Learning from lessons with Kahley Hawkins

Alanna Ball is joined by Kahley Hawkins, a highly experienced health and safety professional who shares her honest journey through the industry. From starting out in an administrative role within mining to becoming a business owner, Kahley’s story reflects a path many women recognise, one that was not carefully planned but shaped through experience, curiosity, and resilience.

The conversation explores how careers in safety often begin unexpectedly, and why real understanding comes from being close to the work, the systems, and the people they affect. Kahley speaks openly about learning on the job, gaining confidence through knowledge, and the importance of looking beyond paperwork to how work is actually done.

Episode highlights

• Kahley’s unexpected entry into health and safety and how hands-on experience shaped her career

• Why safety is more than documents and compliance, and must reflect real-world work practices

• The role of knowledge in building confidence and credibility in safety roles

• Navigating leadership as a woman in a male-dominated industry

• How evolving the way we communicate and design work leads to better safety outcomes

• The value of understanding people and systems, not just processes

This episode is a grounded reminder that strong safety practice is built through lived experience, thoughtful leadership, and a willingness to keep learning. Kahley’s reflections highlight why understanding how work actually happens is essential for creating safety systems that are practical, trusted, and sustainable. For women working in health and safety, this conversation offers reassurance that confidence grows over time and that meaningful impact often comes from staying close to the work and the people it serves.

Stay connected with Women in Safety

Website

www.womeninsafety.net

Visit the website for upcoming events, programs, and community updates, and subscribe to the newsletter to stay informed throughout the year.

Instagram

www.instagram.com/womeninsafety

Follow along for conversations, community highlights, and insights from women across the health and safety profession.

Become an Empowered Member

www.womeninsafety.net/empoweredmembers

Explore Empowered Membership to access deeper learning opportunities, exclusive events, and meaningful connection within the Women in Safety community.