Join us at the 13th Annual OHS Leaders Australia Summit Be part of Australia’s largest gathering of senior Health, Safety & Wellbeing executives 19th – 20th March, 2025, The Star Gold Coast, Australia Join us at the 13th Annual OHS Leaders Australia Summit Be part of Australia’s largest gathering of senior Health, Safety & Wellbeing executives 19th – 20th March, 2025, The Star Gold Coast, Australia Register Interest Testimonial Video Summit Themes Key themes and topics are developed by our
standing committee and advisory board from
the country's most respected workplace Health &
Safety heads . These will be addressed over the course
of the OHS Leaders Summit Australia.

Join us at the 13th Annual OHS Leaders
Australia Summit

BE PART OF AUSTRALIA'S LARGEST GATHERING
OF SENIOR HEALTH SAFETY & WELLBEING EXECUTIVES
19th – 20th March 2025,
THE STAR GOLD COAST

Join the gathering

ABOUT THE EVENT

The OHS Leaders Summit Australia is the country's number 1 event gathering for senior health, safety, and wellbeing  executives. In 2025, this distinguished group will once again come together for two impactful days. 

Scheduled for 19–20 March 2025 at the Star, Gold Coast, QLD, the 13th Annual OHS Leaders Summit Australia will serve as the meeting place for over 200 Directors of Workplace, Health and Safety from across Australia.

The program will showcase some of the most influential WHS leaders from Australia and beyond, with over 40 sessions delivered through keynotes, panel discussions, workshops, and targeted roundtable discussions. 

The upcoming theme for our 2025 series will revolve around:  'Futureproofing Workplace Safety to Drive Innovation and Resilience'.

We look forward to welcoming your attendance.

SPEAKERS

Sarah Cuscadden
plus

Sarah Cuscadden

General Manager HSE, AGL

Matt Kuperholz
plus

Matt Kuperholz

Artificial Intelligence scientist and advisor

Senator The Hon Murray Watt
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Senator The Hon Murray Watt

Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations

Wendi Bains
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Wendi Bains

Chief Safety and Sustainability Officer, Fletcher Building

Nigel Packham
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Nigel Packham

Associate Director, Safety and Mission Assurance, NASA Johnson Space Center

REGISTER YOUR INTEREST

PROGRAM

The summit program is a draft and is subject to change.

Arrival & Badge Collection

40min

Welcome

Tyron McGurgan, CEO, Focus Network

5min

Tyron McGurgan

Tyron McGurgan is a seasoned entrepreneur, media expert, and events professional boasting over 17 years of industry experience. As the CEO and [...]

Master of Ceremonies

Andrew Barrett, Head Coach and Chief Connector, Safety on Tap

5min

Andrew Barrett

Andrew is Australia's best-known specialist coach for health and safety professionals. He works with WHS leaders and teams to support them to [...]

Opening Keynote Presentation – Using A.I to Improve Safety

Matt Kuperholz, Artificial Intelligence Scientist and Advisor

Join Matt as he begins with a big-picture perspective on digital disruption and explores the theory behind AI. He will showcase the practical application of AI within health and safety through real world case studies.

Audience members will be provided with actionable frameworks that their organisations can use to adopt AI both broadly and within Safety.

30min

Matt Kuperholz

Matt Kuperholz is an accomplished Artificial Intelligence scientist and advisor with a wealth of experience applying AI to real world client [...]

Keynote Presentation – The Safety-Obsessed Journey – Empowering Teams, Transforming Operations

Richard Turner, Global Head Health Safety and Environment, Toll Group

In this session, Richard will delve into Toll's transformative journey towards embedding a safety-first culture across its global operations.

As a logistics leader managing complex supply chains and high-risk environments, Toll faced the challenge of redefining safety from a compliance-driven practice to a core organisational value.

Richard shares how empowering teams at every level, fostering a shared sense of responsibility, and leveraging innovative safety practices have not only enhanced operational performance but also protected lives.


20min

Richard Turner

Richard is currently the Global Head of Health, Safety, Security and Environment at Toll Group where he has delivered significant safety [...]

Keynote Presentation – Harnessing AI to Close Safety Gaps and Strengthen Safety Culture

Dr Manuel Seidel, Founder & CEO, ecoPortal

AI is transforming health and safety, not by replacing humans, but by enhancing engagement, improving data quality, and empowering better decision-making at every level.

This session explores real-world AI applications that remove common barriers to safety participation—such as literacy, language, and process complexity—while equipping leaders with instant, data-driven insights.

Discover how AI can help create a proactive, engaged safety culture where every worker plays a role in driving safer outcomes.


30min

Dr. Manuel Seidel

Manuel is passionate about transforming traditional ‘box tick’ health & safety, sustainability and risk management systems into modern [...]

Keynote Presentation – Maintaining Safety Standards During Rapid Business Changes

Sarah Cuscadden, General Manager HSE, AGL

This session will provide insights into AGL's current strategic transformation plan, highlighting practical strategies for identifying, managing, and mitigating emerging risks associated with significant operational changes and mergers.


20min

Sarah Cuscadden

A visionary who challenges the norm, Sarah presents out of the box ideas and solutions to health and safety issues. With two decade of experience, [...]

Keynote Presentation – Leveraging Technology to Build Healthier, Safer Workplaces

Terry Wong, General Manager, Move 4 Life

Explore the integration of emerging technology, such as generative AI, computer vision and wearables into workplace safety and wellbeing programs. The session will highlight how organisations can leverage technology to proactively identify risks, target employee wellbeing, and create a culture of continuous improvement.

Key Takeaways

  • How AI and machine learning can be used to analyse workplace risks to predict and prevent incidents.
  • Using technology to empower employees rather than replace human judgment.
  • Look at ways of Improving ergonomics through motion capture and AI-driven risk assessments.
  • Balancing technology with human centric approaches to avoid an over-reliance on shiny new objects.

30min

Terry Wong

Terry Wong is General Manager of Move 4 Life, an organisation which is about helping people to MOVE Better & LIVE Better. Move 4 Life helps [...]

Networking Break

15min

Keynote Presentation – Balancing complexity and simplicity: Integrating health and safety governance across diverse industries and jurisdictions

Wendi Bains, Chief Safety and Sustainability Officer, Fletcher Building

Join Wendi as she delves into the challenge of harmonizing health and safety governance across diverse industries and regulatory environments.

