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Work Well Conference 2024

The Work Well Conference has sold out!

This year’s event will be held on Tuesday 22 October 2024 at the Royal International Convention Centre (RNA Showgrounds), Brisbane.

The full-day conference focuses on connection and collaboration and will include an impressive lineup of industry speakers with a networking function to follow at the end of the day.

7.30am
Registration and exhibition open


8.15am
Master of Ceremony Welcome
Chris Bombolas


8.25am
Official welcome


8.30am
Bringing evidence-informed practice to work injury schemes—why it pays to care
Dr Deborah Simmons, anaesthetist and rural generalist – Proserpine Hospital


9.15am
Preventing and managing fatigue-related risk in the workplace
Prof Drew Dawson, Director Researcher Development, CQUniversity – Adelaide Campus


10am
Examining the relationship between performance management and psychological distress
Dr Kirsten Way, Associate Professor – The University of Queensland


10.45am
Morning tea


11.15am
Challenges and solutions for work health and safety communication
Sebnem Bulan-Worth, WHS training consultant – WHS and Training Compliance


12pm
How can employers positively influence RTW rates?
Chris Foley, Managing Director and Principal Consultant – Strive Occupational Rehabilitation


12.45pm
Lunch


1.45pm
Future proofing an ageing workforce by improving movement intelligence and physical wellbeing
Terry Wong, General Manager – Move 4 Life


2.30pm
Complacency and high-risk workplace hazards—how to identify these attitudes and strategies for staying vigilant
Nada Wentzel, Chief Executive Officer – The Jonah Group


3.15pm
Afternoon tea


3.45pm
Influencing upwards: the four ways to persuade senior management
Tim Baker, Consultant, facilitator and executive coach and director at Queensland University of Technology


4.30pm
The potential of AI in predicting risk, preventing workplace hazards and opportunities for claims and rehabilitation management
Michael McQueen, Change strategist, bestselling author and regular contributor to The Morning Show (Channel 7)


5.15pm
Master of Ceremony wrap up
Chris Bombolas


5.15am
Close


*Program subject to change

Speakers

Chris BomberFormer media manager at Workplace Health and Safety Queensland, Chris, has over 25 years of media experience and a term as a Member of Parliament in Queensland. Throughout his extensive career, Chris spent nearly 21 years at Channel 9 and contributed to various radio stations, including 4BC, 4BK, and Triple M. At Channel 9, Chris actively served as a reporter, presenter, football commentator and Commonwealth Games reporter.

Chris is highly regarded for his skill as a host and master of ceremonies, overseeing numerous corporate functions for organisations including Surf Lifesaving QLD, Channel 9, Professionals Real Estate Group, Zupps, NRL, QLD Cricket, Brisbane Broncos, AMF Australia, and the Queensland Government.

Dr Deborah SimmonsDr Deborah Simmons OAM, an anaesthetist and rural generalist at Proserpine Hospital, was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after treating five workers—four of whom were severely burned—in a mine explosion at Moranbah in May 2020. Following her diagnosis, with the support of her employer, Dr Simmons admitted herself to a private psychiatric clinic in Townsville for treatment. She believes that having the right team of treating professionals around her was key to starting her recovery and planning how she would safely transition back to work. In her personal presentation, Dr Simmons will share her journey and explore the topic of ‘Why It Pays to Care’.

Professor Drew DawsonProfessor Drew Dawson is nationally and internationally recognised for his contributions to the scientific community and to industry in the areas of sleep and fatigue research, organisational psychology and human behaviour, industrial relations negotiations and the human implications of hours of work. Drew collaborates with various sectors including aviation, manufacturing, retail, entertainment, transportation, and mining, implementing fatigue management programs, developing shift work policies, and conducting pre-employment assessments. As the inaugural director of the Appleton Institute, he led research on the effects of shift work and sleep loss on employee health and well-being. His research explores sleep and circadian interactions, the impacts of sleep loss, and strategies to mitigate fatigue-related errors.

Dr Kïrsten WayDr Kïrsten Way is an Associate Professor and Program Director at the Centre for Business and Organisational Psychology at UQ where she conducts research on safety regulation, work-related mental health, work design, human factors, and occupational health. Her work focusses on psychosocial hazards both systemically and focally (investigating specific hazards such as conflict, bullying, fatigue, and sexual harassment).

