Leadership

Katie inspires me because of the way she approaches safety with authenticity, respect, and genuine care for the people she works with. She has a way of communicating with workers on-site that immediately breaks down barriers and builds trust, even with those who may have never had a positive or approachable experience with safety advisors before. I’ve seen firsthand that many workers are hesitant or even resistant to safety professionals, often viewing them as disconnected from the realities of the job. But with Katie, it’s different — she takes the time to understand the work, listen to the challenges, and build relationships on a personal level.

Her ability to create these trusting relationships doesn’t just make people feel valued; it makes safety practical and achievable. Workers engage with her because they know she’s there to support them, not just to enforce rules. I have never seen Katie struggle to connect with a team, no matter how tough the environment, and it’s this quality that makes her stand out as a true leader in her field. She inspires me because she proves every day that safety isn’t just about compliance — it’s about people, trust, and making sure everyone gets home safe at the end of the day.

I have had the courage to step away from responsibilities where I felt I could no longer add the greatest value. After 14 years with Vulcan, I recently transitioned my leadership duties to others. In sales, I successfully built the team and processes to the point where they are now ready for someone who is deeply passionate about sales to take them to the next level. In operations, I played a key role in streamlining daily processes and embedding a strong safety focus three years ago. While there have been challenges since my transition, I believe it is the right time for new leadership to drive progress forward, and I remain committed to offering support in the background.

This decision stems from both a recognition of my strengths and a desire to pursue work that aligns more closely with my purpose. As I prepare to become a first-time mother, I am embracing this new chapter with openness, knowing it will shape me in ways I cannot yet imagine. At the same time, I am determined to channel my experience and passion into achieving a long-term goal: stepping into a dedicated safety role. By the time I return to the workforce, I am confident my path will lead me to the opportunity I have been working toward—a role where I can make a lasting impact in safety.

She is constantly striving to improve the safety culture within the workplace.

After watching the video on the problems and lack of education of safety procedures with cotton Gins, Chicken sheds, and other farming practices/industries that can lead to serious injuries and all of her time and energy inputted to try and improve all of these situations.

Isobel inspires me through her unwavering commitment to improving workplace health and safety across her portfolio. She consistently takes initiative to enhance WHS systems, always looking for smarter and more efficient ways to support teams. Her drive to simplify processes and create seamless user experiences has led to the successful automation of several manual workflows, saving time and reducing errors. Isobel doesn’t just work behind the scenes; she actively visits retail sites to ensure safety standards are upheld and continuously seeks opportunities to make them safer. Her proactive mindset and dedication to innovation make her a true leader in the safety space.

Georgia is an inspiring leader whose commitment to psychological health and safety has made a profound impact at WorkSafe and beyond. She has championed the representation of women in leadership, worked closely with SWG's and Health and Safety Representatives, also managed employee wellbeing through periods of significant change with empathy, clarity, and a psychologically safe approach.

Georgia’s leadership stands out in her dedication to ensuring that employers are not only informed but genuinely supported in adopting new psychological safety laws. Her inclusive approach—using thoughtful design methods to ensure diverse voices are heard—demonstrates her belief that no one should be left behind. She consistently prioritizes the lived experiences of employers and the broader public, helping embed psychological health and safety into workplace culture across Victoria.
Her work contributes directly to a safer, more mentally healthy Victoria. Her team deeply values her direction, support, and unwavering commitment to inclusive and impactful leadership.

Amy is such a positive, proactive and passionate Safety Manager who deeply cares about the team she serves. Recently she held the most successful safety offsite in Alchemy's history. There were glowing reviews from attendees who shared (via a company survey) they left the day feeling more connected, informed and supported than ever before.

She is not only advisor, she is working very hard for worker's wellness. Her politeness and calmness spreading positivity and making pleasant working environment.

I am pleased to nominate Miki. Miki is an exceptional leader who demonstrates dedication, integrity, and teamwork in all she does.
She leads by example, fostering a supportive and collaborative environment where her team feels valued and empowered. Her commitment to safety and wellbeing is evident in her consistent efforts to uphold high standards and encourage a culture of accountability.

Mentoring and leadership come naturally to Lisa. She consistently shares valuable career advice and encourages skill development in the workplace. I’ve personally benefited from her guidance, and I’m inspired by her courage and dedication. Lisa is always striving to make a meaningful impact in every community she’s involved in.

Britt embodies the true spirit of safety leadership. She approaches every challenge with a rare mix of technical expertise and human empathy, turning compliance into a culture rather than a checklist. Her ability to engage teams, listen first, guiding second, creates an environment where people feel responsible for one another and empowered to speak up.

What inspires me most is Britt’s consistency, she doesn’t just talk about safety, she lives it. From championing proactive risk assessments to mentoring new team members, she demonstrates that protecting people is more than a job, it’s a calling. Her dedication raises the bar for everyone around her, reminding us that excellence in safety management is built on care, respect, and unwavering commitment.

