved with Step Change in Safety as a board member, while continuing to provide expert advisory services.
“I have been fortunate to have had an incredible tenure at Step Change in Safety, supported by a dedicated support team,” said Rae.
“Over time the organization has evolved and adapted to the changing security needs and challenges facing the UK energy industry. We have responded to adverse situations, adopted new technologies, grown the our portfolio of resources and member engagement events,” he added.
“Throughout its existence, Step Change in Safety has supported the industry by enabling its workforce to recognize the risks and hazards associated with the complex business of producing energy offshore. Together with our growing membership, we continue to strive to improve safety through engagement, leadership and collaboration,” he continued.
“As the industry transitions to alternative energy sources, we need to make sure we take with us the valuable and sometimes hard lessons learned over the years and adopt the same approach. Many of our larger member companies are already making the transition to alternative energy and we look forward to helping them do so with a safety-first mindset, always,” he said.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank our board and leadership team, co-chairs, working groups, focal points and of course our members who continue to engage and help shape our plans, activities and direction together. I look forward to remaining involved with Step Change at the board level and offering my advice on safety leadership and process safety,” said Rae.
Dave Allan, managing director of professional executive recruitment firm GTL Search, which has been tasked with finding the right successor, said: “Anyone who understands the Step Change in Safety competency, and who knows Steve , you will recognize that these are great to fill”.
“We are looking for an experienced leader with a solid reputation in an industry with exposure to potential accidents and significant hazards. Informed by safety culture experts, the successful candidate will be passionate about all safety issues and committed to making the industry of the UK’s offshore energy is as secure as possible,” he added.
“This is a high-profile, high-impact role operating in a complex stakeholder environment. We therefore need a leader who has confidence in the public eye, who has strong business acumen, great drive and energy, personal stability and position,” he continued.
Step Change in Safety, together with Offshore Energies UK, recently announced the finalists for The Offshore Safety Awards 2023. The awards, sponsored by Harbor Energy, aim to gain recognition for the work being done to promote safety to the industry and share and share celebrate the outstanding contributions that individuals and companies make to the industry’s safety goals.
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