Riki Tahau
Sydney,NSW
Summary
Transformative executive leader with over 20 years of experience in quality, health, safety, and environment (QHSE) across high-risk industries, including mining, construction, and emergency response. Accomplished in designing and implementing groundbreaking health and safety programs that safeguard personnel and organizational assets. Known for providing provocative insights, re-evaluating practices, and leading teams to achieve exceptional results, including a 65% reduction in total recordable injury frequency rate within one year.
Overview
11
11
years of professional experience
Work History
Head of Safety
Noumi Limited
Sydney, NSW
05.2025 - Current
- Spearheaded the "Safe Together, I Care, You Count, We Matter" initiative, achieving a 7.6-point reduction in Total Recordable Injury Frequency Rate (TRIFR) within six months.
- Overhauled injury management and return-to-work systems, improving efficiency and outcomes through comprehensive reviews of insurance providers.
- Implemented Bow Tie risk assessments and enhanced safety training compliance, embedding human factors into safety outcomes.
Head of Fire Safety
NagaWorld
Phnom Penh, Cambodia
02.2024 - 01.2025
- Led a team of 100 firefighters, achieving compliance with national fire safety standards and improving emergency response times across a 2 million sq. ft. casino complex.
- Established a new emergency escalation process, enhancing communication and decision-making during critical incidents.
- Conducted comprehensive fire safety risk assessments, managing complex fire systems with 18,000 sprinklers and 6,000 detection systems.
Head of Health, Safety, and Wellbeing
Wellington DHBs, Capital, Coast, and Hutt Valley Hospitals
Wellington, NZ
04.2022 - 02.2024
- Achieved ACC insurance compliance, reducing costs and ensuring the safety of 12,000 staff across hospitals.
- Led the implementation of COVID-19 protocols, ensuring a 100% compliance rate across all facilities.
- Enhanced hazardous substance management, significantly reducing exposure risks through automated chemotherapy dosing machines.
Health and Safety Manager
Westland Milk Products
Hokitika, NZ
05.2020 - 02.2022
- Reduced TRIFR from 29 to 10 within three years, increasing proactive problem reporting tenfold and eliminating high-risk incidents.
- Streamlined health and safety operations by reorganizing teams and centralizing services, resulting in a cost reduction of over 1 million NZD.
Manager, Health and Safety Unit (HSWA Inspectorate)
Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand
Wellington, NZ
09.2017 - 09.2019
- Positively influenced national aviation policies, enhancing regulatory compliance and safety standards.
- Built and led a team of 10 H&S inspectors, doubling regulatory oversight for 20+ business units.
Corporate Health and Safety Manager
Kono Foods
Nelson, NZ
06.2015 - 08.2016
- Achieved 100% compliance with the Health and Safety at Work Act, significantly enhancing safety standards across subsidiaries.
- Digitized and automated safety processes, driving operational efficiency and improving data-driven decision-making.
Education
Lead Auditor - ISO 9001
Exemplar Global
03.2019
Diploma - Occupational Health and Safety
Emergency Medical Technician - Pre-Hospital Care
Industrial Paramedic - Pre-Hospital Care
Certificate III - Mine Emergency Response and Rescue
Skills
- Organizational Turnarounds & Cultural Transformations
- Risk Management & Strategic Change Leadership
- Safety Systems Development & Compliance (ISO 45001, 9001)
- Emergency Preparedness & Crisis Management
- Stakeholder Engagement & Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Financial Oversight & Cost Optimization
- Incident Management & Root Cause Analysis
- Training Program Development & Staff Training
- Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite
- Safety policy writing and auditing
- Regulations and compliance management
- Lockout/tagout programs
- Safety hazards analysis and accident investigation
- Project coordination and policy development
- Claims evaluation and compliance management
- Technical support and performance management
Timeline
Head of Safety
Noumi Limited
05.2025 - Current
Head of Fire Safety
NagaWorld
02.2024 - 01.2025
Head of Health, Safety, and Wellbeing
Wellington DHBs, Capital, Coast, and Hutt Valley Hospitals
04.2022 - 02.2024
Health and Safety Manager
Westland Milk Products
05.2020 - 02.2022
Manager, Health and Safety Unit (HSWA Inspectorate)
Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand
09.2017 - 09.2019
Corporate Health and Safety Manager
Kono Foods
06.2015 - 08.2016
Diploma - Occupational Health and Safety
Emergency Medical Technician - Pre-Hospital Care
Industrial Paramedic - Pre-Hospital Care
Certificate III - Mine Emergency Response and Rescue
Lead Auditor - ISO 9001
Exemplar Global
Vision & Mission
"My vision is to be a transformative leader who redefines the standards of safety, culture, process, and operational excellence. I am committed to creating workplaces where every individual feels empowered, valued, and protected, where safety is not just a policy but a shared responsibility and a way of life. I strive to inspire change at every level, challenging the status quo and driving innovation. Through bold leadership and unwavering dedication, I aim to leave a legacy of safer, stronger organizations that prioritize people over processes."
Credentials
- Registered Emergency Medical Technician
- Regulatory Craft Professor Sparrow
- Lead Auditor Leadership Trainer
- Certificate of Registration, Australian Institute of Mine Rescue
Additional Information
- 20 years of mining and construction experience across Australia in remote high-risk sites.
- Winner of mines rescue competitions in QLD and NSW.
- Extensive expertise in managing safety, health, and emergency response for projects valued between $3 billion and $12 billion.