WA Event - Safety & HR Leadership: The Changing Horizon

Meet our Panel

Christine Mackenzie - Chief People Officer, P&N Group

Christine has over 25 years’ experience in global financial services across Europe and Asia Pacific, with her most recent roles being Regional HR Director in Singapore for TD Securities (Canada) and NatWest Group (UK).  Her career commenced in London, where she led global teams across various HR specialisms in wholesale and retail banking. Christine’s credentials include long-standing experience of managing large and distributed multi-disciplinary HR teams and building cultures of high performance and engagement. She has a wealth of experience in change, mergers, acquisitions, & integration, and has also led Corporate Affairs, Communications, Change Management, & Social Impact.  Christine sits on the Customer-Owned Banking Association’s Board of Directors and is a Graduate Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Melinda Simpson - Director Health & Safety, Curtin University

Melinda Simpson (GAIDC) brings more than 20+ years of diverse industry experience with a strong focus on fostering a proactive safety culture in large-scale, complex environments. Melinda has extensive experience in the Resource Industry working in both the Mining and Energy sectors. Melinda has led a significant cultural shift in workplace safety at Curtin, including the successful management of the University’s COVID-19 response and the implementation of major legislative changes affecting the sector. Her leadership has earned industry-wide recognition, including the prestigious WHS Foundation Leadership and Achievement Award. A passionate advocate for holistic safety frameworks, Melinda is particularly focused on addressing psychosocial hazards through a work health and safety lens, ensuring that safety extends beyond compliance to create genuinely healthier and happier workplaces.

Dion Paunich - Chief Operating Officer, Perth Mint

Dion has industry experience across Mining, Mining Services, Power Generation and also Precious Metals in his current role as Chief Operating Officer at the Perth Mint. During this journey, he has held executive level roles in both WHS and Operations. He is a “people first leader” and a firm believer that for organisations to achieve their strategic goals, they must genuinely and authentically engage with their people. Dion holds a Masters in OHS and a Masters in Business Administration. He is also a certified executive coach and a six sigma black belt.

Craig Boyle - Partner, MinterEllison

Craig is a Partner and the Practice Group Leader of MinterEllison’s Workplace team in Perth, specialising in workplace relations and safety, working with clients in a wide range of industries. Craig’s practice covers a broad range of industrial relations and labour regulation matters. This includes a focus on individual employment relationships and contracts; workplace policies and procedures; equal opportunity, discrimination and harassment; and workplace safety and training. He has particular expertise in providing strategic advice in respect of work health and safety and has advised numerous employers on the immediate response to serious safety incidents resulting in a worker's death or serious injury.