Drawing from her extensive experience, including her leadership in transforming the safety culture at Fletcher Building, this session will offer valuable insights on streamlining complex safety systems, maintaining compliance, and fostering meaningful cultural change.

20min

Wendi Bains

Wendi Bains, BSc, CRSP, is the Chief H&S Officer at Fletcher Building. A core member of the Executive team for the past 6 years, Wendi leads [...]

Leadership Discussion – Safety Sphere – Australia’s Newest Industry Body, where Leadership and Safety Converge

Sarah Cuscadden, General Manager HSE, AGL Deputy Chair, Safety Sphere Industry Advisory Committee
Nicole Lawler, General Manager HSE, Metcash Committee Member, Safety Sphere Industry Advisory Committee
Michael Draper, Executive General Manager, Health & Safety, Adbri a CRH Company Committee Member, Safety Sphere Industry Advisory Committee
Patrick Murphy, General Manager HSE, Transurban Chair, Safety Sphere Industry Advisory Committee
Tyron McGurgan, CEO, Focus Network

HSE Directors are deeply immersed in the day-to-day realities of workplace health and safety, while executives and boards focus on safety from a governance and compliance standpoint. This difference in perspectives often leads to misalignment in priorities, expectations, and accountability, creating gaps that hinder the effectiveness of safety initiatives.

The result is fragmented safety programs, inconsistent messaging, and missed opportunities to develop a unified industry approach. Executives, boards, and HSE leaders all have a critical role to play in bridging this divide—fostering collaboration across industries, enabling benchmarking, and ensuring safety is embedded within business strategy rather than operating in isolation.

Currently, no single body exists to bring key organisational stakeholders together across industries to share insights from significant WHS incidents, discuss regulatory challenges, and work collectively to address emerging risks that threaten workplace safety outcomes. Safety Sphere is designed to fill this gap, creating a platform where governance and management come together to shape the future of WHS.

Join our chair of our Industry advisory committee for Safety Sphere and advisory committee members as we share insights on how your company can become a member and the long term benefits this newly established industry body will bring to the future of our industry.


30min

Sarah Cuscadden

A visionary who challenges the norm, Sarah presents out of the box ideas and solutions to health and safety issues. With two decade of experience, [...]

Nicole Lawler

A highly motivated and results driven health, safety and environment leader with over 25 years experience in senior, national roles within the [...]

Michael Draper

Michael Draper, (MBA) is the Executive General Manager of Health & Safety at Adbri (a CRH company), responsible for providing strategic [...]

Patrick Murphy

Patrick is currently the General Manager of HSE for Transurban, former General Manager of HSE at Origin Energy and is the Chair of the Industry [...]

Tyron McGurgan

Tyron McGurgan is a seasoned entrepreneur, media expert, and events professional boasting over 17 years of industry experience. As the CEO and [...]

Keynote Panel Discussion – Psychosocial Incident Investigation

Panellists:

Dr Gemma Maisey, Principal Advisor Occupational Health, Rio Tinto
Mark Oostergo, Chief Executive Officer and Principal Psychologist, Australian Psychological Services
Katherine Morris, Partner, Norton Rose Fulbright
Moderator:
Ben Evans, Director of Product Marketing, HSI
Investigating a psychosocial incident calls for more than conventional methodologies, it requires a nuanced understanding of human dynamics and a commitment to cross-functional collaboration. This session delves into the complexities of addressing psychosocial incidents, questioning the suitability of frameworks like ICAM for such cases. Participants will explore trauma-informed practices that prioritise the well-being of all involved, ensuring those impacted by the incident and those leading the investigation are treated with care and respect. Key Takeaways
  • Gain insights into why traditional methodologies like ICAM may not fully address the complexities of psychosocial incidents and explore alternative approaches tailored for such cases.
  • Learn how to integrate trauma-informed practices into investigations to prioritise the well-being and care of affected individuals and investigators.
  • Understand the importance of fostering shared responsibility across integrated teams to handle psychosocial incidents with sensitivity and effectiveness.
  • Discover strategies for addressing psychosocial incidents in a way that balances thoroughness with empathy, ensuring respectful and effective outcomes.

30min

Dr Gemma Maisey

Gemma has over 25 years of experience in strategic health and safety across the resources, not-for-profit, and government sectors. She has [...]

Mark Oostergo

Mark is a passionate and conscientious psychologist who has a keen interest in workplace psychological well-being and high performance. He has [...]

Katherine Morris

Katherine Morris is a leading work health and safety partner at Norton Rose Fulbright. She has over 23 years’ experience working across all [...]

Ben Evans

Ben’s career has been dedicated to understanding people’s needs and motivations, using insights, words, and technology to help them achieve [...]

Keynote Presentation – Transforming Safety and Wellbeing into a Cultural Cornerstone

Jess Daly, Chief Strategy Officer, Everyday Massive

As workplaces grow more complex, safety leaders face mounting pressure to balance operational demands with a thriving safety culture.

Join Jess Daly from Everyday Massive as she dives into the next evolution of safety value propositions—how they can shape culture, drive innovation, and redefine success in high-risk industries.

This session will showcase some real-world examples of organisations embedding a safety value proposition as a cultural and operational cornerstone. Discover how this approach amplifies leadership influence, deepens employee trust, and drives sustainable outcomes.


30min

Jess Daly

Jess Daly works as the Chief Strategy Officer at Everyday Massive. She joined Everyday Massive in 2022 after a 20-year career spent asking [...]

Networking Lunch

40min

Keynote Presentation – How Safety Leaders Win Board Support

Dr. Megan Tranter, CEO and Founder, Purpose Pathfinders

Dr. Megan Tranter will delve into the art of influencing at the board level, offering a nuanced perspective on how safety leaders can navigate the complexities of boardroom dynamics.

Drawing on her extensive experience as a senior executive in HSE across global organisations, Megan will explore the delicate balance of securing board support and advancing safety initiatives, even when the path isn’t always clear or straightforward. She’ll share practical strategies for building strong relationships with the CEO, positioning safety as a critical business priority, and cultivating the influence that enables safety leaders to remain integral to strategic decision-making, regardless of shifting board priorities.

