With a Masters in Occupational Health & Safety (Massey) and a Registered Nurse, Derek’s qualifications encompass the whole gambit of Health, Safety and Wellbeing (HSW). Derek also holds Chemistry qualifications and worked as a a HSNO Test Certifier and providing specialist hazardous substances advice and guidance.

Derek has gained this experience over 30 years working mainly in high hazard industries (e.g. developing Safety Cases) but also in logistics, transport, Defence, construction and more recently, in central government.   This experience has included working not only in NZ but also in; the Middle East, North and Central Africa, Australia and CIS. Working in different countries and cultures in HSW roles has required Derek to be flexible and adaptive, but it has also given him a good understanding of how HSW is managed around the world, which allows him to develop more innovative/ creative solutions. He has worked for large multinationals with well established systems and smaller businesses where he has setup the safety management, risk management and emergency response systems.

Derek developed the third year Workplace Health and Wellbeing Strategies Paper for the Southern Institute of Technology and is also a community member of one of the Massey University Ethics Committees.  Derek is an experienced trainer and university lecturer and is passionate about supporting, mentoring and coaching in the HSW profession. He is a mentor for the Australian Institute of Health & Safety.