Julian Mercer is a resolute safety professional, educator, and advocate for inclusive leadership with more than 25 years of experience in Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS). He has advanced safety, sustainability, and inclusivity across construction and manufacturing, while also strengthening governance in nonprofit and community organizations.
A long-standing ASSP leader, Julian served as Region VI Vice President (2018–2021) and now serves as a member of the Council on Community Operations (COCO), which provides governance and sustainability support for Common Interest Groups and Practice Specialties. He also serves Region VI as Assistant Regional Vice President, where the goal is to help chapters connect members to the Common Interest Groups and Practice Specialties within Society.
Julian has been instrumental in strengthening ASSP through innovative solutions. As part of COCO, he serves as community liaison to support and reinforce WISE and EP efforts connected to ASSP’s CLEAR Values. He co-led efforts to save both a chapter (now Platinum level) and a student section (now fully engaged) and chaired the successful campaign to create the Blacks In Safety Excellence (BISE) endowed scholarship. He also helped reimagine the Regional Professional Development Conference during COVID as a fully virtual program, ensuring members continued to receive education and connection in challenging times.
Julian also volunteers with his neighborhood municipality on the Parks & Recreation Committee, overseeing a budget exceeding $500,000. In every role, he leads with optimism, collaboration, and accountability: Together We Lead — and together, we will achieve more.
Together We Lead — and together, we will achieve more. That is the vision I carry forward as a candidate for Director-at-Large. Leadership is not about me — it is about we. It is about building systems, culture, and trust that allow members to thrive, contribute, and see ASSP as their professional home.
My commitment is to strengthen ASSP by advancing our mission: We are the community that protects people, property, and the environment. To live this mission fully, we must lead together, listen deeply, act with integrity, and approach every challenge with courage, collaboration, and optimism.
I bring more than 25 years of experience in Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS), focusing on governance, sustainability, and operational effectiveness. From building an Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) framework aligned with global standards to advancing inclusive leadership through employee-driven initiatives, I have delivered results by fostering transparency and aligning diverse stakeholders.
Within ASSP, I have consistently focused on impact. As Region VI Vice President, I helped reimagine the Professional Development Conference during COVID, ensuring members still had access to education and networking. I co-led efforts to save both a chapter (now Platinum level) and a student section (now fully engaged). I chaired the successful campaign that established the Blacks in Safety Excellence (BISE) endowed scholarship.
Today, as a member of the Council on Community Operations (COCO), I help shape governance and sustainability for Common Interest Groups and Practice Specialties. As part of COCO, I serve as community liaison to support and strengthen WISE and EP efforts connected to ASSP’s CLEAR Values.
If elected as Director-at-Large, my priorities will be clear: strengthen governance, expand inclusive engagement, support innovative development and advocacy, and build systems that connect members and ensure relevance in a changing world.
Together We Lead — and together, we will achieve more.