Alumni Leadership Stories
Championing Change:
Kristine Gatt's Lifelong Mission to Redefine Safety, Work, and Equity
Kristine Gatt, Director of Health, Safety and Wellbeing at WorkSafe Victoria, has built her career at the intersection of workplace health, social justice, and systems change. Originally trained as an occupational therapist and later pursuing business and HR studies, she describes her leadership journey as grounded in empathy and driven by impact, shaped as much by personal experience as by professional insight. From early work helping injured people return to meaningful employment, to breaking into male-dominated safety spaces, Kristine has long believed in the power of work to connect, educate and empower.
When Kristine first walked into a safety industry meeting in the early ’90s – “in the days before anyone was really talking about mental health in the workplace”– she recalls being the only woman in the room. But Kristine stayed, listened, and later led. Fueled by a deep belief in the power of meaningful work and equitable workplaces, she credits the Williamson Community Leadership Program (WCLP) with sharpening her focus on public impact and reinforcing her mission to drive change from within.
Kristine joined the WCLP in 2022 when she was at a point of reflection and redirection. “Williamson came about at a much later point in my career, but it's been invaluable,” she says. Initially encouraged by others, she admits she entered the program “a little naive”, unsure of what to expect. What she found was transformational: a space that challenged her thinking, stretched her ambitions and deepened her understanding of leadership in new ways.
One of the most powerful lessons was an unexpected focus on Indigenous culture, which Kristine describes as a deeply enriching experience. “I absolutely loved interacting with the Elders and seeing how they're developing their political influence.”
I'm a lot braver, I share a lot more, and I take the time and I ask more.
After WCLP: leading with purpose and empathy
Kristine attributes her broadened leadership perspective to the WCLP. “I'm a little bit more holistic in how I think. I think about impact and privilege a lot more than I did previously,” she reflects. The experience deepened her understanding of community vulnerability and gave her the confidence to lead with greater empathy and influence across the public sector. “I'm a lot braver, I share a lot more, and I take the time and I ask more,” she says. “I’m a really staunch advocate for looking at policies and procedures and how they can be more inclusive.”
Throughout her career, Kristine’s dedication to The Health Benefits of Good Work remains central. An initiative led by the Royal Australasian College of Physicians, it promotes the idea that good work – work that is safe, inclusive and purposeful – plays a vital role in people’s physical, mental and social wellbeing. Drawing from her occupational therapy background, Kristine emphasises that work should be more than just a job. Good work fosters social connection, purpose, and mental wellbeing. It’s work that is free from bullying, harassment, and inequity. “Work should enable us to thrive, not just survive.”
Kristine has mentored across government organisations, sharing her insights and championing safer, fairer workplaces. Among her proudest achievements is her advocacy for financial wellbeing in the workplace, pioneering in the first financial inclusion action plan for the Geelong region to reduce the incidence of late life homelessness. “It is ongoing and continuing,” she says. “I know that I’ll one day leave paid employment knowing I made a difference, because so many women have come up to me and thanked me.”
As she continues to redefine what safety and wellbeing look like in the modern workplace, Kristine Gatt remains a catalyst for change. The Williamson Community Leadership Program gave her new tools and a new lens through which to see her role as a changemaker. “It was a gear shift for me,” she says simply.
Kristine Gatt
2022 Williamson Fellow
Director, Health, Safety and Wellbeing
WorkSafe Victoria