Over the last decade, Australian workplaces have made great progress in addressing gender equality gaps. According to the Government, the gender pay gap decreased from over 18% a decade ago to 11.9% in 2024, and women’s participation in the workforce climbed to almost 64%.
However, while progress has been made, there’s still work to be done to ensure that women are represented across industry sectors and contributing to the future of those sectors, and the occupational health and safety (OHS) industry is no exception.
Alanna Ball, Founder and Principal Consultant of Women in Safety, is leading the way forward.
Creating a legacy
Alanna founded Women in Safety, a network created to support and connect women in the safety profession, after attending an industry event and noticing the striking lack of female representation. The group aims to foster discussion, break down barriers, and promote shared learning and growth.
“In my early career, I often felt isolated and unseen in the safety industry. I wanted to build a network that could transform how women are supported, inspire each other through shared experiences and empower more women to lead – and succeed – in safety,” she explains. “My vision was simple but bold: to create a safe, inclusive space where women working in health and safety could connect, share and grow”.
By focusing on ‘community first’, Women in Safety steadily gained visibility and encouraged a growing number of women to participate.
The network began hosting small events, featuring real stories and creating genuine opportunities to connect to grow and engage with more like-minded professionals.
Today, the organisation has evolved into a national network that not only supports women but actively drives change in the health and safety profession. Representation, diversity and inclusion are embedded into Women in Safety’s activities – from the speaker selection to the design of its programs and its award nominations.
Having evolved beyond networking, Women in Safety is now focusing on professional development, mentoring, awards programs and thought leadership. “We are launching a new mentoring program in collaboration with McConnell Dowell, providing women in safety with structured pathways for leadership growth. We continue to focus on personal development through monthly webinars and leadership workshops. Our 2025 values — transform, inspire, empower — guide everything we do,” adds Alanna.
Closing the gaps
Women continue to face barriers in the OHS industry, including underrepresentation in leadership roles, bias around technical expertise, struggles to balance field work and family responsibility as well as a lack of visible mentors and sponsors. “Psychological safety, such as feeling heard and respected, are still not guaranteed for many women on-site or in leadership meetings,” says Alanna.
One of the biggest misconceptions about a career in Safety is that it is technical. Given a magic wand, Alanna says she would eliminate the outdated notion that safety leadership is purely technical. “The future of safety leadership is human-centered — it’s about relationships, communication, and culture just as much as compliance” she says.
The remedy lies in creating pathways for women to succeed, including structured mentoring, bias-free recruitment, leadership development opportunities and ensuring flexible, family-friendly workplaces. Alanna reiterates that it’s critical to create environments where women are heard and can influence decision-making at every level.
Despite the challenges facing women in the OHS field, Alanna is adamant that it’s a meaningful career. “You are literally shaping workplaces to be safer, healthier and more human. Find your voice early, ask questions boldly and seek out mentors – you are needed.”
Meet the Women in Safety team
Women in Safety will facilitate an interactive panel at the Knowledge Hub at Workplace Health & Safety Show Melbourne on 21 May 2025.
The panel will discuss the unique challenges women face in the OHS space and share practical strategies to adapt to change, increase resilience and achieve a work-life balance. Alanna will be joined by Christine Di Stasio (Executive Leader, Heath, Safety and Wellbeing), Phoebe Gane (Director, Clients & Growth – Earth & Environment – WSP), Erin Tempest (GWS Local QHSE Director – Pacific – CBRE), and Sinead McHugh (Director WHS Framework).
After the session, a free networking event will be held to continue conversations and make meaningful connections while at the Show.
The Knowledge Hub education program brings together industry experts to explore key topics related to workplace health and safety, from cutting-edge safety technology to psychosocial hazards, injury prevention and safety metrics.
Registration is free, and attendees qualify for PD hours. The complete Knowledge Hub agenda is available at https://whsshow.com.au/melbourne-2025-agenda/melbourne-knowledge-hub
More information about Workplace Health and Safety Show Melbourne is available at whsshow.com.au/melbourne.
