SPEAKERS

Karen O’Leary – Conference MC

A natural performer, Karen made her acting debut in Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement’s cult-classic feature What We Do in the Shadows. Her head-turning performance as Officer O’Leary led to the comedy spin-off series Wellington Paranormal, a show that is broadcast around the world in over 100 countries, including on HBO Max in the US.

She has enjoyed roles in features Millie Lies Low and SXSW darlings The Breaker Upperers and Nude Tuesday, as well as television’s Educators and two seasons of comedy The Eggplant. Karen developed exceptional communication skills in her two decades as an early childhood educator and uses those skills to great effect as both a presenter and an MC. She is a charismatic, hilarious, and charming presence whose services are highly sought after

Photo Credit: @pikeriverfilm and @madmanfilmsnz

Anna Osborne & Sonya Rockhouse

Anna lives on the West Coast in Ngahere – a small settlement outside of Greymouth. She lost her husband Milton in the Pike River disaster and has been battling for justice for him and for the safety of New Zealanders at work ever since.

Sonya lives in Christchurch. She lost her son Ben in the disaster. Another of her sons, Daniel, escaped the mine and crawled back the length of the drift rescuing the only other survivor of the explosion.

In 2016 Anna and Sonya led the Stand With Pike campaign that eventually gained re-entry into the 2.3km mine drift and reopened the police investigation. This led to the recovery of substantial new evidence and was documented in the 2025 feature film, Pike River.

Together with fellow Pike River family member Rowdy Dubridge, Anna and Sonya worked with the Public Service Commission to co-design the commission’s Model Standard Te Mahi me ngā Mōrehu Working with survivors. This lays out the principles the public service must meet in its interactions with survivors of mass tragedies.

Anna and Sonya were appointed as Members of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) in the 2022. They were recognised for their services to the community and occupational health and safety, specifically for their tireless advocacy for truth and justice for the 29 men killed in Pike River.

They are currently engaged in efforts to strengthen health and safety law in Aotearoa New Zealand including a campaign for corporate manslaughter legislation to be enacted. They are also waiting on Crown Prosecutors to assess the evidence recovered by police through the course of the drift recovery. They expect prosecution of those responsible for the deaths of their loved ones and 27 other men nearly 16 years ago.

Benjamin Hemi

Ko Wetekia te Maunga
Ko Whakatu te Marae
Ko Ngati Koata te Iwi

Benjamin is the Health and Safety Adviser for Tainui group holdings, is a trustee for TRMA and previously Ngati Koata. He has an in-depth knowledge of planning and running major events and projects and has over 30 years of experience in working with local, regional, national and international organisations. His guiding influence is to do what you say and be a person of your word. Kia Kaha, Kia Mau, Kia Manuwanui.

Each of us has a view on the best way to engage and while their is never just one way TRMA looks forward to sharing their view on what effective engagement looks like.

Dr Paul Wood

Dr Paul Wood is the bestselling author of How to Escape from Prison and Mental Fitness. He has delivered keynotes for Google, Nike, Converse, and the Obama Foundation. And facilitated workshops to enhance performance, resilience, and capability for groups as diverse as Sony PlayStation, the Advanced Police Negotiation Team, and at-risk teens.

Paul’s talk will share insights from his work and his personal journey from delinquent to doctor of psychology.

PANELLISTS

Panel Discussion: Embracing the Future

Sarah Hogan

Sarah Hogan is Deputy Chief Executive & Principal Economist at the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research (NZIER). She is a health economist with over 20 years of experience across the Canadian, Australian and New Zealand Health systems. Sarah works with a wide variety of health and social sector clients providing health data analytics, health technology assessment, cost-benefit and social impact analysis, and IDI research.

Dr Ian Laird

Ian has nearly 50 years’ experience in health and safety in NZ and led the OHS programme at Massey University until 2025. In 2022, he received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the NZ Workplace Health and Safety Awards for his contribution in influencing a generation of health and safety practitioners. His recent work includes completing a project for HASANZ in collaboration with Scarlatti, on “Workforce demand for health and safety practitioners in Aotearoa NZ”. Ian is currently an Honorary Research Fellow in the School of Health Sciences, Massey University, a Fulbright Fellow and a Visiting Scientist at the Harvard School of Public Health.

