HSE appoints new Head of LAU

HSE Press Release E164:02 - 27 August 2002

Allan Davies, 49, has been appointed the new Head of the Local Authorities Unit (LAU) in the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

Born in Swansea, where he began his career, he qualified as an environmental health officer in 1975 before moving to London for local government posts at the City of Westminster and then London Borough of Brent. In 1978 he returned to Wales as a senior environmental health officer for Carmarthen District Council.

He left local government in 1984 to join Tesco Stores where he was initially responsible for ensuring hygiene and safety standards in premises in South Wales and the West. He was later appointed Tesco's Chief Environmental Health Officer for the whole of the UK.

In 1992 he returned to local government as Assistant Director Environmental Services for Monmouth Borough Council, and in his current post as Head of Community Protection for Monmouthshire County Council he is responsible for environmental health, trading standards, building control and licensing.

Mr Davies is Secretary to the Society of Directors of Public Protection Wales and represents the Welsh Local Government Association as an adviser on food, occupational health and safety, and public health. He is a member of the Local Authorities Coordinators of Regulatory Services' (LG Regulation (formerly LACORS)) Advisory and Executive Committee and was until recently Secretary to the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health in South Wales.

Mr Davies said:

"I work closely with a number of organisations and government bodies representing not just environmental health interests but wider public health concerns and the role of local government. I have a long association with the National Assembly for Wales, the Food Standards Agency, the Environment Agency and their predecessors and believe passionately in true partnership working. These are some of the ideals I hope to bring to the HSE and, in particular, the LAU."

Mr Davies keeps fit by playing racket sports and circuit-training and he enjoys hill walking and mountain climbing both at home and abroad. He is also a keen motorcyclist.

He will take up his new post on 2 September this year.

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