Safer Together exists to prevent harm to frontline workers. In 2025, at the request of our Safety Leaders Group in Queensland, we held our first-ever Frontline Leaders Forum in Brisbane, ‘Future Talk’ to consider what role Frontline Leaders play in shaping the future of safety in the Australian Energy Production Industry.
Tracey Fields (Health and Safety Advisor, Arrow Energy), who brilliantly hosted and facilitated the event, welcomed delegates before handing over to Joanna Groves (CEO, inGauge Energy) who warmly welcomed more that 40 Frontline Leaders from both Operator and Contractor Companies to this first Safer Together gathering of this kind in Queensland.
Shoena Messner (Chief Inspector Petroleum and Gas, RSHQ) delivered a passionate presentation where she shared the very personal impact of some incidents early in her career, and the effect they had on her view of and approach to safety, resulting in her passion for advocating for safety for frontline workers in our industry. She then shared Regulator's perspective on ‘The Role of Frontline Leaders in Shaping Safety in Petroleum and Gas’.
Tracey then returned with an icebreaker exercise, asking delegates ‘What is the most rewarding aspect of your role as a Frontline Leader’.
Frontline Leaders have a lived first-hand awareness of current (and emerging) safety issues and concerns for frontline workers, and how they may impact future activities. A ‘Reflecting on the Present’ discussion focused on a few key questions prompting very engaging conversations and sharing at the tables in the room:
- What is the Frontline Leader’s role in shaping safety in the AEP Industry?
- What are the 3 most pressing emerging concerns / safety issues for the frontline workers?
- How can Frontline Leaders drive safety and innovation, and what are the opportunities in our industry to address those safety issues?
- How do you see the role of a Frontline Leader evolve going into the future? What does it mean for behaviour / skills that you need in your role?
The next session, ‘Stepping into the Future’ was designed to flesh out exactly how Senior Leaders and Frontline Leaders can best work together, and how Senior Leaders can support Frontline Leaders in their roles, and practical ways to extend this support. Session also touched upon the existing Safer Together resources available to our frontline leaders.
Tracey closed the event, thanking delegates for their enthusiasm, willingness to share and for attending what we hope will become an annual event.
Frontline Leaders at the Industry Safety Forum
Later in the day, Senior Leaders were gathering at the Industry Safety Forum (ISF) to talk about their role in shaping the future of safety in the Australian Energy Production Industry. Frontline Leaders had an opportunity to present collective feedback from their peers to the Industry Senior Leaders in the afternoon.
The Panel of Frontline Leaders, represented by Amelia Forest (Maintenance Supervisor, Shell QGC), Steve Diehm (Area Team Leader, Santos) and Tanya Harding (HSE Senior Advisor, Wood) and hosted by Tracey, shared the outcomes of the morning event. This session provided Senior Leaders with an opportunity to hear directly from the Frontline Leaders about issues currently impacting their role and how Senior Leaders can support our frontline leaders in these roles to drive safety culture, manage innovation and lead effective teams.