Janet Bowes
- Health and Safety Manager, Presbyterian Support Northern
1. How did your career journey lead you to a role in Health + Safety?
I’m a career Health and Safety professional and have really only worked in the Health and Safety space throughout my career, across many different industries. I originally applied for a public health role and missed out, but the organisation offered me a Health and Safety Coordinator role and the rest as they say, is history.
My early career was almost back to front starting at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Western Australia. It required me to understand the legislation in detail and work with the Government and other organisations to develop legislative codes of practice and industry best practice. Then I moved into mining and spent the vast majority of my role completing inductions and safety walks - all of which gave me a well-rounded understanding of what it means to work in Health and Safety.
Starting my career in Western Australia provided a wealth of opportunities in Health and Safety. As my career developed, I was able to experience a lot of heavy industry (mining/construction) work which really supported me to understand Health and Safety at an operational level. I often found myself working out in the field, and this is what I think shaped me most in my career.
Since returning to New Zealand, I have been able to use my strengths, and Australian-based experience, to support the organisations I have worked in to ensure that robust procedures and strategies are in place – things that I think are the key foundations of a successful Health and Safety system
2. What about your role makes you want to get up in the morning?
I’m lucky to be working in an organisation where I am humbled by the work that we undertake, and while I’m not on the frontline providing support, I’m able to help keep our teams safe while they are. In my role, I have been working to build the H&S function and have enjoyed success in doing so. I really love that I am playing a part in supporting and developing new H&S professionals as they start out on their journey.
My favourite part of Health and Safety at the moment is the systems development and cultural change work myself and my team are involved in.
3. What are the biggest challenges in your industry at the moment?
Being in social services, many of our teams were essential workers through the pandemic and we are still working to catch up on the new normal. What also makes it a challenge is that people in this industry, because of the nature of their roles, are often protective of their clients, sometimes to the detriment of their own health and safety. So, the biggest challenge I see is helping our teams to understand that their own health and safety is just as important as that of their clients.
We also have a demographic that might not be computer savvy, so in a technology-based generation, it can be challenging to support our teams in navigating some of our computer or app-based systems.
4. How can people with Health + Safety responsibility successfully influence others in their organisation?
I used to wonder 'why couldn’t people just do this?’ and ‘why do we need to consult with everyone?’. It’s taken me a good chunk of my career to realise that for the most part, it’s about engaging and bringing people along on the journey. Knowing what needs to be achieved, but being able to settle for less than perfect along the way. Mostly I work on the philosophy that if you do what you say you are going to do and are there to provide support and sound advice, you will be able to build trust with the operational and leadership teams – and you will find your ability to influence will follow.
5. What is the best bit of advice you have for someone looking to move into this area?
I am a strong believer that it’s not about academic knowledge. It’s about getting your hands dirty and really understanding the work. Having a good mentor also helps.
Health and Safety for me is about good communication and good marketing. As a Health and Safety professional, you are really a service provider so need to understand your end user and their needs first.
