Mike is one of New Zealand’s most highly regarded health and safety practitioners with over 45 years’ experience in operational, management, policy and strategic roles. He has a varied regulatory background in the UK and New Zealand and has worked as a strategic consultant to many of the leading public and private sector organisations over the last 14 years including as a member of the Independent Taskforce and Forestry Safety Review. In 2020 Mike was awarded the Safeguard Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to health and safety. Mike’s extensive work with the Institute of Directors, boards and executive teams means that he has a good understanding of their needs, whilst in his role as Chair of NZISM’s Board he helps promote professional development and accreditation for all those working in the field. Having been an investigator and prosecutor, Mike now provides expert advice in legal proceedings and keeps a keen eye on developments in this field. He is currently involved in some of the most significant cases before the Courts.

Tracey is the Head of Regulatory Services and General Counsel at WorkSafe, with over 20 years’ experience in workplace health and safety regulation. She has held senior roles across both legal and operational teams, overseeing health and safety inspections and prosecutions.

Grant Nicholson is a lawyer at Anthony Harper, a national law firm. Grant specialises in workplace health and safety and has been prominent in the sector for a long time. He has been involved in investigations and prosecutions arising from many of New Zealand's highest profile workplace incidents and is currently working on cases relating to forestry, transportation/logistics, infrastructure incidents, the Whakaari/White Island volcano eruption, and farming incidents.

Samantha is a Barrister at Stout Street Chambers. Prior to this she headed the employment group in Wellington for Simpson Grierson. She has extensive experience in employment law and health and safety. Samantha is regularly involved in a wide range of employment law matters, from litigation to strategic advice. She assists clients with managing and resolving employment relationship problems (particularly stress and bullying claims), union-related issues, grievances and disputes. She reviews and drafts employment agreements, independent contractor agreements, and more general communications between employers and employees. 

Sarah is a Senior Legal Counsel at Downer, where she provides strategic legal advice across a broad range of matters, including health and safety, commercial and construction contracting, dispute resolution, and risk management. She works closely with operational and leadership teams to support complex projects, manage legal risk, and navigate challenging regulatory and contractual issues.

Before joining Downer, Sarah spent nearly two decades in private practice. She focussed on health and safety, advising organisations across a range of industries on compliance, workplace management, risk mitigation, and regulatory engagement. Sarah also guided businesses through incident investigations, enforcement action, and prosecutions, giving her practical insight into the legal and operational challenges organisations face following serious workplace events.

Drawing on experience from both private practice and industry, Sarah brings a pragmatic and commercially focused perspective to health and safety matters, helping Downer achieve positive outcomes while maintaining strong safety and governance standards.

Melissa Vining MNZM is the lead Partner in Findex’s external consulting health and safety team.  With more than 20 years' experience across a range of sectors including local government, transport, infrastructure, agriculture, horticulture, ports and other high-risk industries, she helps leaders translate legislation into practical, commercially sound strategies. Melissa has led numerous investigations into serious safety events and fatalities. Melissa has both supported businesses with responding to serious events and appeared as an expert witness. She is also a nationally recognised community advocate, co-founding the Southern Charity Hospital following the passing of her husband, Blair Vining.

Joe is a former lawyer and Associate Partner in Findex’s external health and safety consulting team.  He has conducted workplace investigations following serious notifiable events.  Joe supports a diverse range of clients with health and safety system development and reviews from local government and crown agencies through education and construction to airports and maritime. Joe is HASANZ registered and a Professional member of NZISM as well as recently becoming part of NZISM’s professional standards committee.