Our Team...
Please find below details of our team members
Bob Forster - BSc CFIOSH MInstLM
Position: Group Managing Director
Bob is the Managing Director of 1st Option Safety Services. Bob is a Chartered Safety and Health Practitioner. He is also a Fellow of the Institute of Occupational Safety and Health. A risk management professional with over 20 years experience of providing consultancy and operational and strategic support to complex, multi-site operations including broadcasting, television and film, commercial activities, mechanical and electrical engineering, public events, production process, construction, aviation, facilities and premises management.
Prior to establishing 1st Option Safety Services, Bob was Head of Health and Safety at the BBC leading a multi disciplined team of Safety Advisers, Occupational Health Physicians, Nurses and Physiotherapists and specialist security advisers.
He has represented the Health and Safety Executive on various industry working groups including the chairmanship of committees responsible for drafting health and safety guidance for the broadcasting and entertainment industry.
Matthew Vyze - BSc (Hons) CMIOSH
Position: Group Operations Director
Matthew is a Director of 1st Option Safety Services. After graduating with a 1st class honours degree in Health, Safety & Environmental Management, Matthew worked as a risk management consultant undertaking liability assessments and devising practices to minimise litigation for a range of clients.
Before becoming a Director of 1st Option Safety Services Matthew worked for the BBC where he led a team of Occupational Health Nurses and Safety Advisers providing operational and strategic support to all Drama, Film, Entertainment, Factual & Learning, Events and Commissioning departments. Matthew was instrumental in designing and developing the key production safety training courses. He was also responsible for designing and implementing safety management systems for live events, which has now been adopted by a number of other organisations within the Broadcast Industry.
Matthew is an active and influential member of both the Broadcast Industry Safety Group and the Joint Industry Stunt Committee.
Guy Lunn - Grad IOSH
Position: Principal Health and Safety Consultant
Guy is a Principal Health and Safety Consultant within 1st Option Safety Services. Guy has worked within the Broadcasting, Television and Film Industry for over 20 years. Before becoming a qualified safety and health practitioner Guy worked for many years within the BBC special effects department carrying out the full range of SFX.
His work in the television industry has included support to BBC, ITV and independent production companies in drama, entertainment, factual productions and newsgathering. Guy has in depth knowledge of the day to day workings of film and television, supporting safety critical activities, in the UK and abroad.
Anne Shanley - CMIOSH
Position: Principal Health & Safety Consultant
Anne is a Principal Health & Safety consultant within 1st Option Safety Services. She is a Chartered Safety & Health Practitioner.
Before joining 1st Option Safety Services, Anne was a Safety Advisor at the BBC providing health and safety support to all Drama and Entertainment productions. As a BBC specialist Anne represented the BBC on the Joint Industry Stunt Committee (JISC). Anne was also the BBC lead on the health & safety commissioning process for Independent production companies. Prior to supporting Drama and Entertainment Anne provided safety support to BBC regional output – working out of BBC Birmingham and Manchester, covering a wide range of areas such as Factual & Learning, Local News, Current Affairs and Radio.
Before becoming a qualified safety & health practitioner, Anne worked for the BBC in various production support roles, giving her a wide knowledge of how the TV industry works and an understanding of production needs.
Vittorio Vanloo - CMIOSH
Position: Principle Health and Safety Consultant
Vittorio is a Principal Health & Safety consultant within 1st Option Safety Services. He is a Chartered Member of the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (CMIOSH) and has worked for over fiftteen years as a health and safety professional across various industries. Before joining 1st Option Safety Services, Vittorio managed the BBC's occupational risk training programmes for three years and prior to that, provided safety support to many BBC productions including Drama, Sport, Radio, Entertainment, Childrens and Factual/Learning. Previous work experience includes computer programming, business planning, business administration and asset management.
David Milligan - Grad IOSH
Position: Principal Health and Safety Consultant
Dave is a Principal Health & Safety Consultant within 1st Option Safety Services, he is based in our Birmingham office. A Mechanical Engineer by trade, Dave started his Broadcasting career at the BBC in Birmingham, working as a Mechanical Technician. He moved into the Safety department in 1990, providing support and advice to the many diverse productions in the Midlands & East. As his career progressed he became responsible for supporting BBC Resources Divisions in Bristol, Manchester, Milton Keynes and the Midlands. Dave has wide experience in providing Safety advice to Production Broadcasting activities including Drama, News, Sport, Factual, Children’s, Radio and Entertainment, in addition to the technical facilities that support the industry. Dave also represented the BBC on the Joint Industry Stunt Committee for several years. Before leaving the BBC Dave was the Safety Manager for the newly formed BBC North Division in Salford, and the 2012 Olympics.
Colin Pereira - MA
Position: Head of High Risk and Security
Colin is our Head of High Risk and Security. His main client is ITN where he is responsible for the security of ITN operations in high risk environments and works closely with newsmakers around the world to ensure their safety.
Previously, Colin was Deputy Head of the BBC High Risk Team advising on thousands of deployments around the world, ranging from the London riots to downtown Mogadishu, regularly deploying to the action himself. He has worked on every major high risk news story in the last eight years and specialises in pre deployment planning, operation oversight and crisis management. He is also an Emmy award winning producer for BBC Newsnight and has produced documentaries and features for Radio 4 and BBC World.
Jamie Fewster - Tech IOSH
Position: Health and Safety Consultant
Jamie is a Health and Safety Consultant within 1st Option Safety Services. Jamie joined us from the BBC where he was responsible for advising BBC factual, drama and children's television production teams in all aspects of safety management. Much of Jamie's work involved overseeing the health & safety commissioning and vetting process for Independent production companies at the BBC.
