Psychosocial Safety as a Critical Business Issue: Securing and Sustaining Executive Attention
Description
Psychosocial safety is increasingly recognised as a material risk to organisational performance, reputation and sustainability -yet many leaders still struggle to keep it on the executive agenda once initial attention fades.
In this fireside chat, Teegan Modderman and Francois Barton will explore how psychosocial safety can be positioned as a core business issue rather than a discretionary wellbeing initiative. Drawing on their experience working with senior leaders and boards, the discussion will examine what captures executive attention, what causes it to drift, and how practitioners can maintain momentum over time.
The conversation will focus on the signals executives respond to including risk, assurance, data, and accountability and how psychosocial safety can be framed in ways that align with strategic priorities, governance expectations and organisational performance. Attendees will gain practical insights into influencing at the executive level and embedding psychosocial safety as a standing leadership concern, not a one-off conversation
Teegan Modderman
Chief Mental Health Officer
Teegan Modderman is a Psychologist specialising in workplace mental health and psychosocial risk management, with more than 20 years’ experience across high‑risk industries including rail, mining, construction, oil and gas, government, and regulatory environments. Her career spans leadership, auditing, training, inspection, and investigation, giving her a rare whole‑of‑system understanding of how psychosocial risks emerge and how they can be designed out through effective organisational controls.
She serves as Chief Mental Health Officer at Queensland Rail, where she leads psychosocial strategy, governance, and system‑level interventions across a large and complex operational workforce. Teegan also contributes to national professional standards through her role on an AHPRA Board Committee.
Widely recognised for her ability to translate complex psychosocial legislation into practical, evidence‑based frameworks,
Francois Barton
CEO
Francois Barton is Chief Executive of the Business Leaders’ Health & Safety Forum, a coalition of more than 400 NZ CEOs committed to creating workplaces where people and organisations can thrive. With deep experience across regulation, policy and leadership, he previously established and led WorkSafe New Zealand’s national programme team, delivering major safety interventions across high-risk industries including construction, agriculture and manufacturing. Francois is a sought-after and advocate for leadership-led approaches to health, safety and wellbeing that move beyond compliance to focus on the design of work and organisational culture.
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Hyatt Regency Sydney
8-9 September 2026
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