CHEMICAL HAZARDS COMMUNICATION Society (CHCS)

Chair

Louise Witter

Louise Witter, BSc (Hons), LL.B, is proudly steering the ship as the Chair of the Chemical Hazards Communication Society (CHCS) from bonnie Scotland. A seasoned consultant for her own business, CLP Ltd, where she has guided clients on all things, labelling, and safety data sheets for more than 20 years, Louise works with a range of industry organisations, including presenting at conferences across the world and regularly training for the Chemical Business Association. 

Louise's journey started with a marine and environmental biology degree from St Andrews University, followed by a law degree from Aberdeen University. Combining her studies and experience, Louise takes a unique approach to her consultancy work, starting at the beginning and getting to the root of what customers want to achieve, rather than delivering an out of the box solution.

Louise is well-respected internationally as a consultant providing opinions on chemical legislation compliance and regulator liaison. During knee-deep bedtime reading of the ever-changing Brexit landscape, Louise confesses copious cups of tea are being consumed. Besides the Brexit saga, an increased level of enquiries into the company's Aberdeen and Northern Ireland offices relating to REACH, Safety data sheets and Poison Centre Notifications is making for a hectic but enjoyable time for the team.

Vice Chair

Kathryn Tearle

Kathryn’s career in the chemicals industry started in R&D and technical support. Following a career break with a young family, Kathryn returned to the industry in 2014 providing regulatory and technical support, including updating the formulator’s Safety Data Sheets and labels to be compliant with the CLP regulation prior to the 2015 deadline for mixtures.  Kathryn joined CHCS and attended CHCS modules on SDS authoring and classification. 

In 2017, Kathryn joined OHES  Environmental where she worked with 24-7 Emergency Response, qualified as a DGSA, and provided consultancy on Safety Data Sheets, CLP, REACH and dangerous goods. Having benefitted from her membership of CHCS, Kathryn joined the Member Services Committee and later became a CHCS Council Member. In 2023, Kathryn moved to the British Coatings Federation (BCF), where she supports BCF members on GB and EU chemical regulations and the transport of dangerous goods.

Kathryn stood down from the CHCS Council and Member Services Committee to focus on the new role. Having settled into the role at BCF, Kathryn has returned to support the CHCS and to join the CHCS Council as Vice Chair.

Secretary & Member Services Committee Member
Gill Pagliuca

Gill Pagliuca is a highly respected leader with over 30 years of experience in chemical regulation, and was Chair of the CHCS from 2015 to 2023. She is currently employed by Ricardo, where she brings deep expertise in classification & labelling, and the safe transport of hazardous materials across Europe, the UK, and globally. Gill’s extensive knowledge of REACH, CLP, and GHS regulations enables her to guide organizations through regulatory challenges, ensuring compliance and safety at every step. An inspiring trainer and speaker, Gill presents several of the training modules run by the CHCS including Modules 16 and 81 as well as offering bespoke training tailored solutions to meet specific business needs through Ricardo.

Treasurer & Chair of Finance Committee 

David Gurden-Williams

David works as a Product Steward Specialist for 3M United Kingdom covering UK and European regulatory matters since 2020. Previous experience with 3M in QA, analytical, development and testing laboratory roles. Over 10 years’ previous committee experience with various UK and international trade associations, societies and BSI, CEN and ISO standardisation groups.

David became a CHCS Council Member in January 2023 and the Treasurer & Chair of the Finance Committee in November 2023.

Chair of Training Panel & Member Services Committee Member

Elaine Campling

Elaine Campling is a Council member and Technical Officer to CHCS, responsible for preparing newsletters, producing technical content on the website, and representing CHCS as an Accredited Stakeholder Organisation on UK-REACH. She was previously the Chair of CHCS-CLG Training Panel and CHCS Secretary. Elaine worked within the chemical industry for many years, as Product Safety Manager for a multi-national corporation (ink division). She was responsible for global regulatory strategy, compliance policies, hazard communication and chemical safety in this position, as well as corporate social responsibility activities. Elaine now runs her own regulatory compliance business helping companies with a wide variety of regulatory matters, including REACH, CLP, COSHH and the transport of dangerous goods. She has a first-class environmental science degree, the NEBOSH certificate, chemistry qualifications, as well as British Occupational Hygiene Society, Toxicology and Dangerous Goods Certifications. Elaine is a qualified Dangerous Goods Safety Advisor and a trained auditor and holds a Professional Certificate in Management.

Council Member & Chair of Remuneration Committee
Tony Bingham

Council Member & Chair of Member Services Committee

Caroline Raine

Caroline is a chemical legislation expert, with experience of interpreting and implementing EU legislation relating to hazardous chemical substances. Her knowledge and expertise is wide ranging, covering both supply and transport legislation including REACH, Safety Data Sheets, Poison Centres, ADR, COSHH, basically anything related to chemical safety and compliance!

Caroline is very passionate about her work and wants to ensure that everyone is safe in their work with dangerous goods and chemicals and that companies comply fully with the regulations. Caroline will also help companies to save money where perhaps they are overregulating, a good example of this is suggesting that companies transport in Limited Quantities (LQ) (where applicable of course!) thus saving money by not needing to purchase UN approved packaging.

This experience has been developed through consultancy projects and working with both government and specific working groups and trade associations, as well as her time in industry!

Caroline is a qualified Dangerous Goods Safety Advisor (DGSA) for the transport of hazardous goods by road and rail and holds a post graduate certificate in REACH management and the IATA air regulations.

Council Member & Member of Training Panel, Finance Committee & Member Services Committee 

Peter Robins came accidentally to Product Stewardship in 1988 when his line of business was sold to another company which he then joined - without the Product Stewardship  support that had been in place at his previous employer. He became a fully-fledged Product Steward in a hurry when in 1989 his new employer closed its European operation and he started his own business as a distributor for the same line of products. There was no CHCS to help him at that time, of course.

Peter joined CHCS in April 1996, and joined the forerunner of Council later that year. He became Treasurer in 1998 bringing to the post such arcane skills as double-entry book-keeping and international VAT legislation. Barring a three year period starting 2012 when he was not an Officer, but was nonetheless still Treasurer in all but name, he held the post until November 2023. Peter has also served on the Training Panel, and on the Member Services Committee (and its forerunner the ECSG), since those two committees were introduced.

Peter closed his business in 2012 and is now trying to be retired, when CHCS lets him.

Helen Kean