Celebrating the Champions of Safety: Queensland 2026 Winners

The Champions of Safety Awards celebrate individuals who are redefining what it means to lead in workplace health, safety, and wellbeing. Recognised at the Workplace Health & Safety Show Queensland, this year’s winners represent a new generation of safety leadership, innovative, people-centred, and deeply committed to change.

We caught up with Kana’e Dyas from PowerSkills AI, to hear her perspectives on what drives her, how her initiatives are changing workplaces, and what safety means in 2026 and beyond.

Q: Can you tell us a bit about the initiative or project that led to your nomination?

Kana’e Dyas: I have worked in Health and Safety globally for over 30 years across multiple industries, particularly safety-critical environments in mining and resources, as well as agriculture and manufacturing. Throughout my career, I have had the privilege of working with leaders and teams who supported innovation.

During this time, I developed several award-winning programs in fatigue technologies, mental health and suicide prevention, and Respect at Work, including pioneering the first Trauma-Informed Psychosocial Safety Program and Support Unit. This work focuses on enabling people to work and learn in safer, smarter and more sustainable ways by aligning technology with human skills.

It became clear that traditional approaches were not enough to drive meaningful behavioural change. What was needed was a people-centred approach that could deliver lasting impact.

Q: How has your initiative made a difference to your team, workplace, or industry?

Kana’e Dyas: The results have been supported by both quantitative and qualitative data.

In one program, there were no suicides over four years, compared to three within an 18-month period prior. Proactive EAP utilisation improved and was sustained at 12 percent annually, retention improved, and return-to-work outcomes for complex psychological injuries increased by 36 percent.

In another program, there were 13 suicide interventions. Legal disputes decreased by 80 percent, retention improved by 11 percent, and the psychological safety index increased by 6 percent.

These programs were rolled out across 51 global operations and continue to be sustained across several large organisations.

Q: What motivated you to take action or lead change in workplace health and safety?

Kana’e Dyas: I am inspired by servant leadership and guided by strong ethical principles. Working in health and safety means caring about people and ensuring their safety and wellbeing.

My father was the sole survivor of a multiple-fatality workplace accident, which led to the development of several WHS laws in Australia. While this experience may have been an initial catalyst, it is the people I work with every day who inspire me to create safe and inclusive workplaces.

Seeing these programs positively impact people reinforces that I am doing what I love.

Q: What does being recognised as a Champion of Safety mean to you?

Kana’e Dyas:  It is both a tremendous honour and deeply humbling.

There are many outstanding health and safety professionals, and I have been privileged to work alongside many of them. To be selected among such a high calibre of people is very special.

I would also like to acknowledge all health and safety professionals, who do not always receive the recognition they deserve.

The Champions of Safety Awards shine a light on the individuals turning care into action, from empowering workers’ voices to mentoring the next generation of safety leaders and designing PPE that truly protects everyone.

Their work shows that safety isn’t a department or a policy, it’s a shared value that thrives when people lead with empathy, collaboration, and purpose.

Congratulations to all our Champions of Safety.
Join us to celebrate and continue their impact at the Workplace Health & Safety Show Victoria, May 2026.