Penelope is a multi-degree qualified professional with over 25 years’ experience in strategic and operational management, program, project and risk management, and safety, governance and compliance. Penelope demonstrates people management, organisational culture and communications skills across a wide demographic and range of disciplines, including time in the Australian Defence Force.

Penelope is currently the Chief Operations Officer and Principal Consultant working with Phinteq - providing expertise to multifaceted Commonwealth government, Defence and mining, energy and resource clients both nationally and internationally. Having recently completed her studies in Nuclear Regulatory Law, Penelope provides specialist advice in the nuclear safety, policy and regulation fields.

Penelope is a true leader of people and operations. She has been recognised as an innovator with unsurpassed drive and passion. Her stamina, resilience and wicked sense of humour have carried her through extraordinary challenges. She continues to receive accolades for her vision and entrepreneurship, including being named the Queensland Telstra Business Women's Award for Social Enterprise and Not-For-Profit and winner of three separate categories in the national Women in Industry Awards. She was also previously named the APAC CEO of the Year, the winner of Canberra’s ‘Women of Spirit’ Award and the winner of the Women in Defence Award for People and Culture.

Pat is a senior workplace lawyer with broad domestic and international experience across employment, industrial relations, and workplace health and safety (WHS). He advises public and private sector clients on complex matters including WHS prosecutions, unfair dismissal, adverse action, discrimination claims, and workplace investigations. Known for his strategic insight and litigation expertise, Pat brings a practical, solutions-focused approach to both advisory and contentious workplace issues.

With over 30 years in Government and more than 15 years as a nationally recognised subject matter expert in Workplace Safety, Wellbeing and Culture, Michelle has shaped the future of workplace wellbeing in Australia. 

She has designed and implemented two highly successful Wellbeing Programs across Government, setting a new standard in employee support and earning multiple Regional, State, and National Awards. Her leadership has directly enhanced workplace safety, psychological wellbeing, and culture across the public sector and beyond. 

Michelle's influence extends into the community. As the Integral Community Kindness Champion for the Stay Kind Foundation, she delivered several highly successful initiatives, including the 50 Walks Project and The Elephant in the Room, raising vital awareness and funds for mental health for Lifeline during the pandemic. Her impact was formally acknowledged in the NSW Parliament in 2022. 

In 2023, Michelle founded She Inspires Me and launched the Tell Your Story initiative, which celebrates the contributions and achievements of women in our community. The stories shared went viral, and people around the world reported the stories shared inspired them and gave them hope in their own circumstances. 

Michelle then launched She Has the Courage to Lead Podcast Series, interviewing Australia's most influential women in line with her 2024 initiative Women at Work, which aims to educate and empower women in the workplace.  

Recognised nationally as a leader in her field, she is highly regarded and respected across Government. With over 27,000 followers on LinkedIn, Michelle continues to drive safer and more respectful workplaces in Government and inspired a national movement built on courage, equity, and change.  

Phillip Wise - Director, Data Improvement and Analysis, Safe Work Australia
Phillip Wise is the Director of Data Improvement and Analysis at Safe Work Australia. 
His team is responsible for building and maintaining a national evidence base on work health and safety and workers’ compensation issues to inform policies that shape healthier, safer and productive workplaces. This includes producing data on work-related fatalities, injuries, illnesses, and return-to-work experiences, as well as reporting and insights into the work health and safety trends affecting workers and employers.
Prior to joining Safe Work Australia, Phil worked in Labour Market Research and Analysis for the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations and the Census program at the Australian Bureau of Statistics. He holds a Mathematics degree from the University of Wollongong with honours in Applied Statistics.

Georgina Poole - Co-Founder & Director, Event Learning Australia

Georgina Poole is a well-respected Health and Safety Leader with over 18 years of experience driving cultural and operational safety excellence across a variety of industries. Passionate about Human and Organizational Performance (HOP) and Doing Safety Differently, she advocates for building resilient, learning-focused organizations. Georgina is the host of the globally popular Leading Safely podcast, listened to in over 100 countries, and co-author with Professor Sidney Dekker of the book Random Noise – Measuring Your Company’s Safety Performance. She is also currently completing her Ph.D on sustainable safety change under Professor Sidney Dekker at Griffith University, where she also manages the Safety Science Innovation Lab. With a dynamic presence as a keynote speaker, trainer, and mentor, Georgina combines technical expertise and engaging storytelling to inspire positive change in organizational culture worldwide.

David Segrott, Director & Principal Consultant, Australian Health and Safety Services

David Segrott, has worked in the safety field in a number of senior roles over the last 50 years and currently is Director and Principal Consultant of Australian Health and Safety Services, a consultancy service he started in 2000.

Coming from an operational management background David’s focus on safety is ensuring that it is embedded into how the business operates on a day to day basis. His philosophy is “I won’t do it to you, I won’t do it for you, I will do it with you”

David has a very broad client base, from cultural institutions, schools, commercial printing, construction and even thoroughbred horse racing.
David has been an AIHS member for more than 30 years and is a Life Fellow.

Rachael Taylor, Principal Consultant, Work Science

Rachael is an AIHS Chartered OHS Professional with proven expertise in safety, health, wellbeing, injury management, and workers' compensation premium management across a range of industries including government, transport, property, manufacturing, and retail. She is skilled at assisting clients to enhance business health and safety performance by developing effective strategies that focus on building leadership capability, streamlining safety management systems, implementing critical processes, and driving risk mitigation initiatives. Rachael is a respected leader and adviser to management who is recognised for her integrity, energy, and enthusiasm, underpinned by a strong technical knowledge base.

Jacqui Agius- ACT Work Health and Safety & Labour Hire Licence Commissioner, WorkSafe ACT

Work Health Safety and Labour Hire Liscencing Commissioner. With a wealth of experience in workplace health and safety, Jacqui Agius brings invaluable expertise in WHS Law and Regulation to the discussion. As the WHS and LHL Commissioner, she spearheads initiatives to ensure compliance and promote safety across various sectors.

Professor Gary Mortimer - Queensland University of Technology

Professor Gary Mortimer is an active researcher in the areas of retail marketing and consumer behaviour. Gary has spent over 25 years working with some of Australia’s largest general merchandise and food retailers. He has worked closely with the National Retail Association (NRA) on multiple industry research projects and the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) as Chair of the Consumer Research Advisory Committee. Gary has spent the last 15 years with Queensland University of Technology (QUT). As an active researcher in consumer behaviour and retail marketing, he has published almost 70 peer reviewed, international publications. He is currently examining positive deviance and customer aggression in the retail and services sectors. Gary led the development of a validated customer aggression scale for measuring workplace violence experienced by frontline retail workers. In 2023, he was appointed as Chair and Independent Director of Services and Creative Skills Australia – the largest, federally funded Jobs and Skills Council, representing retail, hospitality, tourism, personal services, and the Arts.

Peta Mercieca - Director, WHS Learning and Development, Canberra Health Services

Peta has worked in healthcare for over 18 years, specialising in the prevention and management of work related violence and aggression for the last 7 years. Peta is a certified OHS Professional with AIHS. She has been involved with the AIHS ACT Branch committee for the previous 3 years. Peta is passionate about WHS, specifically psychosocial safety. Holding a Masters Degree in WHS and currently studying Psychology.