Welcome

Happy New Year and welcome to the first SAFE Leader newsletter of 2026!

I hope you had a restful break with loved ones. After some time offline, I’m feeling recharged and ready to dive into what’s shaping up to be a full and exciting year ahead.

Over the holidays, a small moment at home turned into a surprisingly powerful mantra for me: “Let Them.” It came from watching my kids bicker (as they often do) over LEGO bricks. Instead of stepping in, I scribbled Let Them on a scrap of paper, a prompt to hold back and let them figure it out.

My son spotted it, decoded it, and now uses it back at me with comedic precision:
“Dada… let them.”

It’s become a running joke and a humbling reminder.

That simple phrase has stuck with me. Let them grow. Let them find their way. Let things take shape without rushing to control them. It’s a helpful frame as we head into a new year. Not everything needs fixing or steering. Some things need space.

So, here’s to 2026. We’ve got an exciting journey ahead. Let’s begin!

Engineering Talent Awards 2026

We’re kicking off the year by announcing that nominations for the Engineering Talent Awards 2026, powered by EqualEngineers, will officially open on Monday 2nd February at midday!

Now in their seventh year, the ETAs are all about shining a light on the individuals, teams, and organisations who are shaping a more inclusive engineering and technology sector. Whether you're recognising an unsung hero, a trailblazing initiative, or a standout employer, this is your moment.

Save the date and start thinking about your nominations.

If your organisation would like to support the Engineering Talent Awards this year, drop me a line directly.

House of Lords Reception with BCECA

This week, I had the pleasure of attending a special reception at the UK House of Lords, hosted by Lord Ravensdale (Daniel Mosley) and the team at BCECA to celebrate the publication of their 2025 Annual Conference Report Back.

Back in 2025, I joined their annual conference virtually to speak on a panel about mental health and masculinity in engineering, drawing on insights from our EqualEngineers research. It was one of those rare “real talk” sessions that stayed with me.

The reception was a fantastic opportunity to reconnect with familiar faces like Andrew Hockey from ECITB, meet new people, and reflect on how far we’ve come in building inclusive safety cultures.

Check out the conference report - BCECA Conference Report

Starting 2026 with Pride

I also had the chance to attend another brilliant event hosted by OutBritain, a vibrant evening of LGBTQ+ networking held at Lumiere London.

This was a powerful reminder of why OutBritain exists: to create spaces where LGBTQ+ business owners are seen, supported, and celebrated.

It was a joy to reconnect with Bobbi from Trans in the City, meet new founders and leaders, and feel the energy of over 50 LGBTQ+ businesses in one room. If this is what January looks like, I can’t wait to see what the rest of the year brings.

Hats off to the organisers and speakers for creating a space that felt equal parts proud, warm, and electric.

This Week on The SAFE Leader Podcast

We’re back with a powerful new episode featuring Greg Turner-Smart, a mechanical engineer turned culture and inclusion leader of Rolls-Royce SMR.

In this conversation, Greg opens up about growing up in Ashington, a mining town in Northumberland, and how his early experiences of identity, community, and hardship shaped the leader he is today. He talks honestly about the fear that came with hiding who he was, and the transformational moment when he realised that being out at work wasn’t a risk, it was the key to his confidence and performance.

This episode is a masterclass in authenticity, allyship, and how creating truly inclusive workplaces can unlock human potential. Topics we cover:

• Coming out and the impact on professional performance

• Resilience in tough working environments

• Leadership lessons from lived experience

• Small moments of support that change lives

Let’s Connect!

Please reach out and connect with me on LinkedIn if we are not already connected.

I love helping organisations where the angle I take with the work I do might help in someway have you make traction in your culture.

Feel free to get in touch here.

Stay SAFE!