The Culturally Intelligent Safety Professional

What a though provoking conversation with Dr Hend Zaki, we covered a lot of ground from hijab and handshakes to halal food and prayer rooms and how these realities impact Muslims at work every single day. What’s clear is that workplaces can’t just rely on general diversity policies. To ensure people feel seen and supported, organisations need to embed inclusion into their systems, their leadership, and their everyday interactions.

W...

In this episode, I sat down with Dr. Danielle Henry, an organizational leader and cultural intelligence expert, to explore how leadership psychology and empathetic practices shape workplace culture. We talked about the mosaic of cultural backgrounds present in every organization, and the need to build systems that support, not just demand our best efforts. From her reflections on global project work to her bold take on the “dark si...

What a pleasure to speak with Moni, the conversation wasn't just about safety—it was about systems, culture, and the courage to do things differently. My key findings and lessons from this discussion include:

1. Work is Adaptive, and not Just about Compliance
   Moni shared how early career experiences taught her that safety of work isn't about ticking boxes, it’s about understanding the real-time complexity of work.

What a great honour to speak with Trisha a real early adopter of CQ, our conversation explored the pivotal moments that shaped Trisha’s career, including her early insights into organizational dysfunction, her transformative experiences living in China, and her work helping individuals and organizations build cultural intelligence (CQ). 

We discussed the real-world applications of CQ in workplace safety, leadership, and organization...

In this episode of The Culturally Intelligent Safety Professional, I speak with Emma Jordaan — cultural intelligence strategist, CEO of Infinite Consulting, host of The HR & CQ Show, and recently published author of Dubai Decoded. Emma brings over two decades of experience from across the UK, Europe, and the UAE to share practical insights on how cultural intelligence (CQ) transforms workplace safety and leadership in multicult...

A rich and thought-provoking kōrero with Vance Walker — a returning guest and a true thought leader in integrating Māori culture with health and safety practices.

In this episode, we explored how cultural intelligence can evolve from an academic concept into a powerful, data-driven tool for real-world change, particularly through the Me Mataara project. Vance's work is pushing boundaries, not just in terms of reducing injuries ...

What a conversation, huge thanks again to Jodhi Warwick-Ponga for joining us, and for bringing such grounded, powerful insights into the space.

There are a few key takeaways I want to highlight. 

First — that idea of diversity as a dynamic resource. Jodhi reminded us that every person brings something unique to the table, and when we embrace that, we open the door to creativity, innovation, and more effective decision-making.

Second —...

Cultural Intelligence & Workplace Safety: Why It Matters More Than Ever 

In health and safety, we often focus on compliance, technical skills, and risk management. But what about cultural intelligence (CQ)—the ability to adapt and connect across cultural differences? In this episode, I had an insightful conversation with Hema Puthran, a seasoned health and safety professional, about how cultural intelligence plays a critical rol...

Briar emphasizes the importance of indigenous wisdom in shaping personal wellbeing and workplace safety. She drew from Māori perspectives and her study of rongoā (traditional healing) to highlight how reconnecting with Papatūānuku (Mother Earth) fosters resilience and mental strength. The idea that healthy people lead to safer workplaces is central—wellbeing isn’t just a “nice-to-have” but a foundation for safety and productivity.

B...

Simonne's insights reveal the importance of inclusive practices in the workplace, particularly in health and safety roles, where clear communication and understanding are critical. By embracing diverse perspectives, safety professionals can create environments that empower individuals to perform at their best, regardless of their gender, background, or neurodiverse status.

Key Takeaways:

1. Dyslexia as a Superpower: Simonne des...

An intriguing conversation with Jono as we dove into his rich experiences in the military and his transition to civilian life as a health and safety advisor. The conversation covered the evolution of safety practices, the importance of cultural intelligence, and the significance of effective communication and adaptive leadership in diverse environments. Here are my takeaways,

 Cultural Intelligence is Crucial: Learning the local lan...

The Culturally Intelligent Safety Professional is back for season 2 with a great line up of guests from New Zealand and around the world. In episode 1 we talk again to crowd favourite Jodhi Warwick Ponga about enhancing cultural intelligence through a Māori lens. 

Our conversation focused on how individual leadership and behavior can promote cultural intelligence within an organization. As we know, leadership is a series o...

In this session, we explored episodes four, eight, and 15, focusing on Māori and Pacifica culture in workplace safety.

Episode 4: Vance Walker discusses the importance of cultural intelligence in health and safety, particularly when working with Māori communities. He introduced his project, Kia Tupato, aimed at fostering cautious behavior over traditional safety protocols. Vance highlighted the need for effective communication roote...

In this second looking back episode we reflect on the practical insights and strategies offered by our guests for improving cultural awareness and adaptation. From episode 2 we reflect on the discussion with Chris Peace who highlights communication mishaps due to cultural misunderstandings and adapting teaching methods for international students. Chris advocated for including CQ in health and safety curricula to improve stakeholder...

In this episode of the Culturally Intelligent Safety Professional we take a look back at episodes 1 & 14 of season 1. 

In Episode 1, I spoke with Shireen Chua about leadership's role in fostering inclusivity. Shireen emphasized the importance of leaders modeling inclusive behaviors and cultivating curiosity and reflection to develop CQ. She highlighted that CQ is not a one-time project but a continuous practice.

In Episode 1...

Jodhi Warwick Ponga, a trustee of Te Ropu Marutau o Aotearoa, discussed her career and involvement in health and safety, alongside her role at Vertical Horizons. She began with a diverse background in engraving, signwriting, and screen printing before transitioning to health and safety through roles in a software company managing 20,000 workers across New Zealand and Australia. Her journey led to consultancy and eventually to her c...

Who would have thought I would get to meet and speak with Dr. Catherine Wu, and in her adopted city of Singapore. An expert in cultural intelligence Catherine, shared her journey from a small village in France to teaching in Asia. She emphasizes the importance of understanding cultural values and how they impact interactions in diverse environments.

In our short time together we covered a number of Key aspects related to CQ includin...

Once again on the Culturally Intelligent Safety Professional we have connected with a fabulous guest from Aotearoa’s great west Island of Australia and we are talking FR&NKly with Rick Fox from Health and Safety consultancy FR&NK. Rick is a proud First Nations man from the Wiradjuri mob in Central West NSW. 

Rick shares his diverse background and experiences in various sectors including state government, local government, an...

This week on the Culturally Intelligent Safety Professional we talk to Deborah Rhodes, Deborah is a Dairy Farmer, award winning academic and health and safety advocate. Deborah talks to us about Mission Orientated Research which she suggests as a way to achieve goals. 

We discuss the risk profile of a farming environment something Deborah came to later in life after a career as a nurse and working in pharmaceuticals. During the disc...