Business risk consulting is a dynamic, high-stakes field, with challenges that can impact both effectiveness and reputation, O’Shea says.
Paul O’Shea founded Ashview Consultants more than 20 years ago. Since then, the Dublin-headquartered business has extended its footprint into the UK, opening offices in London and Newry.
The company came about as a result of O’Shea’s experience working in health and safety for a number of companies, including Lipman in Australia and GT Crampton in Dublin. More recently, he served as the chair of the International Institute of Risk and Safety Management.
Ashview works with its clients across construction, aviation, transport, commerce, pharma, hospitality and even data centres, among other sectors. It assists businesses to optimise their performance by identifying, assessing and mitigating risks that could affect their operations or compromise workplace health and safety standards.
O’Shea says that under his leadership, Ashview has “repositioned from a traditional health and safety consultancy to a broader business and risk consultancy”. He says that this shift into a broader offering has enabled the company to enter new European markets while protecting its core expertise.
Among the various sector opportunities that the company is capitalising on is the “clear shift away from a purely compliance-driven approach to health and safety towards a broader focus on employee health, wellbeing and work–life balance”, according to O’Shea.
“Businesses are increasingly aware of the risks that come with scaling, globalisation and even day-to-day operations, and as a result, they are more open to addressing these challenges to ensure they are fully prepared to face them.”
Over the years, O’Shea has also led Ashview’s technological evolution, introducing a bespoke risk-management app and forging a partnership with Safe365, a global data-driven digital platform. The company also has a full CRM platform and a construction management system in place.
“These developments give our clients instant access to actionable safety intelligence, enabling smarter decisions and stronger outcomes,” he explains. Bringing the partnership with Safe365 to Ireland is exciting, O’Shea says, as it allows client organisations to track emerging risks, monitor behavioural trends and identify areas for improvement without waiting for the next quarterly report or annual review.
AI plays a key role in the company’s digital transformation strategy, O’Shea says. Ashview uses the tech to optimise operational, financial and compliance processes, but ensures that innovation is balanced with practical risk management, he adds.
“Our tools leverage cloud-hosted AI, which allows rapid deployment, continuous updates and measurable ROI for clients.”
The company is actively exploring ways to further integrate the tech into its work, he says. “This includes enhancing data analysis and visualisation through natural language processing, automated machine learning and smart visualisations.”
High-stakes sector
Business risk consulting is a dynamic, high-stakes field, with challenges that can impact both effectiveness and reputation, O’Shea says. He explains that the most significant challenges his business encounters include shifting client expectation, a rapid digital disruption, evolving regulations and the ongoing difficulty of attracting and retaining talent.
“One of the biggest risks is client dissatisfaction,” he says. The company aims to address this by holding regular check-ins, providing transparent reporting and conduction post-project reviews. “This approach strengthens relationships, reduces disputes and improves retention.”
While legal and liability risks that Ashview may face are addressed through governance, quality assurance and a legal review of all deliverables. In addition, geopolitical tensions and shifting regulatory landscapes are dealt by cross-functional teams that monitor global trends and legislative changes. This ensures that the advice Ashview gives is current and relevant, O’Shea adds.
Talent retention is key to ensuring sustainable and long-term growth at any business, and Ashview helps its clients develop strategies that aim to attract, engage and retain talented staff.
“For us, business risk management today has to be forward-thinking and data-driven – using technology, not just to react, but to anticipate and mitigate risks before they occur,” says O’Shea.
“Unfortunately, many Irish companies have yet to take that step and that hesitation could hold back their growth.”
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