Key Takeaways

  • Uncover the subtleties of board dynamics and how safety leaders can navigate these shifting relationships to build influence and drive meaningful change.
  • Learn how to present safety priorities in a way that captures the attention of board members and aligns with the organisation’s broader objectives.
  • Understand how to strengthen your partnership with the CEO to position safety as a vital component of the company’s long-term vision and success.
  • Gain practical strategies for maintaining the momentum of safety initiatives, even when board support fluctuates, by building credibility and reinforcing the long-term value of safety leadership.

30min

Dr. Megan Tranter

Founder and CEO of Purpose Pathfinders, Dr. Megan Tranter is a seasoned leader with over 20 years of experience driving transformation at global [...]

Speaking Presentation A – Rethinking Hand Protection, Performance, Sustainability, and the Future of PPE

Damione Wright, Managing Director – Asia Pacific, Mechanix Wear

In an era of increasing environmental awareness, the role of personal protective equipment (PPE) must evolve beyond basic safety. In this session we will explore the critical intersection of performance, sustainability, and innovation in hand protection.

Starting with a startling statistic about PPE waste, Damione will challenge WHS leaders to rethink their approach to PPE procurement and disposal, ensuring that safety and sustainability go hand in hand.

Through real-world examples and data-driven insights, Damione will share how Mechanix Wear is leading the charge with innovative recycling programs and a vision for a circular economy in PPE.

Key Takeaways:

  • Understand why safety, like sustainability, must be an unchanging core value, not just a shifting priority.
  • Learn why cheap PPE ultimately costs more—not just financially but environmentally.
  • Discover how Mechanix Wear’s partnership with Upparel is transforming used gloves into sustainable materials and reducing landfill waste.
  • Be inspired to lead your organisation in adopting sustainable safety practices that protect both people and the planet.

30min

Damione Wright

Damione Wright is a seasoned leader with over 20 years of experience in personal safety, risk management, and policy. As Managing Director of [...]

Speaking Presentation B – Leveraging Artificial Intelligence for Robust Incident and Near Miss Investigations and Enhanced Job Safety Analysis

Marc Juaire, CPSA, MBA, Principal Solutions Executive, VelocityEHS

Safety management systems have reduced minor injuries, but Serious Injuries and Fatalities (SIF) are declining much slower. Many near misses and incidents could potentially lead to SIFs if circumstances were slightly different, highlighting the need for better identification and intervention.

Artificial intelligence can help organisations analyse incident and near miss data to identify potential SIFs, notify leaders, and provide actionable insights into hazards, root causes, and preventive measures. This ensures proactive steps to eliminate life altering risks.

While addressing pSIF incidents is crucial, it remains reactive. Mature organisations go further by using Job Safety Analyses (JSAs) to assess risks and identify necessary controls, though these processes can be subjective and time intensive.

Key Takeaways

  • Learn why Serious Injuries and Fatalities (SIFs) are declining at a slower rate than minor injuries and how near misses and incidents with SIF potential can be better identified to prevent future occurrences.
  • Discover how AI can analyse incident and near miss data to identify potential SIFs, notify leaders, and provide insights into hazards, root causes, and preventive measures to eliminate life altering risks.
  • Gain insights into the value of proactive risk assessment through JSAs and how to overcome the challenges of subjectivity and time intensity in improving workplace safety.

30min

Marc Juaire,CPSA, MBA

Marc Juaire is a Principal Solution Executive for Safety and Operational Risk at VelocityEHS where he combines deep EHS, Operational Risk, and [...]

Fireside Chat – Insights from the frontline around Workplace Violence

Mike Plunkett, Head of Safety, Kmart & Target
Tyron McGurgan, CEO, Focus Network

Workplace violence is a growing concern across many industries right now in Australia, with incidents ranging from verbal threats to physical assaults, significantly impacting employee wellbeing, morale, and business continuity.

In this fireside chat, Tyron McGurgan, CEO, Focus Network sits down with Michael Plunkett, Head of Safety from one of Australia’s largest retailers, where they will look to delve deeper into Michael’s own personal insights on the evolving risks of workplace violence, key drivers behind the increase in incidents, and the role of leadership in fostering a culture of prevention.

The discussion will explore proactive risk assessment, early intervention strategies, effective incident response frameworks, and how organisations can integrate technology and training to mitigate threats.


 

30min

Mike Plunkett

I am an established and respected professional with 16 years of risk management experience in retail, warehousing, logistics, construction and [...]

Tyron McGurgan

Tyron McGurgan is a seasoned entrepreneur, media expert, and events professional boasting over 17 years of industry experience. As the CEO and [...]

Breakout Session – Enabling Effective HSW Governance Through Uncertain Times

Patricio Estevez, Director, Environment, Health and Safety, EY Australia

Many organisations are struggling to gain comfort in existing approaches to manage health, safety and wellbeing risks, with our own research finding that <20% of those surveyed indicated they were ‘always confident’ that their HSW data provided an accurate understanding of HSW performance. In addition, health and safety was identified as the top risk and area of concerns for Director’s and Officers’ within the Willis Towers Watson Global Directors’ and Officers’ Survey Report 2024. Clearly, something isn’t right.

Underpinning this discomfort is uncertainty about whether the HSW information provided to Boards and Officers effectively tells the whole story about how well HSW risks are being managed. Addressing this uncertainty requires a dynamic approach to HSW governance, one that is focused on ensuring the right information gets to the right people at the right time and enable more effective decision making.

Key Takeaways

  • Learn why fewer than 20% of organizations are consistently confident in the accuracy of their HSW data and how this lack of confidence impacts decision-making and risk management.
  • Explore insights from the Willis Towers Watson Global Directors' and Officers' Survey Report 2024, which highlights health and safety as the top risk for directors and officers, and understand why existing approaches may not meet leadership expectations.
  • Discover how implementing a dynamic approach to HSW governance can improve the flow of accurate, actionable information to the right people at the right time, ultimately enabling more effective management of HSW risks and better-informed decisions at the board level.

40min

Patricio Estevez

Patricio has over 15 years’ experience in EHS consulting experience across both private and public sectors, including Resources, [...]

Breakout Session – Transforming Safety Culture Through Engagement

Timothy Evans, CEO, Everyday Massive

Join Everyday Massive for an interactive session where we dive into the strategies and tools we use with global safety leaders to help shift a compliance culture to one of engagement and change.

