Panel Speaker: Karen Davidson

Karen is the Chief Inspector High Hazards, within the High Hazards, Energy & Public Safety group in WorkSafe New Zealand/Aotearoa.  As Chief Inspector Karen is responsible for providing strategic and operational leadership to managers, specialist investigators and inspectors undertaking investigations, safety case assessments and hazardous substance inspections across New Zealand/Aotearoa. 

She has 26 years’ experience delivering, leading and transforming frontline regulatory operations in WorkSafe across New Zealand. 

Her career has focussed on high-hazard and complex risk environments including oversight of high hazard industries, MHF and sub-MHF facilities, hydrogen, explosives, rocket launch, waste oil, and management of hazardous substances.

She is also a health and safety practitioner having previously spent 10 years carrying out inspections, investigations and prosecutions in high-risk sectors.  She has experience in leading major incident responses, targeted interventions and project management.

She holds a Massey University diploma in OH&S, a member of IOSH/NEBOSH/NZISM and an alumni graduate in Leadership & Governance, Strategy & Finance.