Michelle Baxter, Chief Executive Officer

Michelle has been the CEO of Safe Work Australia since November 2013.

Michelle brings more than 20 years of public sector experience to her positions as Member of Safe Work Australia and its subsidiary committees, a Commissioner of the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission, and as the Commonwealth representative on the Asbestos Safety and Eradication Council. She has worked in many senior roles across the APS, including as Group Manager in the former DEEWR, and Group Manager, COAG Taskforce with DEEWR. Michelle has a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Arts from the Australian National University. She is admitted to practise as a barrister and solicitor in the Australian Capital Territory.

Amanda Johnston

Amanda is Safe Work Australia’s General Counsel and the Branch Manager of the Legal and WHS Strategy Branch. She is responsible for leading the in-house legal team, and for policy matters relating to the model WHS framework. Ms Johnston also led the explosives reform work to finalisation.

Amanda has worked for the Commonwealth for over 15 years and is an employment law specialist, having led the Employment Law practice in the Office of General Counsel in the Australian Government Solicitor and worked in the Workplace Relations Legal Group in the former DEEWR where she was involved in significant legislative projects including the WorkChoices and Fair Work reforms, and WorkChoices litigation. Amanda has a Bachelor of Arts (major in Industrial Relations)/Law (Hons) from the University of Wollongong and is admitted as a legal practitioner in the Australian Capital Territory. Amanda is also a Deputy Commissioner of the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission.

Sarah Costelloe

Sarah is the Branch Manager for Enabling Services. Sarah is responsible for leading the delivery of enabling services for the agency, including human resources, corporate and member services, communication and finance and procurement. Sarah is the SES sponsor for the agency’s WIN and aided the network in winning the Australian Public Service Commission’s network award at the 2018 Diversity and Gender Equality awards. Sarah joined Safe Work Australia in July 2017 as the Hazards Branch Manager where she provided technical policy advice on the model WHS laws related to asbestos, construction and occupational hygiene policy.

Sarah has over 15 years’ public sector experience and is a policy and legal specialist in workplace relations having held a range of positions in the former Commonwealth Department of Employment and its predecessors, and ministerial office experience. Sarah has a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Commerce from the Australian National University and is admitted as a legal practitioner in the Australian Capital Territory.

Anthea Raven

Anthea is currently the acting Branch Manager of the Evidence and Compensation Branch. Anthea oversees national data and research to inform WHS and workers’ compensation policies and strategies and leads the agency’s workers’ compensation policy effort, with a focus on recovery and return to work. Anthea represents the agency on the Strategic Issues Group on Workers’ Compensation and also holds a range of corporate governance positions within Safe Work Australia.

Anthea joined Safe Work Australia in June 2017. She has more than 14 years’ experience in key health and social policy areas of the APS including population health, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, aged care reform and family support. Anthea has tertiary qualifications in business and health sciences from James Cook University.

Meredith Bryant

Meredith joined Safe Work Australia in July 2018 and is currently the acting Branch Manager of the Hazards branch. Meredith is responsible for providing policy advice on the model WHS laws in relation to construction, plant and licensing, national workplace chemicals policy, asbestos and occupational hygiene policy. Meredith represents Safe Work Australia on the Asbestos Interdepartmental Committee and the Federal Safety Commissioner's agency Reference Group.

Meredith has over 18 years’ public sector experience and is a policy specialist. She has worked extensively in workplace relations having held a range of positions in the Commonwealth Department of Employment and its predecessors. Much of her work in recent years has focused on migrant workers. Meredith has a Bachelor of Science and Masters in Population Studies from the Australian National University.