Leading the Workforce of Tomorrow – our 2026 Industry Safety Forums

Over the course of two weeks in late April and early May, we held our 2026 Industry Safety Forums in Brisbane and Darwin respectively. 

Leading the Workforce of Tomorrow

The workforce of tomorrow will be defined by our workplace culture in a world of constant change.

The next generation of workers have a different understanding and expectation of what workplace safety means in comparison to our longstanding workforce.  They expect support for health and wellbeing in the workplace, and they prioritise a strong and healthy workplace culture.

As leaders, we sit at the intersection of unprecedented technological acceleration, and an expanding definition of workplace mental health impacts and responsibilities.

These forces are not separate. They are deeply connected—and leadership sits squarely in the middle.  

In scope for both forums was Leaders, both frontline and senior, to consider how Safer Together can prepare and protect the workers of tomorrow.

The next generation entering our industry will not be safer by default.  They will be safer by design if industry chooses to invest properly in capability, leadership and culture.

Training, development, and clear expectations are not optional extras. They are fundamental risk controls — and they must go beyond technical competence.

We need people who understand risk, who feel psychologically safe to speak up and who are supported to slow down when something doesn’t feel right — even when pressure exists.

That does not happen by accident, it happens when leaders are visible, when standards are clear, when shortcuts are challenged, not normalised, and when learning is continuous — not reactive.

A special mention and thank you to Oliver Kelly for delivering his Keynote 'Designing the Operating Envelope' at both Forums.

We would like to thank all presenters for their contribution: