The Culturally Intelligent Safety Professional

Greg Dearsly
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In today’s multi-cultural organisations, cultural intelligence capabilities will be critical to enable health and safety practitioners and professionals to build interpersonal trust with members of the workforce. This podcast provides a platform whereby Safety Professionals can develop a pathway to enhance their cultural intelligence capability, helping them to function effectively when working in a multi-cultural situation.

  1. Oct 13

    CQSP S3E9 Leading through difference: Why CQ needs a PRISM

    This episode is a recorded version of my presentation at the 2026 HASANZ Conference held in Wellington New Zealand on 18th September at Tākina Wellington Convention Centre. The presentation discusses Cultural Intelligence and the emerging PRISM Framework. Three key points discussed in this session are;  How effectively we communicate, influence, lead and engage with the people we work alongside. The PRISM framework introduces five dimensions that help us recognise patterns in how people approach authority, uncertainty, collaboration, decision-making and communication.  Encouragement to be curious, challenge our assumptions and deliberately adapt our approach rather than expecting everyone else to adapt to us. So here's my challenge, the next safety problem you solve may not need another procedure, audit or KPI. It might simply require a better understanding of the people involved. Thanks for listening to The Culturally Intelligent Safety Professional.

  2. Jul 27

    CQSP S3E8 Being good ancestors - Jessie Bourke & Tash Wanoa

    This episode has a slightly different feel from some of your earlier interviews because it is less about cultural theory and more about showing Cultural Intelligence in practice. The strongest recurring messages are: Relationships are established before an emergency, not during one. Māori concepts of wellbeing, manaakitanga and intergenerational thinking provide practical approaches to resilience, not just cultural perspectives. Modern safety leadership is moving from compliance and control toward listening, understanding and empowering people. Technical systems remain essential, but they are most effective when they are built around trust and community. I think this episode will resonate strongly with safety professionals, emergency managers, local government, iwi organisations and anyone interested in leadership during uncertainty. It also reinforces our broader message that Cultural Intelligence is not an optional extra, it is a practical capability that improves safety outcomes.

    CQSP S3E8 Being good ancestors - Jessie Bourke & Tash Wanoa

  3. Jun 29

    CQSP S3E7 The Me Mataara Journey: From Research to Reality with Vance Walker.

    The episode is a follow up from season 2 wehere Vance Walker intorduced Me Mataara. This time we take a look back, find out whats happening now and look to the future. Me Mataara has moved from being an idea to becoming a real-world project, with workers actively contributing data that is beginning to demonstrate the value of bringing culture into everyday health and safety practice. Thje opsiode explores cultural intelligence  and its broad scope, incorporating not only ethnicity but the different experiences, beliefs and perspectives that shape how people recognise risk, make decisions and respond in the workplace. We discuss the importance of communication. Better safety doesn't always require more procedures it often requires clearer language that workers can genuinely understand and connect with. Vance challenged us to think less about proving cultural approaches belong in safety, and more about finding practical ways to embed them into everyday work.

    CQSP S3E7 The Me Mataara Journey: From Research to Reality with Vance Walker.

  4. Jun 15

    CQSP S3E6 - Wanderlust and Gypsy Blood with Eldeen Pozniak

    “In this episode of The Culturally Intelligent Safety Professional, I sit down face-to-face with my good friend and global safety leader, Eldeen Pozniak, while we’re in Bali following the wedding of a colleague. Eldeen shares her remarkable journey from growing up on a farm in rural Canada to working across 33 countries and six continents in health, safety and wellbeing. Together, we explore why technical safety knowledge alone is no longer enough. We discuss the growing importance of emotional intelligence, organizational intelligence, and particularly cultural intelligence in influencing safer outcomes in increasingly diverse workplaces. Eldeen shares practical stories from around the world, moments where cultural misunderstandings created barriers, and where curiosity, empathy and adaptability helped build trust and improve safety outcomes. We also unpack why safety professionals must move beyond compliance and become influential leaders who understand people, power, communication and culture. If you’ve ever wondered how cultural intelligence shapes leadership, worker engagement and safety performance in global workplaces, this conversation is packed with insights and real-world lessons.”

    CQSP S3E6 - Wanderlust and Gypsy Blood with Eldeen Pozniak

  5. Jun 1

    CQSP S3E5 - People, Culture, Safety: The Story Behind My Book.

