Bernadino Ramazzini, the grandfarther of occupational hygiene said in his famous book of 1713 titled Disease of Workers, that ill health from work is the result of two causes: “The first and most potent is the harmful character of the materials they (workers) handle, for these emit noxious vapours and very fine particles inimical to human beings and induce particular diseases; the second I ascribe to certain violent and irregular motions and unnatural posture of the body”. Although now over 300 years old much of this is still true and worker health continues to pose a major challenge in the work environment. As such, New Zealand workers are 10-15 times more likely to die from exposure to agents hazardous to health, than from a workplace safety event.

My passion for occupational hygiene stems from addressing this imbalance and knowing that every day we are improving workers lives through, education of workers, and the assessment and control of workplace health hazards. Coming from a chemistry research background and gaining valuable experience in the semiconductor and petrochemical industries overseas, I joined the Safe and Sound Solutions team in early 2020 establishing the Occupational Hygiene division.

I am Safe and Sound Solutions Principal Occupational Hygienist and a Certified Occupational Hygienist (COH®) with the Australian Institute of Occupational Hygiene (AIOH). I completed my Ph.D. in organic and analytical chemistry from the University of Otago, a Masters of Occupational Hygiene and Toxicology from Edith Cowen University, and a Level 8 Graduate Certificate in Workplace health and safety from the University of Newcastle. I am a professional member of both the New Zealand Occupational Hygiene Society (MNZOHS) and Australian Institute of Occupational Hygiene (MAIOH) and the current President Elect of NZOHS, as well as a Professional member of the New Zealand Institute of Safety Management (ProfNZISM).

As Senior Occupational Hygienist and Team Lead for the Occupational Hygiene Division, my core functions include ensuring unwavering quality and success of all Occupational Hygiene projects whilst supporting a team of specialists to perform at their highest level, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and excellence. I am a Registered Occupational Hygienist with the Southern African Institute of Occupational Hygiene (SAIOH), affiliated with the International Occupational Hygiene Association (IOHA), as well as being a professional member of both the New Zealand Occupational Hygiene Society (MNZOHS) and Australian Institute of Occupational Hygiene (MAIOH).

Having obtained a BSocSc Honours Degree in Environmental Management, I have worked across 15 countries assessing and monitoring both health hazards and environmental contaminants from a variety of industries and sectors. I have extensive experience in several Risk Assessments formats (Health and Environmental Risk Assessment), Exposure Monitoring and Environmental Monitoring. Experienced in management, mentorship, training, and teaching, I have worked at various organisational levels, striving to impart leadership and encouragement to all people I work with. Passion and curiosity are fundamental in my pursuit to constantly learn, share and collaborate with others.

My professional development goal is to make a significant contribution to the field of Exposure Science. Over the past 15 years I’ve developed a passion for Exposure Science – an interdisciplinary field that focuses on understanding how people encounter various environmental agents, such as chemicals, pollutants, and other hazards. It involves studying the routes, levels, and durations of exposure to these agents and assessing their potential health effects. Exposure science aims to identify and mitigate risks associated with exposure to environmental agents to protect both employees and the public health to ultimately improve their overall well-being.

With an array of hobbies and interests, I love trying new things. Outdoor adventures and great coffee are necessities. Good food, travelling and meeting new people is another bucket-filler for me!

Ever since my first encounter with health and safety in the workplace, I have been driven by the potential to change and influence safety decisions, leading to positive outcomes for businesses and individuals. This passion led me to pursue a career in health and safety, obtaining a Level 6 Diploma in Workplace Health & Safety, graded at Professional Level by the New Zealand Institute of Safety Management and am listed on the HASANZ register.

Safety is always at the forefront of my mind, and I find great satisfaction in working closely with individuals and businesses to develop practical solutions that ensure everyone goes home safely at the end of the day. Having previously worked in the construction industry, working at Safe & Sound has given me the opportunity to apply my skills and expertise in diverse fields and gain further knowledge in real world safety practices.

I enjoy the outdoors, being social and staying active, whether it’s out exploring new places with my husband and our pup Herbie, spending time with loved ones, or trying out different restaurants around the city.

