Welcome by the Chair of the College of Fellows 
Hello and welcome to the College of Fellows.
Over the past few months, since taking on the role of Chair of the AIHS College of Fellows following the November 2025 Annual General Meeting, I have spent time speaking with Fellows across Australia to better understand their perspectives on the College and where we can add the most value to the profession.
One of the things that has struck me most clearly is the depth of experience and commitment within the College. Fellows are leaders and influencers in workplace health and safety, with many years of technical and leadership experience across industry, government and academia. I believe the College should function as an active network of experienced professionals who work together to support the profession, mentor others, provide technical advice and contribute to important conversations about the future of workplace health and safety.
A key opportunity for the College is to collaborate on complex or “wicked” safety problems. These are challenges that do not have simple solutions and require the insights of multiple experienced practitioners working together. Through my conversations with Fellows, there has been strong interest in working collectively on issues such as agricultural safety performance and the emerging impacts of climate change on workplace health and safety.
Another important focus will be strengthening the connections between Fellows. Informal gatherings and discussions in different states will help us build stronger relationships, share ideas and develop collaborative initiatives that benefit the broader profession.
The College of Fellows also plays an important role in supporting the Institute’s contribution to Australian Standards, with Fellows volunteering their expertise on numerous technical committees. This work helps ensure the profession continues to influence the development of standards that guide safe work across Australia.
I look forward to continuing conversations with Fellows and working together to strengthen the contribution the College can make to the profession and to workplace health and safety in Australia.
Dr Marcus Cattani, PhD ChOHSP FAIHS | Chair, AIHS College of Fellows