Tararua council's award nominee modest about achievements

Sandy Lowe wears many hats for Tararua District Council as electoral officer, land information officer and health and safety officer.

Few people wear as many "hats" in their job as Sandy Lowe.

As electoral officer, land information officer, and health and safety officer for Tararua District Council, her days are not only busy, but always full of variety.

While Lowe says she enjoys all of her roles and the individual challenges they present, she admits she has a particular passion for her role in health and safety.

Due to that passion and her dedication to the role she has been nominated for the Health and Safety Practitioner of the Year Award, in this year's SAFEGUARD New Zealand Workplace Health and Safety Awards.

Described by her colleagues and employer Tararua District Council as "one of the most dedicated and forward thinking health and safety co-ordinators an organisation could hope for", Lowe is modest about her achievements and nomination.

"It's an honour and I'm really looking forward to going to the awards and meeting other people in the health and safety sector. They are inspiring people with great ideas, however it will be a little nerve-racking," she says.

The role of health and safety co-ordinator was initially a temporary part-time function when Lowe took it on in 2016.

During her first 12 months in the position she focused on building the foundation processes for managing health and safety within the council.

The improvements she achieved within that time proved the value of the role and it was made permanent, allowing her more time to further improve the health and safety culture within the council.

Through her work, Lowe is credited with creating a quantum shift in the council's culture, with health and safety now considered in everything staff members do.

Lowe says the support she's received from chief executive Blair King and the senior leadership team has been invaluable.

"I doubt the culture change around health and safety would have happened without it," she says.

Award winners will be announced at a gala dinner and presentation ceremony at the SkyCity Convention Centre in Auckland on May 30.