ShopCare HSR development day

Phil Parkes – Ex-CEO, WorkSafe

Phil is an accomplished leader with extensive experience in governance, executive leadership, and regulatory compliance, focusing on operational excellence and environmental and safety outcomes. He served as the Chief Executive of WorkSafe New Zealand from 2019 to 2023, driving significant national reductions in workplace fatalities and injuries. With a career spanning multiple international jurisdictions and roles in both local and federal government, Phil has also led initiatives at the New Zealand Environmental Protection Authority and local government in the UK. He holds executive education from Melbourne Business School and INSEAD and is a respected expert in improving workplace safety and regulatory frameworks.

Helen Sadgrove – MD, HSE Global NZ

Helen is the Managing Director APAC for HSE Global. She is experienced across a range of sectors as a Manager, Consultant and Regulator. Helen is a Chartered Fellow of IOSH, Certified Fellow of NZISM and holds a BSc in Marine Science, MSc in Environmental Health (vet aux), PgDip in Public Health and both NEBOSH International Diploma and NVQ4 in Occupational Safety and Health. Helen is currently undertaking a PhD in H&S Governance.

Helen project managed and wrote the CEO Guide to Risk and the Monitoring What Matters Guide for the Business Leaders Health and Safety Forum. She advised the Independent Health and Safety Taskforce on work related health being co-opted as part of the secretariat, supported MNZ and Crown Law to investigate the grounding of the RENA, was the Chair of the Expert Design Group for SafePlus, Chair of the Government H&S Lead Private Sector Advisory Group, reviewed MNZ to ascertain their performance discharging their statutory functions for the old HSE Act and HSNO Act,  and has recently provided assistance for a party in the Whakaari White Island tragedy. 

Brent Sutton – Author, 4Ds the HOP and Learning Teams

Brent is the founder of Learning Teams Inc and advocates for doing safety differently by treating workers as the knowledge holders and the experts in work. Rather than waiting for work to go wrong, we can find opportunities to improve work by understanding why work goes well. Workers are the solution and not the problem when it comes to safety. Shifting the lens from doing safety to and for people to doing safety with people is essential to improving safety outcomes. HSRs as “Advocates” play an essential role in changing this view.

 Brent is the author of the best selling books on Learning Teams, Learning From Everyday Work, The 4Ds for HOP and Learning Teams, The HOP Beginner Guide Series and host of the podcast show “HOP Into Action”.

Vance Walker – ShopCare Cultural Programme Manager

Vance Walker is an independent researcher practitioner with a background in regulation and critical risk assessment. He is a member of the NZISM Board and the National Association for Māori Health and Safety Professionals, Te Rōpu Marutau o Aotearoa. Vance has always been drawn to all things Māori. His main work centers on connecting Māori culture with health and safety.

Brent Armitage – Ex-WorkSafe HSR Development Lead

Brent has had a varied career in the fields of construction, logistics and mining.  His most recent role was in aviation for Air New Zealand, where he started out as a baggage handler.  Brent was elected to be an Health and Safety Rep for his workgroup, and went on to become the recipient of the 2019 Safeguard HSR of the year award.  He moved into the health and safety profession and as a finalist for the 2021 Safeguard emerging safety practitioner of the year award. 

Selena Armstrong – CEO, ShopCare Charitable Trust

Selena is an experienced executive leader, with a demonstrated history of leading transformational change in non-profit organisations. In her previous role as CEO of The New Zealand Institute of Safety Management (NZISM), she led the transformation of New Zealand’s largest professional membership body for the health and safety profession. Prior to this, she was General Manager of the Goodfellow Unit at the University of Auckland.

Selena has previously held positions on the Women in Safety Excellence (WISE NZ) Governance Group and the Health and Safety Association of New Zealand (HASANZ) Governance Group.