Conference Guest Speaker

Professor Jodi Oakman

Doctor of Philosophy (La Trobe University); MSc & Tech in Ergonomics (UNSW); B.App.Sci (Physiotherapy) La Trobe University; Grad Cert in Higher Ed and Teaching; Grad Cert in Implementation Science (UCSF).

An accomplished ergonomist and human factors specialist, Professor Oakman transitioned from a diverse range of industry roles into academia, where she leads research aimed at enhancing both physical and mental health in the workplace. Her innovative translational research includes the development of the APHIRM (A Participative Hazard Identification and Risk Management) Toolkit, which aids organizations in mitigating stress-related mental health issues and musculoskeletal disorders using a participative approach. Currently, she leads research which are based in systems thinking and principles of implementation science to advance work-related health and well-being and support sustainable working lives.

Research Interests: Musculoskeletal disorders; Ageing Workers; Sustainable work; Systems thinking

Guest Speaker

Group Commander Marija Jovanovich AM CSM

Snr. Officer & Test Pilot
Royal Australian Air Force

Group Captain Marija “Maz” Jovanovich is a test pilot and senior officer in the Royal Australian Air Force. Born in the former Yugoslavia, she joined the RAAF in 2001 and graduated from the Australian Defence Force Academy with a BSc and University Medal in physics. On completion of pilot training, she flew the P3 Orion on operations and exercises all over the world, including the Middle East, southwest Pacific and southeast Asia. In 2014, she was the first Australian in 25 years to graduate from the United States Air Force Test Pilot School. In addition to operational aviation and flight test roles, Marija has held a number of leadership and command positions, both domestically and deployed overseas. She holds multiple degrees in science, engineering and the humanities and has over 3400 hours flying experience, on over 30 different aircraft types.

Guest Speaker

Kenneth Catchpole

SmartState Endowed Chair in Clinical Practice and Human Factors
Medical University of South Carolina

Despite 25 years of global interest and effort in patient safety, progress has been slow. The promise that this would usher in new collaborations between engineers, safety scientists and clinicians did not materialize. Traditional clinical views of performance being solely based on the intent, training and skill of practitioners has been difficult to change. Fundamental misconceptions – such as linear determinism, equating error and harm, the ‘human factor’ as a cause – are repeatedly made, with Just Culture, High Reliability, Lean 6 Sigma, Resilience all being misused or misinterpreted. However, a slow but steady infusion of human factors, complexity, and safety science has been guiding clinicians and healthcare leaders towards a very different view of patient safety, and of the causes of success and failure in healthcare systems. Though many may not have realised it yet, this has both awkward and profound implications for care