The New Zealand Institute of Safety Management (NZISM) is delighted to announce that Mike Cosman will become the new
Chair of its Advisory Board with effect from 16 June 2017. Samantha Sharif, the current Advisory Board Chair, will step
down as Chair, but remain a member of the Advisory Board.
Mike Cosman said “I’d like to thank Samantha for her leadership as NZISM has prepared itself to take advantage of the
most significant developments in health and safety for over 20 years. The Independent Taskforce set up after the Pike
River tragedy identified the need for all those who provide health and safety advice to business to raise their level of
knowledge and professionalism. We are committed to our members making a significant contribution to reducing the
unacceptable work toll of death, injury and disease and to achieving the Government goal of at least a 25% reduction by
2020. I’m looking forward to working with the Advisory Board, a new CEO, the National Manager and the National Executive
to drive forward an ambitious programme of work designed to make NZISM and its members relevant, respected and effective
in this rapidly changing world.”
Samantha Sharif said “I am sad to stepping down from my role as Advisory Board Chair – but very pleased with what we
have achieved as an organisation in recent years.
Unfortunately, I have a growing Board workload and it became clear to me that soon I will not be able to devote the time
to NZISM that it deserves. With the recruitment of a new CEO underway, it seems appropriate that I hand over to a new
Chair to lead this process.
I am delighted that Mike Cosman will take over as Chair of the Advisory Board. Mike is a current member of the Advisory
Board and a recognised leader in health and safety governance.”
Background:
NZISM is the primary membership organisation for health and safety practitioners. It has over 1600 members in 11
branches working across all sectors of the economy. Our mission is to build quality health and safety practitioners and
promote industry excellence.
NZISM has recently developed an internationally benchmarked accreditation scheme for its members to enable them to
demonstrate their capabilities and to enable business to make more informed choices about those it seeks to engage.
Mike Cosman is one of New Zealand’s most experienced health and safety professionals having worked in this field for
over 38 years in the UK and NZ. He runs an independent risk and safety consultancy working mainly with boards and
executive teams to drive better health and safety governance and leadership.
Mike was the only health and safety professional on the Independent Taskforce on Workplace Health and Safety and the
Independent Forestry Safety Review. He has tertiary qualifications in management and health and safety and is a
Certified Member of NZISM, a Chartered Member of IOSH and a Member of the Institute of Directors.
The other Advisory Board members are Grant Nicholson, Kaye McAuley and Samantha Sharif.
ENDS