Chair
Diane Smith-Gander is non-executive director AGL Energy Limited, Wesfarmers Limited, Chair of Safe Work Australia, a board member of Keystart Loans, Henry Davis York, Committee for Economic Development of Australia (CEDA) and immediate past President of Chief Executive Women. Ms Smith-Gander has held a wide range of nonexecutive roles in the past including Chairman of Broadspectrum, Deputy Chair of NBN Co, non-executive director of the CBH Group and commissioner of Tourism WA. Ms Smith-Gander’s last executive role was as a group executive at Westpac Banking Corporation. Prior to re-joining Westpac, Ms Smith-Gander was a partner of McKinsey & Company in the United States serving clients in diverse industries globally. Ms Smith-Gander became a senior advisor to McKinsey in Australia in 2016. Ms Smith-Gander is a fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) and Governance Institute of Australia and adjunct professor of Corporate Governance at University of Western Australia (UWA) where she serves on the advisory board of the Business School.
Members – Commonwealth representative
Michelle Baxter has been the Chief Executive Officer of Safe Work Australia since November 2013. Before her appointment, Ms Baxter worked in many senior roles across the Australian Public Service including as group manager in the former Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR), group manager responsible for agency change with the Fair Work Ombudsman and group manager, Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Taskforce with DEEWR. She is also a Commissioner of the Safety Rehabilitation and Compensation Council. Ms Baxter has a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Arts from the Australian National University and is admitted to practice as a barrister and solicitor in the Australian Capital Territory.
Members – state and territory representatives
Jim Dodds (WA) is the Director of Environmental Health at the Department of Health Western Australia in the Public Health Division. He is also a member of the Food Regulatory Standing Committee and a council member and executive member of the Environmental Health Standing Committee (enHealth). Mr Dodds is undertaking a Master of Health Science and holds a number of qualifications including a Graduate Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety and a Master of Engineering Science – Waste Management. Mr Dodds’ previous roles include project lead of a reform program in the Department of Health, Director of Strategy and Environment, Chair of the enHealth Council and various roles in Shire Councils. Mr Dodds was previously the Chair of the enHealth Council and has co-authored nine journal articles in the last 16 years.
Andrew Kefford (ACT) is the Head of the Asbestos Response Taskforce for the Australian Capital Territory Government, which is responsible for the design and implementation of the ACT Government’s Loose Fill Asbestos Insulation Eradication Scheme. Mr Kefford’s previous roles include Deputy Director-General Workforce Capability and Governance in the Chief Minister and Treasury Directorate and the Australian Capital Territory Commissioner for Public Administration. Mr Kefford has also worked for the Commonwealth Government as a senior adviser (Cabinet) in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet and as a senior adviser (government) to the Hon John Howard OM, AC in the Office of the Prime Minister.
Julie Nielsen (QLD) is the executive director of Compliance and Business Engagement in the Office of Industrial Relations, Queensland Treasury. Ms Nielsen's previous roles include Brisbane North Sunshine Coast regional director, Workplace Health and Safety Queensland, in the Department of Justice and Attorney General. Before joining the Queensland public service, Ms Nielsen worked at the Queensland Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Marnie Williams (VIC) is the executive director of Health and Safety at the Victorian WorkCover Authority. Ms Williams’ previous roles include chief executive officer of the Taxi Services Commission; general manager of the Department of Transport, Planning and Local Infrastructure and various roles at the Victorian WorkCover Authority and Worksafe Victoria, including as general manager of the Strategic Programs Division and as a chemical technologist.
Member – Employee representative
Michael Borowick was elected as Assistant Secretary of the Australian Council of Trade Unions in 2010. Between 1990 and 2010 he held various elected and other positions in The Australian Workers’ Union and its predecessor organisations. Mr Borowick is on a number of boards including Safe Work Australia; the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission; the National Workplace Relations Consultative Council and the Defence Reserves Support Council. Mr Borowick is also a Director of HESTA, the industry superannuation fund for the health and community sector. HESTA has 834,000 members and $40 billion of funds under management.
Member – Employer representative
Tracey Browne has been manager, National Safety and Workers Compensation Policy and Membership Services, Australian Industry Group (Ai Group) since 2007. Between 2006 and 2007 she was AI Group’s national program manager, Small Business Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Advisers Program, and from 2001 to 2007 she was a principal adviser, Workers Compensation and OHS. Her former positions also include group manager, Health Safety and Environment, Bendix Mintex Pty Ltd; coordinator, Occupational Health and Safety/Personnel, ACI Glass Packaging; and senior consultant, Occupational Health and Safety, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu.
Other members
Carolyn Davis is an independent consultant and a former director of the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI). Before joining ACCI, Ms Davis was a senior manager in various organisations and a consultant on occupational health and safety and workers’ compensation matters. Carolyn has also lectured in occupational health and safety in chemistry. She is a former member of Safe Work Australia and has been an observer at Council meetings since 2013. Ms Davis has a Bachelor of Science (Hons), an Education Diploma, a Graduate Diploma in Occupational Hygiene and is a member of Resolution Institute (alternative dispute resolution).
Nancy Milne OAM has extensive business experience as a non-executive director and lawyer and expertise in risk management. She was a lawyer for over 30 years specializing in insurance, corporate governance, risk management and commercial dispute resolution. Ms Milne acted for the underfunded trust created by James Hardie before and during the Jackson Special Commission of Enquiry, acted in disputes involving asbestos claims and has advised on matters relating to insurance arrangements for asbestos liability coverage. Ms Milne is currently a director of ALC Property Group Limited, Securities Exchange Guarantee Corporation Limited (chair since 2012), Superannuation Administration Corporation and the State Insurance Regulatory Authority. Ms Milne was awarded the Order of Australia Medal for services to the legal sector (particularly in insurance law) and to the community.
Observer
Dr Robert Walters is a general medical practitioner, part-time member of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal and Colonel in the Royal Australian Army Medical Corps. Dr Walters has been a general practice consultant to the Surgeon General, Australian Defence Force (ADF) since 1995 and has held positions in the ADF as a senior medical officer, director of Medical Services (Tasmania Region) and military compensation adviser for Tasmania. His board memberships include Chair, Ministerial Asbestos Steering Committee; medical member of WorkSafe Tasmania Board, Headspace; and Chair of the General Practice Consultative Group, ADF. Dr Walters was also a state and territory representative on the first Asbestos Safety and Eradication Council, 2013 to 2016.
