Health and Safety Month 2023 presenter profiles
Colin Radford was appointed Chief Executive Officer of WorkSafe Victoria in November 2019. WorkSafe is Victoria's occupational health and safety regulator and workplace injury insurer.
In a 30 year career working in and with the Victorian Public sector, Colin has held many senior roles including most recently, as CEO of the Victorian Management Insurance Authority, where he oversaw a major cultural and strategic transformation. He has previously served as an executive at WorkSafe and the Transport Accident Commission, has held senior roles in Ministerial offices, advising three Victorian Premiers and as Chief of Staff to a Cabinet Minister.
He spent seven years as a Partner at Deloitte, where he led the Victorian Government practice and was the National Public Sector Leader for Financial Advisory Services.
A Graduate of Columbia Business School (New York) and the Australian Institute of Company Directors, Colin is also a Fellow of the Institute of Public Administration and the Williamson Community Leadership Program. In 2019, Colin was recognised as Australia's CEO Diversity Champion, by the Australian Human Resources Institute.
Dr Narelle Beer has more than 35 years' experience serving the community, ensuring public safety Understanding the importance of working with stakeholders through authentic and meaningful partnerships, Narelle delivers prevention, engagement and innovation through contemporary and collaborative leadership to drive harm reduction strategies and enhance safety. In 2021, Narelle commenced in her current role as the Executive Director, Health and Safety, WorkSafe. Enhancing workplace safety and embedding harm reduction processes, opportunities and strategies through engagement, education, compliance and enforcement, WorkSafe (as the Victorian Regulator) reduces harm whilst improving outcomes for injured workers.
Prior to commencing at WorkSafe, Narelle spent three+ years working as the Assistant Commissioner, Regional and Remote Operations, Northern Territory Police. This portfolio was responsible for all operational responses for the Northern Territory (excluding Darwin, but including coastal regions such as Bathurst Island and Groote eylandt). Ensuring Territorian' safety, Narelle was responsible for one of the largest and most remote police service area in Australia.
A member of Victoria Police for over 30 years, Narelle's last position was Superintendent attached to the Western Region - Operations Support. In Victoria Police, Narelle worked in most aspects of policing including General Duties, Criminal Investigation, Corruption Investigation, Collision Investigation, Education, and Corporate Management/Policy Departments. Narelle managed and led a number of Taskforces into corruption within Victoria Police.
Dr Aburumman is a Senior Ergonomist at Worksafe Victoria. He is a human factors specialist with a consulting and research experience across a broad range of industries, specialising in systems and organisational human factors.
Mohammed has a PhD from Monash University, where he investigated the concept of safety culture and its implementation in the Victorian construction industry.
Sean started his career in the metal/manufacturing industry completing an Engineering Tradesperson (Fabrication) apprenticeship. Continuing in the industry, he began working for his current employer approximately 20 years ago where he achieved his current position as a HSR and Leading Hand in a steel manufacturing plant.
Recognising the effects of being a shift worker within heavy industry, he endeavored to improve the health and safety culture onsite including a focus on psychological health and safety. Through his passion for health and safety, his site now includes Mental Health First Aiders, Mental Health Ambassadors and a designated onsite Wellbeing office, among multiple other initiatives.
Sean was a 2022 WorkSafe Award Finalist as Health and Safety Representative of the Year.
Rowena has worked at Braybrook College for a significant number of years. She has worked in a variety of roles, but most recently in Careers and VET. As part of this she is also involved in OHS training, with the students of Year 9 and also students in VET and VM. In another part of Rowena's role, she has been involved with Environment and Sustainability and her school was recently awarded for their work in this area through Resource Smart.
Gloria has been working as an OHS professional for 24 years predominantly in the commercial construction, transport, and manufacturing industries.
Gloria worked as lecturer and course coordinator in undergraduate and postgraduate OHS programs at RMIT University for over 11 years and continues to enjoy educating future OHS professionals.
Gloria is the Director of Contract Safety Solutions P/L and works as a HSEQ and HR consultant across all industries in Australia.