Dr. Way is an Organisational Psychologist, Occupational Therapist and Certified Professional Ergonomist. She has significant industry expertise having worked as the Director of a private consultancy specialising in WHS and organisational psychology and having held positions for Australian and UK WHS regulatory authorities, including Principal Inspector (Ergonomics), Manager Psychosocial Strategy Unit, and Manager WHS Policy Branch. She has provided expertise to the Australian and UK Governments and, for example, has assisted in the development of the Safe Work Australia Handbook Principles of Good Work Design, NSW's Mentally Healthy Workplaces Benchmarking Tool and The Mentally Healthy Workplaces Strategy 2018-2022, as well as numerous WHS jurisdictions' Psychosocial Regulations and Managing the Risk of Psychosocial Hazards at Work Codes of Practice.

Sebnem Bulan-WorthSebnem is a Work Health and Safety (WHS) and training consultant, mental health first aid facilitator, and HBDI® certified practitioner with over 15 years of experience. She specialises in delivering preventative workplace mental health programs across sectors such as education, healthcare, government and warehousing. Sebnem enhances organisational culture and boosts productivity through effective people development strategies. At WHS and Training Compliance Solutions, she plays a key role in helping businesses identify, plan and implement comprehensive WHS and wellbeing programs.

Chris Foley Chris Foley is the Managing Director at Strive Occupational Rehabilitation and specialises in organisational development services, focusing on coaching, mediation, and team performance to build high performance teams. Chris has provided consulting services to both government and private organisations, expertly addressing internal conflicts and offering support to individuals dealing with mental health challenges that affect their work. With an MBA in organisational leadership and behaviour, he brings extensive expertise in facilitating team development and improving organisational effectiveness.

Terry WongAs the General Manager at Move 4 Life, Terry harnesses his background in medical science and physiotherapy to actively simplify the complexities of the human body. Renowned for his practical, common-sense approach, Terry empowers everyday individuals to lead lives free from pain and full of vitality.

He challenges commonly held beliefs, providing fresh perspectives that resonate with his audience. Terry focuses on delivering tangible value, guiding people towards a healthier, more active lifestyle.

Nada Wentzel Nada (Mtanios) Wentzel is one of Australia’s most qualified and internationally sought after safety culture and leadership experts and keynote speakers. She combines a depth of industry experience across disaster crisis management, safety leadership training and neuroscience.

Since 2003 she has led the growth of specialist safety culture and safety leadership development consultancy, Jonah Group. The Jonah Group works globally with organisations in the oil & gas, mining, power, food manufacturing, rail and service industries.

She has worked with organisations including Dulux Group, Esso, Energex, Halliburton, Oil Search, Talisman, Orica and Rio Tinto to radically improve safety culture, performance and behaviour.

With qualifications in Mechanical Engineering, Neuroscience and Organisational Psychology, Nada brings a unique fusion of knowledge and experience.

Dr Tim BakerDr Tim Baker is an internationally recognised authority on leadership development and change management. He has conducted over 3,000 seminars, workshops and keynote addresses for more than 50,000 people in 13 countries across 21 industries. As an international consultant, executive coach, and keynote speaker, Dr Baker has worked with clients including Boeing, Singapore Armed Forces, Unilever, Nokia, and SAP. He blends rigorous insights into organisational behaviour with practical solutions to complex challenges. Tim has authored 20 books, including Inside Out Leadership: The Seven Practices of Self-Leadership. Tim was named one of the 50 Most Talented Global Training and Development Leaders by the World HRD Congress.

Michael McQueenChange strategist and bestselling author of ten books, Michael is also a regular contributor on The Morning Show (Channel 7) with a segment that explores the latest developments in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the implications of these technologies for the future of healthcare, wellbeing, and aging.

His focus extends to the role of AI in injury prevention, workplace monitoring, and data-driven predictive maintenance within highly regulated environments, incorporating elements such as robots, digital twins and smart sensors.

Michael is a familiar face on the international conference circuit having shared the stage with the likes of Bill Gates, Mel Robbins and Apple co-founder, Steve Wozniak. Engaging and lively, he has engaged with over 500,000 people across 5 continents since 2004 and is known for his entertaining and practical presentations.

Sponsorships and exhibition

Sponsorship and exhibitor opportunities at the Work Well Conference have now closed. A big thank you to our 2024 sponsors and exhibitors.