Having worked for most of her career as Michelle Cooper, for personal reasons she has now legally changed her name to be referred to as Grace. Same amazing woman – same skills, experience and knowledge, now Grace Cooper.

Grace is a mature, seasoned safety professional with a pragmatic approach and a sense of humour. She’s known for getting things done and is highly regarded for transforming safety culture, systems and workplaces in New Zealand and internationally.

With over 15 years’ experience, Grace has a knack for both strategic and operational safety. She’s equally comfortable working with boardrooms and boots-on-the-ground teams, improving safety and wellbeing across people, systems and workplaces.

Starting her career as a Registered Nurse and Counselling, Grace moved into injury management when ACC was first privatised in the early 1990s. Frustrated with being the ‘ambulance at the bottom of the hill’, she quickly transitioned into Health and Safety where she could make a real difference – improving culture, reducing injury rates and implementing programs that matter both on the front line and to the bottom line.

Grace’s qualifications match her experience: a Diploma in H&S from the Management Institute of New Zealand, ICAM and ISO45001 training and auditor qualifications, Graduate Diplomas in Managed Care and Business Management, and she’s a registered H&S professional with HASANZ. She’s recently completed the Institute of Directors workshop.

Having worked across challenging locations like Papua New Guinea and Turkey, and diverse sectors including civil manufacturing, FMCG, mining, construction and retail, Grace has learned what works: simple, easy-to-use systems, a culture of care, committed leadership, and doing the right thing for the right reasons. She’s helped some of New Zealand’s largest employers transform safety – ensuring more people go home safe and well at the end of each workday.

Grace is not your typical cardigan-wearing, clipboard-carrying safety boffin. She’s passionate about continuous improvement and keen to help in any way she can.