In a high-risk industry where hazards are everywhere, Britt has led a remarkable cultural shift, one that gets every team member actively engaged in safety conversations. Her influence has brought a renewed focus on creating safer workplaces and has delivered a measurable decline in safety related incidents across the State.

A natural leader, Britt not only sparks meaningful safety dialogue within her own teams but is sought out by senior leaders across the business to share her methods so they can replicate her success nationwide.

Ellen, CFO at FSC Group, is a quiet force driving transformative change in construction wellbeing. In June 2024, she joined Wellness in Infrastructure as a volunteer and swiftly stepped into leadership as the head of our Wellness Education Sub-Group. Her strategic mind and deep care for people have since led her to take on the role of Company Secretary and join our Board of Directors.
While Ellen’s professional title may not traditionally place her in the “safety” spotlight, her work through the Switch Program, which she founded, and her tireless volunteer efforts have made a profound impact on psychosocial safety across the industry. She embodies every pillar of this nomination: Leadership, Mentorship, Innovation, Courage, and Community Impact.
One moment that stands out: Ellen led a session for emerging professionals in our sector that completely shifted how they approached networking. She helped reframe imposter syndrome and turned what often feels awkward or transactional into something authentic and energizing. Her ability to create safe, empowering spaces where people feel seen and heard makes connection feel natural, not forced.

Alicia approaches every safety procedure and policy with a deep and genuine care for our people. Her leadership is defined not by popularity, but by courage—the courage to make the right decisions, even when they’re not the easy ones. She consistently pushes us beyond mere compliance, championing best practices that set new standards for safety across our operations.

Under Alicia’s leadership, our team in Australia has proudly maintained a zero TIR (Total Incident Rate) since 2020, a remarkable achievement in environments that include high-risk sectors like mining. She leads the charge to ensure that every person—whether in the office, on-site, or traveling through hazardous terrain—is protected, informed, and supported.

For Alicia, safety isn’t just a responsibility—it’s a purpose. Her unwavering commitment reminds us that leadership is not just about results, but about the lives and wellbeing of the people behind them.

Amalie leads by example to drive positive change in our business, pushing to increase female representation in the energy sector. She knows and states that diverse teams lead to better problem solving, innovation and increased productivity. I feel seen by her, and supported in what is still a very male dominated industry that we work in.

The reason why Amy deserves a leadership nomination is her commitment to facing adversity and push back from clients when making recommendations for improvement in health and Safety practices. Recently we worked together with a client who had significant Health and Safety improvements. Amy always maintained a calm and measured approach when detailing her recommendations and was instrumental in ensuring recommendations were reasonably practicable for the business to implement. She devised plans whereby the immediate risks were addressed while at the same time providing options to ensure the hierarchy of controls was applied where possible. This was a challenging process however through the whole time she was always resolute in her approach, was open to feedback and engaged all stakeholders from workers to management to ensure plans had buy in. Here commitment and resilience in the face of challenges and adversity was an inspiration to me. This helped me immensely as I was working through incident investigation after incident investigation with all the incidents this business was having. Without her steadfast approach what we were trying to achieve would have so much harder.

Lisa is a great woman with great skills. She always has the best words of encouragement and knows how to mentor and guide us through it all. Lisa is on a comitee with me and every time we have a meeting she is the face that stands out and has so much power and drive in her when she is speaking and adding in her points when we are having discussions.

Christine is the Group health and Safety Manager of Maas Group, a ASX listed, diversified industrial group with multiple high-risk segments, including Construction Materials, Civil Construction and Hire, Manufacturing and Equipment Sales, and Residential and Commercial Real Estate.
Maas has a fleet of over 550 machines and employs around 2000 people across SE Australia and Vietnam.

Holly’s commitment to safety goes beyond compliance – she leads with vision, determination, and a deep belief that every worker deserves to go home safe. She inspires those around her by transforming complex safety requirements into practical, real-world solutions that improve both safety outcomes and operational efficiency. Through her leadership, she has implemented innovative systems, championed industry best practices, and empowered teams to take ownership of safety. Her ability to navigate high-pressure environments, while keeping safety as a non-negotiable, demonstrates courage and integrity that others aspire to emulate. Holly’s influence is felt across projects, subcontractors, and peers – she not only raises the standard, she redefines it.

Isobel has a significant remit within her role and consistently approaches her responsibilities with a highly hands-on style. This makes her both visible and accessible to her team, fostering strong engagement and support. She actively seeks opportunities to enhance awareness and address process inefficiencies, which in turn strengthens the safety culture and drives measurable results.