Drawing on recent experience, we’ll walk attendees through the end-to-end process we use to start shifting culture and connecting a large and diverse workforce to a different way of experiencing safety and wellbeing.

Whether you’re looking to revitalise your current engagement approach or establish a foundation for a more engaged future, this session will deliver key practical skills to enhance engagement and drive impact.

Key Takeaways

  • New insights into how engagement can drive health and safety outcomes.
  • Some practical tools to build and sustain effective safety engagement strategies.
  • Insight that connects these tools and ideas to real-world results.

40min

Timothy Evans

Tim collaborates with leaders and teams across the globe to humanise safety and deliver safety, engagement and leadership programs that foster [...]

Breakout Session – Doing HOP right

Rob Fisher, Founder, Fisher Improvement Technologies

HOP (Human and Organisational Performance) has been around for a while and still, companies struggle with how to effectively deploy the concepts to get the results you want.

This interactive session will cover the concepts, methods, processes, and tools for effectively deploying HOP, regardless of what your company does.  FIT has deployed the concepts effectively in Australia for over 20 years, and in over 400 organisations around the world.

Hear about how Education (what and who you teach), Integration (putting it into day-to-day work), and Sustainability (this is how we do business) play into Doing HOP Right.

Key Takeaways 

  • Gain a clear understanding of the key principles, methods, and processes behind Human and Organisational Performance (HOP) and why it’s critical for organisational success.
  • Learn how to effectively deploy HOP concepts across any industry, with real-world examples and practical tools for implementation.
  • Discover how FIT has successfully implemented HOP in over 400 organisations worldwide and how those experiences can guide your own deployment efforts.
  • Explore how Education, Integration, and Sustainability are essential to embedding HOP into your business practices and ensuring it delivers lasting results.

40min

Rob Fisher

Rob is a pioneer in Human and Organisational Performance and all aspects of performance improvement including incorporating the understanding of [...]

Breakout Session – AI-Driven Engagement, Leading the Charge to Build Smarter, Safer Organisations

Dr Manuel Seidel, Founder & CEO, ecoPortal
Daniel Alexander, Chief Strategy & Product, ecoPortal

As AI continues to revolutionise safety management, the role of C-suite leaders is more critical than ever in fostering a culture of engagement alongside innovation.

This session will explore how AI can not only help close the safety gap but also drive employee participation, empower safety leadership, and enhance risk management.

Key Takeaways 
  • Learn how AI can be used to close safety gaps, improve risk management, and create a more proactive safety culture within your organisation.
  • Discover how AI tools can empower employees and safety leaders, driving greater participation and engagement in safety initiatives.
  • Explore the key opportunities and challenges involved in integrating AI into existing safety systems, and how to overcome common barriers.
  • Understand how C-suite leaders can foster a culture of safety that combines both innovation and engagement, using AI to create smarter, safer workplaces.
 

40min

Dr. Manuel Seidel

Manuel is passionate about transforming traditional ‘box tick’ health & safety, sustainability and risk management systems into modern [...]

Daniel Alexander

Daniel is the Chief of Strategy and Product at ecoPortal. He has a Masters in Engineering specialising in Management, and for over a decade now, [...]

Networking Break

15min

Keynote Presentation – Safety Beyond the Hard Hat – A Leadership Perspective from the Operational Frontline

Michael Hussey, Global Head, HSE, BlueScope

This session explores safety not as a compliance-driven function but as a leadership responsibility integrated into the core of operational decision-making.

Michael shares how non-safety professionals like himself, with an operational and business background, champion safety culture.


20min

Michael Hussey

Michael Hussey (MEng, MBA) is the Global Head of HSE at BlueScope, the international steel products and processing company with over 16,500 [...]

Breakout Session – Engaging the Front Line for Better Safety Outcomes

Stuart Rawlins, Chief Safety Officer, Autopact Pty Ltd

This session will focus on how organisations can reshape their safety culture for better outcomes by understanding how work is actually performed.

The discussion will centre on moving beyond rigid compliance and outdated control measures.

Instead, it will explore how safety leaders can engage with frontline workers to gain insights into real-world operations, allowing for greater adaptability and more practical safety solutions.

Key Takeaways

  • Learn how to move beyond theoretical safety practices and gain insights into how work is truly performed on the frontline.
  • Explore strategies to replace outdated control measures with adaptable, real-world safety solutions that resonate with workers.
  • Discover how to engage frontline workers, embrace human variability, and use these insights to create systems that support learning and improvement.
  • Understand how to develop safety systems that learn from everyday work experiences, fostering a safer, more adaptable, and resilient organisational culture.
 

30min

Stuart Rawlins

With over 13 years of work experience both nationally and internationally in work health and safety, environmental sustainability, and a lived [...]

Breakout Session – Ensuring New Safety Technologies Deliver Results

Belinda Flynn, General Manager Safety, Health and Sustainability, Qube Holdings

Investing in new safety technologies is only the first step, ensuring they deliver real results requires strategic implementation, stakeholder alignment, and continuous evaluation.

This interactive breakout session will guide senior health and safety executives through best practices for selecting, integrating, and maximising the value of safety technologies. Attendees will explore how to secure leadership and workforce buy in, measure success through data driven insights, and avoid common pitfalls that lead to underutilisation.

Key Takeaways

  • Learn how to select technologies that align with organisational safety objectives and workforce needs.
  • Understand the importance of integration with existing systems and processes for seamless adoption.
  • Discover strategies to gain leadership and frontline worker buy in to maximise utilisation.
  • Explore training and communication techniques that ensure a smooth transition and ongoing engagement.
  • Identify key metrics and data points to track the effectiveness of new safety technologies.

30min

Belinda Flynn

Belinda Flynn has over 20 years of health, safety and sustainability experience in the rail, construction and logistics sectors. She is an [...]

Breakout Session – Revolutionising Work, Practical tools for a more engaged workforce

Ben Kirkbride, Head of Health, Safety & Quality, Gamuda Australia

By leveraging Gamuda’s award-winning worker engagement tools, participants will be immersed in the tools used to empower the workforce, foster a culture of safety, and drive continuous improvement.

