Driving positive change, from within.

Contact Rob
Product screenshot

From the lunchroom to the boardroom, my services aim to give individuals, teams and the wider organisation the tools to optimise performance and purpose.

1
To unlock the potential in you or your team
2
To shift stale processes that are holding you back
3
To improve organisational performance for the long term

Each service has a solutions-based approach.

When the day-to-day is busy, it’s easy to lose sight of the big picture and become overwhelmed by the daily grind. My specialist capability can inject clarity and a new sense of enthusiasm to your team by:

  • Utilising contemporary approaches to safety and organisational performance
  • Leading the facilitation and knowledge-building of learning teams
  • Providing guidance on how to lift worker engagement across your organisation
  • Ensuring operational and post-event learning is deliberate and adds true value
  • Undertaking human and organisational performance (HOP) training
  • Leading and/or co-designing the development of a critical risk management program
  • Providing expertise to build internal HSE capability for the long term

The ultimate purpose of coaching and mentoring is to help you unlock your potential and to go beyond what you and others think you are capable of. I aim to:

  • Help people go beyond what they know and how they think, and inspire them to venture into the unknown.
  • Support individuals looking to unleash the potential in themselves and their teams.
  • Align coaching with your core business HSE or operational strategy.
  • Support HSE and operational leaders become more effective at leading and engaging with their teams.
  • Build confidence and remove barriers.
  • Generate breakthroughs in relationships.

Whether you want to introduce new operating principles or improve worker engagement, I work with you to co-develop innovative and sustainable change in your organisation. Through a user-centred approach, I will:

  • Ensure the needs, priorities and context of your organisation are met.
  • Build long term capability within your team so you can forge ahead on your own.
  • Ensure that the voices of the people from across the organisation are heard and respected.
  • Be deliberate about learning from those that know how to get stuff done.
Rob Kirkwood

A process with purpose.

Discover

We begin with a discovery call to understand the gaps you see and impacts you’re looking to make.

Define

The insight gathered from the discovery phase will help understand and define the problem that needs solving, or areas that need developing. Understanding this together will help define the approach we will take to drive the change you’re looking for.

Develop

We then work collaboratively with your team to co-design a strategy and a range of potential interventions and solutions.

Deliver

Delivery involves testing out a range of solutions on a small-scale, rejecting those that will not work, and moving forward with those that will.

Let's get started

Driving change throughout
New Zealand.

“You would go a long way to find someone who cares about their people as much as Rob does. There is no doubt that Rob has a sound knowledge on the new views of safety, but it is his deep and unrelenting commitment to people that sets him apart from most.

I was lucky enough to co-deliver a masterclass on safety leadership/culture with Rob last year and he has an uncanny knack of combining real world knowledge, engaging nature and vulnerability – it was an honour to present alongside him.

If you want someone to guide you through what it will take to bring a new safety culture into your organisation, Rob is your man.”

Jono Brent – Director, In Your Corner Ltd

“Rob doesn’t know me and we have never met in person. I contacted him after listening to him on a podcast and he has helped me more than what he had to. Rob’s authenticity and dedication deserve to be highlighted. Picking up the phone and coaching some person he doesn’t even know, showed me how much he genuinely cares, and showcases his genuine passion for making a meaningful impact.

Rob’s insights have sparked valuable reflections, reshaping my approach to work and enhancing my relationships with peers. I wholeheartedly endorse Rob for his instrumental role in catalysing this change and am grateful for the ongoing impact he has had on my professional journey.”

Christina Johnston - Manager Risk Management, Clutha District Council

“What I have always enjoyed about Rob’s message is that it’s real. Rob is not there to tick a box or say fluffy things, it’s plain to see his purpose is to make things better for the people that matter. Sure, there’s things we all have to do to comply, and Rob gets that, but outside of the “because we have to” things, Rob is there to find ways that work and are meaningful. Don’t expect an easy ride, if something is dumb, he’ll tell you, but he’ll also tell you why and you’ll find yourself agreeing.

If you want to find ways to improve the performance of your organisation and keep people safe doing it, Rob is your man. If you just want to tick a health and safety box, then don’t bother.”

Ivan Chapple - HSEQ Manager, Symons Transport

“Rob has a track record of stories as long as his arm demonstrating the ‘holy trinity’ of HOP: practical tactical HOP implementation, aligned with the principles without being one-eyed or over-zealous, and fitting into the real world messiness of systems, clients, and human beings. The bottom line is there aren’t many out there like Rob, who instead of just talking about the ideas, will get you actual results.”

Andrew Barrett, Head Coach at safetyontap.com

“Rob is one of the most authentic people I know, we have been colleagues in various capacities since about 2007 and his personal development over this time period has been a joy to watch. Rob always shares what he has learnt and uses his knowledge, passion and experiences mixed with genuine curiosity to help both individuals and businesses design practical and innovative solutions to address not only safety problems but wider operational performance challenges.”

Greg Dearsly, Managing Director, First 4 Safety Ltd

“Rob is a generous and experienced professional whose knowledge and passion is infectious. Rob is an amazing communicator and articulates his message through stories that are easily relatable. Rob’s holistic and practical approach to business improvement is refreshing and he seeks to build capacity in people rather than being the expert in the room.

Rob has a passion for learning and connection and I couldn’t recommend a better person to partner with.”

Michael Cournane, Senior HSE Strategy, Risk & Performance Advisor, Powerlink Queensland

“Rob is the sort of guy who brings safety alive. He uses his years of practical experience in extreme environments to get to the crux of what really matters. Rob builds trust with those he works with, combining his professional expertise alongside his relatability. If you are looking for someone who can cut through complexity and the red tape to ensure your people go home safe at night, then Rob is your man.”

Lindy Nelson MNZM Farmer/Chair Safer Farms NZ

“Rob is the kind of safety professional you want to work with. Knowledgeable, practical, innovative and always with a focus on people. He’s generous with his time and giving of his experience. He has a track record of success, demonstrated by the confidence people invest in him.”

Andy Shone, CEO, Southpac Group

Get in touch.

Email Rob