Bronwyn Presland has been appointed Executive Director of the Health and Safety Association of New Zealand (HASANZ), replacing Philip Aldridge on Monday 13 December
HASANZ is the umbrella organisation for workplace health and safety professions in New Zealand and was established in September 2014 to raise professional standards to provide healthier and safer workplaces.
Bronwyn Presland has a background in public affairs and project management.
Bronwyn joins HASANZ from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade where she has been an Operations Manager. In this role she had oversight of the operational aspects of the recent APEC 2021 CEO Summit, working collaboratively with domestic and international stakeholders from business and government to bring together a successful event.
Previously, she was head of events at Waka Kotahi for three years and has worked in parliament in various roles and contributed to the successful 2017 election campaign.
“Bronwyn has an excellent balance of energy, capability, action orientation and understands public policy and process,” says HASANZ Independent Chair Mike O’ Brien.
“Her project management expertise and leadership and business experience will enable us to build on the great work Philip Aldridge has done over the last four years and take HASANZ to the next level.”
During her time in parliament, Bronwyn became involved in advocating for stronger workplace health and safety legislation and formed a strong connection with families affected by the Pike River Mine disaster.
“My daughter’s middle name is Anya,” says Presland.
“We gave her this name as it is a combination of the names of Anna Osborne and Sonya Rockhouse. These two women are the most inspirational and strongest people that I know. In 2010 they lost loved ones in the Pike River Mine disaster and have been tirelessly advocating for greater health and safety at work since.
“In 2015 I first met them when I was working in parliament and they were campaigning for stronger health and safety legislation during the debate on the Health and Safety at Work Bill. These two women are why, when I saw the ad for the Executive Director role at HASANZ, I could not let it pass.”
“I look forward to leading HASANZ in its next chapter as it develops from a young organisation to an established one with growing influence and making even greater contributions to the workplace health and safety sector,’ she says.
“Ultimately, everything we do will lead to greater protection at work for everyone in Aotearoa New Zealand.”