I was born in a small town called Tullamore in Ireland. My academic journey began with a focus on Toxicology at Athlone Institute of Technology, I’m currently on the final stretch of my master’s degree in environmental Analysis and Pollution Monitoring. My educational background has provided me with knowledge to assess, identify and understand the effect hazards can have on our health. Before entering the world of Occupational Hygiene my previous experience was in a biopharmaceutical company, where my interest in health and safety first began. My mindset is always to ensure the safety of others comes first before the job, my passion for safety and positive attitude in the workplaces ensures that the job is completed precisely and accurately.

Outside of work I enjoy spending time with family and friends, crocheting and going to the gym.

My environmental career began by pure chance—when a friend was looking for someone to assist with emission monitoring, I decided to seize the opportunity. That decision marked the start of a journey I haven’t looked back on. I am an environmental professional with 15 years of experience specializing in emission monitoring, as well as ambient, water, and soil sampling. Driven by a deep passion for sustainability and environmental stewardship, my work has taken me across the globe, providing hands-on experience in diverse industries and fostering a profound appreciation for the critical role environmental monitoring plays in protecting both communities and the planet.

Throughout my career, I have been committed to helping industries understand and reduce their environmental impact, ensuring regulatory compliance, and promoting the adoption of best practices. This global perspective has enriched my expertise, allowing me to collaborate with a wide range of clients and contribute to projects that support cleaner, healthier environments. Whether assessing air quality, monitoring water resources, or conducting soil sampling, my work is rooted in science-driven solutions that benefit both industry and the environment. With a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities within the environmental field, I continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible, bringing innovation, dedication, and passion to every project.

In addition to my environmental expertise, I have also managed and maintained various fuel-fired boilers, ensuring they operate efficiently and remain compliant with industry standards. Outside of my professional work, I enjoy spending time outdoors, exploring new locations, and experiencing all that the world has to offer—fueling my love for adventure and deepening my connection with nature.

I have been working in Quality and Health & Safety roles for 20 years. I am a Certified Quality Manager and Professional member of NZISM. I have diplomas in Quality Management Systems and Workplace Health and Safety Management, backed up with certifications in Adult Education, Psychosocial Risk Management, and Enterprise Risk Management.

I have worked across the electronics design and manufacturing, heavy engineering, utility services, construction and communications industries delivering compliance, health and safety, and continuous improvement projects.

I spend my spare time looking after my three sons, gardening, getting out walking, kayaking and cycling, and making my own beer and wine.

I am originally from the U.K., where I gained a Ph.D. in biocontrol of hematophagous insects, which led me into academia and lecturing in forensic biosciences, particularly forensic entomology and continuing with biosecurity research in New Zealand. I came to Occupational Hygiene as I wanted to continue my science career in a hands-on field and having family members that work in high-risk professions, this is an excellent fit professionally and personally.

When I’m not working and learning I enjoy exploring New Zealand with my dogs, baking and furniture restoration.

I’m NZ born and raised, however my H&S career began in 2007 over the UK where I worked in the Construction, Fit-out, Rail and Facilities maintenance fields before returning to NZ in 2011 to continue working as a H&S professional in Canterbury. I’ve worked here as a H&S professional in construction for the past 12 years, gaining good experience in this area, additionally I’m experienced in the areas of early intervention injury management, fatigue management and drug and alcohol awareness.

Health, safety and wellbeing become achievable when seen as ‘business as usual’, and I enjoy the challenge of finding the simplest way of incorporating these fundamentals into people’s daily operations.

Outdoors is where I’ll be outside of work, my son and I are keen hunters so weekends are often spent in the back country.

Bio Coming Soon

Growing a group of businesses is especially exciting, particularly where there is plenty of upward motion within the businesses as well as growth across an industry as a whole. As a business development advisor for the Horizon HSE Group (Exposure Science Consulting & Safe and Sound Solutions Ltd), I focus on finding and assessing growth opportunities, which often involves plenty of market research, brainstorming and discussion, as well as deep diving into the details of everything from marketing campaigns, client relationships, management systems, to employee growth and satisfaction. In addition, I have a particular love for creating a work environment that has a real focus on wellbeing.

You’ll usually find me and our two young children out walking in a forest or on a beach, or else visiting friends who are much better at baking than I am. On my commute I love listening to health and wellbeing podcasts and in my down time I love watching food travel videos and occasionally getting inspired to try some (usually spicy) culinary adventures in our own kitchen.