Led by our Chief Executive Sharon Thompson, our leadership team guides WorkSafe in influencing businesses to carry out their responsibilities for managing risks, and ensuring work is healthy and safe.

Sharon Thompson – Chief Executive

Sharon joined WorkSafe New Zealand in October 2024 and is responsible for seeing us into the future and driving the delivery of our strategy and operating plan.

Sharon brings extensive experience in driving change and building highly engaged teams to deliver results. Prior to joining WorkSafe, she was Executive Director, Transformation and Operational Delivery at the Financial Markets Authority, where she led the operations and capability functions. Sharon was also Deputy Commissioner, Customer and Compliance Services at Inland Revenue, where she led a nationwide customer-facing and operations team through its business and digital transformation for more than five years. Before these, Sharon held senior roles at ASB and Westpac.

Kane Patena – Deputy Chief Executive, Operations

As Deputy Chief Executive, Operations, Kane is responsible for leading WorkSafe’s operational delivery teams that focus on frontline operations, health and delivery support, capability and performance. The scope includes all work activity within Aotearoa.

Kane (Ngāti Hauā) joined WorkSafe in July 2023, having previously been Director of Land Transport and Group General Manager Regulatory at Waka Kotahi since 2019. 

Kane’s extensive senior leadership experience includes his role as General Manager Strategy and Governance at Wellington City Council, where he played a key role in building the Council's partnership with iwi. Prior to that, Kane was a Partner and Crown Prosecutor at law firm Meredith Connell, and he has also headed the national investigations and integrity services group at Housing New Zealand.

Rachel Gully – Deputy Chief Executive, Corporate

As Deputy Chief Executive, Corporate, Rachel is accountable for leading the design and delivery of our commercial investment and people strategies to help enable the business to deliver our statement of intent and creating a work environment that is consistent with our values.

Rachel joined WorkSafe in 2023. Rachel’s leadership experience includes her role as Director for People and Culture at Te Whatu Ora – Capital, Coast and Hutt Valley, where she led the emergency response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the health response to the vaccine mandate, and supported the District Health Board reforms into a single entity, Te Whatu Ora.

Rachel was previously Group Manager People and Culture at Oranga Tamariki. Prior to that, she held a number of HR leadership roles including at the Civil Aviation Authority, Customs, and the Ministry of Health.

Paula Collins – Deputy Chief Executive, Equity, Partnerships and Intervention Design

As Deputy Chief Executive, Equity, Partnerships and Intervention Design, Paula is responsible for the design and delivery of our cross-functional strategic priority plans. This involves working across the business and with stakeholders, including sector groups and iwi to promote culturally responsive approaches to reducing workplace harm.

Paula (Ngā Rauru, Ngāti Ruanui, Ngāti Toa Rangatira) joined WorkSafe in July 2023, bringing extensive executive leadership experience across a raft of specialities, with a particular focus on equitable outcomes and transformation.

Paula’s prior roles include CE and DCE roles in education, including leading the merger of Careers New Zealand with the Tertiary Education Commission. As regional commissioner for the Department of Corrections, Paula led transformation governance boards, and the review and refresh of the Department's strategy. She has also held board roles across health, education, social services, sport and recreation, and te reo Māori.

Kelly Hanson-White, Acting Deputy Chief Executive, Strategy and Insights

As Acting Deputy Chief Executive, Strategy and Insights, Kelly provides direction to WorkSafe’s Strategy and Insights functions. Overseeing our technical functions and expertise, including strategy and policy, insights, and communications and channels, Kelly ensures we are meeting the expectations of the regulated community and our external stakeholders.

Kelly has been with WorkSafe since 2017 and has held a variety of roles over that time. She is also serving her second three-year term as a member of the Attorney General’s Legislation Design and Advisory Committee (LDAC), which advises government agencies on matters of good legislative design. Kelly’s early career was in the education sector before moving into policy roles in work health and safety, where she was instrumental in the development of the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 and the first phase of supporting regulations.

Mohi Apou – Tākai Aronui

Mohi is a descendant of Ngā Rauru Kītahi and Whanganui Iwi.

Mohi joined WorkSafe in 2018 and began in the new role of Tākai Aronui/National Advisor Māori in July 2020. He has a Master’s degree in Mātauranga Māori (Philosophy) with expertise in creating engagement strategies with a Māori world view. He is a leader in building collaborative cultural inter-relationships that spans 20 years with expertise in the use of facilitating forums for the military, Iwi groups, and local and regional authorities.

Mohi has provided cultural expertise on a parliament level and has navigated complex discussions between Iwi groups and Ministers. He has also worked for the Ministry of Economic Development, Ministry of Education, NZQA, Crown Law Office, Te Puni Kokiri and the Office of Treaty Settlements and has built an extensive network base of Iwi and Government influences across Aotearoa. His years in the Armed services of the Royal NZ Navy and as an Iwi Liaison spokesperson has led to his experience working within cultural, social, and environmental forums.

He has empowered, coached, and mentored many people in Tikanga Māori as a Senior Academic Advisor and Senior Lecturer at Te Wānanga o Raukawa.