HFESNZ Newsletter - February 2026
Editor Update
Tēnā koutou katoa
Welcome to our first newsletter of 2026.
Firstly, a huge thanks to Karen Goodfellow who stepped down from the role of Editor at the AGM. As Karen described in her last edition, being the Newsletter Editor for the HFESNZ provides ‘a
wonderful overview - a macro look across all the different aspects of the society and the work being quietly done behind the scenes by the dedicated individuals involved.’ Those of us who have sat in the Editor’s chair over the years have all enjoyed the benefits of this overview, and it extends beyond our shores. There is a natural camaraderie through the network of all those in the 50 or so Societies of the International Ergonomics Association.
If you feel you might be interested in the role and would like to learn more about it, please feel free contact me for a chat.
Ngā mihi nui
Dave Moore, HFESNZ (caretaker) Editor
Please send any information or news that you would like included in the next edition to, news@hfesnz.org.nz or admin@hfesnz.org.nz
From the incoming Chair – Joanne Crawford
Kia ora HFESNZ,
Happy new year for 2026 and I am really looking forward to working with you all this coming year. Apologies for the slow start, I have been overseas on Research Study Leave which is a wonderful privilege to get in a university but does mean being 12 hours behind and that makes engaging more challenging.
I was very happy to be nominated to take on the Chair role at HFESNZ. I arrived in Aotearoa in 2020 as the WorkSafe Chair in Health and Safety. This meant my focus was on course development in health and safety at Victoria University of Wellington. Now I have changed roles, I am able to focus more on my profession which is as an Ergonomist and Human Factors Specialist. I really enjoy teaching some basics to our health and safety generalists at Victoria. Before coming to Aotearoa, I was an ergonomist at the Institute of Occupational Medicine in Edinburgh. That involved research, consultancy and expert witness work. I missed teaching so when the role came up in New Zealand it was too good an opportunity to miss.
What are the plans for 2026? Firstly, lets introduce you to your new committee, pleased that some members have stayed to help guide us newbies.
- Carole Unkovich - Administrator
- Dan Nathan-Roberts - Treasurer
- Dave Moore - Secretary / caretaker Newsletter Editor
- Leanne Hunter - PAB
- Kelsie Stringer_Wallace - Member
- Dwain Allan - Member
- Stephven Kolose - IEA Representative
- Amy Williamson - Member
- Alex Payne - Member
- Just to point out that we always need volunteers to help keep HFESNZ running smoothly.
I feel I have arrived at such great point after the success of 2025, the excellent conferences and events. In 2026 we celebrate the 40th Anniversary of HFESNZ. We need to think about how to celebrate that. Additionally, you might be aware of the research that HASANZ is leading at the moment on the pipeline for future health and safety professionals. It did identify that we know little about our members, their expertise and fields of practice. We will be sending out a survey shortly to ask about this. Probably more importantly, we also want to know what can your society do for you?
As my predecessor mentioned. I am keen to get HFESNZ out there. Coming from the UK, I still have to explain what I do with the usual sentence of “it’s not just chairs you know”. I would like some volunteers to do a day in the life of a practitioner add a photograph of either yourself or your work (if allowed) and let’s tell people what we do. I am also keen to get people from the broad spectrum of HFE as while I have done more physical ergonomics, there are so many more facets to the work we do.
Joanne
Professional Affairs Board Update
Website updates
If you are keen to apply to become a Professional Member you can now decide which membership type suits you and then download the application forms located within each of the member categories. For more information look at: Memberships » Human Factors and Ergonomics Society of New Zealand
If you are unsure what Professional Member category suits you, or if you have questions about the application process please contact: Leanne Hunter, PAB Convenor at: profmember@hfesnz.org.nz
Updates to CPD requirements – ALL Professional Members
On the 1st April 2025 we introduced the new Continuing Professional Development (CPD) requirements for Professional Members.
If you are a Professional Member, you will be sent the links shortly to the online forms to complete your CPD from 1 April 2025 – 31 March 2026.
Important changes:
- All Professional members must now complete annual CPD.
- The new annual CPD system replaces the 3-yearly re-certification system that Certified members used to complete.
- The CPD period will start from 1 April and run to 31 March each year.
- You will need to be submit your CPD by 1 May each year. This means that you will not need to submit your CPD for this first year until 1 May 2026.
There are two parts to the CPD requirements:
- Completed CPD: Professional Members will be asked to provide a suitable12-month record of at least 5 activities they have completed. These need to total at least 30 hours of CPD.
- CPD Forward Plan: Provide a record of 3 activities that you plan on completing for the coming year.
If you want a Word version please contact: profmember@hfesnz.org.nz
Special Interest Group. Transport - Hamish Mackie
Following the successful and world-leading inaugral Human Factors in the Land transport System short course held at Auckland Transport last year, the course will be refined and held again this year.
Some key developments are as follows:
- The course will now be convened by HFESNZ, with certified members assisting with delivery. Hamish Mackie, Amy Williamson, and Dave Moore will run the course in 2026, with oversight from the HFESNZ committee.
- We are planning to run two courses this year - central Wellington on the 23rd June (venue TBC) and Auckland Transport again (date TBC, but around June).
- We will integrate the feedback from the pilot 2025 course. Key is that the course structure should be tailored to each audience, while being sustainable from a delivery perspective.
- The over-arching goal is to ensure human factors/ergonomics principles are well understood by the transport sector and practitioners know to integrate human factors into their work, seeking qualified assistance as appropriate. This will help to ensure transport is designed for people, taking a systems view, and reflects human factors evidence.
- Look out for an advertisement and registration information soon!"
- Ultimately, an online version of the course will be developed, and offered globally. But let's walk before we can run! The in-person version will remain important locally.
Special Interest Group. Health Care - Alex Payne
HFE in Healthcare Position Statement & Webinar
Following on from October’s Healthcare Symposium in Ōtautahi, the Healthcare Special Interest Group (SIG) has been working on an updated position statement for HFE in healthcare. The statement has recently been finished and can be found on the HFESNZ website here - click here.
Additionally, look out for an upcoming Healthcare SIG webinar with content about the position statement.
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