• Site Map
• Campus Map
• A-Z Index
• Staff Intranet
• Contacts

OHS Postgraduate Programme

Course Presenters

The subjects will be taught by occupational health and safety professionals who have substantial experience from working in industry or government.

Presenters include:

Associate Professor Brian Davies
Program Coordinator

Brian has worked in the field of Occupational Hygiene for approximately 35 years and has experience in the mining, steel and aviation industries. Brian is a Certified Occupational Hygienist and a Fellow of the AIOH and a Certified Industrial Hygienist with the American Board of Industrial Hygienists (ABIH). In 2002 Brian was the recipient of the William P Yant Award presented by the American Industrial Hygiene Association for outstanding contribution to the scientific field of industrial hygiene. In 2003 the William Steiger Memorial Award was presented to Brian by the ACGIH for efforts contributing to the advancement of occupational health and safety. Brian’s research interests include the measurement and control of diesel particulate and the statistical evaluation of exposure data. Brian is currently an Associate Professor at the University of Wollongong where he lectures in the field of Occupational Hygiene. 
More Information >>

Ms Linda Apthorpe

With a background in chemistry and microbiology, Linda has been working in occupational hygiene since 1994. As General Manager of NATA accredited Pickford & Rhyder Consulting in Sydney, she provides consultancy and laboratory services to a wide variety of workplaces (metropolitan and remote) involving hazard identification, workplace and risk assessments, measurements, analysis, recommendations and reporting. The work includes hazardous material building surveys; asbestos removal management; airborne asbestos fibre and asbestos identification analysis; gravimetric determinations, airborne and bulk quartz analysis; and measurements for other workplace hazards including noise, chemicals and pesticides.

Linda also conducts training and workplace presentations for asbestos related and other occupational hygiene topics. She is a Full Member and Certified Occupational Hygienist of the Australian Institute of Occupational Hygienists (AIOH).

Ms Alison Bell

Alison has worked in the field of Occupational Health and Safety for over 20 years, with roles in injury management, safety management, workers compensation, ergonomics and human factors, and more recently as an academic at the University of Wollongong. She is a Certified Professional Ergonomist and Occupational Therapist, and maintains an ergonomics consultancy/research role in industry. Her research interests are in organisational and physical ergonomics, ageing, and competency assessment. Alison’s formal qualifications are: Master of Science (Research), Bachelor of Applied Science (Occupational Therapy), Graduate Diploma of Safety Science, Graduate Certificate in Health Science (Education). She is also certified as: an OHS Management Systems Auditor, a Workplace Assessor and Trainer, an Accredited WorkCover Trainer (OHS Consultation).
More information>> 

Ms Marion Burgess

Marion Burgess, BSc MSc (Acoust), has over 35 years experience with both environmental and occupational noise measurement and assessment. She is a Research Officer in the Acoustics and Vibration Unit at the University of NSW at Australian Defence Force Academy. Her work involves participation in research projects, undertaking consultancy work and presenting short courses on aspects of noise. She is a Fellow of the Australian Acoustical Society and listed in the competency register for environmental and for occupational noise issues.

Associate Professor Karen Charlton

Karen teaches Epidemiology in the Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences at the University of Wollongong and has the following qualifications M.Sc., M.Phil (Epi), PhD, APD. Karen has a broad public health background, particularly related to dietary and lifestyle interventions and has worked for many years in South Africa. Her recent work on strategies to lower blood pressure in poor communities has resulted in an MRC Policy Brief (South Africa) and has encouraged industry-academia-government action on lowering salt intake in the food supply. Karen is an expert in the field of nutrition, health and ageing and regularly contributes to activities which inform clinical practice and nutrition policy. She previously headed the Division of Nutrition and Dietetics at the University of Cape Town and is a research affiliate with the Smart Foods Centre at the University of Wollongong. Karen has published over 70 articles in peer-reviewed journals and authored 6 chapters in books.
More Information >>

Ms Robyn Coman

Robyn graduated as a Physiotherapist in 1981 and has worked extensively in private practice and public health. She completed a Masters Degree in Ergonomics in 2003, which also involved a research investigation of patient handling equipment. Her more recent work as a Physiotherapist/ Ergonomist has included consulting within health, aged care and disability sectors, as well as more broadly in industry. Robyn is currently nearing completion of a PhD within the School of Risk and Safety Sciences at the University of NSW. Her PhD research is concerned with patient handling injury risk exposure and functional mobility of older clients. Robyn’s formal qualifications include: Master of Science and Technology in Ergonomics, Bachelor of Applied Science in Physiotherapy, Graduate Certificate in OHS Management, Certificate IV in Workplace Assessment and Training. She is a registered Physiotherapist and Certified Associate OHS Auditor (RABQSA).

Mr John Henderson

John is well known in the occupational hygiene profession and has over 35 years experience having worked in the steel, nuclear, safety equipment supply industries and for a number of different NSW Government organisations before establishing his own consultancy business. He is a Certified Occupational Hygienist with the Australian Institute of Occupational Hygienists (AIOH) and a Fellow of the AIOH. John has been a member of a number of different Australian Standards Committees and is an Honorary Fellow in the School of Health Sciences at the University of Wollongong. 

Ms Vicki L Mann

Vicki has worked in the mining industry for nearly 30 years at sites in NSW, QLD, SA, WA and Indonesia, with over 15 years specific Occupational Health and Safety experience.  Currently, Vicki works as an OHS Auditor and Consultant providing expertise in OHS systems design and implementation for a range of mining, construction and labour hire companies.  Her work involves external and internal auditing as an accredited RABQSA auditor as well as the provision of training courses for auditors.

