From Doha to Donegal: IOSH students make their mark

The IOSH Student Member Bursary exists to support our student members while they complete their IOSH-accredited qualifications. In the last five years, it has awarded over £56,000 to more than 260 members. More than 70 bursary awards were made in 2024/25. We introduce just two of the winners – Chanille Calado and Rastko Skender – and invite them to put into words what their bursary success means.

Chanille Calado, Qatar

Occupational health, safety and environment student at University of Doha for Science and Technology. Experience and interests include:

student mentor, Advanced Writing Center at University of Doha for Science and Technology
environmental protection trainee, health management and safety, Siemens Qatar
Korean pavilion assistant at the FIFA World Cup, Qatar 2022.

Chanille said: “My initial career choice was not occupational health and safety. I initially envisioned myself working in primary healthcare as a frontline provider of aid to individuals in need. But as I became immersed in workplace safety, my viewpoint changed. I realised that preventing workplace hazards is just as critical as treating illnesses because no amount of medical care can undo the damage caused by unsafe conditions. Healthcare alone cannot compensate for preventable risks, making occupational safety essential to protecting lives.

“Beyond conformity and compliance, occupational safety and health is about protecting lives, preserving mental and physical health, and cultivating a culture that views safety as a fundamental right rather than an afterthought. Every worker going home safely at the end of the day, every injury avoided, and every life saved serves as a testament to the career path I’ve taken and to which I’ve devoted my professional life.

“The IOSH bursary represents more than financial support – it is a catalyst for my growth in this profession. It will allow me to deepen my expertise, gain critical certifications, and access opportunities that will enhance my ability to drive meaningful change. With this support, I am determined to become a leader in occupational health and safety, advocating for safer workplaces. Empowered with the right knowledge and resources, I am committed to making a lasting impact, creating work environments where safety is prioritised and every individual is respected and protected.”

Rastko Skender, Ireland

Occupational safety student at Atlantic Technological University, Sligo. Experience and interests include:

summer environmental health and safety internship at APC and VLE Therapeutics, Dublin
speaking three languages: Serbo-Croatian, English and Russian
practising Brazilian jiu-jitsu, kickboxing and mixed martial arts (MMA).

Rastko said: “Occupational safety and health was an unknown concept to me, right until the very end of my secondary school days, in Donegal, Ireland. To a child of Croatia and Montenegro, where occupational safety and health has only been introduced recently, safety in the workplace was like some kind of science fiction. This all changed when my career guidance teacher planted the seed of hazard and risk control in my mind. He then made me 100 per cent certain which course I should pick.

“In the beginning, the course seemed like any other science-based degree until my second year and a very valuable work placement. That enlightening process opened my eyes and showed me just how much occupational hazard and risk I had been exposed to during my employment history. Manual handling injuries, occupational stress and lack of training, are some examples of the risks that were luckily avoided or dealt with once I started working and earning money. These incidents had a short-term impact on me and didn’t evolve into chronic trouble, though some others weren’t so lucky.

“The IOSH Student Member Bursary award will be a great boost to me in climbing the occupational safety and health career ladder. IOSH approved courses, paid for by the bursary award, will help me gain valuable assets through my continuous personal development programme. I am soon to become an ISO 45001 lead auditor, thanks to the contribution and support I’ve had from IOSH.”