Thomas Ashton Institute Lunch and Learn: Rethinking Safety Leadership: From “Safety First” to “Safe Performance"
| Dates: | 7 October 2026 |
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| Times: | 12:30 - 13:00 |
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| What is it: | Talk |
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| Organiser: | Thomas Ashton Institute |
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| How much: | Free |
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| Who is it for: | University staff, External researchers, Adults, Alumni, Current University students, General public, Post 16 |
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| Speaker: | Dr Xiaowen Hu, Professor Sara Willis |
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Today’s leaders operate in environments where safety must coexist with productivity, efficiency, speed and operational demands. So what does effective safety leadership actually look like when these priorities collide?
This online Lunch and Learn session will explore what decades of research have taught us about safety leadership — what works, why it works and how organisations can translate the evidence into effective leadership practice. We will trace the evolution of safety leadership research and consider how thinking has moved beyond simplistic behavioural approaches towards understanding the complexity and competing demands that shape safety in practice.
A particular focus will be on paradoxical safety leadership and the shift from an “either/or” to a “both/and” mindset. Rather than viewing safety as competing with productivity, efficiency or operational performance, how can leaders integrate these demands to create safer, more sustainable organisations?
Combining research evidence with practical insights, the session will challenge established assumptions about safety leadership and explore how leaders can create the conditions for both safety and performance to thrive.
Register Today: https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/06bc7977-19af-4581-a808-99ee2aff474b@c152cb07-614e-4abb-818a-f035cfa91a77
Find out about future events: https://www.ashtoninstitute.ac.uk/teaching-and-learning/
About the Thomas Ashton Institute
The Thomas Ashton Institute for Risk and Regulatory Research is a partnership between The University of Manchester and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Through research, collaboration and public engagement, we help shape safer, healthier and more sustainable workplaces. Visit https://www.ashtoninstitute.ac.uk/ to explore our research, events and opportunities to get involved.
Speakers
Dr Xiaowen Hu
Role: Senior Lecturer in Organisational Psychology
Organisation: Alliance Manchester Business School, The University of Manchester
Biography: Xiaowen Hu is a Senior Lecturer in Organisational Psychology at the University of Manchester. Her research focuses on safety leadership, safety compliance, and how individuals and organisations navigate competing demands in complex work environments. Her work examines how leaders can move beyond simple “safety first” approaches to support both safety and operational performance, with particular interests in paradoxical safety leadership and adaptive safety compliance. She has published internationally on workplace safety, leadership, and organisational behaviour, and works closely with academic and industry partners to translate research into practical insights for safer and more effective organisations.
Professor Sara Willis
Role: Professor of Organisational Psychology
Organisation: Alliance Manchester Business School, The University of Manchester
Biography: Sara Willis is Professor of Organisational Psychology at Alliance Manchester Business School, The University of Manchester. Her research explores leadership, organisational culture and workplace safety, with a particular focus on leadership and decision-making in complex, high-risk environments. Her work has been published in leading academic journals and provides evidence-based insights to help organisations strengthen safety and address real-world workplace challenges. As a Chartered Psychologist, Sara works with public and private sector organisations, translating research into practical tools, training and organisational change. Her current work includes safety decision-making training with three UK regulatory authorities and research on leadership in extreme contexts.
Travel and Contact Information
