Leadership
Leadership Team
Director, SOSHRC
Dr Andrew Oyen Arewa
Andrew Oyen Arewa is the Head of Postgraduate Research Degrees in the School of Architecture, Computing and Engineering at the University of East London. He is a chartered Quantity Surveyor, Engineer and Engineering Project Manager with professional affiliations as MRICS, MCIOB, MAPM.
He has over 21 years combined academic and industry practice experience as Civil Engineer, Senior Quantity Surveyor, Commercial Manager and Occupational Health and Safety Coordinator for various organisations including Bouygues Construction Ltd, Royal Haskoning DHV Ltd in France, Europe, Middle East, North America and United Kingdom. He was an Associate Professor in Construction Project Management & Quantity Surveying at Coventry University before joining the University of East London in 2021.
He has over 66 high quality journal and conference publications. Generated over £1.8M research and consultancy income. Andrew Arewa supervised 15 PhD students to successful completion as Director of Studies (Main supervisor), supervised over 21 PhD students as first supervisor and numerous research and consultancy works across the globe. He has chaired various Occupational Health and Safety conferences and act as editorial board to various journals.
Deputy Director, SOSHRC
Dr Ismaeel Husain
Ismaeel has more than 20 years of experience in safety and occupational hygiene management, organizational culture, vocational training, training assessment, training quality, and marine engineering.
He has participated in over 70 national and international conferences as a speaker, panel discussion moderator, and conference steering committee member. His research interests include human and organizational performance, organization culture studies, chronic unease, middle management development, key performance indicators, sensemaking, and the normalization of deviance.
He is a marine engineer from Southampton Solent University and holds an MSc in Environment, Health and Safety from Sunderland University. Ismaeel has a doctorate degree from Bradford Business School, University of Bradford, in sensemaking in dynamic business environments.
Member, SOSHRC Research Committee
Dr Lee Brown BSc (Hons), MSC, PhD
Senior Lecturer, Department of Bioscience and Sport, UEL
Dr. Lee Brown is a Senior Lecturer at a London based University and serves as the Tactical Lead Researcher working with Kent Fire and Rescue Service. Brown is currently involved in performance-led research aimed at improving the health, readiness, and sustainability of modern firefighters. His academic and applied work integrates high-level conditioning, injury resilience, and recovery strategies tailored to occupational demands. He holds the Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist® (CSCS®), Certified Specialist Populations Specialist® (CSPS®), Tactical Strength and Conditioning Facilitator® (TSAC-F®), and Registered Strength and Conditioning Coach® (RSCC®).
Member, SOSHRC Research Committee
Dr Nitish Chooramun
Department of Computer Science & Digital Technologies, School of Architecture Computing and Engineering, UEL
Dr Nitish Chooramun has many years of experience both in academia and industry and has participated in numerous conferences and projects in the UK and overseas. His research interests include Intelligent Systems, evacuation dynamics, Multi-Agent Systems and Internet of Things (IoT). He has participated in multiple funded projects, including EU projects and is actively supervising MPhil/PhD students. Moreover, he has worked on the development of algorithms for representing pedestrian movement and behaviours in a variety of environments. He has authored journal papers, conference papers and book chapters within these research domains.
Member, SOSHRC Research Committee
Oluwafemi George Olatoye
Dr Oluwafemi George Olatoye has over 15 years of public sector experience, with extensive knowledge and expertise in public policy and governance. He holds a bachelor’s degree in chemistry, an MBA, and an MSc in Oil and Gas Management from Coventry University. He recently completed a PhD in Occupational Risk and Safety Management at the University of East London.
His doctoral research explored the potential of big data analytics as a tool for managing dysfunctional occupational safety practices in high-risk industries. The outcomes of this research, together with his Director of Studies, Dr Andrew Arewa, contributed significantly to the conception of the research centre.
He is passionate about advancing workplace safety cultures that promote prevention, proactive risk management, and sustainable safety practices.
Governance
Board of Trustees
Chair, Governing Board of Trustees
Professor David Tann
Professor David Tann is the Vice Provost (Technology) and Executive Dean of School at the University of East London.
