New head of health and safety among key MPA appointments
Amy Harris to succeed Colin Mew as Mineral Products Association’s new head of health and safety
THE Mineral Products Association (MPA) has appointed Amy Harris as its new head of health and safety with effect from 1 June 2025. She succeeds Colin Mew, who will remain with the MPA as a special advisor on health and safety.
Ms Harris joined the MPA earlier in 2025 as health and safety manager. She will be applying her 20 years of health and safety experience in the brick and ceramics industry to help the MPA to promote a culture of sharing good practices and adoption of the values which underpin the Association’s health and safety strategy, ‘Vision Zero – Safe and Well Every Day’.
Vision Zero is built around eliminating the causes of ‘The Fatal 6’. These are the high-consequence hazards that analysis has shown are responsible for the majority of the fatalities, serious injuries, and long-term ill health in the industry.
Sharing practical ways to make the industry’s workplaces safer is recognized as key to health and safety improvement, and the MPA has led the way to promote sharing through a range of initiatives, particularly the MPA Health and Safety Awards.
Ms Harris said: ‘I'm delighted to have the opportunity to take over the reins from Colin. We have some exciting times ahead. The first phase of Vision Zero concludes this year and we are now looking to the future and working towards refreshed priorities. This will continue our critical work to support members in eliminating the causes of the Fatal 6, with a clear focus on developing a culture of sharing and promoting healthy workplaces. I was first attracted to work within the MPA due to the strong emphasis on Safer by Sharing, so it’s a real privilege to be able to continue this work with Colin in our new roles.’
In addition to Ms Harris’ appointment, the MPA has made several other new appointments in recent months, including:
Kunal Kansara as director of UK Concrete and head of sustainability (maternity cover)
Chris Herbert as director of planning
Marianna Micallef as structural engineer
Vusi Nxumalo as events manager
Lea Mealing as social media and PR executive
Clare Mckenna as office manager.
Chris Leese, executive chair of the MPA, said: ‘We are delighted with Amy’s promotion, especially as it marks the start of an important new phase for Vision Zero. And on behalf of everyone at the MPA, I would like to welcome all those who have joined us, helping to strengthen our team, bring fresh ideas and energy, and ensure that the MPA continues to deliver value for its members.’
