Cara is a specialist work health and safety lawyer with 15+ years’ experience helping businesses and leaders manage WHS risk and liability. She has advised on 160+ incidents involving fatalities, serious injuries and psychosocial hazards. Cara represents clients in regulatory investigations, prosecutions and coronial inquiries. Cara helps Boards and leaders translate officer due diligence into practical governance and decision-making. She also delivers practical, interactive training for managers and supervisors on what psychosocial hazard obligations mean for day-to-day leadership and people management. Clients value Cara for making WHS issues clear and manageable — helping leaders make better decisions, strengthen systems and create safer workplaces.

Anton is a lecturer and Unit Coordinator in the School of Medical and Health Sciences at Edith Cowan University and a PhD researcher focused on improving workplace safety through continuous improvement practices. With extensive experience across the mining, mineral processing, chemical, construction, manufacturing and service sectors, he has held both operational and corporate roles in health, hygiene, safety, environment and business improvement. Anton is a recognised leader in operational excellence, holding qualifications in occupational health and safety and business administration, and is an experienced consultant, leadership coach and practitioner of Lean, Six Sigma and organisational change methodologies. His work is driven by a passion for creating safer, more productive and sustainable workplaces.

Maureen Hassall is Professor and Director of the Sustainable Minerals Institute's Industrial Safety and Health Centre at The University of Queensland. Her expertise crosses the fields of industrial risk management, systems/process safety engineering and human factors. Maureen works collaboratively with industry professionals to develop better human-centred risk management and safety engineering approaches that improve companies’ operational performance and competitiveness. She also develops and delivers process safety, systems safety engineering, risk management and human factors training, education and expert advice to students and to industry. Her industry-focused research is motivated by 18 years of industry experience working in a number of different countries and in a variety of roles including specialist engineering, line management, organisational change and business performance improvement roles.

Dr Nikky LaBranche has over 20 years of experience in the minerals industry, specialising in occupational health and safety, with a focus on dust and respiratory health. A Chartered Professional in Mining Engineering, Nikky holds a Bachelor of Engineering, an MBA in Finance, and a PhD at the Sustainable Minerals Institute, where she developed advanced dust characterisation methodologies to improve the assessment and management of respiratory health risks for mine workers. Currently leading the Dust & Respiratory Health Program at The University of Queensland, Nikky manages a $3 million research portfolio and collaborates with industry to address complex challenges in occupational health. Her work spans surface and underground mining, smelting operations, and engineered stone, providing groundbreaking insights into dust exposure and control strategies. Nikky served as Chair of both the Health and Safety Society and the Southern Queensland Branch. Recognised for her contributions to the field, she received the AusIMM Professional Excellence Award in Health and Safety in 2024 and the prestigious Education Endowment Fund Postgraduate Scholarship in 2020. Nikky is an advocate for improved occupational health standards and serves on high-level committees providing strategic guidance on research priorities and advocacy. Committed to advancing the industry, Nikky plays a pivotal role in fostering collaborations between branches and societies, mentoring future leaders, and providing technical expertise to state and federal initiatives. She is passionate about enhancing health and safety practices and driving sustainable outcomes in the resources sector.

Kate du Preez started her career in South Africa’s underground coal mines, holding statutory operational roles before transitioning into a career that has included regulatory and executive leadership. She served as Queensland’s Commissioner for Resources Safety and Health and has held executive roles with a major mining company, with responsibilities spanning ESG, risk management, corporate affairs, communications, and regulatory reform. This dual perspective, as both a regulator and operational leader, has given Kate rare exposure to safety governance from multiple perspectives and enables her to provide practical recommendations in complex operating environments. Kate is a Fellow of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (FAusIMM) and received AusIMM’s Julius Kruttschnitt Award in recognition of her contribution to the resources industry. As a miner herself, she is a values-driven leader, deeply committed to the resources sector and a strong advocate for mining safety and health.

Sam Lee is currently acting Team Leader of the Psychosocial Team within WorkSafe Mines Safety. She has been a Psychosocial Inspector with WorkSafe WA since 2019 and is also an Organisational Psychologist. Sam co-wrote the first code of practice for managing psychosocial hazards in Australia and the current ‘Psychosocial hazards in the workplace’ and ‘Workplace behaviours’ Codes of Practice. Sam and her team conduct inspections and enquiries with mining operations across WA, in accordance with the Work Health and Safety Act and Mining Regulations