Meet the Team
Our WISE Committee members are all volunteers who happily offer their time, energy and experience in support of colleagues throughout the health and safety profession.
Margaret van Schaik (Chair)
Margaret is a co founder of the Women in Safety NZ Group, started in 2010, and strongly believes in the encouragement, support and empowerment of women working in the health and safety profession. Margaret has 20 years experience in health and safety group management, advisory, and regulatory roles in New Zealand and has a passion for coaching and mentoring others. Margaret is a Chartered Member of IOSH, Certified Member of NZISM and a HASANZ Registered Health and Safety Professional. Margaret is Principal Consultant/Managing Director of van Schaik Health and Safety Solutions, a boutique H&S consultancy based in Wellington.
Karla Mendiburu
Karla immigrated from Mexico to New Zealand 9 years ago, with a background in international business. Karla is a Health and Safety Coordinator for a lower tier Major Hazard Facility in the Bay of Plenty and is currently in the process completing a Graduate Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety Management. Karla is passionate about engaging with operational teams and changing workplace culture and enjoys traveling. Karla believes empowered women empower everyone.
Kate Sutcliffe
Kate Sutcliffe has been working in the health and safety field for over 17 years. She started out as a Health and Safety Inspector, before moving into the areas of auditing, consulting / coaching and training. She is now a self-employed Health and Safety Specialist and Auditor, helping a number of companies make health and safety part of their everyday business. She is also part of the Avid Plus Ltd group of health and safety professionals. Kate is pleased to be part of a national group with the focus of promoting and supporting the profession.
Jo Pugh
Jo Pugh is an experienced senior leader at New Zealand’s health and safety regulator, WorkSafe New Zealand. Based in Wellington, Jo has worked in health-and-safety regulation for over 18 years across a number of operational roles, including her current position as the Head of the General Inspectorate.
Jo, or GI Jo as she is often referred to, oversees a workforce of 190 staff who are responsible for targeted harm prevention regulatory activity in order to provide confidence that New Zealand workplaces are managing their risks appropriately. Jo is a strong advocate for collaborative engagement and proactive education, balanced with proportionate enforcement. As a Professional member of NZISM Jo is excited to work with like-minded colleagues within WISE, empowering women in the Health and Safety profession.
Kate Milburn
Kate is passionate about creating resilience in communities and coaching leaders to connect with and nurture the potential of their people. This mahi has her working with clients to create optimum wellbeing for employees.
Kate has been a registered psychologist since 2009, she has a Master of Science in Psychology (First Class Honours), a Post Graduate Diploma in Industrial and Organisational Psychology, and a Post Graduate Diploma in Business Administration (HR Endorsement).
Pamela (Pam) Mitchell
Pam is a registered Occupational Therapist with a long term interest in Management and Strategy. She believes in growing and empowering women to reach their potential and sees collaboration as a vehicle to achieve this. Pam is based in Auckland and has represented OTNZ on the HASANZ Governance Group for the last six years.
Pam originally trained as an occupational therapist, but her love of learning led her to graduate with a Master of Business Studies and a Post Graduate Diploma in Emergency Management. Pam has authored three books and has been involved in both the public and private sectors in management roles in health, banking, insurance and youth justice.
Currently Pam is the Audit, Assurance, Risk and Health and Safety Manager for a large primary health provider and has a particular interest in managing psychosocial risk.