Gloria has been working as a consultant for the WorkSafe OHS Essentials Program for over 13 years.
Gloria is the Founder and Chief Organizer of the AIHS OHS Construction Forum which has been running for the past 16 years in Melbourne.
Gloria is a member of the Australian OHS Education Accreditation Board (AOHSEAB) working to ensure that OHS Education programs in Australia are of the highest standard.
Gloria is the author of Chapter 29: Mobile Plant, of the HaSPA Body of Knowledge (BOK) and has written various papers on health and safety.
Gloria manages family businesses in plant and equipment hire and transport is busy raising two teenage boys.
Robyn is a team leader and mobile case manager with EML. Robyn has over 30 years of industry experience having previously been a Regional Branch manager of 4 regional branches (including Geelong, Bendigo, Shepparton, and Albury/cross border Vic Workers Comp) across Victoria.
James has over 15 years of experience in the Workplace Rehabilitation industry. He has collaborated with a wide range of industries and organisations, gaining exposure to diverse work-related injuries, illnesses, and diseases.
Leveraging his allied health background, he finds great fulfilment in utilising his clinical expertise to support all stakeholders throughout the recovery and return-to-work process.
When not immersed in his professional endeavours, James is dedicated to nurturing his young family, ensuring a balanced and grounded life outside of work.
Teryn is a Counselling Psychologist and Senior Psychological Health and Safety Specialist at WorkSafe. Teryn has extensive experience in Psychological Health and Safety, particularly in male-dominated workplaces, having provided services in the prevention, early intervention, and treatment and recovery space.
She has a strong interest in supporting organisations and individuals to prevent psychological harm and injuries .Prior to joining WorkSafe Victoria, Teryn spent years working with trauma-related issues, peak performance, and emergency services personnel.
Dr Carden is a Principal Ergonomist, leading the Ergonomics and Human Factors Unit, at WorkSafe Victoria. Tony has a diverse range of experience across a wide array of industry sectors including housing construction, electricity distribution, property maintenance, security, outdoor education and adventure guiding.
Tony's PhD is in Human Factors, specialising in the analysis, design and modification of complex systems of work. He is passionate about applying his specialty to safety, wellbeing and system performance.
Tony's current work centres on supporting the learning and application of systems thinking across WorkSafe and our partner organisations.
Pia is a social worker with experience in the statutory, community and local government sectors. In recent years Pia worked at the Victorian Trades Hall Council developing a campaign including training focused on eradicating gendered violence in the workplace.
During this time Pia completed a Masters in Narrative Therapy and her thesis was based upon this work. In 2022 Pia moved to WorkSafe where she continued to work on improving outcomes for workers who are subjected to gendered violence including sexual harassment in the workplace and since starting there is now managing the Healthcare Team.
Pia strongly believes that the Victorian OHS Act, Worksafe, unions, HSRs and other stakeholders are in a unique and powerful position to improve workplace safety and particularly to prevent injury and harm coming to workers.
Alicia has worked across the Workers Compensation and Health and Safety sector for 20 years and has brought together a background in injury management and education into her current role. Alicia leads a team focused on workers intervention targeting workers with increased risk of injury because they are young or inexperienced, working in insecure workforces or culturally diverse.
Mike has over 12 years experience as a Health and Safety representative and in management roles dealing with OHS matters across a number of high risk and low risk industries. He previously worked in WorkSafe's Advisory team providing advice to HSRs, employers and management to improve workplace health and safety.
Mike has extensive experience in effective consultation and communication, issue resolution and support HSRs for better workplace health and safety outcomes.
Perdita is the Manager of Occupational Health and Operational Programs with WorkSafe Victoria. She is an occupational hygienist with over 15 years of experience in manufacturing, health care and as a regulator. Perdita joined WorkSafe Victoria as a Senior Occupational Hygienist and moved into the Prevention, Strategy and Planning Division in 2021.