Dr James Renwick

James is a climate researcher who studies Southern Hemisphere climate variability, and the impacts of climate change on the Pacific, New Zealand and the Antarctic. He was a lead author for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) for 20 years, contributing to the 4th, 5th, and 6th Assessment Reports. James was awarded the Prime Minister’s 2018 prize for Science Communication and was part of the team that won the Prime Minister’s Science Prize in 2019. He was a Commissioner on the New Zealand Climate Change Commission from 2019 to 2024 and was made a Companion of the Royal Society of New Zealand Te Apārangi in 2021.

Panel Discussion: Practical asbestos management in New Zealand

Robert McAllister (Panel Facilitator)

Robert McAllister is a recognised asbestos management and building surveying specialist with more than 20 years’ experience across construction, property, compliance and occupational health risk.

He is a Director of the Faculty of Asbestos Management Australia and New Zealand (FAMANZ), a member of the HASANZ Governance Group, and a Registered Building Surveyor with NZIBS.

Robert was previously a WorkSafe New Zealand Licensed Asbestos Assessor for 10 years and holds BOHS qualifications including P402, IP404, P405.Robert is an active contributor to industry education, research and professional development across New Zealand and Australia.

Robert Barton

Robert Barton is Director and General Manager of ACM Removals and an experienced leader within New Zealand's asbestos removal and remediation sector.

Over the past decade, Robert has worked across facilities management, waterproofing and asbestos remediation, developing a strong focus on improving industry standards, worker protection and the practical delivery of safe asbestos removal.

Robert is a registered professional on the HASANZ Register and a member of the Faculty of Asbestos Management Australia and New Zealand (FAMANZ), reflecting his commitment to professional standards, continuing development and improved capability across the asbestos sector.

He is also actively involved in the wider industry through the New Zealand Demolition and Asbestos Association, where he served as Vice President for several years, and has contributed to industry consultation, professional development and discussions aimed at strengthening asbestos management and removal practices.

Robert brings a valuable contractor and operational perspective to the health and safety profession, connecting regulatory and technical expectations with the practical realities of delivering asbestos removal safely on site.

His passion for lifting professionalism and education across the asbestos industry is reflected in his appointment as General Manager of Kaitiaki Training Ltd, an NZQA-registered Private Training Establishment.

Craig Dooley

Craig Dooley is a Director and Co-Owner of SQN Consulting, Passive Safety and a sitting Board Director of FAMANZ. With over 13 years of hands-on experience across the UK and Aotearoa, Craig brings deep technical expertise in asbestos surveying, licensed assessment, project management, and ISO-accredited quality assurance systems.

On the HASANZ panel, Craig represents the independent assessor perspective; focusing on robust risk identification, independent verification, clearance testing, and safe reoccupation. He is passionate about raising industry standards, ensuring regulatory compliance remains practical and evidence-based, and empowering teams to achieve technical excellence to prevent asbestos-related harm.

Simon Paykel

I am a founder and a Technical Director at Maynard Marks, where I provide Building Surveying and Environmental Surveying services. When I started my career in construction in the mid-1980s, health and safety received little attention on building sites in New Zealand. Exposure to airborne contaminants was just one of many hazards which we were not educated about or provided with the appropriate PPE/RPE. Asbestos has also been a hazard which has been unavoidable throughout my 40 years in the construction industry, because it is so widespread within our built environment, but now one where I can educate and ensure PCBU’s are compliant with the Regulations so others can avoid exposure.

I regularly work with PCBUs to implement effective management controls that support business continuity and minimise disruption associated with asbestos-containing materials (ACMs). I remain actively involved in project delivery, including conducting asbestos management surveys, developing asbestos management plans and registers, undertaking air monitoring, carrying out asbestos refurbishment and demolition surveys, preparing scopes of work for asbestos removal, monitoring clearance activities, and issuing clearance certificates.

I am on the Board of Directors for FAMANZ and the current 2027 FAMANZ Conference Chair in Christchurch March 2027.

Marta Roberts

Recognised technical leader and trusted regulatory adviser with nearly twenty years' experience leading and contributing to complex asbestos, occupational health and safety, and regulatory initiatives across New Zealand and internationally. Widely recognised for operating at the intersection of science, regulation and operational practice, translating complex technical evidence into practical regulatory outcomes that protect workers and strengthen public confidence.