Thursday 6 August 2026
Safe by design was at the forefront of Port of Brisbane’s 17th annual Safety 1 Forum yesterday, where more than 230 people from 44 businesses across the port community gathered to focus on safety.
Returning keynote speaker and champion Red Bull Air Race pilot, Matt Hall, shared his tips for managing safety in high-risk environments and Patrick Terminals’ Head of Health, Safety, Security and Environment, Nathan Beves, provided a practical example of how organisations can embed critical controls at the frontline.
Port of Brisbane Chief Executive Officer, Neil Stephens, said this year’s theme, Safe by Design, was about putting people and safety at the centre of how we work each day.
“Safe by Design is about more than systems and procedures. It’s about ensuring we plan work carefully, understand and control risks before work begins, and create the conditions where safe outcomes are the natural result of good planning, effective controls and strong leadership,” said Mr Stephens.
“Today was an opportunity to continue that conversation as a broader port community, drawing on the experience and unique insights of our guest speakers.
“The strong attendance at this year’s forum shows that safety matters to everyone within the port community, regardless of their role or where they work across the port.
“We’re grateful for the continued support of our customers and event sponsors who share our commitment to the health and safety principles that drive us each and every day – Blue Water Shipping, MEDLOG, Patrick Terminal, QBH, Qube and Svitzer.”
Seven organisations also provided information on products and services related to health and safety as part of the Forum’s trade display.