Cultivating Future Ready EHS Leaders 

As we continue our series in the lead up to the EHS for Biopharma Summit Europe hosted by Hanson Wade, an event we at Modig are proud to partner with, we’re turning our attention to one of the biggest leadership challenges facing our industry: 

How do we equip EHS professionals with the human skills to lead effectively? 

It’s a question many organisations are confronted with and one that will take centre stage at this year’s summit in the panel discussion: “Non-Technical Skills: Developing the Human Skills for EHS Leadership.” 

Across biopharma, many technical experts step into leadership roles without the preparation needed to navigate the complex human side of the job. Today, EHS leadership isn’t just about compliance, it’s also about connection and understanding of people. 

The Human Dimension of EHS Leadership 

EHS leaders don’t just enforce policies they influence behaviours, inspire action, and shape culture. Success depends on empathy, communication, influence, and the ability to align safety goals with business priorities. 

• Without empathy, leaders miss the real issues their teams face. 

• Without clear communication, even the most robust procedures remain words on paper. 

• Without influence, safety is enforced, not embraced. 

Not Everyone Wants to Lead and That’s Okay 

Some EHS professionals thrive through technical mastery; others are motivated by leading people and shaping strategy. Both paths matter. The key is recognising these differences and tailoring development to support each individual’s growth. 

Growing the Leaders We Need 

At Modig, we’re passionate about supporting future ready EHS leaders.
While every journey is unique, leadership growth is built on a few key enablers: 

• Coaching, not just training  – Leadership develops through reflection, feedback, and ongoing support. 
• Strong foundations - Technical expertise is essential, but curiosity, lifelong learning, and embracing change is what keeps leaders future ready. 
• Empathy and connection – The ability to truly listen and communicate across all levels turn policies into progress. 
• Strategic thinking - Supporting leaders in their understanding of how EHS aligns with business goals amplifies influence and impact. 

We believe that the most effective leaders can translate safety to strategy, and strategy back to people, connecting purpose with performance. This principle is central to two key sessions at the EHS for Biopharma Summit Europe. 

Panel Discussion: Non-Technical Skills – Developing the Human Skills for EHS Leadership

Many technical experts step into leadership roles without preparation for the human side of the job. This panel explores how empathy, communication, and influence turn EHS from a compliance function into a strategic capability. Speakers include: Christian Bugl from Takeda, Tomas Schou Winther from AGC Biologics, Pete Williams from Catalent Pharma Solutions, and Darragh Duggan from Johnson & Johnson. 

Workshop: Enhancing Top-Down Leadership Accountability 

Led by Mary Fahy, Regeneron, and Fuad Mahmood, Grunenthal Group, this session focuses on how effective safety leadership must come from the top, not just the EHS department. Highlights include: 

• Shifting EHS from a legal requirement to a leadership competency 

• Creating safety leadership programs that stick (behaviour-based safety, life saving rules, leadership walk throughs) 

• Building senior leader capability: knowing not just what to do, but why it matters 

Together, these sessions offer complementary perspectives on building future ready EHS leaders. This from cultivating the human skills needed to inspire teams, to embedding accountability at the highest levels of the organisation.  

This session is a must attend for anyone focused on building future ready leaders who can shape the next chapter of EHS. 

Next in our series: Designing Global EHS Training, where will be exploring how to create inclusive, adaptable learning that engages diverse teams across languages, generations, and learning styles. 

Will you be at the summit in Frankfurt this November? Let’s connect, we’d love to hear your thoughts on what makes an EHS leader truly “future ready.” 

#EHS #Biopharma #Leadership #Sustainability #EHSforBiopharma #EHSLeadership #FutureReadyLeaders #SafetyCulture #ContinuousImprovement #ModigCS