The ultimate event to get you up to speed on the recent trends in everything health and safety
Health & Safety Leaders' Summit
Safety at the crossroads: Creating safe work in a dynamic landscape
9 -10 March 2026 | Grand Millennium, Auckland
About the Summit
2025 marks 10 years since the enactment of the Health and Safety at Work Act. With a current review into the Act underway and WorkSafe New Zealand undergoing refreshing its structure, strategy and operating model, health and safety in New Zealand is at a crossroad.
We are in the middle of one of the most important and consequential periods for health and safety in New Zealand in recent memory. Which makes it crucial to understand how to progress your organisation’s safety agenda in an environment where compliance, best practice and innovation is constantly evolving.
The 2025 New Zealand Health & Safety Leaders’ Summit programme has been curated to address these trends and more. Over two days, we’ll explore the changing safety landscape, and the new and emerging knowledge areas and skill domains required of safety leaders.
We have brought a range of talented local and international speakers together to share their knowledge, passion and experience into practice. The Summit will be an fantastic opportunity to connect with others in the profession meeting similar challenges with passion, purpose and innovation.
We look forward to welcoming you to the summit.
DAY 1
The first day will explore a number of themes, including the changing nature of compliance, the evolving legislative and regulatory environment, and will explore how existing ideas around safety measurement, compliance and leadership may need to be challenged to continue to be fit for purpose.
DAY 2
The second day will take a more practical approach. You’ll be hearing from health, safety and wellbeing practitioners who have put a range of innovative ideas into practice, including psychosocial risk, decluttering safety, learning teams and more. We’ll also be exploring the skills, competences and knowledge areas needed for safety professionals to continue to be influential and effective.
Have you ever asked yourself what the difference in management and leadership is?
Here is a simple explanation:
Management:
You’re focus is primarily on day-to-day operations and achieving short-term goals. As a manger, you ensure tasks are completed efficiently, processes are followed, and deadlines are met. You are concerned with things like resource allocation, control, and performance.
Leadership:
You’re focusing on long-term visions and lasting impact. As a leader, you inspire and motivate others to achieve a common goal that goes beyond immediate results. Your legacy is built on the positive change you’ve create for your team, your organisation, and potentially even beyond. You leave people feeling empowered, inspired, and with a sense of purpose.
Let's get you moved from a management mindset to leadership legacy.
Transform yourself to be an expert, innovator and visionary at the Health & Safety Leaders’ Summit 2025. So, you can not only achieve your goals but have a lasting impact!
Key Themes
Upcoming legislative changes for both large and small businesses and clarification for governance and operational management
Building a culture of safety: collaborative approaches and getting buy-in in reducing workplace harm
Company and officer obligations – what are the operational and practical implications in this changing landscape?
Beyond compliance – demonstrating leadership in driving proactive safety culture for a stronger, safer team
Psychosocial risks – a deep dive into a psychosocial wellbeing compliance and resilience
Join a community of forward-thinking leaders and uncover next-generation strategies and insights to enhance the workplace safety and wellbeing landscape.
This summit is not just about keeping up with the pace; it is about shaping your and everyone else’s future.
Here’s what we’ve curated:
- Disruptive insights: Explore cutting-edge advancements for safety solutions, predictive analytics for wellbeing, and the rise of the human-centric workplace
- Future-proof strategies: Gain actionable insight to navigate emerging trends, adapt to a changing workforce, and thrive in the years ahead
- Collaborative inspiration: Network with leaders and industry peers, share best practice, and co-create a future where wellbeing and safety are seamlessly integrated
Key Themes
Upcoming legislative changes for both large and small businesses and clarification for governance and operational management
Building a culture of safety: collaborative approaches and getting buy-in in reducing workplace harm
Company and officer obligations – what are the operational and practical implications in this changing landscape?
Beyond compliance – demonstrating leadership in driving proactive safety culture for a stronger, safer team
Psychosocial risks – a deep dive into a psychosocial wellbeing compliance and resilience
Empower your choice: Craft your perfect conference experience
Day 1 of this summit will provide you with everything you need to know to excel your health & safety leadership!
Day 2 is designed by you. We have two streams and you can decide for each session, which topic is the most relevant to your practice that allows you to drive change.
Choose between:
- Health & Wellbeing at work
- Innovation & Technology in health and safety
KEY SPEAKERS FOR 2026
Our 2026 key lineup brings together thought leaders, counsel and experts in Health and Safety. Check out more today.
