Presenters & Abstracts

OUR SPEAKERS

Paul Verrico, Head of EHS at Eversheds Sutherland

Paul is the Global Head of the Eversheds Sutherland EHS team. He has been ranked in Legal 500 since 2011 and described varyingly over the period as a 'gifted and talented advocate; diligent; very responsive, pragmatic; an excellent tactician; brilliant'.

Paul cross qualified in 2021 as a Chartered Member of IOSH and as a Fellow of the International Institute of Risk and Safety Management. This has led to repeat mandates for major Asia Pacific clients and the Hong Kong Contractors' Association, supporting on both behaviour change and EHS streamlining in the non-contentious arena. He is also an associate of IEMA and has completed environmental management qualifications.

Paul has a particular interest in ‘environment’ and 'health' as well as 'safety' and has created a deep dive resilience product and has worked with clients in the energy, education and events sectors to develop to deliver this product, globally.

In January 2023, Paul co-published with Sarah Valentine ROPE theory, which was syndicated across all of the major publications. He continues to write for key EHS publications on thought leadership. His contribution to the legal EHS training arena is unparalleled.

Paul continues to act for clients following workplace incidents, from immediate incident response to representation during a subsequent prosecution. Paul's recent experience includes:

  1. advising a client on improving EHS compliance across its sites in Hong Kong to ensure the organisation is aligned with leading practices across the energy sector to deliver world class EHS to achieve its zero harm mandate. This was a phased project where nine critical risks were identified and solutions designed, implemented and trained out to the company's 6,000 employees; and
  2. lead lawyer defending an energy client during an HSE prosecution, where it was alleged that employees had contracted an occupational disease, attributed to working with (or in the vicinity of) biomass. The case was dismissed by the HSE prior to a four week trial. As part of this instruction, Paul advised the Board on strategy for responding to the case and likely financial exposure. Feedback from the client included 'Great to work with, provided really helpful and sensible advice. This matter delivered the best outcome for the legal team across anything we have done this year, and Eversheds were an integral part of that…'

John Pethullis | Director at Southdown Solutions

John Pethullis is a Chartered Engineer and former chairman of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers bulk materials handling committee and is still an active committee member. John has over 40 years’ experience in Bulk Materials Handling in various technical leadership roles.

In 2015 he was awarded SHAPA’s Individual award, chiefly for his contribution to the Ecostore biomass handling facility at Drax Power Station. In 2016 he established a consultancy, Southdowne Solutions Ltd.

SSL specialise in providing DSEAR support and incident/accident investigations in the Bulk Material Handling industry.

Michael Bradley | Director, Wolfson Centre for Bulk Solids Handling Technology at the University of Greenwich

Mike Bradley is Professor in Particle and Bulk Technology, Director of the Wolfson Centre for Bulk Solids Handling Technology. He was awarded both his honours degree and PHD from Thames Polytechnic (now the University of Greenwich) and, as manager/director, provides technical leadership in all aspects of bulk solids handling. His particular areas of interest lie in pneumatic conveying, design of hoppers and silos, dust control, plant integration and maintenance of product quality. He is Chair of Solids Handling and Processing Association (SHAPA), and a member of Materials Handling Engineers Association (MHEA) and of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers Bulk Materials Handling Committee (IMechE). He was awarded a professorship in 2006 and the directorship in 2008.

Declan Barry | MD at ATEX Explosion Hazards Limited UK

MD of ATEX Explosion Hazards a company providing nearly 50 years of Explosion Protection service to industry, which is now part of the worldwide ATEX group. Declan started as a Mechanical Engineer in Ireland in 1978, further education with the Institute of Industrial Management and Product Development 1984 to 87. Started his Explosion Protection career with Mercury Engineering in 1987, finishing as General Manager 1997, developing, testing and installing Explosion Suppression Systems for the Dairy industry.Declan bought Explosion Hazards Limited in 1998.He has been a member of the Institute of Engineers in Ireland, National Standards Association of Ireland, sat on CEN TC305 & the BSI EXL/23 standards work, industry groups SHAPA, MHEA and ImechE in the UK.

Dublin ~+353 1 4738 007 or UK+44 1925 755 153

Email: info@explosionhazards.co.uk & Website www.explosionhazards.co.uk