Member of Board of Trustee
Professor Ashraf Ayoub
Distinguished Professor of Structural Engineering
Head Of Department of Engineering & Construction
School of Architecture, Computing, and Engineering
Advisory
Research Advisory Committee
Chair, Research Advisory Committee
Dr Stephen Theophius
Stephen Chukwubuikem Theophilus is the Programme Leader for Occupational Safety, Health and Environment, BSc Hons (Top-up) and co-leader for two postgraduate courses, Occupational Hygiene (MSc) and Safety, Health and Environment (MSc) at Greenwich University, London.
He is the University of Greenwich link tutor to SBCS College and Safety and Health subject expert to Champs Fleurs in Trinidad and Tobago and HKU SPACE Hong Kong.
Chair, Research Advisory Committee
Professor Augustine Ifelebuegu
Prof. Augustine is a distinguished British academic and a Senior Fellow of the UK Higher Education Academy. With over 26 years of post-graduation experience, his professional journey spans the petroleum industry, water and waste management, and academia. Before joining VU, he led the Civil and Environmental Engineering Cluster at the University of West England, Bristol (UWE).
His extensive tenure at Coventry University, spanning over 13 years, saw him rise from Lecturer to Associate Professor in Energy and Environment. There, he was instrumental in developing energy programs that eventually led to the creation of the School of Energy, Construction, and Environment within the Faculty of Engineering. Prof. Augustine’s international impact is highlighted by his role as the International Team Lead for the World Bank-funded Albertine Regional Sustainable Development Project in Uganda.
He has also contributed to global education as a Link Tutor to Ghana Technology University and as a Visiting Professor at institutions like Kadir Has University, Turkey, and the University of Leeds, UK. His industry involvement includes roles as a Process Design Engineer at Severn Trent Water, where he worked on several multi-million-pound projects, and as a QHSE Consultant with Fugro Consultants. Prof. Augustine has also consulted for multinational oil and gas companies and government bodies across West Africa, the UK, the Middle East, and Brazil. His academic and research interests encompass sustainable energy, environment, water resources, safety, project management, and higher education pedagogy. Prof. Augustine has also served as an external examiner for prestigious UK universities such as Newcastle University, Plymouth University, UWE Bristol, and Heriot-Watt University.
External Advisory
External Advisory Committee
Chair, External Advisory Committee
Olav Skar
Olav M. Skar holds a BEng in Mining and Petroleum Engineering from the University of Strathclyde and an MSc in Wells Engineering from Robert Gordon University. He recently completed the INSEAD International Directors Program.
He is a Visiting Professor and Chair of the UEL SOSHRC External Advisory Committee, a programme director at the International Institute of Leadership and Safety Culture, and owner/director of Skar Energy FZ LLC.
He joined Shell International after graduating and spent over 30 years in many international locations from front-line roles through executive leadership. In his last role before stepping away from Shell, he was seconded to the International Association of Oil and Gas Producers (IOGP) as their Safety Director.
External Advisory Committee on Occupational Health
Dr Laurent Arnulf
Group Medical Director SOS France, Medical Services Europe, Middle East, Africa, at International SOS
External Advisor
Dr Onyekachi S. Kanu
Medical Doctor and GP NHS UK. Health researcher and external advisor to SOSHRC.
Senior Researcher & External Advisor
Dr Chizaram Nwankwo
Senior Researcher at SOSHRC. Senior Executive Officer (Health and Safety) at the UK Health Security Agency, London.
External Advisory Council
Professor Peter Farrell
Senior Researcher in occupational safety and health at the University of Bolton, UK. Programme Leader, Construction Project Management, University of Bolton.
Occupational Health Advisor
Dr Victor Ohize
Occupational Health Physician with a background in Psychiatry. Currently Occupational Health Physician to the London Fire Brigade, employed by Medigold Health. Occupational Health researcher and external advisor to SOSHRC.
External Advisor
Hassan Ali Al Ajmi
Vice President HSSE & Risk Engineering, Occidental of Oman Inc.
External Advisor
Nonno Lamberto
Global HSE Director, Governance and Customer Excellence – OFSE · Baker Hughes