Celebrating excellence: How Prarthana Dsouza earned the 2025 Inspiring Women in Safety Award
Name: Prarthana Dsouza
Achievement: Winner of the Inspiring Women in Safety Award, Sponsored by L'Oréal, at the RoSPA Health and Safety Awards 2025.
Prarthana Dsouza is the Service Delivery Manager at STS Group, the leading private school and passenger transport service provider in the UAE and Qatar. She was recently honoured with the Inspiring Women in Safety Award, which celebrates individuals who have made a significant and inspirational impact in the world of health, safety and wellbeing.
We spoke with Prarthana about her journey, her work, and what it meant to receive this recognition.
What does your job involve?
“My role combines service delivery with a strong focus on safety and safeguarding of both students and employees. At our organisation, we are responsible for transporting more than 97,000 students every day. My job is to ensure that every journey is safe, compliant and supported by the right processes. I also work on embedding a safety culture among staff and ensuring that safety is not just a policy on paper but a way of life across the organisation.”
What are the main health and safety issues you have to deal with at your organisation?
“Because we operate in school transport, one of the biggest health and safety priorities is road safety - ensuring our buses are well-maintained, our drivers and bus guardians are fully trained and that every passenger is always accounted for.
“Safeguarding is another critical focus: making sure no child is ever left behind on a bus and that staff are confident in recognising, responding and reporting concerns. Beyond this, a major part of my role is monitoring the control measures, making sure they are appropriate and then reinforcing them with staff through continuous communication and training. This ensures that safety is not only planned but consistently practiced in daily operations.”
What have your biggest challenges been so far?
“I joined the company straight after school, with only my 12th-grade education, and had to study while working full time. In a male-dominated environment, surrounded by colleagues with decades more experience than me, my voice was often ignored. It was tough, not only being young and female, but also learning how to navigate different cultures and perspectives with respect while still being assertive.
“But I never let that discourage me. I grabbed every opportunity to prove myself, however small. Step by step, through consistency, patience and delivering results, I earned trust. Over time, I grew from being an ignored voice to becoming the person that others now approach to represent them and drive change.
“That transformation shaped me not only into a stronger leader, but also into someone determined to use her platform to prove that if I can do it, every woman can.”
What have been your biggest successes so far?
“One of the successes I’m most proud of is creating a mentoring and growth pathway that went far beyond formal onboarding. It didn’t stop at peer-to-peer mentoring but went to the grassroots level, working with our frontline staff like bus guardians. I actively identified people with hidden potential, such as those with bachelor’s or master’s degrees but limited opportunities, and motivated them to believe in themselves, enroll in in-house training programmes and learn on the job.
“The results have been deeply rewarding: two bus guardians with bachelor’s degrees have grown into Service Delivery Executives, and one staff member has gone on to become an HR assistant. These aren’t just promotions. They are life-changing shifts that have given people confidence, careers and a better future for their families. It took time and effort to show them that the hard work is worth it but seeing them succeed has been one of the most meaningful parts of my journey.
“Another achievement I take pride in is introducing tailored risk assessments for new and expectant mothers. This began with improving awareness among management, helping them understand why it matters and then, extending that education to staff. By embedding this understanding, we were able to introduce clear processes, awareness sessions and practical safeguards. The result has been a culture where women feel protected and valued during such an important stage of life.
“Both of these successes remind me that health and safety isn’t just about preventing harm - it’s about enabling people to thrive.”
How did you get to this point in your career?
“By starting small, staying consistent and committing to lifelong learning. Every certification, every new skill and every opportunity became a stepping stone. My journey was built on persistence, curiosity, and a deep passion for safety and safeguarding. That’s what carried me forward and continues to drive me today.”
What has been your experience of being a woman in health and safety? Do you think you’ve been treated differently?
“Yes, I’ve felt the difference. In the beginning, it wasn’t just about being a woman in a male-dominated industry. It was also about being very young. I often worked with colleagues whose years of experience were as long as my age. That taught me to respect their knowledge while still learning to be assertive and confident in my own role. I had to balance humility with the courage to ask questions and contribute. Over time, consistency and results earned me credibility. What I bring as a woman is a people-focused, inclusive perspective that complements the technical side of safety, and I’ve found that balance to be a real strength.”
How can we encourage more women into safety roles?
“Representation is powerful - when women see other women leading in safety, it sends the message that there is space for them too. To build on that, organisations need to actively create platforms where women’s voices are heard, offer mentorship opportunities and provide structured pathways for growth. It’s also important to challenge the old stereotype that safety is only ‘tough’ or ‘technical’ work. At its core, safety is about care, responsibility and influence - all qualities in which women naturally excel. By reframing the role and building supportive environments, we can inspire more women to step into and succeed in safety careers.”
How did you feel when you heard you’d won the Inspiring Women in Safety Award? How will it affect you going forward?
“It was overwhelming and deeply humbling. I reflected on the journey, the challenges and the people who supported me along the way and realised how meaningful this recognition is. Winning this award isn’t just about me. It symbolises the progress of women in safety and the possibilities that exist for others.
“Going forward, I hope my story inspires other women to find the strength and confidence to take up careers in health and safety. For me, this award is also a responsibility; to keep mentoring, sharing knowledge and paving the way for women in this field.”
How do you feel about there being an award like this?
“I think it’s a brilliant idea. Women balancing challenges is nothing new, we’ve been doing it in different spheres of life for generations. But what makes this award powerful is that it shines a spotlight on those efforts within the health and safety profession, a field where women’s contributions often go unnoticed. It not only gives visibility to the work being done but also creates role models and encouragement for others to step forward.”
You took part in our Women in Safety Leadership Programme. How did that benefit you?
“Taking part in the Women in Safety programme gave me a real sense of community. Connecting with other women in safety, sharing experiences, learning from each other and realising we face similar challenges was powerful. It reminded me that while the obstacles are real, we are not alone. The programme encouraged me to step forward with greater confidence, to share my story, and to recognise the bigger purpose behind the work I do.
“I am truly thankful to RoSPA for creating such a wonderful initiative and for ensuring it is led by the right people. Karen J. Hewitt has been an incredible mentor. She inspires us not only through her way of working but also through her guidance and persistence. Her support has given me direction, reassurance, and the courage to aim higher and I carry those lessons with me every day.”
Find out more about the RoSPA Health and Safety Awards here