New Sue Davies Prize for best-performing OHTA ICertOH student

A new annual prize will be awarded for the first time in 2016 for the student with the best performance in achieving the OHTA International Certificate in Occupational Hygiene (ICertOH).

The Sue Davies Prize has been established to commemorate the invaluable contribution of the late Sue Davies to OHTA. In the association’s early years, Sue was a driving force and wise counsel to those trying to establish the international training scheme and qualifications framework.

The overall aim is to develop the people with potential to progress to a career in occupational hygiene in their country, and be a catalyst for the development of the occupational hygiene profession in their own country.

The prize will be attendance at one of the following conferences:

• Australian Institute of Occupational Hygiene (AIOH), or

• British Occupational Hygiene Society (BOHS) conference, or

• American Industrial Hygiene Conference and Exposition (AIHce).

Conference fees, accommodation and economy air fare (including travel insurance) will be paid up to the award value of US$5,000, making this an excellent opportunity to experience a major international occupational hygiene conference. These events bring together individuals with an interest in occupational hygiene from around the world and enable delegates to expand and share knowledge in a sociable environment.

To be eligible for the prize:

  • Candidates must have successfully completed the OHTA ICertOH.
  • Those permanently resident in a country considered a developing economy (with less than 25% US GDP per capita, and without an industrial hygiene association that is a member of the International Occupational Hygiene Association IOHA) will normally be given priority by the judging panel. (Please note this does not exclude other candidates holding the ICertOH from applying.)
  • Candidates must have a valid passport and meet the visa entry requirements of U.S.A., U.K. and Australia.
  • Candidates must not have attended any of the above conferences before.

Candidates will need to submit an application form including an essay between 800 and 1,000 words (in English) on why they should be considered for the prize. Further guidance for the essay can be found in the award guidelines.

The application period will run from 1 April 2016 to 30 September 2016.

After the closing date of 30 September, a judging panel of OHTA stakeholders and board members will make a decision based on exam results throughout the six modules, ICertOH oral exam, essay, and the person who is considered to have the most potential. The winner will be notified in December.

Full details of how to apply including the award guidelines, list of priority countries and application form, can be found here or by contacting Roz Phillips at roz.phillips@ohlearning.com.

The funding of the Sue Davies Prize is by the Sue Davies Scholarship which was established in Australia in April 2015. Although funding has and will continue to come from donations from the public, in future other opportunities such as sponsorship will also be explored. If you would like to make a donation or discuss sponsorship opportunities, please contact Noel Tresider, one of the trustees of the Sue Davies Scholarship, at ntreside@bigpond.net.au