In this episode, Alanna Ball speaks with Charlotte Jamieson about the role of connection, mental health, and emotional regulation in safety leadership. Charlotte shares how her early career in sports psychology shaped the way she approaches safety today, bringing a deeper understanding of human behaviour, resilience, and performance into workplace safety conversations.

Their discussion highlights how safety leadership is not only about systems and processes, but also about relationships. Charlotte introduces ideas such as the Art of Connection and explains how neurobiology and emotional awareness can influence the way people respond to stress, risk, and change. The conversation encourages safety professionals to think beyond compliance and consider how belonging, trust, and empathy shape both safety culture and recovery after incidents.

Episode highlights

• Charlotte’s transition from sports psychology into health and safety

• Why connection and belonging play a critical role in safety culture and recovery

• The Art of Connection framework and how it supports effective leadership

• How neurobiology and emotional regulation influence decision making in safety

• Practical strategies for managing stress and building stronger workplace relationships

• The importance of empathy when influencing safety conversations and behaviour

This episode offers a powerful reminder that safety leadership begins with understanding people. Charlotte’s insights show how connection, empathy, and emotional awareness can strengthen communication, support wellbeing, and improve safety outcomes. For safety professionals seeking to influence culture and build trust across teams, this conversation highlights practical ways to lead with greater awareness and human understanding. 

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In this episode, Alanna Ball sits down with Joe Prigmore for an honest and practical conversation about finding your path in health and safety. Joe shares how her move from biomedical science into the safety profession was not carefully planned, but ultimately deeply fulfilling.

Their discussion centres on the human side of safety. Beyond systems and compliance, Joe reflects on the importance of curiosity, empathy, and people skills in building safer workplaces. She shares how learning from mistakes, developing professional judgement over time, and understanding basic human needs are all part of shaping effective safety leadership.

Episode highlights

• Joe’s unexpected transition from biomedical science into health and safety

• Why people skills are just as important as technical knowledge in safety management

• How curiosity helps uncover root causes and improve safety outcomes

• Learning from mistakes and using reflection to strengthen professional judgement

• Influencing leaders by understanding their priorities and pressures

• The value of a partnership approach in safety rather than a policing mindset

• Why practical, hands-on training often creates more impact than theory alone

• Recognising that fundamental needs, such as access to clean facilities, are central to safety culture

• The role of empathy and understanding in managing risk effectively

This episode reminds us that safety is grounded in people, not paperwork. Joe’s experiences highlight how curiosity, empathy, and partnership can shift conversations and strengthen culture. For safety professionals at any stage of their career, the conversation reinforces that growth often comes through experience, reflection, and the courage to learn from mistakes. It also challenges us to remember that the basics matter, and that meeting fundamental human needs is central to building trust and credibility in safety leadership.

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www.womeninsafety.net

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In this episode, Alanna Ball and Amy Morris explore the complexity of safety culture and the often unseen factors that shape how safety is experienced in organisations. Rather than focusing on policies alone, the conversation centres on perception, trust, and the motives workers attribute to leadership decisions.

They unpack the idea of preservation orientation and question whether safety measures are viewed as genuine care for employees or as protection for the organisation. This discussion highlights how worker perception can influence engagement, compliance, and overall trust in leadership.

Episode highlights

• How worker perceptions of management motives shape safety culture

• The concept of preservation orientation and its impact on trust

• Why credibility, reliability, and authenticity matter in leadership

• The link between business decisions and safety outcomes

• The risk of treating safety as separate from broader organisational strategy

• How communication influences whether safety is seen as supportive or controlling

• Why understanding the reasons behind safety measures builds stronger engagement

• The importance of framing surveys and safety conversations constructively

• Recognising that organisational culture must support safety as a shared responsibility

This episode challenges listeners to look beyond surface-level safety metrics and consider the deeper cultural signals being sent through business decisions and communication practices. Alanna and Amy remind us that safety culture is not created by policies alone. It is shaped by trust, clarity of intent, and alignment between organisational values and everyday actions. 

For safety professionals, this conversation is an invitation to reflect on how decisions are perceived, how messages are delivered, and how safety can be integrated meaningfully into the broader business context.

Stay connected with Women in Safety

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www.womeninsafety.net

Visit the website for upcoming events, programs, and community updates, and subscribe to the newsletter to stay informed throughout the year.

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Follow along for conversations, community highlights, and insights from women across the health and safety profession.

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In this episode, Alanna Ball speaks with Yvonne Hinch about her journey from musculoskeletal physiotherapist to health and safety leader. What began as a desire to help people physically evolved into a broader commitment to improving how work is designed and how people are supported within systems.

Their conversation explores the role of human factors and systems thinking in modern safety practice, and why understanding behaviour, context, and organisational culture is just as important as managing hazards. Yvonne shares openly about navigating risk conversations, influencing leadership with both assertiveness and diplomacy, and the courage required to advocate for safer outcomes.

