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The current
OHS job
scene


CSG October 2021 Presenter: Helen O'Keefe

The current OHS job scene

Presentation by: Helen O'Keefe, Principal Consultant, HOK Talent Solutions

Presentation package now available (members only)

What’s the current job scene for OHS? The news is that at the moment there are more roles on offer than candidates, according to Helen O’Keefe, who runs a leading national health & safety executive search agency. This was the subject of her zoom presentation for Central Safety Group on 12 October.
Helen discussed the reasons for the current shortage of applicants happening across the board in a range of industries, as well as in different levels and roles in the OHS field.
She offered advice to recruiters, current job seekers and people trying to decide whether to move in the current job climate. She spoke about how, when you have a candidate-led market, the traditional recruitment methods may not work. She also outlined aspects that candidates need to consider carefully before accepting a new role.
Helen spoke about how workplace changes during the pandemic have led to some organisations creating different OHS roles or adding new requirements.

The presenter:

Helen O’Keefe is the founder of HOK Talent Solutions, which specialises in national HSE recruitment. Helen has a passion for the health and safety industry, and had been working in recruitment for this sector before founding her own agency in 2015. Prior to this, her background includes working as National Recruitment Manager for the Australian Red Cross, and as an HR consultant with pharmaceutical company GSK.

 
 

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What makes a
Great OHS
Executive

CSG February 2026 event - Presenter Helen O'Keefe, Director, HOK Talent Solutions - What makes a great OHS executive


What makes a great OHS executive

Presented by: Helen O'Keefe, Director, HOK Talent Solutions
Topic: What makes a great OHS executive

How: CSG Lunchtime Presentation - via zoom or in person

Date: Tuesday 10 February 2026, noon
Non-Members welcome to attend

What makes a great OHS executive
What truly differentiates top candidates in today’s current employment climate? Expert in health & safety recruitment, Helen O’Keefe, will give a presentation on 10 February to Central Safety Group that delves deeply into the critical factors driving recruitment decisions for senior HSW roles.
Helen will begin by discussing in-demand skill-sets. She will provide a detailed breakdown of the technical expertise and strategic capabilities that employers are actively seeking. This goes beyond foundational HSW knowledge.
Helen will also explore essential behavioural competencies, including the soft skills and leadership traits that are predominantly requested when she is recruiting HSW executives reporting to CEOs or C-Suite leaders.
Helen will conclude with an overview of the state of the HSW market in 2025. She will identify the industries that experienced the most demand for HSW talent and those that slowed down, as well as the underlying economic or regulatory factors that drove this.
A popular annual speaker for Central Safety Group, Helen’s extensive experience in the field, specialised focus and deep network, make her insights highly valued by our audience.
The presentation will be followed by the 2025 AGM for Financial Members.

About the Speaker:

Helen O’Keefe is the founder of HOK Talent Solutions, which celebrated 10 years of dedicated service to the OHS community in 2025. Operating Australia-wide, Helen manages recruitment assignments across various sectors and her passion for the health and safety industry stems from her extensive experience in the field - from both a recruitment perspective and having worked alongside OHS peers in her earlier career.
Prior to establishing HOK Talent Solutions, Helen held the position of National Recruitment Manager at the Australian Red Cross and served as an HR Manager for the pharmaceutical company Glaxo-Smith-Kline (GSK).

Date: Tuesday 10 February 2026
Time: 12:00pm to 12:30pm
Where: Regus Yarra Room, 50th floor, 120 Collins Street, Melbourne. Our thanks to Helen O'Keefe for providing the venue.
How: Online via Zoom or in person - the link will be sent out on the afternoon of the Monday preceding the event
N.B. A video recording of the session will be available on the website exclusively for financial members.
Cost: Financial members* free. Others $15
RSVP: COB Monday 9 February 2026. Online using our RSVP form
Join: Join CSG now [Individual membership fee: $85.]
*If unsure of your membership status, contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
   RSVP: by Monday 9 February.
Online using our RSVP form or Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., phone the secretary T: (03) 9387 9768 Mobile 0417 040 252
The Zoom event link will be emailed on the afternoon of Monday 9 February.

Don’t forget to put every second Tuesday from February to December in your Calendar!

 

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