Kym Bills awarded AIHS Life Membership

Kym Bills has been awarded AIHS Life Membership to acknowledge his outstanding contributions to the Institute and the broader profession.

Life Membership is the highest award that can only be bestowed upon a member of the Institute and is awarded to a member who has at least 15 years of continuous service with the Institute and has given a minimum of 10 years of outstanding service. The award is not made every year and recipients typically exemplify outstanding dedication to AIHS's activities, policy and leadership.

Mr Bills is a long-standing AIHS Member and Fellow who has been part of the leadership group at the Institute for many years, wearing many hats and doing exceptional work. He is a past Chair of the WA Branch and since 2019 has been Chair of the SA Branch and of its annual symposium. Kym was Chair of the College of Fellows for two years and served as a Director on the AIHS Board and was an active member of the AIHS Finance, Risk, Audit, Performance and Compliance Committee (FRAPCC).

Kym has also been central to numerous projects during his time at the Institute including significant work around the AIHS governance framework, involving updating and modernising the AIHS By-Laws, policies, and Constitution, including Terms of Reference for the College of Fellows. He has worked alongside the AIHS executive team on several election briefings and has contributed significant input to the AIHS policy and advocacy work and submissions to several inquiries.

Kym has been an unwavering support to leaders throughout the Institute including his support for the work on the OHS Body of Knowledge and his assistance in the introduction of a new Continuing Professional Development program.

Kym’s professional safety background includes foundation head of the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, Chair of the National Road Safety Strategy Panel, Chair of the International Transportation Safety Association, and a board member of the Australian Maritime Safety Authority and of the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environment Management Authority. He is currently a Visiting Research Fellow at the University of Adelaide.

When asked about receiving this award Mr Bills said "I am honoured and delighted to become the 42nd Life Member of the Institute in its more than 70-year history. Being eligible to use the postnominal: FAIHS (Life) is wonderful recognition as I continue to work with other volunteers to serve the Institute and seek to help it realise its strategic vision for the benefit of the profession and more broadly".