The SAFE Leader with Mark McBride-Wright

In this episode of The SAFE Leader Podcast, we explore what it truly means to lead with integrity, empathy, and long-term vision. Our guest, Dame Judith Hackitt, shares a compelling personal journey from growing up in a mining village surrounded by industrial risk to becoming a key voice in national safety reform. We discuss how core values should anchor leadership, and why embedding health and safety into culture is non-negotiable.

From challenging outdated norms to calling for inclusion that truly includes everyone, this conversation offers hard-won insights on creating safer, more compassionate workplaces. Whether you're an engineer, a leader, or someone passionate about culture change, this episode will inspire you to speak up, stay true to your values, and lead in a way that empowers others.

What does it really take to lead with strength and humanity? In this episode of The SAFE Leader Podcast, Mark McBride-Wright is joined by Urs Koenig, UN and NATO peacekeeper, ultra-endurance athlete, executive coach, and bestselling author of Radical Humility. Urs shares his powerful philosophy of being tough on results and tender on people, drawing on deeply personal stories from the battlefield, the boardroom, and the racecourse. With raw honesty and hard-won wisdom, he unpacks why humility is not weakness but a competitive edge, and how psychological safety, vulnerability, and meaningful feedback are the true markers of bold leadership.

From rejoining the military after 22 years to racing 3000 miles across America, Urs reflects on the leadership lessons that shaped his approach to high-stakes environments. He challenges common misconceptions about humility, explores the emotional power of sharing stories, and lays out practical tools for building trust and empowering teams. Whether you’re leading a company, a team, or just yourself, this conversation is a must-listen for anyone who wants to lead with courage, clarity and compassion.

In this episode of The SAFE Leader Podcast, Mark McBride-Wright sits down with Malcolm Staves, Global Vice President of Health and Safety at L’Oréal, to explore what it means to lead with purpose, care, and conviction. Malcolm shares the story of the hummingbird, a simple but powerful metaphor that has come to define his approach to leadership and culture change. From global safety systems to grassroots impact in schools and communities, Malcolm shows how small actions, taken consistently, can drive transformational change.

The conversation moves beyond corporate health and safety into the emotional core of leadership. Malcolm opens up about mental wellness, prevention over reaction, and the need to break the silence around topics like suicide and stress. With reflections on engineering, empathy, and evolving leadership styles, this episode will leave you inspired to become a hummingbird in your own world, doing what you can, where you are, with what you have.

In this episode of The Safe Leader Podcast, Mark McBride-Wright sits down with Antonio Zappulla, CEO of the Thomson Reuters Foundation, to explore what it really means to lead with purpose in uncertain times. From his early days in a newsroom during 9/11 to navigating the challenges of running a global organisation through COVID-19, Antonio shares how decisiveness, curiosity, and a refusal to accept the status quo have shaped his leadership journey.

Antonio also opens up about his advocacy in the LGBTQ+ community, the importance of defending fundamental human rights, and his vision for a world where every passport holds the same power. This conversation is a masterclass in values-driven leadership, bold decision-making, and finding opportunity in crisis. If you’re ready to be inspired by a leader who takes action when it matters most, this episode is for you.

In this episode of The SAFE Leader Podcast, Mark McBride-Wright sits down with Paulo Oliveira, Vice President of Process Safety Consulting at DEKRA UK, for a powerful and thought-provoking conversation about the evolving world of safety. From his roots in Portugal to leading international safety initiatives, Paulo shares how his journey was shaped not just by technical expertise, but by a deep philosophical drive to understand people, purpose, and the power of influence. He discusses how curiosity and self-reflection have been vital in transforming safety from a checklist activity to a human-centred force for good.

Together, they explore why the future of safety depends on empathy, communication, and representation, and how “safety entrepreneurs” can lead that change. With standout moments on the importance of diverse perspectives, the untapped value of analysing success, and the role of psychological safety in engineering, this episode is a must-listen for professionals ready to shift from compliance to culture. Tune in and discover what it really means to keep people safe in today's complex world.

What happens when a seven-year-old sees injustice and decides to change the world? In this powerful episode, Mark McBride-Wright speaks with Ayo Sokale — civil engineer, children's TV presenter, tech founder, and author — about what it means to live life on purpose. From witnessing flooding in Nigeria to protecting thousands of homes through engineering, Ayo shares how personal experience shaped her career and calling. She also opens up about building Get Coached, an AI-powered app making coaching accessible to everyone, not just the C-suite.

The conversation dives deep into purpose, equity, and innovation, exploring how we thrive in systems not built for us, and how storytelling and data can work together to drive real change. Whether you're in STEM, leadership, or simply searching for direction, this episode will leave you inspired to act, reflect, and redefine your impact.

In this episode of The Safe Leader Podcast, Mark McBride-Wright sits down with Benjamin Ralph, Director at Hollis and a leading voice in building safety and fire engineering. From setting fires in the fields of North Devon as a child (for science!) to influencing national building safety policy, Ben shares his deeply personal and professional journey into fire engineering.

Together, they explore how tragedy, like the Grenfell Tower fire, sparked critical changes in UK legislation, and why inclusive fire safety must become the new standard. With insights on equitable design, the future of building safety, and the next generation of engineers, this conversation challenges us to think differently about who is protected, and who is too often left behind.

In this powerful episode of The Safe Leader Podcast, Mark McBride-Wright sits down with Mark Wilson, HSE and Operations Director at Offshore Energies UK, for an honest and inspiring conversation on leadership, wellbeing, and the ripple effect of positive change. From giving up alcohol and caffeine to rising through the military ranks, from private soldier to major, Mark shares how personal choices and professional integrity shaped his journey into the energy sector.

Together, they explore what authentic leadership really looks like, why creating a culture of care matters, and how the power of positivity can transform safety and performance in high-risk environments. Whether you're a seasoned leader or just starting out, this episode offers practical wisdom and real-world insight into what it means to lead with humility, purpose, and impact.

In this episode of The SAFE Leader, Mark McBride-Wright speaks with Simon Burwood, Partner at ERM and co-founder of Engineering Safety Consultants. From taking apart his mum’s iron as a curious child to leading cutting-edge safety work across biosafety, renewables, and AI, Simon shares the pivotal moments that shaped his career. He reflects on the transition from traditional industries like oil and gas to the fast-evolving landscape of technical safety, highlighting the need for innovation, adaptability, and systems thinking in modern engineering.

The conversation dives into Simon’s unexpected path to entrepreneurship, his commitment to inclusive recruitment, and why diversity and psychological safety are essential to effective leadership. With insights on everything from job ads to artificial intelligence, Simon’s story is a powerful reminder that the future of safety lies not just in process and compliance, but in people, culture, and continuous learning.

In this episode, Mark McBride-Wright is joined by Martin Cottam, Chair of ISO Technical Committee 283, for an in-depth conversation on how international standards can drive cultural change in workplace health and safety. With a career spanning over four decades in nuclear, marine, oil and gas, and major hazard industries, Martin shares how he transitioned from a technical safety background into global leadership in standardisation. He reflects on the evolution of ISO 45001 and its related standards, including the groundbreaking 45010, which addresses menstruation, menstrual health, and menopause in the workplace, challenging long-standing taboos and advocating for inclusive design in occupational health and safety systems.