LEEA Board Spotlight - Marcus Curry
Behind every decision that shapes LEEA's direction sits a group of people who've chosen to give their time, insight, and experience to the wider good of the industry.
We sat down with Marcus Curry, who tells us what brought him to LEEA and the impact he is having on our members and the lifitng industry.
Can you tell us about your background and what drew you to serve on this board?
Owner and Director of UK and UAE based Group of companies. Within the group we have independent companies with varying activities including wholesale distribution of loose lifting equipment; the manufacture of soft polyester and fabric slings and lashing equipment; wholesale distribution of steel wire ropes with additional testing facilities and wire sling production. I was approached to become involved at LEEA, with a request offer help with experiences of working overseas in both sourcing and distribution. I was told that some of the overseas regional opinions suggested their was a perception that LEEA was more of just a training company that focused on UK regulations and as a British entity and that it was not a hugely representative organisation to support affiliated companies that were connected to using, supplying and producing Lifting equipment around the globe.
Can you share a moment when you realised the impact LEEA was having?
Whilst working over seas for 35 years, I saw a much wider evolvement in some regions of the positive impact and respect of many of the LEEA training provisions and that had pushed companies towards membership of the association. I felt that with a more international focus and more helpful approach to membership, this recognition and respect could help widen the opportunity of creating safer lifting environments that could become even more widely recognised .
What accomplishment during your time on the board are you most proud of, and why?
Maintaining an offer of support to various Directors /staff and challenging when required the Directors to help evolve away from some of the historic mindsets and legacies, of being perceived outside the Uk as a training company not a Trade association, and to allow LEEA to meet an ever changing world and that takes on board a more reflective and less UK-centric global trade association membership
Can you walk us through a challenge the organisation faced and how the board navigated it?
A huge legacy of recent years, was for LEEA to support the development of an English apprenticeship scheme for Lifting Equipment Engineers , that encompasses the relevance of LEEA through training and practical engagement but also offers nationally recognised qualifications for employment.
By offering generational learning opportunities, the LEEA Staff and Directors championed this learning offering with the hope to other regions / countries that this kind of qualification and training can be hugely positive for the wider safety community and for career pathways .
How has the board worked together to turn a shared vision into reality?
Whilst in hindsight, it could be challenged internationally as a reason to suggest LEEA was very UK focused with many of its previous focused developments, I do see the Apprenticeship scheme and Military leavers support programmes as clear evidence of shared staff and Director visions.Without the total cooperation between staff and directors, these two visions would not have brought the end results and positive outcomes achieved.
What have you learnt from working alongside the other board members?
In my short tenure, I have seen growing enthusiasm and active participation in working groups that do want to support new and sometimes difficult initiatives. I can see a collective aim to direct change for the better and a spirit to mostly improve the Association as whole. I have seen Board members sometimes over extend intentions and governance that may not always empower Senior staff. I have learned to carefully divest opinions away from your own Companies thought structures and to offer a different governance of support compared to that of public and private sector businesses.
What difference do you believe your work on the board has made to LEEA Members and the industry?
I don’t feel there is a specific individual difference I make but I listen to support and champion those areas I feel can make difference to the longevity and adjustment of LEEA being a truly international association. I believed from my first Board involvement there was a surprising level of restrictive micro management of Senior staff, so my difference is to aim to support the empowerment of those people .Pushing the Board towards investing in a further developed professional working team that has Board guidance but that can create the shared outcomes of visions required.
A more considered approach to lifting standards away from just tradition/concepts of British and europe based arenas. Also , the need to push for those minor areas of change that may help the better investment of assets, more constructive membership onboarding processes for existing and new categories of users, owners and other stakeholders in the Lifting industry, so that it can be visible that LEEA maybe is more inclusive and welcoming when adding members than some people perceive.
How does the board help translate the company's ambitions into achievable strategy?
By Giving responsible ownership to the staff and working with Board member stakeholders to ensure the learning and technical support provision is world class and innovative, By ensuring the membership is considered and consulted for feedback and it encompasses global trends and changing environments. The Board’s involvement is to consider and create where practical, new frameworks for supporting growth and sustainable development and ensure all aspect of the business are invested in and developed equally.
Have board members' networks or expertise opened doors the company couldn't have opened alone?
I cannot say I have knowledge of that specifically but shared connections have opened and supported LEEA staff engagement when needed in commercial and regulatory arenas to help support association challenges over products , markings , learning needs etc. Individually I have not opened doors but have supported those engagement and meeting requests
To learn more about our board members, click here.
Have you considered joining LEEA?
We're always looking for passionate individuals to join our Board and play a part in driving the association forward for its members. If you're interested in finding out more, contact: Ross.Moloney@Leeaint.com