Vicki graduated from the University of Wollongong with a Master of Science – OHS (Distinction) and has lectured in Risk Management and currently in Behavioural Change for the University OHS Masters program.  Whilst studying, she was awarded the Wollongong University OHS Masters Graduate of the Year (2003), Top Student in Ergonomics and Behavioural Change (2002).

Vicki has assisted the NSW Minerals Council with the design and introduction of a Contractor Management System for mines, and is a Professional Fellow of the Safety Institute of Australia.

Mr Ken Mikl

Ken was the State Co-ordinator Working Environment at WorkCover NSW specialising in the areas of Acoustics and noise control in industry, and leading team projects on Noise in Construction, Passive Smoking and Microwave Radiation. He managed a highly competent acoustic consulting team and assessed and installed controls in occupational areas including farming, heavy industry, offices, opera and musicals. Ken is a Past President of the Australian Acoustic Society and Head of the bidding team for the International Congress on Acoustics for Sydney, Organized and Chaired National Acoustics Conference in Canberra, Member of the AIOH and AAS until his retirement in 2007.

Mr Alan Rogers

Alan is a professional occupational hygienist of more than 35 years experience who 12 years ago formed his own consultancy company. Previously he was Head of the Occupational Hygiene Unit within the National Institute of Occupational Health and Safety of Worksafe Australia. In addition he retains the academic title of Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Medicine, University of Sydney. His academic qualifications include a Master of Science in Occupational Hygiene from the University of London and a Master of Science majoring in Environmental Chemistry from the University of New South Wales. He is a Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH) with the American Board of Industrial Hygiene, Certified Occupational Hygienist (COH), a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Occupational Hygienists and an Honorary Fellow of the University of Wollongong. Alan was the 2009 recipient of the prestigious AIHA Yant Award for outstanding contribution to the field of Industrial Hygiene. He is the author of numerous government reports and scientific papers and in particular is well known for research on asbestos and mesothelioma particularly into the investigation of the relevance of asbestos fibre types and industrial exposure conditions. 

Ms Leanne Treadwell

Leanne graduated as a chemical engineer with Honours in 1985 and she has a solid engineering and risk management background achieved through many years of practical applications including over 25years in the Steel industry.

She has also worked in the Major Hazards Policy Unit of the NSW Department of Urban Affairs and Planning which is responsible for assessing the risks associated with major hazardous facilities within NSW; and is recognised as an industry leader in safety and risk management as well as emergency planning and response.

Whilst with the major Hazards Policy Unit, Leanne developed an emergency plan for the Botany Randwick Area including major chemical and LPG storage facilities. She is also the Major Hazard Facility Legislation Manager for Bluescope Steel which involves extensive liaison with WorkCover PACIA, NSW Fire Brigade and the NSW Police Counter Terrorism Group.

Mr Noel Tresider

Noel comes from a background of 30 years in the oil industry with Mobil Oil Australia in a wide range of positions including industrial hygiene advisor and product safety specialist. In addition, he has provided industrial hygiene services to Mobil affiliates in New Zealand, Micronesia, Malaysia, and Hong Kong. From 1996, he has provided consulting industrial hygiene services to other major oil companies in Australia and the Middle East, and also to small business, tertiary institutes and medical research facilities. He is a Certified Industrial Hygienist - American Board of Industrial Hygiene, a Certified Occupational Hygienist, and Fellow of the Australian Institute of Occupational Hygienists (AIOH). He was President of AIOH 1998-99, and is currently the AIOH representative on the International Occupational Hygiene Association Board (IOHA).

Mr Graham Ward

Graham has over 30 years experience in the oil industry and is currently EHS manager NSW Caltex Australia Petroleum Pty Ltd. He is a Certified Occupational Hygienist (AIOH), Certified Industrial Hygienist (American Board of Industrial Hygiene) and a Full Member of Australian Institute of Occupational Hygienists. Graham not only has significant occupational hygiene experience but his background in chemical engineering and his previous roles as a site project engineer give him a unique insight into the role and responsibilities of an occupational hygienist.

Ms Fiona Weigall

Fiona is a Certified Professional Ergonomist and an Accredited Occupational Therapist. She has been working in industry for more than 20 years – initially in the field of injury management, then in human factors and ergonomics. Fiona has worked in the public and private sectors including with WorkCover NSW and at Qantas. She is currently the director of Health & Safety Matters Pty Ltd, providing specialist advice in applied ergonomics. Fiona’s qualifications include: Master of Public Health, Bachelor of Applied Science (Occupational Therapy), Graduate Certificate in Applied Ergonomics, Graduate Certificate in Adult Education, Certificate IV in Training & Assessment, Certificate in OHS Management Systems Auditing.

Ms Jane Whitelaw

Jane has worked in the field of Occupational Hygiene for over 20 years, is a Full member of AIOH, and gained her American Board of Industrial Hygiene (ABIH) Comprehensive Practice in 1991. She was the Australasian Corporate Hygienist for Alcan Aluminium for 10 years, representing our region on several International development committees. She designed and implemented the extensive workplace monitoring programme for the Kurri Kurri epidemiological respiratory health study in conjunction with the University of Newcastle in the late 1980’s and 90’s and served on Australian Standards committees AS1715 &1716. She has extensive experience in the broad Aluminium, Paper and Steel industries and her academic qualifications include a Masters Degree in Applied Science (Environmental Health).

She has used her strong technical background to work at a senior management level to influence attitudes to Occupational Health and Safety in the manufacturing workplace; and her research interests include Adult Education, Behavioural Safety and Workplace Culture change.