This practical session will focus on harnessing the power of worker insights and pit stops, which can be used to identify emerging risks, optimise safety performance, and create a more engaged and productive workplace.


30min

Ben Kirkbride

Ben is a passionate and proven HSE professional with more than 18 years' experience in leading and managing a range of Health and Safety, Quality [...]

Breakout Session – Achieving Leader and Employee Buy in for New Safety Initiatives

Nicki Davies, General Manager Health, Safety and Wellbeing | People, Culture & Engagement, Healthscope Operations

Successfully implementing new safety initiatives requires more than just policies and procedures, it demands genuine buy in from both leadership and employees.

This interactive breakout session will explore strategies for fostering engagement, overcoming resistance, and ensuring long term commitment to safety initiatives. Through collaborative discussions, attendees will learn how to communicate the value of safety programs in a way that resonates with different levels of the organisation.

Key Takeaways

  • Understand the critical role leadership plays in setting the tone for safety initiatives.
  • Learn how to align safety with business objectives to gain executive support.
  • Explore techniques to make safety initiatives relevant and personal for employees.
  • Identify ways to create two-way communication channels that encourage participation and feedback.
  • Discover common reasons employees resist new safety initiatives and how to address them.
  • Gain insights into reinforcement strategies that maintain long term commitment and continuous improvement.

30min

Nicki Davies

Nicki is the GM Safety & Wellbeing at Healthscope, Australia's only national private hospital operation and healthcare provider with a network of [...]

Free Time

60min

OHS Leaders Networking Drinks Reception

30min

OHS Leaders Networking Dinner

2h 30min

Networking Breakfast

40min

Master of Ceremonies

Andrew Barrett, Head Coach and Chief Connector, Safety on Tap

5min

Andrew Barrett

Andrew is Australia's best-known specialist coach for health and safety professionals. He works with WHS leaders and teams to support them to [...]

Opening Keynote Presentation – Healthy Minds Strategy, Embedding psychosocial risk management practices into day-to- day operations

Teegan Modderman, Chief Mental Health Officer, Queensland Rail

In this session, Teegan will explore how Queensland Rail has integrated evidence-based psychosocial risk management practices into daily workforce conversations. She will share key principles, challenges, and considerations involved in operationalising these practices, along with the practical tools designed to support leaders, safety professionals, and HR advisors in successfully embedding this approach.

Key Takeaways:

  • Learn how Queensland Rail integrates evidence-based psychosocial risk management into everyday workforce interactions to enhance employee well-being.
  • Understand the core principles, potential challenges, and critical considerations when operationalising psychosocial risk management practices.
  • Discover the practical tools and resources developed to empower leaders, safety professionals, and HR advisors in successfully embedding these approaches.
  • Gain actionable strategies and frameworks that can be adapted to your organisation to proactively address psychosocial risks in the workplace.
 

20min

Teegan Modderman

Teegan has a unique and diverse career that has provided opportunities to work as a health and safety leader and advisor in the regulatory [...]

Speaker Session A – Therapy Dogs in the Workplace, Enhancing Mental Health and Wellbeing

Adam Bernhardt, Head of Safety, Health and Wellbeing, Airbus APAC

This session explores the growing trend of incorporating therapy dogs into workplace wellness programs, focusing on their positive impact on mental health. Attendees will learn how therapy dogs can reduce stress, alleviate anxiety, and improve overall employee wellbeing in professional settings.

The session covers the science behind animal-assisted therapy, highlighting how interaction with trained therapy dogs triggers the release of oxytocin, lowers cortisol levels, and promotes a sense of calm and connection.

Key Takeaways

  • The science behind animal-assisted therapy and its effects on mental health.
  • How therapy dogs help reduce workplace stress and improve focus and morale.
  • Real-life case studies of companies successfully using therapy dogs.
  • Practical steps for implementing a therapy dog program in the workplace.
  • Addressing concerns and creating a balanced, inclusive workplace environment.
 

30min

Adam Bernhardt

As the Senior Manager of Safety Systems for Airbus in Australia Pacific (AAP), Adam’s area of accountability and responsibility covers both [...]

Speaker Session B – How data and emerging tech will shape psychosocial risk management

Sean Fyfe, Founder & Director, Mibo

This session will explore how data science and AI will revolutionize psychosocial risk management.

We’ll showcase mibo’s early machine learning model development including prioritisation functionality based on the interdependent nature of work factors and share a development roadmap that leverages the power of large language models combined with specific psychosocial risk and internal data sources to elevate the importance of the psychosocial environment on organisational outcomes.

Finally, we’ll outline an agentic capability vision to deliver accuracy, efficiency and effectiveness to health, safety and wellbeing teams.


30min

Sean Fyfe

I come from a diverse education background, high performance sport and business success. My career over the last 25 years has included playing [...]

Speaking Session A – HOPerational Excellence – It Is NOT Just a Safety Thing!

Rob Fisher, Founder, Fisher Improvement Technologies

Human and Organisational Performance (HOP) is an enabler for creating the conditions for operational excellence. It is time for Safety, Quality, Production, Operations, Maintenance, and Environmental to come together and use holistic HOP as a systemic binding agent for enabling improvement in all of these areas.

Too often we create the very silos we are trying to eliminate. Deploying and integrating the HOP concepts holistically ensures we reduce errors, manage controls, and mitigate consequences so we can either not fail or at least fail safely thereby reducing psychosocial risk and increasing psychological safety.

Attendees will learn practical strategies and proven methods for effectively deploying Human and Organisational Performance (HOP) concepts, with insights into how Education, Integration, and Sustainability contribute to long-term success in any organisation.


30min

Rob Fisher

Rob is a pioneer in Human and Organisational Performance and all aspects of performance improvement including incorporating the understanding of [...]

Speaking Session B – Navigating Psychosocial Risks for a Heathier Workplace

Brett Webb, National Psychosocial Risk Manager, Converge International

In today's rapidly evolving workplace landscape, creating a psychosocially safe environment is not just a legal obligation but a strategic imperative.

This session will explore the critical role of managing psychosocial risks to foster healthier, safer workplaces.

