2026 Health and Safety Rep of the Year Finalists and Overall Winner

The finalists for the 2026 H&S Rep of the Year Awards and this year's winners.

Kat is an exceptional Regional Health and Safety Representative whose leadership, empathy, and commitment have made a significant and lasting impact across the Auckland / Northland region. Supporting a network of 66 Health and Safety Representatives, Kat has strengthened connection, consistency, and capability across a geographically diverse and demanding area.
At a regional level, Kat established Pulse Check, a regular health and safety newsletter that has become a vital communication tool—keeping representatives informed, connected, and supported. Through strong partnerships with Health and Safety Business Partners, Regional Managers, site committees, and representatives from other regions, Kat actively contributes to shared learning, alignment, and continuous improvement.
At the Manukau District Court, Kat leads local HSRs, maintains robust risk registers, and is widely recognised as the go to person for health and safety matters. She leads by example, escalates issues thoughtfully, and encourages proactive engagement from colleagues.
Kat’s people first leadership was powerfully demonstrated when she openly supported colleagues following the loss of a fellow staff member. By sharing guidance, resources, and her own availability to listen, she helped foster open and compassionate conversations about wellbeing across the Ministry.
Kind and pragmatic, Kat consistently balances a demanding workload with genuine care for others. Her leadership has strengthened culture, elevated engagement, and embedded health, safety, and wellbeing as a shared responsibility.

The Counties Manukau Health and Safety Representatives team has demonstrated exemplary leadership, innovation, and sustained commitment to improving health and safety outcomes across their region. Through strong collaboration and a shared purpose, the team has delivered practical, creative, and measurable initiatives that have positively influenced worker safety, engagement, and wellbeing.
Central to their success is the establishment and leadership of a structured, bi monthly Community of Practice, bringing together representatives, Health and Safety Leadership, and frontline staff. This forum has strengthened capability, improved transparency, and enabled shared learning across sites. The team has also re energised safety communication through creative monthly online hui, using relatable, locally driven content to improve message retention and participation.
The team developed a region wide, year round Health and Safety calendar, supporting proactive planning, predictable engagement, and sustained focus across all offices. They further enhanced connectivity by establishing a Teams Connect platform, enabling real time information sharing, collaboration, and problem solving between sites.
Their influence extends to operational readiness and compliance, including practical tools for emergency activations, support for business continuity planning, and the delivery of Counties Manukau’s first Compliance Week—achieving full frontline participation. Collectively, the team has embedded innovation, accountability, and consistency, creating a stronger and more connected safety culture. Their work exemplifies outstanding team leadership in health, safety, and wellbeing.

Pauline has shown outstanding leadership, initiative, and sustained commitment to improving health and safety outcomes across the Bay of Plenty District. As an engaged member of the Health and Safety Committee, she took ownership of the Third Party Contractors and Visitors project, a critical component of the NZ Police Critical Risk Verification Programme.
Recognising the complexity of third-party risk, Pauline led a thorough review of how visitors, contractors, and external partners are identified, managed, and supported within Police environments. This included extensive consultation, strong cross group collaboration, and the design of new processes to improve oversight and risk management. She developed comprehensive district wide registers, systematically closed information gaps, and ensured alignment with Health and Safety at Work expectations.
This mahi strengthened district compliance while significantly improving visibility of critical risks and embedding safer practices across the organisation. Pauline also produced clear guidance, training material, and practical tools that make responsibilities easy to understand and apply.
Widely respected for her collaborative style and positive influence, Pauline makes health and safety practical and accessible. Her dedication has delivered lasting benefits, improving the safety and wellbeing of staff, visitors, and contractors, and demonstrating excellence in health, safety, and wellbeing leadership.

Avantika is an outstanding Health and Safety Representative whose energy, initiative, and people centred leadership have delivered meaningful improvements across the Aquatics Team within Biosecurity Surveillance & Incursion Investigation and the wider Diagnostics, Readiness & Surveillance directorate. Known for her positivity, approachability, and innovative thinking, she is widely respected as a trusted advocate for safety and wellbeing.
Over the past year, Avantika has driven evidence-based improvements to in-field safety. She proactively sourced fit-for-purpose PPE and equipment, strengthening investigator capability during high risk work. She established and maintains safety asset registers, including PPE and life jacket inventories, ensuring accountability and reliable access to information. Her Job Risk Analysis work has strengthened hazard identification and is now standard practice for investigators operating under tight timeframes.
Avantika has been a courageous and effective voice for workers, raising respectful behaviour and mental wellbeing through health and safety forums and governance discussions. Her advocacy contributed to directorate wide mental health kōrero sessions, wellbeing drop ins with leaders and EAP providers, and the development of a DRS wide wellbeing survey now informing future initiatives.
A collaborative leader, she has chaired HSR meetings, supported new representatives, and strengthened consistency across teams. Her preparation and support during a SafePlus Assessment further demonstrated her professionalism and impact. 