Episode highlights

• Yvonne’s transition from physiotherapy into health and safety, driven by a people-focused mindset

• Why human factors and systems thinking are essential to effective risk management

• Addressing antisocial behaviour in the workforce through a holistic approach

• The importance of professional courage when managing complex risks

• Influencing leaders with clarity, confidence, and diplomacy

• Overcoming imposter syndrome and building confidence over time

• Learning from mistakes as part of professional growth

• The impact of mentors and support networks in career development

• Why anyone, regardless of title, can act as a safety leader

• Future capabilities for safety professionals and the need for a systems-based approach

This episode highlights that strong safety leadership is grounded in empathy, courage, and a willingness to look at the whole system, not just the immediate issue. Yvonne’s reflections remind us that confidence develops through experience, mistakes are part of growth, and influence is built through understanding people as much as processes. For those working in health and safety, this conversation offers practical insight into leading with clarity, integrity, and a broader perspective. 

Stay connected with Women in Safety

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www.womeninsafety.net

Visit the website for upcoming events, programs, and community updates, and subscribe to the newsletter to stay informed throughout the year.

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In this episode, Alanna Ball is joined by Amanda Clements for a thoughtful conversation about capability, leadership, and what meaningful safety practice looks like beyond policy and procedure.

Amanda shares her journey from corporate health and safety roles into coaching, reflecting on how that transition reshaped the way she works with leaders and teams. Together, they explore why understanding context matters, how empathy for frontline workers strengthens safety outcomes, and why bridging the gap between management and workers remains one of the most important challenges in the industry.

Episode highlights

• Amanda’s transition from corporate safety roles into coaching and capability development

• Why empathy for frontline workers is critical to effective safety leadership

• How coaching can lift performance, confidence, and accountability in teams

• The importance of understanding broader organisational context in safety decisions

• Bridging the gap between management intent and frontline reality

• Why vulnerability in communication builds trust and influence

• Learning from mistakes as a key driver of professional growth

• The value of engaging with other disciplines to strengthen safety practice

• How evidence-based thinking supports better safety management

• Looking ahead to how technology and AI may shape future safety capability

This episode offers a grounded reminder that strong safety practice is built through people, not just systems. Amanda’s insights highlight the power of empathy, honest communication, and continuous capability building in shaping safer workplaces. For safety professionals at any stage of their career, the conversation encourages reflection on how we influence others, learn from setbacks, and prepare for the evolving demands of the profession.

If you are looking to strengthen your influence, support frontline workers more effectively, or rethink how you build capability in safety, this episode invites you to pause, reflect, and take one practical step forward in your own practice.

Stay connected with Women in Safety

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www.womeninsafety.net

Visit the website for upcoming events, programs, and community updates, and subscribe to the newsletter to stay informed throughout the year.

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Follow along for conversations, community highlights, and insights from women across the health and safety profession.

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In this episode, Alanna Ball sits down with Mary Teymoury for a thoughtful and honest conversation about what effective safety leadership really looks like. Drawing on more than 15 years in health and safety, Mary reflects on how her perspective has evolved, particularly through systems thinking, professional courage, and the way safety professionals communicate with people at all levels of an organisation.

Rather than focusing solely on technical controls or compliance, this episode explores the human side of safety. Mary shares why curiosity, understanding, and asking better questions are critical to building trust and influence, and how safety leaders can move from enforcing rules to shaping culture.

Episode highlights

• Mary’s journey through health and safety and how systems thinking reshaped her view of risk

• Why many safety failures are human in nature, not technical

• The role of communication in turning insight into influence

• What professional courage looks like when challenging leaders respectfully

• Shifting from a compliance mindset to genuine safety leadership

• How curiosity helps create understanding and trust in safety conversations

• The value of diversity of voices in improving safety outcomes

• Why building capability in others is key to sustainable leadership

• How asking better questions can transform safety discussions

This episode is a grounded reminder that strong safety leadership is not about having all the answers. It is about being curious, courageous, and willing to challenge thinking in constructive ways. Mary’s insights highlight the importance of systems thinking, human connection, and developing others as part of creating workplaces where safety and trust can genuinely thrive. For current and emerging safety professionals, this conversation offers practical reflection on how to lead with clarity, confidence, and purpose.

If you are looking to grow your influence, shift conversations, and lead safety in a more meaningful way, this episode will encourage you to reflect on how you think, communicate, and show up in your role.

Stay connected with Women in Safety

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www.womeninsafety.net

Visit the website for upcoming events, programs, and community updates, and subscribe to the newsletter to stay informed throughout the year.

Instagram

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Follow along for conversations, community highlights, and insights from women across the health and safety profession.

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In this episode, Alanna Ball is joined by Amy Morris for a timely conversation about how safety data is used, misunderstood, and often oversimplified. Together, they unpack why traditional safety metrics, particularly injury frequency rates, do not always tell the full story of what is really happening in a workplace.

