Wayne Richards is a highly experienced senior leader in health, safety, environment and wellbeing, with a career spanning more than three decades across critical infrastructure, utilities, emergency services, transport, aviation and industrial sectors in Australia. He is currently the Head of Health, Safety and Environment at Ridley Corporation, where he leads enterprise-wide strategies that integrate health, safety and environmental performance across a complex, high‑risk operating environment.

Wayne is recognised for his pragmatic, systems‑based approach to safety leadership, with deep expertise in risk management, operational assurance, safety culture transformation and governance. Prior to his current role, he has held senior leadership positions with Greater Western Water, Victoria Police, Transdev Australasia, Veolia Australia and New Zealand, Jetstar Airways and Pacific National, providing him with a rare cross‑sector perspective on managing safety in both frontline and highly regulated organisations.

A strong advocate for contemporary safety thinking, Wayne has led large‑scale organisational change programs, advised boards and executive teams, and successfully embedded safety and wellbeing as core business enablers rather than compliance functions. He is a Chartered Generalist OHS Professional, a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and holds qualifications from the University of New South Wales and RMIT University.