Welcome to our last newsletter for 2023.  We've had a big year focussing on thought leadership and generating discussion within the risk and due diligence communities. Following on from our Criminal Manslaughter booklet, we published another booklet earlier this year aimed at Directors on Project Governance and how to demonstrate due diligence for potential project show stoppers.  

We also tried our hand at podcasts which have proved very successful and have generated some interesting discussions. Our second season is currently being rolled out (with a break over the Christmas period) and you can find out the details below. 

It was also great to be back delivering and attending in-person conferences this year. Richard was the keynote speaking at the Australasian Marine Pilots Institute in Perth and I presented papers at the Conference of Rail Excellence (CORE) in Melbourne and the Risk Conference in Brisbane. Of course the R2A theme was due diligence, but with the focus on how it's applicable to the maritime industry, the rail industry and large complex projects respectively.

With the festive session fast approaching, the R2A office is closed from CoB Thursday 21 December and will re-open Monday 8 January.  Richard and I wish you and your families a happy holiday season and all the very best for 2024.

And if you’d like to kick off 2024 with a discussion relating to engineering due diligence, please contact Richard or I via email admin@r2a.com.au or call 1300 772 333.

Until next time,

Gaye Francis
R2A Partner

We’ve really enjoyed bringing you our podcast this year and the feedback we’ve received. We’re up to Episode 6 of Season 2. New episodes go live on Sundays at 5pm. We’ll now take a short, two-week break and publish the next episode Sunday 7 January.

Listen to all the episodes of Seasons 1 and 2 on your favourite podcast platform including Apple, Spotify, Google, Amazon. Don’t forget to subscribe and give us a rating too.

If you'd prefer watching the recordings, head to our YouTube channel.

Season 2 episodes so far...

Episode 6 | Safety Integrity Levels (SIL) Allocation and it's implications under WHS Legislation 

Episode 5 | The Journey to WHS Criminalisation | How the Risk Management profession has changed over the last 40 years

Episode 4 | Safety Culture Change Agents | The role of engineers in change & safety

Episode 3 | Project Due Diligence - Using a Military Intelligence Approach & Critical Success Outcomes

Episode 2 | The Demise of ALARP in Victoria Major Hazards (and the continuing debate on ALARP vs SFAIRP)

Episode 1 | Safety in Design

Our long training partnership with Engineering Education Australia continues in 2024 with public dates for our three workshop topics now confirmed as follows.

Rail Safety National Law & OHS Legislation - Obligations for Engineers & Designers

• March: Thursday 7th, 1:00pm – 4:15pm (AEDT)

• July: Wednesday 31st, 9:00am – 12:15pm (AEST)

• October: Thursday 31st, 10:00am – 1:15pm (AEDT)

Audience: This course suits engineers across all disciplines, especially engineers involved in the rail industry. Other relevant roles include: Designers and Project Managers.

Further information and registration via EEA: https://eea.org.au/courses/rail-safety-national-law-and-ohs-legislation-obligations-engineers-and-designers

Criminal Manslaughter – How Not To Do it

• March: Wednesday 20th, 9:00am – 1:00pm (AEDT)

• July: Thursday 25th, 1:00pm – 5:00pm (AEST)

• October: Tuesday 8th, 9:00am – 1:00pm (AEDT)

Audience: This course suits engineers and design professionals, and is particularly valuable for board members, senior decision-makers and technical advisers.

Further information and registration via EEA: https://eea.org.au/courses/criminal-manslaughter-how-not-do-it

Engineering Due Diligence

• May: Wednesday 15 & Thursday 16 (two half days), 1:00pm – 5:00pm (AEST)

• November: Tuesday 12 & Wednesday 13 (two half days), 9:00am – 1:00pm (AEDT)

Audience: This course is a more detailed course for Engineers. It's also suitable for risk and compliance staff of technology-based organisations.

For further information and registration via EEA: https://eea.org.au/courses/engineering-due-diligence

In Season 2, Episode 4 of our Risk podcast, Richard and Gaye discussed how their role as safety culture change agents is to go into organisations and facilitate change. With this, they mention how this aligns with their other business Apto PPE – women’s and maternity, fit-for-purpose safety workwear. There’s an upcoming episode that talks about the topic of women’s PPE, so if you’re interested keep an eye out in January for it to go live.

In the meantime, if you like to see our products or chat with Gaye about the women’s and maternity range, made 100% in Australia, email gaye.francis@aptoppe.com.au.