Grant Nicholson
Anthony Harper
Julie Cressey
General Manager
TELUS Health New Zealand
Dr Manuel Seidel
ecoPortal
Past Attendee Profile
This summit is your chance to network with industry and occupational leaders and peers that share your passion for health & safety
Industries
Job functions
Venue
The location and how you can get there
Address
Grand Millennium Auckland
71 Mayoral Drive, Cnr Vincent Street,
Auckland 1010
Agenda
Agenda to be announced
8:00 | Registration and Coffee |
9:00 | Mihi Whakatau |
9:05 | Welcoming remarks from from Chair Brenton Harrison, National HSW Manager, Fonterra and Health and Safety Consultant, Ignite Safety |
9:10 | Health & Safety in 2026 and Beyond: A WorkSafe Update
Kelly Hansen-White, Acting DCE Insights and Engagement, WorkSafe New Zealand |
9:30 | Leading from the Top: Executive Insights on Health and Safety Excellence in Aotearoa
Craig Davidson, Managing Director, AECOM Brett Murray, CEO, Site Safe More panellists to be announced |
10:15 | Morning break |
10:45 | Navigating Change: What New Proposed Health & Safety Legislation Means for Your Business
Grant Nicholson, Partner, Anthony Harper |
11:15 | Health & Safety in Action Panel: Responding to Change and Making it Work for Your Business
Melanie Dooney, Chief Risk & Corporate Services Officer, Auckland Airport Jo van den Berg, Head of Safety & Wellbeing, Foodstuffs North Island Bridgette Sullivan-Taylor, Business Partner for Strategy, Risk and Corporate Affairs, KiwiRail More panellists to be announced |
12:00 | Beyond Compliance: Leveraging Data to Drive Boardroom Engagement
|
12:30 | Lunch |
13:30 | Officer Due Diligence: Insights from the Gibson High Court Appeal
|
14:10 | Building a Culture of Safety: A Collaborative Approach to Reducing Workplace Harm
Paul Jarvie, Manager Employment Relations and Safety, Employers and Manufacturers Association (EMA) |
14:50 | Data-Driven Safety: Streamlining Reporting to Focus on People
|
15:15 | Afternoon break |
15:45 | Culture in Action Panel: Building Frontline Capacity and Sustaining Safety Through Trust and Leadership at The Port of Auckland
Tessa Auelua, GM Container Terminals & Engineering, The Port of Auckland Grant Williams, Assistant Secretary, Maritime Union of NZ Rob Mair, General Manager Health Safety and Wellbeing, The Port of Auckland Operational Leader, The Port of Auckland |
16:30 | The Art of Influence: Getting Buy-In for Health and Safety Initiatives
|
16:55 | Summary remarks from the Chair |
17:00 | Day 1 Close & Networking Drinks |
8:00 | Registration and Coffee |
9:00 | Welcome back from from Chair Brenton Harrison, National HSW Manager, Fonterra and Health and Safety Consultant, Ignite Safety |
9:10 | Psychosocial Risk: Insights and Strategies from Australia
|
9:45 | Psychosocial Risk in Focus Panel: Insights from New Zealand Businesses
Vanessa Matakatea, New Zealand Senior Safety Manager, Linfox Australia and New Zealand Stacey Shortall, Partner, MinterEllisonRuddWatts More panellists to be announced |
10:30 | Morning break |
11:00 | The Frontline Leader’s Dilemma: Carrying the mental load whilst supporting your team’s wellbeing
Julie Cressey, General Manager, TelusHealth |
11:30 | Safety in Action Panel: Stories from the frontline
Panel to be announced - Frontline workers from across industries to provide prospectives and insgihts |
12:15 | The Power of Story: Transforming Safety Culture Through Communication
|
12:45 | Lunch |
13:45 | Innovation in Action: Harnessing Technology to Advance Workplace Safety
Scott McMillan, Director of Safety, Melbourne Park |
14:30 | Artificial Intelligence: Exploring the role of AI and its impact on workplace health and safety
Danushka Abeysuriya, CTO and Founder, Rush Digital |
15:00 | The Next Horizon – Reimagining Health, Safety and Wellbeing for Aotearoa’s Future
|
15:40 | Summary remarks from the Chair Brenton Harrison, National HSW Manager, Fonterra and Health and Safety Consultant, Ignite Safety |
15:45 | Conference close |
Speakers
Speakers to be announced
Speakers
More Info
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Brenton Harrison
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Grant Nicholson
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Julie Cressey
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Dr Manuel Seidel
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Jo van den Berg
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Kelly Hanson-White
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Vanessa Matakatea
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Melanie Dooney
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Danushka Abeysuriya
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Stacey Shortall MNZM
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Bridgette Sullivan-Taylor
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Craig Davidson
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Paul Jarvie
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Agenda
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DOUBLE PASS
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Must be from same organisation and book at same time. For a valid tickets, payment by 9 March 2026.
Individual Tickets
Early Bird
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For a valid ticket, payment must be made by 12 February, 2026.
Workshop tickets
Registration Conditions
Ticket Terms
All prices are in New Zealand dollars ($NZD)
A surcharge of 2.5% + GST applies to credit card payments on top of the total amount.
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