Dear members  and enthusiasts,

I’ve been away for a short while recently, and as always so much has happened at the AIOH.

Our community continues to shine on the global stage. A special congratulations to Associate Professor Deborah Glass, who was recently awarded the Thomas Bedford Memorial Prize at the BOHS conference. Her paper, Silica Exposure Estimates in Artificial Stone Benchtop Fabrication and Adverse Respiratory Outcomes, was recognised as the most outstanding publication in the Annals of Work Exposures and Health. It’s fantastic to see Australian research acknowledged so prominently. Keep 19th September, 12–1 pm free in your diary as Deborah will present her paper as part of our 2025 webinar series.

45-odd years ago, the AIOH was formed with just 24 founding members. Today we are inching closer to 1700 total members! That includes 547 Professional Members and 134 Provisional Members. Reaching 500 Full Members is an incredible milestone, and a powerful reflection of the strength and growth of our profession.
With over 500 applications received this past financial year, I want to give a huge shout-out to Mitch and the Membership & Qualifications Committee, and our dedicated panel of interviewers. More than 150 professional applications have been reviewed during this time, and while we can’t accept everyone, the rigour and care that goes into each one is impressive.

The AIOH continues to be actively engaged in national discussions that shape the future of occupational health and hygiene. Our committees, including the External Affairs Committee (EAC), Workplace Exposure Assessment Committee (WEAC), and others have recently contributed to Safe Work Australia’s development of technical guidance on workplace exposure limits, provided expert advice to the Queensland Office of Industrial Relations on an engineered stone exemption application, and participated in Australian Standards work through the ME-060 Committee. We’ve also secured representation on the newly established SafeWork Advisory Council. These contributions highlight the important role our committees play in providing credible, evidence-based input and ensuring the profession’s voice is heard where it matters most.

Our annual member survey was distributed to members and so far we have received a fantastic response. Thank you to everyone who has so far taken the time to share their thoughts. The survey is still open and if you’ve been waiting for a moment to share ideas, frustrations, or encouragement, this is it. Your feedback shapes our direction, and we value your voice. The Council and our Committees will review the results at the close, and we’ll share a summary of the results with you shortly thereafter.

The Silica Hub, one of our most visited and valued resources, has also been recently updated. Thank you to all those involved in refreshing this content. It remains a key source of evidence-based information and tools for both members and the industry.

Looking ahead, we’re just over three months away from AIOH25 Conference and Exhibition in Sydney. If you haven’t registered yet, now’s the time. With registrations open and the program taking shape, this year’s conference promises to be a highlight once again.

As part of the next phase of Project 45, we’re getting closer to the official launch of our new committee and advisory panel structure. This has been a major piece of work to streamline how we collaborate, reduce volunteer load, and better align with our strategic direction. We’re now finalising Terms of Reference, confirming structures, and preparing support mechanisms to bring these refreshed groups to life. It’s been encouraging to see strong engagement throughout the process, and I’m excited about the clarity, energy, and capability this new model will bring.  I will have more to share in the upcoming edition of the Filter Magazine.

And speaking of looking ahead, I’ll be heading to Taipei later this month to attend the ANOH Conference from 23–26 August as a guest of our international colleagues. I’m looking forward to connecting with others in the region and bringing back insights that will benefit us all.

Recently, I caught myself reflecting on my own pathway from a student curious about workplace health risks to President of the AIOH. Last month marked 30 years since John Garnet the founder of Airmet Scientific, hired me as a sales representative. I’ve had the privilege of learning from some fantastic teachers and mentors along the way, and I’ve been lucky enough to work across a huge variety of industries and places, venturing inside aircraft wings, down mine shafts, on oil rigs, and in countless other settings; both locally and internationally.  Everyone’s journey is different. Whether you started in academia, industry, consulting, or enforcement, your experiences help shape this profession. Our strength lies in the diversity of our paths, united by a common purpose: protecting worker health.

Finally, a big thank you to our Council. Already this year, over 50 critical operational and strategic items have been managed via our new endorsement/ratification/approval system, plus many more informal or day to day decisions that often go unseen. Our upgraded systems have helped us move quicker, action decisions efficiently, and stay focused on delivering value to members. It’s been a big year and we’re not slowing down yet.

Thanks again for everything you do.

Sincerely,

Aleks Todorovic
President 2025