This month we want to introduce a Trustee who only joined us 18 months ago and has had a big impact on our team. John O'Grady spent 30 years working in Public Relations and Communications roles, holding some key positions in the energy sector.
He started his career as a journalist and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to his role as he leads the Communications and Marketing Committee at the Trust.
John, we're delighted to have you on the Board at the CO Research Trust. Please tell us, what has been the highlight for you in your career?
As a journalist, covering the last three murders in the Yorkshire Ripper case and the subsequent trial at the Old Bailey. Plus the emergence and introduction of computer technology on desktops in the mid-90s. In PR terms, working on the break-up of the monopoly gas company into separate entities in the early 1990s and the subsequent introduction of competition in the energy market.
During your career, what involvement have you had working with CO-related projects?
I was previously a Trustee of the Dominic Rodger's Trust, which was a charity set up to raise awareness of the dangers posed by CO following the tragic death of Dominic. He was just 10 years old in 2004 when he became a victim of CO poisoning, due to a neighbour's faulty flue.
Sadly, I've worked on numerous cases of CO poisoning during my time working in Public Relations roles. I've also worked on several national CO safety campaigns, and we must never stop this work to highlight the dangers of CO poisoning to younger people
What have been the biggest changes you have witnessed concerning CO safety, both positive and negative?
The increasing awareness of CO issues across all carbon fuels has been a big positive step forward. However, the lack of national progress as a whole, in the collation of inquest data, is very frustrating.
What do you see as the biggest challenge relating to CO safety currently?
The biggest challenge to CO safety as I see it is the lack of a national database of all CO incidents. This would enable greater awareness and thence education.
If you could do anything, what one change do you believe would have the biggest impact on improving CO safety?
I would legislate to make CO alarms compulsory in all settings, new and old buildings, hard-wired with annual checks to ensure they work.
What are you most looking forward to about the next five years working with the CO Research Trust?
I'm looking forward to helping increase awareness and education about CO as an issue across all carbon fuel uses.