Ric is a Technical Inspector with Worksafe's Renewable Energy Construction team working into the renewable energy sector projects across Victoria and was previously a construction Inspector working Melbourne's East. He has industry experience in Telecommunications (installation, maintenance and management), Civil and Modular construction, Network construction, Restoration and bio-decontamination.
Ric is a Member of the Australian Institute of Health and Safety and has a Master's Degree in Occupational Health Safety and Environmental management.
In his spare time he volunteers in Scouting, goes rock climbing & does martial arts.
Joh has over 15-years' experience as a Psychologist, covering a broad range of settings, and has been a member of the WorkSafe Clinical Panel since 2020. Joh is passionate about working together to ensure a coordinated treatment plan and welcomes the opportunity to work with other health professionals to ensure a collaborative and holistic approach.
Kim is a Technical Inspector with the Representation Support team at WorkSafe Victoria.
Prior to joining WorkSafe, Kim worked in a number of other regulatory roles with a health & safety focus including the heavy vehicle industry and commercial fisheries, as well as in a wide number of industries including ship construction, remote indigenous communities, safety and enforcement roles on public transport and a trade background in construction.
Anita is the Manager, Industry and Representation Support a team within the Field Operations that focuses on representation (in all its forms) and the importance of Victoria's HSRs.
Prior to this role Anita has worked as the Group Leader driving the Corrections Taskforce and as a Senior Inspector within the Psychosocial Inspectorate. With 10 years' experience as an OHS regulator and her qualifications in Social Work, Anita understands the importance of reducing workplace harm and the potential impacts when things go wrong.
Dr Goode is a Program Manager at WorkSafe Victoria. Natassia started at WorkSafe as an Ergonomist Specialist Inspector. She now leads a team focussed on improving the capability of employers to prevent workplace injuries from hazardous manual handling.
Prior to coming to WorkSafe, she has worked with several industries to design more effective incident reporting and investigation systems, including healthcare, construction and outdoor education.
Halil is a Principal Occupational Hygienist with WorkSafe Victoria and is also appointed as an Inspector under the Occupational Health and Safety Act and the Dangerous Goods Act.
He has been engaged with WorkSafe Victoria as an Occupational Hygienist since 1990 and in that time has visited hundreds of workplaces regarding a range of hazards and issues including silica, asbestos, lead, confined spaces, heat stress and many other substances and issues. He represents WorkSafe on various National and State Working Groups.
Lucas joined WorkSafe in July 2018 after 10 years in various roles across Claims Management, RTW and Customer Service.
Lucas delivered a number of programs of work whilst at an Agent with a focus on early, safe and sustainable RTW outcomes supported by a high level of customer service for injured workers and employers.
At WorkSafe Lucas collaborates closely with the occupational rehabilitation provider panel and Agents on recovery and return to work support services for injured workers and employers.
Rachael is a physiotherapist and Senior Ergonomist within the Ergonomics and Human Factors Unit at WorkSafe Victoria. Rachael provides specialist knowledge and advice in the human factors and ergonomics (HFE) fields, participating in the identification of workplace interventions relevant to the management and prevention of musculoskeletal disorders and poor health outcomes.
Recovery Claims Specialist within the Return to Work team at WorkSafe Victoria.
Over nine years working in personal injury insurance between the Transport Accident Commission and WorkSafe Victoria. Experience and background working in medical/health with Paramedicine, Training and Assessment and Project Management qualifications.
Using my experience and exposure to various trauma as a treater and worker to drive best practice and rehabilitation, case management and return to work activities.
Andrew has an extensive history in emergency management and program management in Victorian state government, as an Operations Manager with the Victoria State Emergency Service and Program Manager at Department of Justice and Community Safety, Andrew joined Royal Flying Doctor Service in June 2022 as the Head of Service Delivery for Mobile Patient Care and more recently stepped into the General Manager MPC role.
Delivering non-emergency patient transport services via road and air, with 400 staff, 117 vehicles and a plane operating across 24 locations, from Lismore in NSW to Warrnambool and Bairnsdale in Victoria, MPC provide services to the community far and wide. .
