You’ve worked extensively across WHS, environmental, and quality systems — how does this multidisciplinary background strengthen your role when you’re called in as an expert witness? My multidisciplinary background enhances my role as an expert witness by providing a well-rounded understanding of how different systems - WHS, environmental, and quality - interconnect and impact one another. This perspective allows me to identify root causes and broader system failures that may not be immediately apparent from a single discipline. Additionally, it helps me evaluate and communicate risks, compliance gaps, and operational issues from a comprehensive standpoint, ensuring my findings are thorough and nuanced. In your experience, what distinguishes a credible and persuasive expert witness from one who’s merely technically qualified? A credible and persuasive expert witness doesn’t just present technical facts, they translate complex issues into clear, understandable terms while remaining impartial and objective. Their ability to communicate effectively with both legal teams and non-experts, their deep understanding of the industry, and their practical experience in applying compliance systems make them stand out. What truly sets them apart is their integrity and the ability to offer insights that are not just technically accurate but also relevant and actionable within the context of the case. SafeAssure supports organisations through auditing, training, and risk management — how do you ensure that your consulting work translates into tangible, long-term change for clients? At SafeAssure, we focus on embedding sustainable, practical solutions tailored to each client’s needs. We don’t just provide advice, we help organisations implement real change by delivering strategic action plans, training programs, and ongoing support. By fostering ownership of management systems, aligning them with the client’s values, and ensuring that leadership is actively engaged in the process, we ensure that improvements are deeply integrated into the company culture and operations, driving long-term results. Can you walk us through a case where your expert opinion had a significant influence on the legal outcome? What did it teach you about the expert witness process? One notable case involved a construction site safety incident where I provided an expert assessment on risk management failures and compliance breaches. My findings highlighted specific gaps in the company’s safety systems that were not immediately evident during initial investigations. This insight significantly influenced the A credible and persuasive expert witness doesn’t just present technical facts, they translate complex issues into clear, understandable terms while remaining impartial and objective. AUSTRALIA EXPERT WITNESS SERVICE OF THE YEAR LAWYER MONTHLY LEGAL AWARDS 2025 85
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