Work Well Conference Brisbane

Dr Tessa Bailey is the CEO of The Opus Centre and a registered psychologist. She completed her PhD focusing on psychosocial safety climate (PSC) and psychosocial factors at work, earning the 2019 Ian Davey Award for the most outstanding PhD thesis at the University of South Australia.

In her previous role as a research fellow at the University of South Australia, Dr Bailey helped coordinate the Australian workplace barometer project, which collected data on working conditions, worker health, and productivity outcomes from over 7000 workers across Australia.

Her focus on applied practice led to the creation of The Opus Centre for psychosocial risk, which collaborates with international industry partners to design integrated workforce health and safety systems that ensure safe environments, protect worker health, and promote wellbeing.

As an industry leader, Dr Bailey has supported a wide range of organisations in designing safe systems of work that optimise both health and productivity outcomes.

Theo Venter is an inspirational speaker known for surviving a 22,000-volt electric shock.

In a split-second decision to remove his insulated gloves while working atop a transmission pole, Theo narrowly escaped what should have been a fatal outcome.

Following the accident, he underwent extensive medical treatment and rehabilitation, including numerous surgeries and a long journey of relearning everyday tasks.

Today, Theo shares his experience to promote workplace safety, advocating for strict adherence to procedures and the use of personal protective equipment across all work environments.

His story has resonated with professionals in the mining, electrical, and construction sectors throughout Australia, New Zealand, and Africa.

Pierre de Villiers is a global leader in quality, health, safety, environment, and risk management. He has over 18 years of executive-level experience across the energy, infrastructure, and high-risk sectors.

As head of operational risk assurance at Sapura Energy, a leading integrated energy services provider, Pierre leads the development and implementation of strategies that foster a strong culture of care, resilient risk management, and compliance with international standards.

He holds an MBA from the Australian Institute of Business and is certified in auditing, project management, and ESG (environmental, social, and governance). His work has earned multiple awards for innovation and leadership in operational risk.

Passionate about creating meaningful outcomes for people, businesses, and the environment, Pierre brings a pragmatic, people-focused approach to embedding risk thinking at all levels of an organisation.

Professor Joel Pearson is a neuroscientist, neuro futurist, author, and director of the Future Minds Lab. He also serves as deputy director of human readiness at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) AI Institute and is an ARC future fellow at the University of New South Wales.

Initially studying art and filmmaking at the College of Fine Arts, Joel later turned to the scientific mysteries of human consciousness and the complexities of the brain. He is a prolific public speaker, writer, and world expert in intuition, the psychology of artificial intelligence (AI), mental imagery, and aphantasia.

His debut book, The Intuition Toolkit: The New Science of Knowing What Without Knowing Why, was published in 2024. His pioneering research has significantly advanced our understanding of intuition, imagination, aphantasia, and the psychological impact of AI on humanity.

He now helps companies prepare for the disruptive changes brought by the AI revolution.

Karen Maher is a leading Australian workplace health and safety and culture consultant, as well as a keynote speaker. Her career spans over 20 years, beginning as an employment and safety lawyer in both Australia and the UK. She is the founder of SmartCulture®, an Australian organisation dedicated to eliminating poor workplace behaviours, including sexual harassment.

Karen has worked on hundreds of real-life cases across the legal, investigative, advisory, and process improvement domains.

She works with a diverse range of government and private organisations and is passionate about making workplaces safer and enhancing culture. Her approach focuses on the fundamentals of great leadership and organisational culture to drive lasting change.

David is a trusted advisor who helps organisations tackle complex workplace risks that impact safety, wellbeing, and reputation. He partners with senior leaders across government, resources, defence, and education to develop practical, controlled solutions for issues including sexual harassment, mental health, safety threats, and reputational challenges.

With expertise spanning psychosocial risk, behavioural threat safety, and regulatory innovation, David also designs tailored training in human factors, people risk, and psychological safety. Known for his strategic, real-world approach, he helps workplaces move beyond compliance to create safer, more resilient environments where people and performance can thrive.

Brad Blaze is a world-renowned speed painter and keynote speaker who has performed globally for audiences ranging from corporate leaders to royalty. Known for his dynamic blend of live art and storytelling, Brad uses creativity as a powerful metaphor for business transformation, adaptability, and innovation.

His high-energy sessions inspire audiences to think differently, embrace change, and reimagine what’s possible in their work and leadership. Brad’s work has been featured at major conferences and leadership forums where motivation and creative thinking are central themes.