At the QEII Centre, our Dare to be Bold campaign celebrates creativity, ambition, and the power of unforgettable events. But boldness isn’t just about what happens on stage, at a reception, or inside a meeting room. It’s also about the dedication, professionalism, and pride of the people working tirelessly behind the scenes to keep everyone safe and every event running smoothly.
One of the newest additions to this bold approach is Michael Anderson, our Venue Health & Safety Manager. While health and safety used to be a shared responsibility across different teams, Michael’s role consolidates this crucial function, bringing a clear focus and dedicated expertise to keeping staff, partners, and visiting event organisers safe. We caught up with him to hear about his first months in the role, his daily routines, and the lessons he’s learned along the way.
How have your first few months been so far, and what have been your main focuses?
“It’s been a really interesting start, finding my way around and trying to remember the names of so many smiling colleagues! There’s been a bit of suspicion too, it’s the first time the QEII Centre has had a dedicated safety manager, and that naturally made some people nervous. But mostly, I’ve had some really good conversations and learned so much from the wider teams. My goal is to help and support, not act as the Safety Police.”
What does a typical day look like for you?
“I start by walking the building, from the 6th floor down to Basement 2, saying hello to everyone along the way. I check fire doors, fire extinguishers, look around the exterior, chat with contractors and the organisers’ team. Then it’s back to my desk for a cuppa and any desk-based tasks.
If we’re building a bigger show, I walk the tenancy areas every hour to see what’s happening and offer support or encouragement. And yes, meetings—plenty of them. I genuinely enjoy face-to-face meetings; Teams calls, by contrast, feel so innocent and unemotional!”
Which departments or stakeholders do you work most closely with during event planning?
“I work closely with Event Managers on event layouts, particularly for exhibition stands. Occasionally, I liaise with the QEII LIVE team and increasingly with the sales team, who are where it all begins. I support them with customer safety queries even before shows start, helping ensure everyone goes home safely.”
How do you build a safety-first culture among staff, partners, and visiting event organisers?
“That’s the real challenge. People have to want to be safer, it’s about evolution, not revolution. Many clients, their staff, contractors, and even some of our own staff are resistant to change. They’re comfortable with old habits because there’s been little exposure to better ways of working.
We are seeing acceptance of new processes and supporting documents, but it’s slow and that’s okay. My role is often to be the ‘bad cop,’ allowing the Event Management team to maintain client relationships while still embedding these safety improvements. How successful have these changes been? Ask me again in six months!”
How do you conduct debriefs after major events, and how do lessons learnt feed into future planning?
“Debriefs are structured and prompt. Any concerns should have been raised early on, and solutions are either implemented immediately or added for the next year. This way, everyone involved can agree on improvements and support them moving forward. So far, that approach has worked well.”
What advice would you give to someone starting in venue health and safety or aspiring to lead in this field?
“Understand the work and remember there are two sides to every argument or problem. Find the middle ground that’s legally compliant. Don’t assume you know it all; asking questions to learn about others’ activities often earns respect and helps you work safely together.
Professional qualifications can come later—many event safety experts started as floor or event managers. A fun example: my son enjoyed work experience with facilities and fire safety teams at Earls Court & Olympia so much that he pursued internships at ITV and Delfont Mackintosh Theatres, and is now Lead Safety Advisor at Ally Pally!”
What’s the most challenging safety obstacle you’ve had to solve in real time during your career?
“Most challenging is change, people are often afraid to work differently or better. Persistence and belief in the process eventually win the day.
One particularly frustrating situation involved a pop star and his manager. We needed a risk assessment signed for his performance, but the doors were held for over 40 minutes while the manager argued I was asking for the star’s autograph! On the darker side, having to escort a rigger out for refusing to clip on after a colleague had been seriously injured the week before that’s the reality of the job sometimes.”
Michael’s first few months have already shown that a dedicated health and safety role isn’t just about compliance, it’s about creating a supportive, safety-first culture across every level of the organisation. With his experience and approach, the QEII Centre is not only safer, it’s a place where staff, partners, and visitors can thrive confidently, fully embracing the spirit of bold events.