Toby Harding will speak at Utility Week’s Health and Safety Conference 2014 on 25 November. Presenting alongside Paul French, Kier’s safety, health and environment manager, he will deliver the message that:

“Zero incidents is possible and realistic, but requires effort from everyone.”

Personal notes:

Harding has worked in the water industry for 25 years in locations including Macau and Germany as well as a range of UK regions. His team at Kier is responsible for digging almost 90,000 excavations a year.

What has been you most successful or challenging experience in your career to date?

Working in a completely open-book alliance. I learnt that it takes time to build trust, but once everybody is on board work becomes far more efficient, innovations are more frequent, and the job becomes more fun.

Identify five people you would invite to your dream dinner party and why?

John Bonham, Roger Waters, Adele, Jimi Hendrix, John Foxx. Imagine the jamming session after dinner!

Name four items you keep on your desk or with you at work:

Lunch bag, hazard spot book; laptop; a list of passwords and my car.

The main event

Utility Week’s Health & Safety Conference 2014 takes place on 25 November at the Holiday Inn, Birmingham City Centre.

Keynote speakers include:

•    Nikki Kemmery, head of health and safety, Welsh Water

•    Barrie Millet, director of health, safety and environment, Eon UK

•    Adam Gosnold, executive director, Morrison Utility ­Services

•    Graham Finn, head of health, safety and environment, EDF Energy

•    Chris Clarke, occupational director of asset management, health, safety and environment, Wales and West Utilities

Find out more at www.uw-hs.net