Key Takeaways

  • Understanding Psychosocial Safety, why it matters, and its impact on productivity and employee well-being.
  • Understand the ethical, legal and financial implications of psychosocial safety
  • Overview of risk assessment results and how it can inform strategy and culture
  • Common implementation challenges and how to overcome these

30min

Brett Webb

For two decades, Brett has been a leader in the field of health, safety and wellbeing. He is on a mission to show that employee health and [...]

Keynote Panel Discussion – Transforming Safety Leadership, Risk, and Human Performance

Panellists:

Rocky Armstrong, Global Head of Safety and Wellbeing, Asahi
Richard Turner, Global Head Health Safety and Environment, Toll Group
Jessica Simpson, General Manager, Safety & Wellbeing, Sydney Airport
Andrea Newport-Perriam, Head of HOP and General Manager Western Australia, HSE Global
Moderator:
Luke Beeston, Group Director, Client Solutions & Experience, HSE Global

In a world of increasing complexity, organisations are challenged to go beyond traditional safety practices. This panel brings together industry leaders to explore the intersection of Safety Leadership, Human and Organisational Performance (HOP), Risk Profiling, and Capacity Building.

How do leaders inspire meaningful change while managing risk in dynamic environments? How can we move beyond compliance to proactively build safer, more resilient organisations?

This session will provide innovative strategies and practical approaches that can shape the future of safety leadership, risk management and organisational success.

Key Takeaways

  • Learn how HSE leaders can drive meaningful cultural change by shifting from traditional safety practices to proactive, people-centered approaches.
  • Integrating Human and Organisational Performance (HOP)
  • Discover how HOP principles can improve safety outcomes by focusing on understanding and enhancing real-world work performance.
  • Explore strategies for identifying and managing risks in dynamic environments while building organisational capacity to adapt and respond effectively.
  • Gain insights into innovative approaches that go beyond compliance to foster safer, more resilient workplaces through leadership and engagement.
 

30min

Rocky Armstrong

I am the husband of Hayley, father of Mahli (10) and Lola (2), the son of David and Meg and the brother of James and Sam. Safety, Wellbeing [...]

Richard Turner

Richard is currently the Global Head of Health, Safety, Security and Environment at Toll Group where he has delivered significant safety [...]

Jessica Simpson

Jessica Simpson is a senior safety professional with 15 years’ experience in health and safety, wellbeing, workers insurance and injury [...]

Andrea Newport-Perriam

Andrea Newport-Perriam is a dedicated and accomplished professional in the Human and Organizational Performance (HOP) industry with over 24 [...]

Luke Beeston

Luke Beeston is the Director of Risk and Innovation for HSE Global Australia and is responsible for our global risk management and governance [...]

Networking Break

15min

Keynote Presentation – Challenging Current Thinking Around Psychosocial Hazards

Roberto Garcia, Partner, EY Australia
Emmett Graham, Senior Consultant, Environmental, Health and Safety, EY Australia

In recent years, the recognition of psychosocial hazards in the workplace has gained significant attention. These hazards, which include factors such as stress, bullying, and workload, pose substantial risks to employee safety and organisational productivity.

This session aims to challenge traditional perspectives on psychosocial hazards and propose an alternative taxonomy to better address these issues and support organisations to manage their psychosocial risks more effectively.

Key Takeaways

  • Challenge traditional perspectives and redefine the way we think about psychosocial hazards.
  • Present a taxonomy that categorises psychosocial hazards in a more practical way for organisations to better address root causes.
  • Explore how this thinking can support organisations to develop tailored solutions that address specific organisational needs, contexts, resources, and people to mitigate psychosocial hazards effectively.

30min

Roberto Garcia

Roberto is a registered Psychologist with 20 years consulting experience across both private and public sectors, including Resources, [...]

Emmett Graham

Emmett is a registered psychologist with over 10 years’ experience in developing and delivering programs that support the mental well-being of [...]

Keynote Presentation – Global WHS Legal Trends and Officer WHS Liability Update

Katherine Morris, Partner, Norton Rose Fulbright

In this session, we will explore four of the key issues and trends affecting organisations globally from a work health and safety legal perspective, both now and in the future; global WHS regulation, the rise of technology, changing workforce populations and structures and psychosocial hazards and risks.

In examining these trends, we have been struck by the way that many issues have the potential to both positively and negatively impact health and safety outcomes. We have also been struck by the interconnectedness between many of the issues, such as the anticipated impact of the rise of technology and the ageing of population on the psychosocial health and safety of workers.

During the session, updates will also be provided on the significant officer liability decisions (both acquittals and convictions) under WHS due diligence laws in Australia and New Zealand.

30min

Katherine Morris

Katherine Morris is a leading work health and safety partner at Norton Rose Fulbright. She has over 23 years’ experience working across all [...]

Keynote Presentation – Australian Government – Address from Federal Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Murray Watt

Senator The Hon Murray Watt, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Australian Government

Role of Commonwealth Government in workplace health and safety.


30min

Senator The Hon Murray Watt

With over twenty years experience as a Cabinet Minister, Member of Parliament, Solicitor, public sector executive and political advisor, my skills [...]

Keynote Panel Discussion – Getting Real with the Regulators

Panellists:

Justin Napier - General Manager Regulatory Operations Group, Comcare
Jim Kelly, Director Specialist Harm Prevention, SafeWork NSW
Jacqueline Agius, Work Health and Safety Commissioner, WorkSafe ACT
Robert Wicks, A/Executive Director, Specialised Health and Safety Services, Workplace Health and Safety Queensland
Moderator:
David Burroughs, Founder, Australian Psychological Services (& Chief Mental Health Officer, Westpac)
A candid discussion on psychosocial safety and workplace sexual harassment The current focus on psychosocial safety, from codes of practice, guidance materials and new regulations, has led to a flurry of activity, the emergence of dozens of new providers, the rise of overnight experts, and a frenetic scramble by organisations to meet their compliance obligations in the prevention of mental health harm. This session will help unpack the current and emerging Psychological Health & Safety landscape through candid conversations with several of the state and territory regulators from across Australia and will include the opportunity for audience Q&A. Key Takeaways:
  • What are the regulators seeing – where are organisations getting things wrong?
  • Upsides and unintended challenges with the new regulatory landscape
  • Practically preventing Sexual Harassment from both a psychosocial risk and a positive duty obligations perspective
  • Going from compliance to efficacy - how can we ensure that what we are doing is not just preventing mental health harm, but improving mental health and organisational outcomes
  • Dealing with the ‘new experts’ – key challenges in working with providers who are new to this domain.
  • What’s next for psychosocial safety.

