Who we are

Chief Executive Officer, RSHQ, Mark Stone

Mark believes in the right of every worker to a safe and healthy workplace. He is committed to improving outcomes in the resources sector by building RSHQ’s capability as an effective, risk-based regulator, and helping industry meet its obligations to protect workers and affected communities.

Mark joined the former Resources Safety and Health in 2016, having spent the preceding two decades in the global oil and gas industry in technical and leadership roles. He holds degrees in minerals engineering and petroleum engineering and is a Fellow of Engineers Australia.

Chief Operating Officer, RSHQ, Robert Djukic

With a background in law and experience in regulatory frameworks, Rob Djukic commenced as RSH Chief Operating Officer in 2017.

Rob believes fairness is a core principle to protecting worker safety and health, and being an effective regulator.

Executive Director, Simtars, Kerri Melkersson

Kerri’s 20-plus year leadership career has spanned multiple sectors including banking and finance, currency management and workers’ compensation - focussing on occupational rehabilitation and the return-to-work of Queensland’s injured workers.  She joined the resources regulator in 2018 to support regulatory reform following the re-identification of coal workers’ pneumoconiosis and has a particular interest and expertise in the detection and prevention of latent onset occupational disease.

Appointed as Executive Director of Simtars in 2022, Kerri is passionate about improving safety and health outcomes for Queensland’s resource workers. She is focussed on ensuring that Simtars provides contemporary best practice health and safety services, targeted strategic research, continues to deliver critical emergency capability and response, and remains abreast of existing and emerging safety and health harms, to support industry needs.

Chief Inspector, Coal Mines, Peter Newman

From mining gold underground in South Africa in the 70s, to being appointed Queensland’s Chief Inspector of Coal Mines in 2019, Peter Newman has extensive practical experience and his qualifications include First Class Mine Managers Certificate (Qld & NSW), Honours Degree in Mining Engineering, became a Fellow of AusIMM, and is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (ACID).

As a member of the mines rescue team who responded to the Moura No. 4 mine explosion that killed 12 coal mine workers in 1986, Peter has experienced first-hand the tragic outcomes of inadequate safety on site. This experience drives his mission - to prevent workplace deaths and serious accidents in Queensland coal mines.

Chief Inspector, Mineral Mines & Quarries and Chief Inspector, Explosives, Hermann Fasching

Hermann provides strategic leadership and direction through a focus on regulation and education. His inspectorate assists the industry to meet its obligations while promoting the safety and health of workers to achieve a goal of zero serious harm.

He has over 40 years' experience in the extractive mining industries, in both surface and underground operations, and as a government regulator. His extensive experience is backed by qualifications that include a Diploma of Engineering, Diploma of Government Workplace Inspection, Fellow of the Institute of Quarrying Australia and a Certified Practicing Quarry Manager.

The loss of a close family friend in an underground mining accident drove Hermann to actively pursue a career in health and safety. His conviction that a zero serious harm industry is achievable keeps him focused.

Chief Inspector, Petroleum & Gas, William (Bill) Date

An Australian Army Officer for 35 years, Bill Date is no stranger to taking on challenges and providing leadership. In his first role in the petroleum and gas industry as Director of the Coal Seam Gas Engagement Unit, Bill led his team through many challenging situations between concerned communities and the burgeoning CSG industry. Supporting his practical experience are qualifications including a Master of Business Administration, Bachelor Professional Studies, and Diploma Resources Management.

During his Army career Bill experienced the heartbreak of families’ he had to inform of the loss of a loved one in the line of duty – it’s something he never wants to do again. That experience underpins his commitment to working with industry to achieve zero serious harm in the petroleum and gas industry.

Chief Transformation Officer, Nicolai (Nick) Ahlstrand

Nick Ahlstrand’s first role in the resource sector was project engineer on the BMA Goonyella Riverside underground coal development project in 2003. His qualifications include Bachelor of Applied Science, Master of Business Administration and Graduate Certificate in International Relations. He has completed executive education at Columbia Business School, is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a Certified Practicing Project Director (AIPM).

Nick was appointed as RSHQs inaugural Chief Transformation Officer in April 2022. Previously he was the Executive Director Simtars for several years where he led reforms to contemporise the division to promote improved safety and health outcomes for resource workers. In his current role, Nick is responsible for leading the Enterprise Program Management Office which has broad responsibility to manage RSHQs multi-year, transformational programs of work spanning data, digital and business change.

Executive Director Occupational Health, Dean Barr

Dean has 20 years’ experience in the private and public sectors including defence and resources. After safely navigating submarines in the Royal Australian Navy, Dean worked in offshore exploration before joining the Queensland Government’s mining policy team in 2011.

From working on major regulatory projects in mining lease applications and land access for coal seam gas development, Dean has since been leading reforms in response to mine dust lung disease from 2016. Focussed on applying these learnings, Dean is working to ensure occupational health harms are detected early, so workers can get support and inform the effectiveness of controls.