Helen O'Keefe Talks Safety

In this podcast, Helen is joined by Dr Jennifer Gray, CEO of Zoos Victoria.  

Jenny and Helen discuss:

• Jenny's diverse career which has spanned transport, aviation, banking and Zoos
• How Jenny led Zoos Victoria through numerous Melbourne lockdowns - and the impact on the animals  
• The high risk reality of working with dangerous animals
• The evolution of Zoos Victoria's safety transformation 
• What Jenny values in health and safety leaders

In this podcast, Helen O'Keefe is joined by Ingilby Dickson, a seasoned supply chain and business executive. 

Ingilby and Helen discuss;

• Ingilby’s career which has spanned internationally
• How Bluescope’s safety DNA inspired Ingilby
• The shift in diversity and addressing mental health in male dominated industries
• What Ingilby values in health and safety leaders

In this podcast, Helen is joined by the CEO of Porter Davis Homes, Adrian Hondros.

Adrian and Helen discuss:

• How Adrian has navigated Porter Davis through the challenges of COVID-19
• Adrian's career shift - from banking and finance to construction
• How being a witness to the September 11 terrorist attacks in New York affected Adrian's approach to health and safety
• What Adrian values in a health and safety leader

We hope you enjoy listening.

• How Club Assist has built a culture where employee health, safety and well being is a top priority 
• What keeps Tracey awake at night, as the CEO of Club Assist
• The dangers Club Assist employees and contractors face and how Club Assist keeps them safe

My guest today, Earl Eddings, has a long and distinguished career history both in sport and health and safety. In this podcast, we discuss his journey from PE teacher to Managing Director of Riskcom and Chair of Cricket Australia, and how his training in health & safety influences his leadership.

Ed and Helen discuss:

• How Deliveroo has managed the challenges of COVID
• Ed's career path, from scientist to CEO
• Ed's background and understanding around creating a health & safety culture
• Why mental well-being is such an important issue to discuss
• What CEOs & boards want from a HSE professional

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced many businesses to enact their business continuity plans. But no one predicted COVID-19 or planned for the impact it's having on all of us at work and in our daily lives.

In this podcast, Helen talks to employment lawyer and Partner at Gadens, Siobhan Mulcahy, about the HR issues businesses are grappling with in response to COVID-19. With warmth and good humour, Siobhan shares her advice on how business can best address the employment challenges created by COVID-19.

When we recruit senior OHS professionals, often one of the key responsibilities is to brief the board on health and safety issues.

So, to help senior (and aspiring) HSE professionals better understand the board's expectations and thinking on OHS, Helen invited non-executive director, Karen Smith-Pomeroy, to share her insights on the podcast.

Karen is a former Suncorp banking executive and current non-executive director of Infigen Energy, Kenna Security, Infocus wealth management, Stanwell Corporation and Queensland Treasury Corporation. In addition, she chairs the National Affordable Housing Corporation.

In this podcast, Karen shares her experience on what's important for boards in terms of health and safety including:

• The structure of boards and the role of sub-committees
• The role of the board to oversee risk and processes to mitigate risk
• Leadership on safety from the top
• How OH&S leaders need to present to the board
• The importance of disclosure

Helen was delighted to interview Shelly Park, Chief Executive Officer of Australian Red Cross Blood Service (ARCBS), for episode 5 of her podcast.

With wisdom, warmth and passion, Shelly talks about her career path to CEO, the transformational safety journey that ARCBS has begun and the initiatives developed to inspire their people.   

Shelly provides fascinating insight into how diverse and complex the ARCBS is and explains the relationship between the Blood Service and the humanitarian arm, Australian Red Cross. 

In episode 4, Helen O'Keefe talks to CEO of Skybridge Group, Chad Orr. 

Skybridge Group's core business is the installation and maintenance of infrastructure. The company engages a large contingent workforce of contractors, which presents safety challenges.

In this podcast, you will learn:

• How Skybridge uses safety as a competitive advantage
• How to engage contractors to adopt the company's safety ethos
• What issues around safety keep a CEO awake at night
• Why 50 page documents don't get the safety message across
• How to communicate the safety message in a more engaging way