    In this special episode of The Culturally Intelligent Safety Professional, I do something a little different, I read the introductory chapter of my upcoming book on cultural intelligence and safety. Health and safety professionals work in increasingly diverse environments, yet many of the challenges we face, misunderstandings, reluctance to speak up, different perceptions of risk, communication barriers, and trust, are deeply influenced by culture. In this episode, I explore ten common cultural pain points experienced in safety, introduce the concept of Cultural Intelligence (CQ), and share a personal story about a marae experience that profoundly shaped my understanding of culture, leadership, humility, and learning. Whether you're a safety professional, leader, or someone wanting to better connect across differences, this episode offers a practical and deeply human perspective on why cultural intelligence may be one of the most important capabilities for the future of workplace safety.

  6. May 18

    CQSP S3E4 - Who Gets a Seat at the Table? Pasifika Voices in Governance

    This episode is a bit different. I have provided some context and in the show notes is a link to another podcast I appeared on called Board Talks Off the Cuff which focussed on Pacifika and the challenges faced in pursuing a seat at a governance table. The podcast is sponsored by the Institute of Directors and the link is below.  https://www.iod.org.nz/news/boardroom/podcasts-3/podcast-board-talk-off-the-cuff#/

  7. May 4

    CQSP S3E3 Finding Your Voice: A Gen Z Perspective on Culture, Communication & Belonging with Michelle Nguyen

    In this episode, I spoke with Michelle Nguyen, a Gen Z community development professional originally from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, now building her career in Aotearoa New Zealand. Michelle shares her journey of moving abroad at a young age and navigating her first experiences in Western workplaces where communication is more direct, hierarchy is flatter, and speaking up is expected. Together, we explore how cultural background shapes the way people engage at work, particularly in environments where psychological safety and open dialogue are critical. We discuss the contrast between indirect and direct communication styles, the challenge of finding your voice in a new culture, and the role leaders play in creating environments where diverse perspectives are genuinely heard. Michelle also reflects on her research into leadership communication and employee engagement, highlighting how two-way communication can strengthen connection, trust, and performance. For safety professionals and leaders, this conversation offers practical insight into how cultural intelligence impacts engagement, inclusion, and ultimately safer workplaces. From small everyday moments like sharing food or asking questions, to bigger systemic shifts around voice and belonging, this episode is a reminder that safety is deeply human, and culturally shaped. A thoughtful and honest discussion about identity, adaptation, and what it really takes to create workplaces where everyone feels safe to contribute.

    CQSP S3E3 Finding Your Voice: A Gen Z Perspective on Culture, Communication & Belonging with Michelle Nguyen

  8. Apr 20

    The CQSP S3E2 - What Filipino Storytelling Can Teach Us About Safety with Ned Legaspi

    In this episode I catch up with Ned Legasby, author, CQ Fellow, and former media executive to explore how cultural intelligence (CQ) shapes not just storytelling, but how people experience work, risk, and safety. Ned shares his journey from a 30-year career in media to developing a framework for culturally intelligent storytelling, sparked by a simple but powerful question: Can stories truly resonate across cultures? Through examples from Southeast Asian cinema, including the viral Thai film How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies, Ned unpacks how stories travel, not by becoming more “global,” but by becoming more culturally specific and authentic. The conversation then shifts into the workplace, where Ned helps to connect these ideas to safety practice in culturally diverse environments. Key Takeaways Cultural intelligence is not optional, it’s foundational. Whether in storytelling or safety, understanding how culture shapes behavior is essential. Silence is not disengagement. In Filipino and other collectivist cultures, silence can signal respect, care, or a desire to preserve dignity, not a lack of awareness. Safety is relational, not just individual. Concepts like kapwa (shared identity) shift responsibility from “my safety” to “our safety.” Cultural values influence risk perception. Ideas like bahala na are often misunderstood, what looks like risk tolerance may actually reflect trust, faith, or optimism. Leadership must adapt, not assume. High power distance cultures may not challenge unsafe decisions, placing greater responsibility on leaders to invite input. Storytelling is a powerful safety tool. Stories create understanding where rules and procedures often fail. Final Reflection If we are serious about safety, we must go beyond systems and compliance. We must understand people. Because the difference between compliance and genuine care is often cultural.

    The CQSP S3E2 - What Filipino Storytelling Can Teach Us About Safety with Ned Legaspi
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In today’s multi-cultural organisations, cultural intelligence capabilities will be critical to enable health and safety practitioners and professionals to build interpersonal trust with members of the workforce. This podcast provides a platform whereby Safety Professionals can develop a pathway to enhance their cultural intelligence capability, helping them to function effectively when working in a multi-cultural situation.

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