A credible leader
Dr. Abeytunga with APEX Chairman, Nadir Patel
|
Vice President and Director General of Canadian Institute of
Occupational Health and Safety, Dr. P K Abeytunga has received the 2012
APEX Award for Career Contribution, presented by the Association of the
Professional Executives of the Public Service of Canada and the
Certified General Accountants Association of Canada.
This award is presented to a leader in their field and through
exemplary work over the course of their career, has brought recognition
to the Canadian public service or to their department or agency.
In his 32 years of service to the federal government as the
Vice-President and Director General of the Canadian Centre for
Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS), Dr. Abeytunga has established
CCOHS as a globally recognized, credible leader in workplace health and
safety.
Dr. Abeytunga is responsible for major international projects,
co-operative arrangements with leading institutions involved in health
and safety around the world, and representing CCOHS at major forums
internationally. He has been a member of the CCOHS staff since its
inception in 1980, and has directed the programmes and services of CCOHS
related to occupational health and safety information, training and
customized products, including its electronic services, which are
delivered on a cost-recovery basis. Among his many achievements are the
initiation and development of CCOHS' electronic information service,
distributed worldwide.
Dr. Abeytunga is an experienced strategic planner and senior
executive with a proven track record in the conceptualization,
development and effective implementation of many occupational health and
safety programs and projects of international repute - especially in the
areas of information and training. He has contributed to many
international and national occupational health and safety projects in
North America, Europe and developing countries, which addressed
information, training, and specific problems and issues in workplace
health and safety. His services are being utilized by UN programs and
other agencies for global and regional projects worldwide. He has
frequently been a speaker at regional and global conferences on the
subject of information required for effective decision-making in the
occupational health and safety field.
Dr. Abeytunga is an old boy of St. Mary's college, Chilaw and Civil
Engineering graduate from University of Ceylon, Peradeniya. He obtained
his doctorate from University of Aston, Birmingham, United Kingdom (UK).
Dr. Abeytunga is the eldest son of late Mr. P K Sirisena and Mrs.
Sirimawathe Manike of Muneswarama, Chilaw. |