The UK Asbestos Training Association (UKATA) celebrates 15 years of service in 2023, with their 15th Annual General Meeting (AGM) taking place at on Friday, 7th July, from 2pm to 4pm at the Radisson Blu East Midlands Airport.
The AGM takes place on Action Mesothelioma Day (AMD), observed nationally on the first Friday of July each year, highlights the pressing issues of mesothelioma and asbestos fibre exposure. The day also champions the cause of fundraising to accelerate research into combating mesothelioma, while honouring and supporting individuals whose lives have been touched by the disease.
Speaking at the event are three strong individuals who continuously campaign to raise awareness of the risks associated with asbestos exposure.
Yvonne Waterman
Schmidheiny, Director of Eternit… You can run but you can’t hide
Since 2000, Yvonne Waterman has visited and spoken at many asbestos conferences worldwide, from Washington to Yokohama and from Ottawa to Athens. All the time, she learned and wondered why so many countries have the same asbestos problems and at the same time haven’t a clue about the solutions their neighbours came up with.
In daily life, she runs the niche law firm Waterman Legal Consultancy in the Netherlands, which specialises in all things pertaining to asbestos, asbestos law and employers’ liability law. Yvonne will discuss the recent legal case of Stephan Schmidheiny, a billionaire and director of Eternit, found guilty and sentenced to 12 years for causing the deaths of 392 people.
Liz Darlison MBE
Addressing the Medical Impact of Asbestos in the UK Today
Liz Darlison is a Consultant Nurse at the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, an Honorary Senior Lecturer at De Montfort University, University of Leicester and the University of Sheffield, and Clinical Research Lead for Division 1 (Cancer) for the Clinical Research Network (CRN) East Midlands. Liz focuses on the treatment and care of mesothelioma (asbestos-related cancer) patients. She is the founder of Mesothelioma UK. Liz was awarded an MBE (Member of the British Empire) in the Queen’s 2019 Birthday Honours in recognition of services to patients and cancer research. Liz will cover where we are at with asbestos related disease in the UK today and what Mesothelioma UK is doing as a charity to address the many issues it creates.
Helen Bone
It Is What It Is
Helen is married to Mark and between them they have three daughters. Helen qualified as a nurse in 2004 before becoming an Advanced Clinical Practitioner (ACP). Her career has involved both intensive care and respiratory work. When Covid hit she was on the front line working with critically ill patients. It was after she fell ill with Covid herself that she noticed a cough and chest pain she couldn’t quite shake, it was this that eventually led her to become diagnosed with mesothelioma in 2021.
Helen now dedicates her time to raise asbestos awareness, highlighting in particular that the disease does effect women under 60 despite common misconceptions. She regularly updates her blog https://helenbone82.wixsite.com/itiswhatitis
UKATA, a leading association, is dedicated to enhancing the quality and standards of asbestos training with the aim to shield workers and the public from the hazards of asbestos exposure.
The association collaborates closely with its members to guarantee that they have access to the latest information, training resources, and industry updates. They provide a suite of support services to assist them in accomplishing their training objectives. Their membership encompasses a diverse array of organisations involved in asbestos training, including training providers, asbestos removal contractors, consultants, and equipment suppliers.
UKATA is fervent about promoting safe and responsible working practices, committed to working with members and partners to realise a shared vision of protecting workers and the public from the hazards linked with asbestos exposure.
The formal business at the AGM is for Members only and will be completed by 2:45pm. All other guests are welcome to register and attend for the speakers, free of charge. Please select AGM when registering below.
Published on Monday 26th June 2023