2026 Health, Safety & Wellbeing Award Finalists And Winners

This award celebrates a rising star—someone with less than five years in the industry who’s already making waves. We’re looking for individuals who show real promise, take initiative, and make standout contributions to health, safety and wellbeing. They’re not just doing the job—they’re inspiring others, driving change, and shaping the landscape of safety in construction – a future safety leader!

• Sophie Galletly, Wiretec Electrical - Sophie entered the construction industry identifying a critical gap between safety compliance and genuine workplace culture. By focusing on communication and human motivation, she has worked to transform safety from a checklist into a shared value. Sophie addresses the barriers that lead to incidents—such as "get the job done" pressure—to foster an environment where safety is rooted in care and belief rather than just mandatory requirements.
• Maddie Schmidt, Hawkins - Since joining Hawkins in 2023, Maddie has rapidly established herself as a dedicated health and safety professional. Having completed her Site Safe certification, she now manages vital daily operations, including permit-to-work systems and site inspections. Her structured approach to internal auditing and incident investigation, combined with a commitment to continuous improvement, marks her as an emerging leader helping to shape the future of safety standards in the industry.
• WINNER - Morgan Devere Beets, Icon - Morgan is recognised for her empathetic and creative approach to safety leadership at Icon. She has successfully revitalised project inductions and toolbox meetings, while implementing practical hazards-reduction strategies such as LPG flashback removals and electrical lead-verification. By coaching subcontractors and fostering psychological safety, Morgan has significantly boosted site participation. She continues to pursue advanced qualifications with the goal of becoming a Health and Safety Manager and trainer.

This award recognises people or teams onsite that might not have ‘health and safety’ in their job title, but they’re the ones that everyone turns to for advice, guidance and support. They care about people and have a deep commitment to health, safety and wellbeing. They ignite ideas, encourage change, and inspire those around them to take action to keep people safe. This award honours those champions whose passion and approach has a positive ripple effect on health and safety across teams, worksites and the wider construction industry.

• Mike Josephson, FHE Electrical - Mike has transformed health and safety from a compliance task into a "culture of care." Drawing on his NZDF background, he leads the Health and Safety Committee and introduced high-engagement initiatives like staff-nominated awards and supplier demos. His hands-on leadership resulted in SiteWise Gold achievement and doubled near-miss reporting. By implementing structured site audits and manuals, Mike has ensured safety is a shared responsibility embraced by the entire workforce.
• WINNER - Sam Youngman, Flowerday Homes - Sam championed safety leadership during the complex Owhata Kohanga Rakau project, managing high-risk environments with active residents onsite. He successfully shifted company culture by treating safety as a shared responsibility rather than a box-ticking exercise. Through proactive hazard management and waste-reduction initiatives, Sam strengthened contractor engagement and improved morale. His collaborative approach has turned the Owhata site into a benchmark for safety excellence and open communication.
• David Oakley, Icon - With four decades of experience, David has revolutionised safety within high-risk data centre environments. He addressed critical gaps by designing a site-specific Arc Flash framework and digitising permit systems to improve accountability. David’s focus on mentoring and standardising LOTO procedures resulted in 98% compliance and zero electrical incidents. His technical expertise and empathetic leadership have set new industry benchmarks, transforming safety into a core shared value across Icon projects.
• Marc Jary, Kūmānu - As Contract Manager, Marc provided inclusive leadership during the high-risk Motueka River flood recovery. He fostered a culture of genuine care and shared ownership, ensuring team members felt empowered to work safely. Under his guidance, the project achieved zero injuries and notable environmental outcomes through innovative recycling. Marc’s belief that wellbeing and safety are inextricably linked has inspired lasting change, lifting standards across the industry through heart-led leadership.

This award honours those making mental health matter onsite and beyond. Whether it’s a company, team, organisation, or individual—this category recognises outstanding efforts to support the mental wellbeing of construction workers, colleagues, and mates. It’s about more than just ticking boxes—it’s about genuine care, bold initiatives, and creating a culture where people feel seen, supported, and safe to speak up.

