Commissioner for Resources Safety and Health

Kate said it was an honour to have served the Queensland resources industry as Commissioner for the past seven years—including four as Commissioner for Mine Safety and Health—but it was now time to hand over the reins. Today (24 November 2023) will be her final day in the role.

“I am very proud of the work I have achieved and I would like to thank the Minister for Resources Scott Stewart and the many stakeholders who have made my time in the role so rewarding,” Kate said

“As a miner myself, I have always been passionate about safety and health in the resources industry and I hope that I have been able to contribute to improving the industry through my focus on tripartite collaboration and cooperation.

“I will always be a firm believer that the best way to improve safety and health is by openly sharing and learning from incidents.”

Kate said there had been many robust discussions with stakeholders over the years, but all of them had been borne from a place of genuine concern for the safety and health of people in the industry.

“The resources industry’s safety culture is maturing and we are on the journey towards becoming an industry that learns from its mistakes and shares the lessons with the broader industry to the benefit of all,” she said.

“Last but not least, I would particularly like to thank the members of my team who have supported me with their hard work and dedication.

“A leader is only as good as the people around them and I have been fortunate to have a team of amazing people.

“My team have shown not only a passion for safety and health in the industry, but also the courage to push ahead to achieve what is best for the resources industry and for the people who work in it.”

Kate was appointed to the role of Commissioner for Mine Safety and Health in 2016 and was the first woman to be appointed to that role and the first independent Commissioner.

After the enactment of the Resources Safety and Health Queensland Act 2020, Kate was appointed Commissioner for Resources Safety and Health in 2020.