Confluence Water elevates safety leadership with the launch of ‘I LEAD’ Safety Leadership Program

In a steadfast commitment to enhancing workplace safety and leadership excellence, late last month, Confluence Water launched its 'I LEAD Safety Leadership Training Program'.

Inspired by the renowned Elevate safety leadership framework from Ventia, this innovative program was created to transform the organisation's safety culture by empowering its leaders.

At the end of March, over 30 leaders from across the business came together for the inaugural session at our Chatswood office and spent the day laying the groundwork for a new era of safety-first leadership.

Candice Mesecke, HSEQ, People, and Community Director at Confluence Water, and the driving force behind 'I LEAD', shared her vision for the program's transformative potential on the organisation's safety culture. 

"True excellence in safety culture emerges from consistent, caring, and connected actions at all levels of the organisation,” Candice said. 

“Today allows us an opportunity to stop and recognise the role of our leaders in promoting and leading safety excellence across the business.”

At the heart of the program is a bespoke workshop which incorporates Downer’s Achieving Zero Harm training, mixed with Ventia’s safety 'LEAD' behaviors—Learning, Engaging, Accountability, and Discipline. These principles offer participants actionable strategies to improve safety practices in their daily operations.

Cameron Joss, a Project Manager at Confluence Water, reflected on the inaugural session as an enlightening experience that equipped attendees with the necessary tools and knowledge to elevate safety leadership within the organisation. 

"This session does a great job of helping people understand how to be a better safety leader, and set new standards for safety at Confluence Water," he remarked.

Tom Burns, Program Delivery Director at Confluence Water, highlighted the importance of sharing knowledge and best practices as fundamental to the program's success.

"Distributing our insights and proven practices is critical for our continuous improvement. It's essential that every team member feels empowered to pause operations whenever safety is in question, resuming only when conditions are deemed safe," Tom emphasised.

"I LEAD is critical in Instilling this mindset to our leadership ethos and safety culture,” he said.

'I LEAD' is slated for rollout across Confluence Water throughout 2024. Together, with Ventia, Confluence Water will exchange key 'I LEAD' learnings and best practices, enhancing our collective safety culture.

“We are at the beginning of something special, we are on a path guided by an unwavering commitment to a culture where safety and health is above all else,” Candice said.