• Flowerday Homes - Responding to industry pressure and team fatigue, Flowerday Homes transitioned from standard compliance to a holistic wellbeing focus. By forming a dedicated Working Group, they embedded practical initiatives such as proactive leave planning, social clubs, and leadership role-modelling. These consistent actions significantly reduced stress and absenteeism while strengthening team trust. Their approach proves that even small, frequent actions can successfully integrate mental health into a core safety strategy.
• Kia Puāwai - Kia Puāwai, a national trust supporting vulnerable youth, introduced a permanent four-day working week to combat staff trauma and burnout. Following a successful trial, the initiative became permanent in 2025, resulting in 97.8% of staff maintaining or improving productivity. Employees reported enhanced life satisfaction, better physical health, and improved work-life balance. This bold move has successfully reduced staff turnover and prioritised the long-term mental wellbeing of their frontline workers.
• WINNER - Rafael Caso, Live Well Build Well - Rafael is a prominent mental health champion within the residential construction sector, leading the innovative Live Well Build Well programme. He focuses on "Mental Fitness," teaching tradespeople practical skills to build psychological strength and manage daily stress. By reframing mental health as a positive, achievable goal, Rafael makes complex wellbeing concepts accessible. His widespread presence across New Zealand worksites has provided essential tools for builders to navigate life’s challenges effectively.

This award recognises teams that has showcased outstanding collaboration, commitment and results in workplace health and safety. This award acknowledges teams who have excelled at implementing effective safety initiatives, nurtured a strong safety culture, and achieved significant, measurable improvements in their health and safety performance.

• WINNER - The Downer Fleet Team, Downer NZ - Managing a massive national fleet, this team transformed routine "gate checks" into engaging educational opportunities. By partnering with local safety teams, they moved beyond compliance to deliver impactful campaigns like "Control the Roll," addressing vehicle rollaways and cyclist safety. This collaborative approach combined technical expertise with visible leadership, fostering direct communication between management and frontline drivers to create long-term behavioural change and a safer driving culture.
• Isaac Construction - The Te Kaha Surrounding Streets team delivered a complex $26M urban upgrade five months ahead of schedule by prioritising safety-led programming. They executed high-risk tasks during a 57-hour hard closure, eliminating live-traffic exposure and reducing public disruption. Through integrated commercial and programme management, the team successfully modernised 5.5km of infrastructure. Their innovative approach to site staging protected the critical path while ensuring a safe environment for both workers and the public.
• Maycroft Construction - During the high-risk Carillon Bell Tower seismic strengthening project, Maycroft’s team demonstrated an exceptional commitment to physical and psychological safety. Working in a logistically challenging, nationally significant environment, they developed bespoke solutions that engaged all stakeholders and subcontractors. Their success was built on an intentional culture of collaboration and rigorous execution. By treating safety as a core pillar of their long-term plan, the team upheld the highest standards of site leadership.

This award is for a large company demonstrating the best new thinking in health, safety and wellbeing. This could be an innovative way of doing things, a new technology, a leading-edge product or forward-thinking initiative to drive improvements in health and safety systems or behaviours, address or manage a specific hazard or risk, create a design solution to address a problem, or to improve productivity.