30min

Justin Napier

Justin joined Comcare in June 2015. He has oversight of Comcare’s inspectorate function, regulatory policy, WHS system audits, WHS [...]

Jim Kelly

Jim is responsible for leading a range of specialist areas including psychological health & safety, healthcare & social assistance sector, [...]

Jacqueline Agius

Jacqueline Agius has been the ACT Work Health and Safety Commissioner since April 2020 and the Commissioner of the Labour Hire Licencing scheme [...]

Robert Wicks

Robert oversees the strategic delivery of electrical safety across Queensland, by developing and enforcing standards for electrical safety and [...]

David Burroughs

David Burroughs has had a 20-year career as a strategist, consultant, psychologist and advisor working across a vast array of organisations and [...]

Networking Lunch

40min

Keynote Presentation – Mental Health Strategies That Work at Work

DR. Justin Coulson, R U OK? Ambassador
Dr Justin Coulson tackles the elephant in the boardroom, workplace mental health training isn't moving the needle, and leaders need real solutions. As a leading wellbeing researcher and speaker, Dr Coulson cuts through the complexity to offer leaders exactly what they need; clear, actionable steps that create measurable impact. No more box-ticking. No more band-aid solutions. Just real strategies that work. Key Takeaways
  • Discover why traditional mental health programs are failing to deliver results
  • Learn practical, proven strategies that create genuine culture change
  • Master authentic conversations that build trust and support wellbeing
  • Take away clear frameworks for supporting team members in crisis

20min

Dr Justin Coulson

Dr Justin Coulson is the co-host and parenting expert on Channel Nine’s Parental Guidance, the founder of happyfamilies.com.au, and one of [...]

Keynote Panel Discussion – What risks and opportunities will the evolving ESG landscape present for EHS leaders over the next 1-5 years?

Panellists:

Dr Peter Simpson, Global Head Safety, Security & Sustainability, Standard Chartered
Yolanda Oosthuizen, General Manager HSEQ & Sustainability, Horizon Energy Group
David Schelbach, Chief Sustainability Officer, Ixom Operations
Dr Manuel Seidel, Founder & CEO, ecoPortal
Moderator:
Wade Needham, Director ESG and EHS, Natural Resources APAC

Changing voter perspectives is likely to affect the regulatory context in the medium term yet prior changes within the ESG landscape are being felt now. The greater adoption of ESG disclosure frameworks, introduction of ESG rating regulations in the EU, the global adoption of IFRS S1 & S2 standard and increasing assurance over disclosures will continue to drive short term opportunities and greater demands for those heading up EHS functions.

Panellists will share insights into overcoming challenges, establishing cross-functional collaboration, and creating a roadmap for achieving unified ESG and HSE objectives.

Key Takeaways:

  • Effect ESG ratings agencies are having on common WHS data being published
  • If / when external reasonable assurance is applied to EHS data via ESG reports
  • Understand how a risk management focus can support the increasing attention on human rights, equality and wellbeing (human capital)
  • What a just transition is and how internal stakeholders will be balancing multiple outcomes in the near term, putting pressure on resources
  • Learn effective methods for fostering collaboration between HSE and Sustainability teams, enabling seamless coordination, knowledge sharing, and resource allocation that strengthens both areas.
  • Gain practical insights into steps HSE leaders can take to drive ESG aligned safety and environmental initiatives, from setting KPIs to developing integrated policies that support broader ESG objectives.

30min

Dr Peter Simpson

A global executive with over 25 years of leadership in the areas of risk management, safety, health, wellbeing, security, sustainability/ESG, [...]

Yolanda Oosthuizen

Professional multi skilled and qualified in Operations, Safety, Health, Environment, Risk, Quality, Sustainability and Laboratory management with [...]

David Schelbach

David’s remit encompasses both IXOM’s corporate Safety, Health and Environment (SH&E), Quality and Sustainability strategy, policy and [...]

Dr. Manuel Seidel

Manuel is passionate about transforming traditional ‘box tick’ health & safety, sustainability and risk management systems into modern [...]

Wade Needham

Wade is working with forwarding thinking leaders in the agriculture and post farm gate industries to reduce the frequency and impact of ill health on [...]

Closing Keynote Presentation – Developing Frontline Leadership for Effective Risk Management

Pierre De Villiers, Head of QHSE International Operations E&C, Sapura Energy Australia

Our frontline leaders are the cornerstone of managing risk where it matters most on the ground. Whether it's lifting a load, flying a plane, commissioning a wind farm, or leading tactical operations, these leaders represent the final checkpoint before action is taken.

Drawing from lessons instilled as a young commando about mastering the fundamentals through consistent habits, this session reflects on how those principles translate across 20 years in diverse industrial sectors. Leadership, often debated as innate or developed, becomes even more complex when layered with risk management and the intricate dynamics of interpersonal relationships.

This session will delve into the fundamental principles of cultivating effective frontline safety leadership, while exploring proven tools and techniques that not only enhance decision making but also align with specific contexts.


20min

Pierre De Villiers

Pierre is a QHSE Leader with over 18 years of executive-level experience in risk management and quality, health, safety, security, and [...]

Closing Remarks

Tyron McGurgan CEO, Focus Network

5min

Tyron McGurgan

Tyron McGurgan is a seasoned entrepreneur, media expert, and events professional boasting over 17 years of industry experience. As the CEO and [...]

Farewell Networking Drinks

60min

WHY ATTEND

STAR KEYNOTES
AND PRESENTERS

We invite only the leading international and local experts to provide sessions on site, this allows for attendees to be taught by front-line executives that compress years of meaningful experience into a systematic, well organised learning program.

NETWORKING
OPPORTUNITIES

Keeping in line with the main goal of the event in achieving new relationships, we provide a huge amount of networking opportunities for attendees through breakfast, luncheons, cocktails and informal introductions.

1-1 PRIVATE
MEETINGS

Allowing both buyers and sellers the opportunity to engage with one another onsite in a series of prearranged business meetings. These provide both parties a great opportunity to build new relationships by interacting face to face.

