Martha Cavanagh is a Workplace Health and Safety Professional with a background in Nursing and more than 20 years of experience across the Mining, Projects, and Tertiary Education sectors.
She began her career at Energy Resources of Australia’s (ERA) Ranger Uranium Mine as one of the first female mining trainees, gaining hands-on experience in operations, including drill and blast, and heavy mobile equipment operation, before moving into leadership, pit control, and occupational health and safety roles with Rio Tinto’s West Pilbara and Corporate Operations.
This practical foundation shaped Martha’s strong, people-focused approach to health, safety, and continuous improvement. Having worked in the same environments, she now helps make them safer and understands the realities of shift work, heat, and demanding physical conditions. She applies that insight to drive practical, evidence-based improvements in workplace wellbeing and performance.
Holding postgraduate qualifications in Occupational Safety and Health, Occupational Hygiene, Toxicology, and Leadership, Martha has a particular interest in the connections between occupational health and hygiene, as well as how these disciplines integrate to reduce risk and exposure, enhance health protection, and create safer, healthier workplaces.
Martha’s professional philosophy centres on equalising the importance of health and safety, embedding this balance into workplace culture, systems, and processes. She thrives on continuous learning, collaboration, and the pursuit of meaningful, sustainable improvement.