MARTY’S JOURNEY (so far!)

I’m not very good at selling myself, usually preferring actions to speak for me. However having made some pretty bold claims in my opening comments I aim in this piece to show you I’m not exaggerating.

I grew up in a surf lifesaving family, and so my early life was spent on surf beaches learning skills to help protect myself and the public. Many weekends spent patrolling the beach and carrying out rescues. While still in secondary school I joined the local volunteer fire brigade and was quickly exposed to more high-risk situations that were managed by good training and leadership.

The early 80’s saw the start of my first stint with NZ Police where I was at the sharp end for the majority of the 14+ years I served. Thrown in the deep end to the 1981 Springbok tour as an 18 year was indeed character building! I spent time on section duty, team policing, and then as an investigator and intel analyst.

On leaving Police I started a small business called Fast Aid Ltd based on the Kapiti Coast, specialising initially in first aid training and developing over a number of years into more advanced medical training, fire, confined space, emergency management and H&S.

We merged in 2002 with Fire and Emergency Training Solutions (FETS), which is still providing these services today. That year I also left the fire service after 26 years, having reached Deputy Chief Fire Officer in 2 fire brigades, with Paraparaumu at that time one of the busiest urban volunteer brigades in NZ.

In 2005 I wanted to focus on the prevention side of H&S, having been the proverbial ambulance at the bottom of the cliff for all these years. I was taken on as a trainee health and safety inspector with the then OSH/DoL (now WorkSafe) and quickly gained my warrant and qualifications in H&S, specialising in construction safety (both commercial and residential). This time with the H&S regulator was extremely rewarding and provided a solid base for my next steps.

After almost 18 months an opportunity to move into the private sector arose and so I began in H&S management with Fuelquip NZ, an ECL Group company with operations on both sides of the Tasman. This exposed me further to construction, hazardous areas and fuels, approved handling, and behavioural based safety in both NZ and Aus. After 9 years I left as Group HSE manager for ECL Group, responsible for leading H&S for all ECL companies.

This led to a 12-month fixed term role as Group H&S Manager for Electra, a lines company with a number of subsidiaries throughout NZ, widening my experience in other high-risk industries even further.

And then came the big one, a tap on the shoulder to become the National Manager of Wellness and Safety for the NZ Police. This executive level role was a far cry from my thief catching role of the 80’s and 90’s, yet my institutional knowledge was invaluable as I commenced my role to bring about cultural change in the 12,000+ workforce.

Leading a team of 50 specialists, I held the portfolios for H&S, employee welfare, mental health, physical education, return to work and rehabilitation, chaplaincy, recruit medical and the health clinic at the police college.

I developed and implemented Police’s first ever H&S strategy called Our Wellness and Safety, which set out a clear pathway to ensure that we improved our leadership and governance, managing risks, engagement and participation, and measurement and monitoring. With the help of a great team we made significant progress in this area, and my can-do and solutions-based approach was really well received.

Achievements included the implementation of an engagement and participation system, enhancing our relationship with the Police Association, the development of an alcohol and drug testing policy, and developing effective reporting to the Executive Leadership Board. It’s now time to share all my learning by helping other organisations and businesses to lift their game.

Work History

2016-2018 | NZ Police – National Manager Wellness and Safety

2015-2016 | Electra Ltd – Group Health and Safety Manager

2006-2015 | ECL Group Ltd – Group Health Safety and Environment Manager

2002-2004 | Fire and Emergency Training Solutions Ltd (FETS) – Operations Manager

1996-2004 | Fast Aid Ltd – Managing Director

1981-1995 | NZ Police – Senior Constable

Other:

1978-2004 | NZ Fire Service – Inc. Deputy Chief Fire Officer (Paekakariki/Paraparaumu)

1976-1991 | Paekakariki Surf Lifesaving Club – Lifeguard/IRB operator

Qualifications:

1985 | Diploma NZ Police Studies

1988 | Inshore rescue board (IRB) operator

2005 | OSH certificates in Occupational Safety, Occ Health and Occ Law

2012 | Technician NZISM

Awards:

NZ Fire Service – Long Service & Good Conduct Medal (and 1st clasp) total 26 years

NZ Police – Long Service and Good Conduct Medal 14 years of service

NZFS – Year of the Volunteer Medal

UFBA Gold Star for 25 years of service

KCDC community service award – 25 years of service in Kapiti