TARGETED
SESSIONS

Being able to experience different sessions is what makes this event unique; whether you are looking to attend an interactive workshop, roundtable, 1-1 meeting or panel discussion.

NETWORKING
DINNER

Interact and relax amongst your peers at the official Networking dinner where you will have the opportunity to be part of the entertainment.

PERSONALISED
PROGRAM

The summit is personalised for YOU, this means that what is important to your business is important to us. We create personalised itineraries around sessions you want to attend, allowing for your time to be spent wisely while out of the office.

DOWNLOAD THE POST EVENT REPORT FROM OUR PREVIOUS EVENT

REGISTER YOUR INTEREST

PURCHASE TICKETS

Should you wish to attend the 13th Australian OHS Leaders Summit on the 19th – 20th of March 2025, please purchase your tickets below

1 Ticket

$2990

  • Access to onsite mobile App
  • Meals & refreshments over the two days
  • One night complimentary accommodation
  • Access to all interactive workshops, keynotes and roundtable sessions
  • Entry to pre-dinner Networking Drinks Reception
  • Seat allocated at the OHS Leaders Dinner
  • Access to Closing Networking Drinks Function
  • Access to all presentation
    slides and photos
BUY NOW
Group Ticket (2 - 4)

$2499

  • Access to onsite mobile App
  • Meals & refreshments over the two days
  • One night complimentary accommodation
  • Access to all interactive workshops, keynotes and roundtable sessions
  • Entry to pre-dinner Networking Drinks Reception
  • Seat allocated at the OHS Leaders Dinner
  • Access to Closing Networking Drinks Function
  • Access to all presentation
    slides and photos
BUY NOW
GROUP TICKETS (5+)

$2299

  • Access to onsite mobile App
  • Meals & refreshments over the two days
  • One night complimentary accommodation
  • Access to all interactive workshops, keynotes and roundtable sessions
  • Entry to pre-dinner Networking Drinks Reception
  • Seat allocated at the OHS Leaders Dinner
  • Access to Closing Networking Drinks Function
  • Access to all presentation
    slides and photos
BUY NOW

LATEST NEWS

Work Design in Practise – Finding the Opportunities in Business Cycles to Influence Change – Fireside Chat

Moderator Andrew Barrett, Chief Connector, Safety on Tap Panellists Skye Buatava, Director, Research and Evaluation – Better Regulation […]

Designing Mentally Healthy Work for High Performance and Sustainability – Dr Laura Kirby

Dr Laura Kirby, Chief Mental Health Officer, Commonwealth Bank Dr Laura shared insights on a systems-based approach to workplace mental health […]

9 pitfalls that can cause your OHS software implementation to fail (and how to succeed instead) – Dr Manuel Seidel

Dr Manuel Seidel, Founder & CEO, EcoPortal Looking to implement OHS software and achieve digital transformation? Dr. Manuel Seidel has shared […]

Criminal and civil law obligations to minimise risk of psychiatric injury – Katherine Morris

Katherine Morris, Partner, Norton Rose Fulbright Are you up-to-date on your legal obligations to prevent psychiatric injury in the workplace? […]

Meet leading Health & Safety executives from a range of industries.

Interact and engage with some of the strongest and most powerful brands from across Australia.

'This year was even better than last! The calibre of attendees is like no other event in the Australian marketplace. This was a very impressive group of the countries most senior safety professionals and presenters, while the one to one meetings with suppliers has allowed me to really understand where I need to be investing. Count me in for next year.'

 

– LINFOX

'Our First year we took a 7 meeting package, the second year we took a 14 meeting package and now in our 3rd year we were gold sponsors. Our business has now done 10x since working with the OHS Leaders team and we have already signed up to be diamond sponsor for 2021.'

 

– DONESAFE

'The OHS Leaders Summit continues to provide a fantastic opportunity to listen to peers, their journeys, opinions & lessons learnt. Once again I am going away feeling inspired and energised. Thank you.'

 

– SUPER RETAIL GROUP

'We have joined this summit for the last 5 years and have been the major sponsor for the last 3. This event has been invaluable for our business, the opportunity to meet with the countries most senior safety leaders one on one has been fantastic. It all starts here at the summit and then it’s up to your teams to foster these relationships.'

 

– PREMIUM HEALTH

'It’s the only event my colleague and I attend. High quality presentations, high quality providers, engaging workshops, and plenty of networking opportunities.'

 

– VEOLIA

'Great networking opportunity, with providers and delegates. Learnt new ideas, what is working well in the industry, international perspective was enlightening. Very positive experience and is refreshing to hear from new approaches in industry that are delivering results.'

 

– JLL

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WHITE PAPERS

ecoPortal Case Study 1

A Recipe for Safety Success At Foodstuffs North Island
Find out how Foodstuffs thrives with ecoPortal, a simple, configurable and user-friendly software that manages the company’s health, safety, environmental, training, and legal compliance.

ecoPortal Case Study 2

Nexus Logistics: Safely Moving The Country Forward

Nexus Logistics, operating in the complex and high-risk logistics industry, prioritizes safety as a fundamental aspect of its operations.
Find out how the simplicity and effectiveness of the ecoPortal system contribute to making safety and well-being management more straightforward for the company.

ecoPortal Case Study 3

Banking on Safety: Mastering Psychosocial Safety Excellence

In today's fast-paced world, where financial institutions often prioritize transactions over people, the Bank of New Zealand (BNZ) prioritizes community and employee well-being, addressing rising risks like customer aggression and mental health challenges. With ecoPortal, BNZ fosters trust, safety, and resilience in a changing world.

HSI 1

HSI Donesafe Infopack
The First EHS Platform to Protect your Entire Enterprise Risk Universe Unified platform. Any use case. One point of control.

HSI 2

Case Study BESIX
This case study explores how BESIX, a leading global construction and engineering company, leverages innovative technology and strategic approaches to enhance operational efficiency, sustainability, and safety. Readers will gain insights into key challenges, solutions implemented, and measurable outcomes, offering valuable lessons for organizations looking to optimize their own construction and infrastructure projects.

Psychosocial Risk Management – Insights for leaders

Discover principles of best practice for identification and management of psychosocial hazards, as well as what a landmark High Court of Australia case ruling means for your psychosocial risk approach. Get an understanding of the legislation, your key duties and how to ensure you are set up for success.

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