DIVERSITY
INTRODUCING
2026 Professional Development
Series
In 2026, Women in Safety will officially align all professional development events and member resources to the International Network of Safety & Health Practitioner Organisations (INSHPO) Global Capability Framework. The internationally recognised standard for occupational health and safety professionals.
This framework defines what great OHS professionals know, do, and lead, and serves as a roadmap for career growth across all industries.
​
Every 2026 webinar, workshop, and resource will identify its INSHPO domain and capability level, ensuring that our members can confidently use these materials as evidence of development for mentoring programs, CPD records, and performance reviews.
​
While we’ll always keep our sessions engaging, inclusive, and real — this shift demonstrates that Women in Safety means business. We’re here to transform how professional development in WHS is delivered, empowering women to build credibility, confidence, and careers that thrive.
Own Your Career in Safety: From Practitioner to Professional
with Alanna Ball & Amy Christopherson
Wednesday 21st January 2026
12pm AEST [Brisbane] | 1pm AEDT [Sydney]
This session launches our 2026 professional development series with a powerful focus on career clarity, self-leadership, and growth. Designed for women in WHS roles at all levels, the session supports you to reflect on your current role, recognise your transferable skills, and set meaningful development goals. You’ll learn how to move from “doing” to leading — building the confidence to communicate your career aspirations and take charge of your professional journey.
Speaking the Language
of Business
with Alanna Ball, Amy Morris & Amy McKie
Thursday 19th February 2026
12pm AEST [Brisbane] | 1pm AEDT [Sydney]
This live panel discussion is designed to help WHS professionals build the confidence and capability to connect safety outcomes with business priorities.
Join three experienced leaders as they share practical insights on how to shift from compliance conversations to commercially meaningful dialogue — turning safety data into stories that resonate at the executive level.
​
You’ll learn how to speak the language of business, identify metrics that matter, and present a strong, evidence-based case for safety investments that balance people, performance, and profit.
Understanding People to Improve Safety
with Alanna Ball & Nicole Turnbull
March 2026
12pm AEST [Brisbane] | 1pm AEDT [Sydney]
This session explores how psychology, trust, and communication shape safer workplaces — and how WHS professionals can use people-centred strategies to drive real impact.
​
Drawing on insights from human and social sciences (INSHPO Domain E), this session will help participants go beyond compliance and learn to engage, motivate, and influence teams through empathy, connection, and accountability.
We'll look at how fear, trust, and psychological safety influence safety decisions — and how leaders can create cultures where people feel safe to speak up and take ownership of safety outcomes.
Critical Controls & Safe Design Thinking
with Alanna Ball & Cath Turner
April 2026
12pm AEST [Brisbane]
This session equips safety, engineering, and project professionals with practical tools to move beyond hazard identification toward effective control verification and design-led prevention.
​
With a systems-based lens, we’ll explore how to distinguish critical controls from general controls, apply safe design principles across the project lifecycle, and evaluate the effectiveness of controls in real-world settings.
You'll learn how design, people, and systems interact — and how to embed risk-thinking earlier and more meaningfully into work planning and consultation.
​
Whether you're in a frontline or advisory role, this session will help you strengthen your influence and confidence in leading smarter, safer design outcomes.
Leading Change
That Sticks
with Alanna Ball & Justine Youl
May 2026
12pm AEST [Brisbane]
This session explores why change in safety is often met with resistance — and how to lead it with empathy, purpose, and strategic impact. Blending leadership, innovation, and systems thinking, we’ll look at how WHS professionals can evolve from managing change to inspiring it.
​
You’ll learn how to communicate through uncertainty, integrate new tools and technologies into safety systems, and foster ownership among teams.
Real-world examples will show what makes change stick — and how to balance compliance with continuous improvement.