Dhawal joined WorkSafe Victoria in 2020 as a multi-disciplinary inspector. In 2022, he took up a 12 month secondment with the Psychosocial operations team from where he transitioned into a permanent role within the team.
With over 15 years of experience in the maritime industry, Dhawal leverages his background to create psychologically safe workplaces in Victoria.
Jodi has extensive experience working in the area of work related gendered violence. She was a member of the Psychological Health Programs team which worked across a range of psychological hazards projects. She is currently working in Strategic Delivery on Worksafe's recovery service model. Prior to moving to WorkSafe Jodi was the co-Lead of the Women’s and Equality Team at Victorian Trades Hall
Council, where she coordinated a number of campaigns including the Stop Gendered Violence at Work Campaign. Jodi has a Master degree in Gender and Development and has worked in the OHS, and gender and development sector at home, in the Asia Pacific and internationally. She is committed to ensuring that ALL Victorian workers feel safe and respected at work.
Amy is a Registered Psychologist and Senior Psychological Health and Safety Specialist at WorkSafe. Amy has extensive experience consulting to organisations to identify risks to psychological health and safety and to develop tailored solutions to meet their needs.
Amy has experience in development and delivery of training programs and leadership coaching within both the public and private sector, and is passionate about creating psychologically safe and healthy workplaces.
Prior to joining WorkSafe in April 2018, James worked as an A-Grade electrician in the construction industry.
In his time at WorkSafe, James has enjoyed the roles of construction inspector, technical inspector and program officer. He is currently Senior Construction Advisor.
James has recently completed his Bachelors of Public Health and Health Promotion at Deakin University, which has helped him in developing the Priority Harms Project.
Mellissa is a Senior Psychological Health and Safety Specialist/Inspector at WorkSafe. Mellissa is a Registered Psychologist with a Masters in Industrial and Organisational Psychology.
Her areas of expertise focus on different preventative and management strategies for psychological health and safety risks in the workplace, enabling her to provide advice that is tailored, evidence based and grounded in best practice.
Marina is lead teacher and content designer for Geelong Tertiary Futures Program GTFP. This is a careers program delivered to year 9 Geelong regional Government schools. The program was implemented by the education department in partnership with Skilling the Bay and the Gordon Institute of TAFE.
Marina has a background in fashion and the hair and makeup industry. She began teaching with the Gordon in 2010 in hair, makeup and beauty therapy for Vet in schools and profile students. She progressed onto GTFP specializing in the delivery and design to the younger learner. Marina holds her TAE, Diploma in Specialist makeup, and has just completed a Graduate Certificate of Adult Vocational Training and Assessment.
Stephanie is an Occupational Therapist and Ergonomist has 30 years of experience in managing and preventing work-related injury or illness in Australia. It is this, combined with her own executive-level management experience, that adds strength to her ability to guide organisations on workforce management strategies that align with operations, finance and human resources.
Stephanie is project manager and subject matter expert of the Food Flourish Programme, a consortium of Health Network Providers, aiming to reduce MSD risk in Food Services departments of each hospital.
Danielle has over 20 years' experience working in the Victorian public hospital system as a social work clinician, student educator, leader and project manager. Danielle recently leveraged her strengths as a systems thinker to lead the Thriving in Health project, a large-scale multi-year collaborative project focused on improving healthcare worker mental health and wellbeing through preventative workplace strategies. A curious learner, Danielle is currently studying a Master of Design Futures at RMIT.
David is a founding director of the Convenience Group, a public health agency, with three decades of experiences in international, national and community-based health interventions that seek to change and/or sustain positive health behaviours in key areas such as road safety, sexual health, perinatal health and reducing drug related harm.
David serves on the boards of Australian Drug Law Reform Foundation (ADLRF), Victorian Association for the Care & Resettlement of Offenders (VACRO) and Institution of Breathing and Sleep (IBAS).
Jared is the Acting Program Manager within the Health and Safety, Prevention Strategy and Planning unit at WorkSafe Victoria. He leads a team focussed on improving the capability of employers to prevent workplace injuries from hazardous manual handling.