What do SIA members want to know about me?

I am sincerely honoured to be nominated by a fellow Young Safety Professional (YSP) for election to the position of Director on the Board of Safety Institute of Australia (SIA). Voting has just begun and if you are a member, click on the voting link you will see my candidate statement.

Before you do though, I just want to say writing this statement was really hard. There is no selection criteria or word limit and what do voting members want to know about me?

I decided that I didn’t want to tell people where I’ve worked…blah,blah. I wanted to share a bit about me that you don’t see on my LinkedIn profile. So below is the version I initially wrote that I eventually summarised. But then I thought, why not share this story with everyone.

First though, I have to share how this all started…

You’ve got mail…
Subject: 2017 Call for Nominations for the SIA Board of Directors

Tim: Interested? I'd be keen to nominate you.
Me : OOH! I’m flattered you thought of me! I would love to be nominated.
Tim: Attached is the nomination form signed by me…also – awesome work by the QLD YSP crew!

Don’t you just love how we have evolved to communicate in 140 characters or less!

So here is the extended remix version of my candidate statement. Feel free to post good comments about it ;)

My name is Naomi Kemp and I’m guessing like many other members, my career in safety started well before I was qualified. I was asked to be the WHSO in a Power Station and to be honest, I felt a little overwhelmed by the role at first. However, I had a senior safety manager to coach and mentor me. He helped me grow from a tradesperson to a safety and training advisor. It was during this time my passion for safety grew.

After moving to Newcastle, NSW, I had the opportunity to work with another great mentor who taught me the in’s and out’s of management systems. She really encouraged me to take my safety career further and to complete tertiary study, because...

“ we need more women in safety ”

Upon returning to Queensland with my husband, daughter and son, I studied a Bachelor of Occupational health and safety science. I am forever grateful to my husband for supporting me during ‘my sabbatical’. Treating my studies as a full-time occupation, with my experience and passion for safety made me a very unique undergraduate. It was at University, I was introduced to the SIA and encouraged to become a student member by Dr Margaret Cook. Shortly after, I became involved in the Queensland Visions Conference organising committee.

Since then, I have continued to be an active member of the SIA. I am now a Certified OHS Professional Member and hold a position on the Queensland Branch Committee. I attend the Brisbane sub-branch meetings and really enjoy meeting with other members and ‘safety people’ to share our experiences, ideas and thoughts. I also really enjoy meeting and working with people who are new to safety, whether recently graduated from tertiary courses or recently transitioned from other professions. This is why in 2016, I rallied some of my safety friends to convene a Young Safety Professional Network in Queensland. Since then we have held several successful YSP networking events including the premier event YSPspeak.

I was nominated by founder and fellow YSP, Tim Allred. Yes, I am a Young-ish Safety Professional, but I assure you, I fully understand being a director of the SIA is a huge responsibility. I must demonstrate strategic and legal expertise and my ability to manage enterprise risk and people. I must act with integrity and be objective. With my career experience and previous position as a Director on the Sunset Basketball Stadium Board, I understand good corporate governance and I empathise with member’s expectations.

Having been both a safety practitioner and professional, it is a mission of mine to ensure safety is seen as a true profession. This would be something that I would actively seek as part of being a Director of the SIA. With my interest in supporting those new to safety, I would encourage and support affiliated special interest groups such as YSP and Women in Safety & Health (WISH). I also believe there is a need to focus and take action in the area of mental health in the workplace.

Oh and of course, if you are a member of the SIA and eligible to vote…I’m #7 on the ballot!

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Naomi is a certified OHS Professional and the founder of Safe Expectations, specialising in the facilitation of Enforceable Undertakings. She is a pragmatic safety coach who challenges ‘the way it has always been done’ and helps leaders during pivotal times set safe expectations and make safety happen.

Connect with Naomi at www.safeexpectations.com.au