The discussion challenges safety professionals to move beyond surface-level numbers and instead focus on meaning, context, and purpose. This episode is about shifting perspective, not dismissing data, but learning how to use it in ways that genuinely support safer decisions and better outcomes.

Episode highlights

• Why injury frequency rates can be misleading when viewed in isolation

• How context changes the way safety data should be interpreted

• The difference between counting injuries and understanding risk

• Why time-based and operational metrics can offer clearer insight into safety performance

• Using safety data as a decision-making tool, not just a reporting requirement

• The importance of educating leaders on what safety data actually means

• How operationalising data can support prevention, not just measurement

• Why the absence of injuries does not automatically mean a safe workplace

This episode is a practical reminder that safety data is only as valuable as the questions we ask of it. Alanna and Amy encourage listeners to reflect on the metrics they rely on, how those numbers are interpreted, and whether they truly support learning and prevention. By understanding the story behind the data, safety professionals can shift conversations, influence leaders more effectively, and create safer systems that reflect real work, not just reported outcomes. 

Stay connected with Women in Safety

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www.womeninsafety.net

Visit the website for upcoming events, programs, and community updates, and subscribe to the newsletter to stay informed throughout the year.

Instagram

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Follow along for conversations, community highlights, and insights from women across the health and safety profession.

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Alanna Ball is joined by Kahley Hawkins, a highly experienced health and safety professional who shares her honest journey through the industry. From starting out in an administrative role within mining to becoming a business owner, Kahley’s story reflects a path many women recognise, one that was not carefully planned but shaped through experience, curiosity, and resilience.

The conversation explores how careers in safety often begin unexpectedly, and why real understanding comes from being close to the work, the systems, and the people they affect. Kahley speaks openly about learning on the job, gaining confidence through knowledge, and the importance of looking beyond paperwork to how work is actually done.

Episode highlights

• Kahley’s unexpected entry into health and safety and how hands-on experience shaped her career

• Why safety is more than documents and compliance, and must reflect real-world work practices

• The role of knowledge in building confidence and credibility in safety roles

• Navigating leadership as a woman in a male-dominated industry

• How evolving the way we communicate and design work leads to better safety outcomes

• The value of understanding people and systems, not just processes

This episode is a grounded reminder that strong safety practice is built through lived experience, thoughtful leadership, and a willingness to keep learning. Kahley’s reflections highlight why understanding how work actually happens is essential for creating safety systems that are practical, trusted, and sustainable. For women working in health and safety, this conversation offers reassurance that confidence grows over time and that meaningful impact often comes from staying close to the work and the people it serves.

Stay connected with Women in Safety

Website

www.womeninsafety.net

Visit the website for upcoming events, programs, and community updates, and subscribe to the newsletter to stay informed throughout the year.

Instagram

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Follow along for conversations, community highlights, and insights from women across the health and safety profession.

Become an Empowered Member

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In this first episode of 2026, Alanna Ball shares the direction ahead for Women in Safety and why this year is an important moment for growth, capability, and community across the health and safety profession. The conversation invites listeners to pause, reflect, and take a more intentional approach to their professional development, supported by connection and shared learning.

Episode highlights

• Why 2026 is a pivotal year for growth and capability in health and safety

• How the INSHPO framework supports clearer professional development pathways

• The transition from Member Mingles to the Women in Safety Exchange, with a stronger focus on knowledge sharing and collaboration

• The role of community in building confidence, leadership, and career momentum

• Why celebrating progress matters through the Women in Safety Awards

• How small, intentional actions can shape long-term career direction

If you’ve been feeling ready for your next step, or wanting more clarity in your safety career, this episode is a grounding place to begin. Listen in, reflect on where you are right now, and consider one action you can take toward your professional growth.

Stay connected with Women in Safety

Website

www.womeninsafety.net

Visit the website for upcoming events, programs, and community updates, and subscribe to the newsletter to stay informed throughout the year.

Instagram

www.instagram.com/womeninsafety

Follow along for conversations, community highlights, and insights from women across the health and safety profession.

Become an Empowered Member

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Explore Empowered Membership to access deeper learning opportunities, exclusive events, and meaningful connection within the Women in Safety community.

In this episode, Alanna Ball opens the door on life behind the microphone. She shares the physical and mental toll of carrying twins, the shock of a 27-week arrival, and the long days in NICU when multiple health issues kept stacking up. She also talks about falling pregnant in 2020, the job she resigned from, and the choice to build this work full time.

Motherhood changed how she shows up in health and safety. The mental load is real, yet so is the resilience that follows. Being part of the Women in Safety community this year has helped, and she feels the best she has felt in years.

You will hear about mental health, professional growth, and the power of community support when life tilts. Listen, then add one line in the comments about what helped you through a hard season. Your words might be the lifeline someone needs.

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