Ross Coulton

M. A., B.A , Grad Dip Data Processing, Cert IV Assessment Training, OHS Auditor, Certificate Teaching

Ross is a senior consultant at Graham A Brown & Associates. During his career he has completed over 50 OHS audits – against standards, legislative compliance, industry standards and government requirements – either individually or as part of an audit team. He has also performed risk assessments in several industries.

Ross began working life as a teacher of high school mathematics and soon became a lecturer at Newcastle Teachers College (which later became Newcastle College of Advanced Education and ultimately amalgamated with the University of Newcastle).

It was at the University of Newcastle that occupational health and safety programs began in the mid-1980s. Ross was appointed Course Director and developed the structure for the Associate Diploma in OHS, which was subsequently developed into a full Diploma and ultimately, the Bachelor of OHS degree. He eventually held Head of Department and Conjoint Senior Lecturer roles.

Ross then led the development of the Master of OHS degree, and finally, the M.OHS (Hons), both of which are still offered at the University of Newcastle.

Taking his expertise overseas, Ross assisted in developing educational programs at Certificate, Diploma, Advanced Diploma and Bachelor Degree level in Malaysia, Singapore, New Zealand and Fiji.

With training proving one of his strengths, Ross has instructed in areas such as risk management for section managers in the health industry, basic OHS and procedures in transport, OHS legislation and its requirements, and refresher courses in industry.

Ross has delivered numerous academic papers at international and local conferences. He was the keynote speaker at the Conference of OHS Managers of the New Zealand Dairy Industry (Hamilton, 2003); the New Zealand Institute of Safety Management Conference (Christchurch, 2005) and the Conference of the Australia-Pacific Occupational Safety and Health Organization (APOSHO) in Taipei (2006).