The Official Wrap-up

The Non-Negotiable Foundation: Psychological Safety

The intersection of psychological safety and the future of health and safety was undoubtedly one of the most resonant themes of the conference. It’s no longer sufficient for our strategies to focus solely on the physical; we must now acknowledge that the social and psychological experience is equally critical to our overall safety outcomes.

A compelling masterclass delivered by Benny Matthews, National Strategy and Risk Manager for Health and Safety at Kmart, took us on a journey through their company's H&S evolution. Kicking off with a personal reflection on their success as a young worker, he attributed his ability to thrive directly to a psychologically safe workplace. 

Benny argued that while we have largely mastered the physical hazards, the true measure of a robust safety management system lies in the other two components of the safety experience: the psychological and the social. This led to a direct and challenging question for every leader in the room:


“And so my challenge to all of us in this room is if we really want to improve safety outcomes for people in Aotearoa New Zealand, what kind of safety experience are you creating for your people? Because systems don't create safety, people do.” – Benny Matthews


If your people don't feel supported, or if admitting a mistake leads to punishment, the system is fundamentally flawed. Successful leaders must move beyond superficial communication and intentionally embed a culture of psychological safety. This foundational shift in culture is the true catalyst for sustained improvement, high engagement, and genuine safety performance.

This discussion perfectly dovetailed with the points we explored in last month's webinar on Psychological Safety featuring Dr. Natalie Flatt - if you want to explore this topic more, make sure to watch the webinar here. 

Making Safety Stick: The Power of Gamification

Let's face it: getting people genuinely excited about compliance, reporting, and training can sometimes feel like an uphill battle. That's why the buzz around gamification in health and safety was so infectious!

We heard not just one, but two different case studies, from Colonial Motor Company and a Transport and Logistics giant, of gamification as a powerful tool to truly engage your people

Gamification is about applying game-design elements and game principles to non-game contexts. The goal? To make everyday safety tasks more appealing, motivating, and memorable.

Think of it this way: instead of a dry, annual training module, imagine a team-based challenge where staff earn points for identifying and reporting hazards, correctly completing safety checklists, or suggesting process improvements. From a golden forklift to a company-wide competition, almost everything is on the table. 

George Blackburn, one of our ecoPortal speakers, noted that it’s not just about compliance, it’s about culture. It’s the things you do outside your core software, the creative initiatives, that can make all the difference in embedding safety into the DNA of your organisation.

The Mirror and the Window: Understanding Mental Health

Our final key insight came from a phenomenal guest speaker, Sir. John Kirwan, who shifted the focus inward, offering a presentation especially for the people in the room, a vital reminder that our ability to support others is intrinsically linked to our own wellbeing.

Laced with humour, the speaker discussed their journey, provided actionable strategies, and emphasised the importance of caring for your personal mental health.

This wasn't just a call for self-care, but a practical tool for leadership. When we’re aware of our own stress triggers, coping mechanisms, and emotional states, we become more attuned to those same signs in our team members. This self-awareness equips us with the empathy needed to have those difficult, yet crucial, conversations about mental wellbeing in the workplace.

Keep the Conversation Going

The energy we experienced at ePIC 2025 confirms that the health and safety community in Aotearoa is vibrant, innovative, and driven by a genuine passion for people. Everything discussed points to a future where safety is fully integrated with an exceptional employee experience.


“If there's one thing that I'd like people to take away from today is that you're not in it on your own, there's a hundred odd people here, and we are all in it together, we all want to do better for our community, we all want people to be going home safely.” - Dr. Manuel Seidel 


We want to thank everyone who attended and contributed to making this year's conference a roaring success. Your presence, your questions, and your commitment are what truly drive the industry forward.

Let's keep working together to build safer, more human-centred workplaces.

Stay tuned for ePIC 2026!