Celebrating the finalists: Outstanding Leadership in Psychosocial Safety

The Outstanding Leadership in Psychosocial Safety Award recognise people who are building momentum, driving real change and showing what leadership in psychosocial safety looks like in practice.

This category recognises leaders prioritising higher-order controls and genuine worker consultation. It celebrates a leader who's gone above and beyond to create a psychologically safe, supportive workplace culture.

On Thursday 10 September we recognised 7 finalists and 1 winner - find out more about them below.

Meet the Finalists

Daryl Marshall, National Safety & Compliance Manager, Asplundh Australia

Daryl developed Bridging the Gap as Asplundh Australia’s worker consultation mechanism, creating regular opportunities for workers to engage directly with all levels of management, either openly or anonymously. The approach helps remove barriers to speaking up and supports psychologically safe consultation.

Find out more about his nomination here

David Laarhoven, Lead Trainer & Assessor, Get Fire Training

David brought a trauma-informed approach to emergency preparedness at Lifeline North Coast, identifying concerns around role clarity, crisis responses and safety as system-level issues. He introduced collaborative procedure rewrites, plain-language resources and scenario-based workshops designed to build confidence while respecting emotional limits.

Find out more about his nomination here

Emma Meldrum, Injury Management Advisor, Pacific National

Emma led a proactive approach to psychosocial safety at Pacific National, including psychosocial needs analysis, integration of psychosocial considerations into WHS frameworks and expanded trauma management approaches.

Find out more about her nomination here

Jemma Murphy, Health and Wellbeing Manager, Ampcontrol

Jemma led an organisation-wide approach to psychosocial safety, including tailored health and wellbeing training, rebuilding the Peer Support Network and embedding Mental Health First Aid and Resilience First Aid programs.

Find out more about her nomination here

Leo Vesy, Head, Health Safety and Environment, UGL Limited

Leo has led UGL’s psychosocial safety initiatives, including the development of risk management tools and processes, the C-5 wellbeing and support initiative, and a sexual harassment prevention plan and risk assessment. The C-5 initiative provides workers with support based on their individual needs, including mental health, physical health and financial support.

Find out more about his nomination here

Meg Smealie, Human Resources Manager, Health Voyage

Meg has led Health Voyage’s shift from reactive responses to a proactive, organisation-wide approach to psychosocial safety. Her initiatives include quarterly wellbeing check-ins, psychosocial risk capability development, workforce training and a Workplace Sexual Harassment Prevention Plan.

Find out more about her nomination here

And the Winner is…

Grant Fuller, Director, Health, Safety & Wellbeing, Alchimie

Grant led psychosocial safety initiatives across complex infrastructure and construction environments, including leadership workshops, project culture strategies and facilitated risk conversations.

Find out more about his nomination:

Meet the Judges

The Independent Judging Panel for this category were:

Penelope Twemlow is a senior executive with postgraduate qualifications spanning nuclear law, risk management, health safety and environment, and project management, with extensive national and international experience across defence, energy, mining, aviation and construction. She is also an author, speaker and mentor.

Dr Caitlin Connolly is WorkSafe Tasmania's Psychologist of Workplace Wellbeing. Holding a PhD in Psychology from the University of Tasmania, her career bridges research, policy and clinical practice, with a focus on work design, psychosocial factors and organisational culture in high-risk occupational groups including veterinary and emergency services professions.

Amanda Bond is a law partner at Newey Bond Lawyers with over 25 years of dedicated experience in complex personal injury matters and psychological injury claims. Also an Accredited Specialist in Personal Injury Law, Amanda has built a strong reputation for her work on bullying, harassment and unsafe work environment cases.

Thank you to Newey Bond Lawyers who sponsored the Leadership category.