• Euro Corporation - Euro Corporation partnered with The Learning Wave to create a 17-module safety programme tailored for their multicultural workforce. By integrating English language development with practical safety activities like toolbox talks, they ensured every worker could participate confidently. Grounded in the Te Whare Tapa Whā model, the initiative achieved 100% completion. This innovative model has significantly increased safety engagement, proving that inclusive communication is fundamental to keeping a diverse team safe.
• WINNER - Hawkins - On the Kenepuru Science Centre project, the Hawkins team eliminated trip hazards by routing temporary power through conduits beneath the ground floor slab. This transformative solution replaced the traditional practice of running surface-level cables across active work zones. The innovation resulted in zero cable-related incidents, improved site tidiness, and positive feedback from subcontractors. By removing physical obstructions, the team enhanced both safety and productivity while reducing the need for rework.
• Napier City Council - Napier City Council launched the "Healthy Heart Check" initiative, providing free onsite cardiovascular assessments for staff. Delivered with Taylored Health Service, the programme offered confidential consultations and personalised goal setting with an Occupational Health Nurse. The initiative successfully identified hidden health concerns, leading to early medical interventions. By proactively addressing preventative healthcare, the council has strengthened its commitment to staff wellbeing, with plans to expand into menopause support and annual monitoring.

This award is for a small to medium company demonstrating the best new thinking in health, safety and wellbeing. This could be an innovative way of doing things, a new technology, a leading-edge product or forward-thinking initiative to drive improvements in health and safety systems or behaviours, address or manage a specific hazard or risk, create a design solution to address a problem, or to improve productivity.

• WINNER - DroneDraft - DroneDraft developed "Mix-O-Matic" to eliminate the hazards associated with manual chemical handling in farming. The system safely draws concentrates through a stainless-steel straw, using a water-first sequence to prevent harsh reactions. Designed for fast-paced drone operations, it removes the need for repeated glove changes and reduces the risk of splashes or inhalation. This innovation makes chemical mixing safer, faster, and more precise, significantly reducing operator exposure to hazardous substances.
• Workdek - Workdek is a modular, NZ-made platform system that prevents falls within framed structures, replacing traditional safety nets. Founded by a builder, the system provides stable, level access for installing trusses, which reduces physical strain and fatigue. Independently verified, Workdek improves both posture and productivity while eliminating internal fall hazards. By making fall prevention practical and efficient, the company is reshaping onsite culture and proving that safety and business performance are linked.
• Workforce Central Dunedin - To reduce accidents involving migrant workers at the Dunedin Hospital site, Workforce Central Dunedin developed a bespoke intercultural communication workshop. Identifying that inadequate messaging from supervisors was a key risk, they co-designed a 90-minute programme to help Kiwi supervisors communicate more effectively with Filipino workers. This targeted solution has been praised by main contractors for its thoroughness and problem-solving, addressing a critical cultural gap to improve overall site safety.

This award is open to organisations of any size and individuals in leadership roles who are championing health and safety. This award recognises initiatives where organisational leaders have taken visible, hands-on action to drive health, safety, and wellbeing—whether by shaping a strong safety culture, making safety a positive part of daily work, or demonstrating bold leadership in challenging the status quo.

• WINNER - Mike Moore, Downer - As National Road Marking Manager, Mike is a "beacon of knowledge" in a high-risk discipline. He has been the driving force behind numerous innovations to protect workers from live traffic and physical fatigue. Mike exceeds standard leadership expectations by setting high safety targets and mentoring his peers. His dedication to going the "extra mile" has established a robust safety culture within his team, ensuring that road marking practices consistently surpass industry standards.
• Daren Green, Flowerday Homes - Daren transformed health and safety from a compliance task into a values-driven mindset through visible leadership and genuine care. He embedded core company values into everyday operations, introducing wellbeing initiatives and proactive mentoring. His efforts led to increased hazard reporting, improved staff retention, and external praise from WorkSafe and Impac PreQual. Daren’s leadership has successfully linked wellbeing and safety, creating a culture where the entire team takes pride in their collective performance.
• Jayden Barrow, Turfrey - Jayden has modernised Turfrey’s safety systems by transitioning from manual processes to the proactive Site App Pro platform. His calm, hands-on approach guided the workforce through this digital change, making daily safety tasks more engaging and consistent. By encouraging safety as a shared responsibility, Jayden has shifted company attitudes and prioritised health and safety as a genuine daily priority. His results are evident in the improved cultural participation across the entire business.