Amanda Griffiths - External Relations Officer

My background, in the UK, is that of a chartered occupational psychologist and also of a chartered health psychologist. I currently hold a Chair in Occupational Health Psychology (OHP) at the University of Nottingham, and there developed the world's first full Masters degree in OHP. I have held Visiting Chairs at the Universities of Kristianstad and Lund (Sweden). I speak English and French.

I am committed to the ideal of the Academy and was one of the founding members from the UK, Denmark and Sweden. I have been active in various roles since then. I approach the role of External Relations Officer with enthusiasm although the four main challenges are considerable.

First, we need to secure the position of the Academy in the developing professional, scientific and educational structures of the enlarging European Union. This will facilitate the expansion of the Academy's membership and activities in Europe. In this endeavour, I believe that it is important to acknowledge the critical historical role played by certain countries in the development of OHP and, in particular, that of the Nordic countries.

Second, we need to secure our relationship with our equivalent bodies in other parts of the world and most notably with the newly formed Society of Occupational Health Psychology (SOHP) in the US. We need to move forward together to create a co-ordinated reality and vision for OHP in research, practice and education. I was the Academy's representative on the original International Coordinating Group (ICG) which predated the establishment of SOHP and looked after US-Europe relations. I took an active role in its meetings in Washington and in the recent meeting of the Academy and SOHP in Dublin. I know the key players in the US and welcome the opportunity to work with them constructively in the future.

Third, we need to promote OHP worldwide. In particular, we need to engage with colleagues in the Asia-Pacific as the discipline develops. As a former Honorary Secretary to the Scientific Committee on Work Organisation and Psychosocial Factors (International Commission on Occupational Health), I also know many of the key players in the Asia-Pacific Region. I am fully committed to working with them and with their respective professional organisations the opportunities arise.

Fourth, I have a particular concern to see OHP apply itself in developing countries with respect for local cultures and expertise.

I plan to meet these four challenges by building an appropriately competent team. My first move will be to involve Maria Karanika as my Deputy with a particular responsibility for developing our network of European national representatives. She has much experience of European networks and ways of working through her long standing involvement with the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work. As many of you know, Maria is Greek, educated in the UK and currently a Research Fellow at the University of Nottingham. Maria speaks Greek, English and Bulgarian. She has been Membership Secretary for the Academy and has been actively involved in many of the Academy's conferences. Together, we will build a strong team and successfully manage the challenges that the Academy faces in its external relations.