Lincoln is an exceptional Health and Safety Representative whose consistency, visibility, and genuine care for people have had a positive impact on team culture and everyday safety behaviours. Through calm, practical leadership, he has helped reposition health and safety as an embedded and supportive part of how work is done, rather than a barrier.
Lincoln provides regular health and safety updates during daily and morning meetings, using clear slides and practical examples, with accessible resources shared through Teams. His messaging is engaging and relatable, ensuring requirements are understood and applied in real time. He follows through on actions, checks that systems and apps are being used correctly, and confidently leads discussions, demonstrating accountability and reliability.
What sets Lincoln apart is his approachable leadership style. He encourages open conversations about risk, reinforces the right to pause or step away from unsafe tasks, and creates a culture where people feel comfortable speaking up. His strong knowledge is evident in how he answers questions, reinforces key messages, and provides timely reminders that keep safety front of mind.
Coming from a background where health and safety was not always prioritised, Lincoln has helped shift mindsets and break down barriers through persistence, visibility, and positive influence.

Robyn is a passionate, people centred health and safety leader who champions safe and accountable practice across her work. Through proactive and inclusive leadership, she has played a pivotal role in strengthening health and safety culture within the Monitoring & Insights Unit and across the wider Monitoring Operations team.
Recognising a gap in unit level engagement, Robyn established the first Local Safe Home Committee for M&I, creating an important forum for open conversations about health and safety responsibilities. This initiative has enhanced managerial awareness, strengthened accountability, and delivered a clear uplift in day to day engagement. Robyn ensures organisational guidance is embedded in practice, and she leads emergency exercises and field based activities to support staff working in high risk, distributed environments.
Committed to continuous improvement, Robyn has expanded her capability through ICAM training and contributes to robust reporting, injury trend analysis, and proactive risk management. She has also driven annual safety learning events and supported managers to build confidence in systems, responsibilities, and injury management processes.
A PSA member and former delegate, Robyn is known for her integrity, advocacy, and holistic approach to wellbeing. She champions health and safety as inseparable from work, life, and family, empowering others and ensuring staff voices inform decision making.

Craig is a highly respected health and safety leader who serves as Chairperson of his site’s Health and Safety Committee. He is known for an inclusive and steady leadership style that fosters a respectful environment where Health and Safety Representatives are encouraged to contribute confidently and constructively. Craig consistently emphasises collaboration, shared ownership, and solution focused discussion. He sets a positive and professional tone at every meeting.
With extensive operational experience, Craig brings practical and well balanced insight to health and safety decision making. He works closely with management and operational teams to encourage greater transparency and collective accountability. He is widely recognised for his patience, approachability, and commitment to mentoring others in their roles.
As co chair, Craig played a pivotal role in the site’s Health and Safety Committee. He has promoted strengthened guardianship, measurable growth, and meaningful improvements to staff wellbeing. His leadership has supported successful staff wellbeing initiatives, facility enhancements, and process improvements. A notable example of Craig’s leadership was directing a complex emergency access review that balanced security and safety requirements. The strengthened processes proved, directly supporting safe emergency responses.

Donna and Sharmla are an outstanding Health and Safety Representative team whose collaboration, creativity, and commitment delivered a highly impactful wellbeing initiative for kaimahi. Inspired by the 2025 HSR Conference and the Stroke Aotearoa Health 15 session, they identified a clear opportunity to address widespread and long standing health pressures facing workers and took decisive action to respond.
Together, Donna and Sharmla conceived, planned, and delivered a comprehensive Wellbeing Expo that placed worker health, access, and connection at its centre. They successfully secured endorsement from senior leadership, including Board support, and coordinated cross agency involvement to ensure the initiative was inclusive, practical, and sustainable. The Expo was structured around the Five Ways of Wellbeing and featured a diverse range of resources, including flu vaccinations, CPR training, blood pressure checks, nutrition advice, physical activity options, and wellbeing supports.
Demonstrating strong organisational leadership, Donna and Sharmla coordinated a mix of in person and online providers, ensuring broad reach, consistent delivery, and high quality content despite logistical complexities. The Expo created a meaningful space for connection, promoted open kōrero about wellbeing, and encouraged proactive health management across worksites.
By working beyond expectations and leveraging strong partnerships, Donna and Sharmla delivered a successful, future focused initiative that embedded wellbeing into everyday workplace culture. Their teamwork, initiative, and sustained impact make them highly deserving team award finalists.

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