19th IIAC public meeting, held on 16 October 2025
Updated 30 September 2026
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Held at:
The Wesley Hotel and Conference Venue
Euston Road
London
NW1 2EZ
16 October 2025
The 19th public meeting of the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council (IIAC) was held on 16 October 2025 in London, with attendance from a range of stakeholders interested in occupational diseases, industrial injuries and the Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB) Scheme.
The meeting provided an opportunity for IIAC members to explain the Council’s role, describe recent work undertaken by the Council and engage directly with stakeholders through questions, discussion and round-table sessions.
Presentations covered:
- the role and operation of IIAC
- recent work undertaken by the Council
- neurodegenerative diseases in professional athletes
- respiratory diseases and prescription reviews
- women’s occupational health
- COVID-19 and occupational impacts
- firefighters and cancer
- pneumoconiosis and prescription reviews
- future areas for consideration by IIAC
The round-table discussions provided a valuable opportunity for stakeholders to share their perspectives and experiences, helping the Council to better understand current concerns and emerging issues relating to occupational diseases, industrial injuries and the operation of the IIDB Scheme. The insights gained through these discussions were an important contribution to the Council’s understanding of stakeholder views and will help inform its future work.
The Council would like to thank all attendees for their participation and valuable contributions throughout the meeting.
Professor Gillian Leng
Chair, Industrial Injuries Advisory Council
Attendees
IIAC Members, Observers and Officials
Professor Gillian Leng, IIAC Chair
Dr Chris Stenton, IIAC Vice Chair
Dr Ian Lawson, IIAC Member
Professor Max Henderson, IIAC Member
Professor Damien McElvenny, IIAC Member
Dr Jennifer Hoyle, IIAC Member
Dr Gareth Walters, IIAC Member
Dr Sally Hemming, IIAC Member
Ms Lesley Francois, IIAC Member
Dr Sharon Stevelink, IIAC Member
Mr Dan Shears, IIAC Member
Mr Steve Mitchell, IIAC Member
Dr Clare Leris, Ministry of Defence Observer
Mr Lee Pendleton, IIDB Observer
Dr Rachel Atkinson, Medical Assessment Observer / Centre for Health and Disability Assessments (CHDA)
Dr Marian Mihalcea, Medical Assessment Observer
Dr Matt Gouldstone, DWP IIDB Medical Policy
Ms Nicola Needham, DWP IIDB Policy
Ms Georgie Wood, DWP IIDB Policy
Ms Roberta Owen, DWP IIDB Policy
Secretariat
Mr Stuart Whitney, IIAC Secretariat
Mr Ian Chetland, IIAC Secretariat
Ms Catherine Hegarty, IIAC Secretariat
Stakeholder Organisations Represented
War Pensions and Armed Forces Compensation (AFC) Chamber, Ministry of Justice (MoJ)
Hazards Campaign
Trades Union Congress (TUC)
UNISON
Society of Occupational Medicine (SOM)
National Union of Mineworkers (NUM)
Scottish Government
Department for Work and Pensions, DWP
DWP ALB Partnership
British Medical Association (BMA)
CMS Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang LLP
Wales TUC
Hospital Consultants and Specialists Association
Unite
Royal College of Nursing
British Dietetic Association
Public and Commercial Services (PCS) Union
Fire Brigades Union
Greater Manchester Asbestos Victims Support Group
HASAG Asbestos Disease Support
Social Entitlement Chamber, MoJ
RPS Group
Proact Occupational Health & Wellness Services Ltd
Professional Footballers’ Association
Rugby Players Association
Anyone wishing to obtain further information about the meeting, including copies of the presentations, should contact the Secretariat via caxtonhouse.iiac@dwp.gov.uk.