Lisa Hughes, Head of HSEQ at ISS Ireland, has been named Health & Safety Manager of the Year at the Health & Safety Excellence Awards 2026, recognised for a career spanning 25 years in facilities management that has taken her from frontline level to strategic leadership, and for a body of work that has fundamentally transformed ISS Ireland's safety culture along the way.

Hughes joined ISS in 2001 and has built her career from the ground up within the organisation, developing a depth of operational understanding that informs how she leads. As Head of HSEQ, her approach combines strategic direction with practical execution, using data-driven initiatives, digital tools, and behavioural programmes to drive measurable and sustained improvements in safety performance across a large and diverse workforce.

Central to her recent recognition is the Safe Choice Behaviour Programme, an initiative that has delivered tangible results including reduced lost time incidents and a significant increase in near-hit reporting. The latter is particularly telling: a rise in near-hit reporting is a marker of genuine cultural change, reflecting a workforce that feels confident and supported in raising concerns before they become incidents.

Her leadership has also strengthened compliance, empowered teams at every level, and contributed to multiple national awards for the organisation, building a track record that speaks to consistency as much as achievement.

Judges were direct in their assessment. "Lisa Hughes demonstrates clear leadership, embedding a proactive safety culture across a large and diverse organisation. The Safe Choice Behaviour Programme has driven measurable improvements, including reduced lost time incidents and increased near-hit reporting. Supported by strong data, digital tools, and testimonials, her approach reflects both strategic direction and practical execution," the panel stated.

The Health & Safety Excellence Awards 2026 ceremony took place on 30 April 2026 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Santry.

For the complete 2026 winners list, category insights, and judges’ profiles, visit the official Health & Safety Excellence Awards website and subscribe to the newsletter for updates and event highlights.