safetyCast

Designing for Wellbeing: Mastering Psychosocial Risk

Workplaces today are grappling with a rising tide of stress, burnout, and harassment. As regulators set new expectations for managing mental health, psychosocial risks have shifted from a “personnel issue” to a critical safety challenge. How do organisations move beyond reactive measures to design work that actually prevents harm?

In this insightful and practical episode, Vanessa...

Behind the Counter: Rethinking Safety Amid Retail Violence

As public-facing workplaces feel the pressure of rising aggression, the threat of customer violence and retail crime has evolved beyond isolated incidents. From organised attacks to growing instances of staff-targeted abuse, the safety landscape is shifting rapidly. How do employers protect their frontline teams without compromising the customer experience?

In this urgent ...

Cybersecurity and Safety in the Age of AI

As AI adoption accelerates across safety-critical sectors, the line between digital security and physical safety is blurring. While AI offers immense potential as an ally for safety, it also introduces sophisticated risks that can compromise data, people, and operations. How do organisations secure their digital perimeter without hindering operational performance?

In this forward-focused ep...

AI in Safety: Responsible Innovation for Smarter Risk Management

AI is reshaping the way organisations manage risk, providing smarter, data-driven insights that improve workplace safety, compliance, and decision-making. But with evolving technology comes new challenges—how do we adopt AI responsibly while ensuring real impact?

In this episode, we explore AI-driven risk assessment, data analytics, and how AI is acting as a co-pilot...

The Disruptor Mindset: How Women are Reshaping Safety Leadership

In this essential safetyCast episode, we explore the evolving role and impact of women in Health & Safety. Featuring three of New Zealand's top female H&S leaders—Kristy Nicholson (Lockton), Deborah Douglas (ASB), and Nicola Knobel (Plunket)—this dynamic panel discussion explores their leadership journeys, the challenges they've faced, and the strategies they ...

Beyond the Bottom of the Hill: Proactively Tackling Workplace Violence

In this essential safetyCast episode, we address the undeniable increase in violent and aggressive behavior in customer-facing workplaces. Featuring two of New Zealand's top retail safety leaders, Grace Cooper (Former GM of H&S at The Warehouse Group and currently Director of The Safety SOULutions) and Jo van den Berg (from Foodstuffs North Island), this co...

Retail Crime: The New Frontline in Health and Safety

In this crucial safetyCast episode, we confront the escalating issue of retail crime and its transformation into a major health and safety crisis for customer-facing industries. Featuring insights from Lisa White, Head of Protective Services at Bank of New Zealand (BNZ), this conversation explores the real-world challenges of protecting employees from increasing aggression and vi...

The Ambiguity of Wellbeing: Rethinking Mental Health in the Workplace

In this safetyCast episode, we unpack the complex and often misunderstood concept of "wellbeing" and what it truly means for mental health in the workplace. Featuring insights from EY’s Roberto C Garcia and Samantha Thomas, this conversation explores why a strategic, clearly defined approach to mental health is essential for building healthier, more engaged organ...

In this episode of safetyCast, we dive into the complexities of crafting an effective mental health strategy in large, diverse workplaces.

Listen to Conor Duffy, founder of Psychosocial Safety Solutions and former Head of Health & Safety at Kmart Australia. In this episode he unpacks the building blocks of a successful psychosocial strategy that supports every level of the organisation, from head office to the frontline.

Conor ...

How the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) is reshaping safety reporting In this episode of safetyCast by ecoPortal, we explore how the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) is transforming the way organisations think about, and report on, health, safety, and wellbeing.

Featuring Matthew Cowie and Samantha Thomas from EY’s Climate Change and Sustainability Services team, this conversation unpacks wha...

🎙️ Transforming Safety Culture In this episode of safetyCast, we sit down with Tim Hudson, Operational Risk Management Consultant at Hudson Global Consulting, to explore what it really takes to build and sustain a strong safety culture in today’s evolving workplaces.

From leadership commitment to employee engagement, Tim shares insights drawn from decades of global experience helping organisations embed safety into the way they wo...