Justine is an inspiring leader who demonstrates that true leadership in WHS is about vision and empowerment. As the Founder and Principal Consultant of SiteSherpa, she has built a multidisciplinary team that supports organisations across Australia in embedding safety into daily practice. Her leadership combines strategic oversight with practical delivery—balancing consultancy excellence with the creation of innovative digital solutions like the SWMS AI Generator and Safety Sarah chatbot. She has created an environment where her team and clients feel supported, mentored, and inspired to prioritise safety. Justine leads with authenticity and collaboration, showing that safety leadership is not about hierarchy but about enabling others to thrive.

Karen is a dedicated leader. She leads with compassion, doesn't ask of anyone anything she wouldn't do herself and is constantly mentoring those around her (including up the org chart lines). She quietly lifts others with her everyday acts of kindness and support and is strong and resilient in the face of opposition and personal adversity. She empowers those around her, supporting them to believe in themselves and reach higher. Karen is a dedicated safety professional and exemplifies leadership.

Kylie inspires because she leads with both head and heart. She balances technical expertise with emotional intelligence, showing that safety leadership is not just about compliance but about people. Her ability to embed wellness, inclusivity, and sustainability into WHS makes her a role model who empowers others and creates lasting change.

Lili consistently supports not only her team members but peers amongst the business. Lili is compassionate and caring while also being unflappable in her role. Constantly leading the charge within the organisation, she is a pillar of support, knowledge and mentorship.

Through the toughest moments, Lindsey has been a steady voice, a safe pair of hands, and a source of strength for those around her. She leads by example, showing that you can be strong and compassionate at the same time. She has a way of making people feel valued, listened to, and capable of more than they thought possible.

It’s not just about the work, it’s about the relationships she’s built and the trust she’s earned. Her team doesn’t just follow her because she’s their leader, they follow her because she inspires them to be better, do better, and look out for each other.

Lindsey proves every day that true leadership is about lifting others up, and in doing so, she’s inspired a culture of resilience, teamwork, and pride.

Maureen inspires me because I’ve watched her pour her heart into developing training that truly makes workplaces safer. She’s passionate, creative, and uncompromising when it comes to protecting people. What stands out is the way she turns safety from a compliance tick-box into something meaningful that really sticks with people. Her drive to make sure employees go home safe, supported, and cared for every day is what makes her such an inspiration.

Supporting new leaders in the workplace to transition from team member to team lead through training, coaching and mentoring the application and supervision of the Safety Management System. Enhancing communication skills and supporting workplace mental health with the same effort and passion as physical health and safety.

Mel is always leading from the front. Mel's positive attitude makes her a pleasure to work with. The shift in our team's capability, cultures and behaviours is noticeable as a result of Mel's ongoing efforts.

During the HSE training she give guidance to every coworker.

Peta leads a team of educators at Canberra Health Services with grace and a genuine care. She readily uses risk management principals and approach to define training requirements for health care workers and is often sought out by other leaders in the business to support HR process as a result of her caring nature and high regard in the workplace.

It’s rare to encounter a leader who embodies both strength and warmth so seamlessly—but Yvonne does just that. Her leadership has been a source of deep inspiration to me, not just because of what she knows, but because of how she leads.
Yvonne leads with kindness. She listens with intention, speaks with empathy, and creates an environment where people feel safe to grow, contribute, and be themselves. Her compassion isn’t performative—it’s woven into every interaction, making even the toughest days feel manageable.
Her knowledge is vast and generously shared. Whether she’s guiding us through complex legislative decisions or offering insight into unfamiliar Regulator territory, Yvonne brings clarity and confidence. She doesn’t just give answers—she teaches, empowers, and elevates those around her.
What sets Yvonne apart is her ability to provide direction without micromanaging. She offers a clear vision and then gives us the autonomy to explore, innovate, and take ownership. That trust has been transformative for me—it’s helped me discover my own capabilities and step into leadership myself.
And then there’s her energy. Yvonne is genuinely interested in people and ideas. She brings enthusiasm to every meeting, every challenge, every conversation. Her curiosity is contagious, and her drive motivates everyone around her to aim higher and care deeper.
Yvonne is not just a great leader—she’s the kind of leader who changes lives. I’m grateful to have been one of the many she’s inspired.

Caroline inspires me because she has dedicated her career to creating safer and healthier lives for both workers and employers. She founded My Social Support Network to give injured workers and people living with disability a place to connect, rebuild confidence and reduce isolation. This has been life changing, helping them find their voice, return to work and rediscover their sense of worth. In workplaces, Caroline leads through Create Today and HoweSafe, providing evidence-based psychosocial risk assessments and wellbeing programs that give organisations practical ways to protect and support their people. She is also Co-Director of the Psychosocial Safety and Leadership Institute, where she shares her expertise to help leaders across Australia create safer, more supportive cultures. Her leadership is grounded in compassion, courage and innovation. She inspires me because she doesn’t just talk about psychosocial safety - she creates real change that improves people’s lives every day.