Creating a space to empower women in the Workplace Health & Safety Profession

The Women in Safety Excellence NZ network was established by Margaret van Schaik and Helen Parkes in 2010 and now has over 400 members around New Zealand, across all sectors of business and industry.

The network promotes the equity and advancement of women in the safety profession, striving to continuously influence industry to address current and future safety challenges affecting women in the workforce locally, nationally and globally.

The WISE Committee oversees the ongoing management of the WISE NZ Network on behalf of the NZISM Senior Leadership Team. Their role is to support the delivery of the WISE National Events programme, develop communications, work with branches to develop local chapters, develop sponsorship opportunities, develop social media and marketing content, provide research and thought leadership and develop CPD opportunities including webinars and other online engagement opportunities.

Internationally, Women in Safety Excellence (WISE) common interest groups are well established with the goal of advancing their members and the safety profession through education, mentorship, networking, collaboration, research and innovation.

Keep in touch

To become a member of the WISE network all you need to do is register below and join our LinkedIn page.

Having your contact details enables us to communicate effectively and keep you updated on relevant events, initiatives and outcomes, and to understand a little more about you and how we can best support you.

As a WISE Network member you can also sign up to receive a copy of NZISM's fortnightly e-Newsletter. (Please don't do this if you are an NZISM member as you will receive it twice.)

Events Coming Up

Whānau Āwhina Plunket’s application of Te Ao Māori in a Safety-II environment

Tue 26 March, 12pm

Join the Women In Safety Excellence (WISE) network in the third of their 'Women in Safety II' series, facilitated by nationally recognised Safety Differently specialist, Moni Hogg.

In this session, Nicola Knobel will unveil how Whānau Āwhina Plunket successfully implemented a Safety-II model, enriched by Te Ao Māori principles. This case study is a testament to the effectiveness of cultural inclusivity in safety management and showcases a shift from traditional safety models to one that focuses on positive outcomes and resilience.


Strategic Initiatives

Women In Safety Excellence drives a number of strategic initiatives designed to support women entering into and moving up through the health and safety profession in New Zealand.

View the WISE Strategy

Capability Development Project

One of our key initiatives is the WISE Capability Development Project, which aims to support and encourage female OHS practitioners to move from a technical level, into leadership and governance roles.

The project is supported by the HASANZ WISE Scholarship.

Career Development Pathway Report

In 2021, in support of the capability project, WISE completed research into professional development opportunities available for OHS practitioners wanting to move into leadership and governance roles. The outcome is the Career Development Pathway Research Report.

The report provides a useful overview of the availability and cost of courses/short courses/programmes (both domestic and international) available to help OHS practitioners take their next step forward.

We hope you find it an interesting read and encourage you to share it widely amongst your colleagues and peers. Good luck to those of you who have set your sights on leadership or governance positions. With a lot of the 'leg work' done for you, we hope you find the report a useful resource that will help make your next step forward just that little bit easier.

WISE Scholarship

The WISE Network is delighted, with the support of business partners, to sponsor one of the HASANZ scholarships.

Each year, the HASANZ WISE Scholarship supports a female health and safety professional in up-skilling from a technical level into leadership and governance in order that they can positively influence future health and safety practice in Aotearoa.

Candis Hawkins earned the HASANZ WISE Scholarship in 2022, which will support her in developing her leadership capability.

Congratulations Candis, and we look forward to following your leadership journey.