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Showing 'March 2022: The Changing Role of the OHS Professional'.
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Changing
Role of the
OHS Professional


The Changing Role of the OHS Professional

Presentation by: Pam Pryor AO, Manager OHS BoK Development, Australian Institute of Health and Safety

Presentation package now available (members only)

OHS is now suffering from 'disciplinary ambiguity' according to a recent international study. Pam Pryor, Manager OHS Body of Knowledge Development for the Australian Institute of Health and Safety, discussed this as well as other changes affecting the OHS profession at a zoom lunchtime presentation for Central Safety Group on 8 March.

These changes include the COVID-19 pandemic opening new ground on workplace safety, the growing discussions around psychological health and safety, and the fact that many OHS professionals now include ‘wellness’ as part of their role. Pam discussed how all of these highlight the lack of clarity around the role of the generalist OHS Professional. She also illustrated this with some interactive online polling of the participants.

Pam offered insights and perspectives on the current status of the generalist OHS professional in Australia, why it is now seen to be in some respects an ‘emerging profession’, and where it is headed.

The presenter:

Pam Pryor is an internationally recognised specialist in OHS capability and related aspects of OHS professionality. She is currently responsible for the development and ongoing maintenance of the Australian OHS Body of Knowledge (BoK). Bok is the collective works developed by a range of specialists that informs OHS education, certification and further development of OHS professionals. (See www.ohsbok.org.au) Her work with the International Network of Safety and Health Professionals developing the OHS Professional Capability Framework earned Pam the 2017-18 President’s Award from the American Society of Safety Professionals. In 2018 she was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia for her contribution to OHS Professionals, through her leadership and advisory roles, particularly in developing standards for education frameworks.

 
 

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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 executivet
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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