Jamie has a good working knowledge of the TV industry and considerable experience of live broadcasting in particular, having worked as both a Floor Manager and Studio Manager for an independent production company for nearly 10 years and advising on safety aspects of live broadcasts at the BBC.
Glenn Hunt - Tech IOSH
Position: Health and Safety Consultant
Glenn is a Health and Safety Consultant within 1st Option Safety Services. A highly skilled health and safety professional with multi site experience in the broadcasting, television, leisure and facilities industry. Also experienced in providing support to crews working in foreign locations and extreme climatic conditions.
Ex- military, Glenn has operational experience of working in foreign locations and areas of major conflict. He also has significant experience in organising and supervising expeditions and outdoor sporting activities such as, diving, canoeing and mountaineering (Mountain Leader - British Mountaineering Council).
Glenn is a very experienced and engaging safety and first aid trainer.
Ben Harding - Tech IOSH
Position: Health and Safety Consultant
Ben is a Health and Safety Consultant within 1st Option Safety Services. He is an experienced production, technical and safety manager with comprehensive experience of all aspects of production including event planning, health and safety, electrical, lighting design programming and AV, working on outdoor events, site specific productions, theatre and TV.
Before becoming a Health and Safety Adviser Ben had considerable experience in events supporting licence applications, leading Safety Advisory Group meetings for outdoor events, Joint Agency meetings for licensable productions, safety management, planning, advice and support for site specific productions, events and concerts. Ben has considerable experience of dealing directly with local government and enforcement agencies to ensure that production needs are met.
Andy Bilby - BSc TechIOSH
Position: Health and Safety Consultant
Andy is a Health and Safety Consultant within 1st Option Safety Services. Before joining 1st Option, Andy worked for 7 years as a Studio & Facilities Manager for talkbackTHAMES where he was responsible for all aspects of studio and premises safety including fire risk assessment, contractor vetting, asbestos management, mechanical and electrical inspection and portable appliance testing.
Andy’s role as Studio Manager has given him experience of working in a safety capacity with productions in a variety of television genres including drama, entertainment, comedy, documentary as well as films and commercials.
Richard Bradshaw - Grad IOSH
Position: Health and Safety Consultant
Richard is a Health and Safety Consultant within 1st Option Safety Services. Richard has considerable knowledge of the production process gained from over 10 years experience working within the industry, including theatre, events and touring at national and international level. Richard has a good knowledge and understanding of all aspects of production and event safety planning including electrical distribution, rigging and working at height.
Richard Deery - LL.B (Hons), Tech IOSH
Position: Health and Safety Consultant
Richard is a Health and Safety Consultant with 1st Option. As well as a generalist health and safety consultant, Richard also specialises in high risk assignments. Drawing on a background originating in the British Armed Forces, Richard has also managed safety in the oil and gas industry, education, charity sectors and the criminal justice system. Drawing on this wide portfolio, Richard has extensive international experience as well as experience in the fields of security management, facilities and estates management and business continuity planning. Richard has previously worked for clients ranging from world renowned museums, to Magic Circle law firms to international financial concerns as well media clients.
Matthew Loxterkamp - BSc (Hons)
Position: Health and Safety Consultant
Matt is a Health and Safety Consultant within 1st Option. He holds the NEBOSH General Certificate in Occupational Health & Safety, and is also a specialist in advising on Display Screen Equipment (DSE), providing DSE advice to clients.
Before joining 1st Option, Matt gained a BSc (Hons) in Media Technology (Production), and worked in the film and television industry. He carried out a variety of roles including production assistant, assistant editor, researcher, archivist and librarian.
John Corcoran - BSc (Hons)
Position: Health and Safety Consultant
John is a Health and Safety Consultant within 1st Option. He is based in our MediaCityUK office in Salford. He has had a varied career underpinned by his graduation from the Safety, Health & Environmental Management degree course in 2001. John has worked nationwide for the past 9 years providing advisory & consultancy services to both the rail & construction industries. In tandem with his safety expertise John has also worked extensively within the planning & field engineering sectors.
John also has experience within the TV and Media world – he has worked as a professional photographer and as a studio manager.
Carly Gilbert - LL.B (Hons), Tech IOSH
Position: Health and Safety Consultant
Carly is a Health and Safety Consultant within 1st Option Safety Services. After graduating with an LLB (Hons) in law at the University of Reading she went on to complete the Legal Practice Course at Guildford College of Law, specialising in Health and Safety Law. After gaining a distinction in the NEBOSH General Certificate she went on to practice health and safety in a variety of different roles including construction, local government and banking, specialising in policy writing, training and risk assessments.
Sarah Fuller - BTch Ln
Position: Group HR & Operations Manager
Sarah is the Group HR & Operations Manager. A New Zealander, Sarah travelled and worked all over the world as a croupier and on cruise ships before coming to the UK. Working in the banking, hospitality and entertainment sectors before moving to 1st Option, Sarah has considerable experience of customer support, human resources, office management systems and processes. Sarah also has significant knowledge and experience in training and development and in planning and running promotional events.
Michelle McMullen
Position: Finance Manager
Michelle is the 1st Option Finance Manager. Michelle joined the 1st Option Team in July 2008 after a long and varied career within television. She began her career within the BBC where she remained for many years working within Facilities Management, Health & Safety, Training and finally moved into BBC Drama. She then made the transition to Freelance Production work, Production Co-ordinating for various Television Dramas.
Since Michelle has been with 1st Option, she has progressed within the company, and has been the company Finance Manager since 2009.
Laura Hiams
Position: Office & Training Co-ordinator
Laura is the 1st Option office and training co-ordinator. As well as providing administrative support, Laura is responsible for creating, developing and marketing the 1st Option training schedule and all training bookings. Laura joins the team from a background of operations and customer services, and has a detailed knowledge of media and communication.
