About Trish Kerin
Trish Kerin is an award-winning engineer, keynote speaker, and respected authority on process safety leadership and Professional Safety Coach. She is widely recognised for challenging the status quo in how organisations think about, lead, and govern process safety and material risk.
Through her work, Trish focuses on strengthening leadership capability in high-hazard industries, helping organisations move beyond compliance toward a deeper understanding of how people, systems, and culture interact to shape safety outcomes. Her approach bridges technical rigour with human-centred leadership, grounded in real-world experience across complex, high-risk environments.
Leadership in Process Safety
As the inaugural Director of the IChemE Safety Centre, Trish played a pivotal role in shaping global thinking on process safety leadership. Her work spans industry, government, and academia, where she continues to influence how organisations build safer, more resilient systems.
Trish has represented industry on numerous government committees and advisory boards, including NOPSEMA and the Mary Kay O’Connor Process Safety Center steering committee at Texas A&M University. She currently serves as Chair of the WorkSafe Victoria Major Hazards Advisory Committee.
Professional Background
- Chartered Engineer and Professional Process Safety Engineer
- Fellow of IChemE and Engineers Australia
- Senior Member of AIChE
- Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety
- Master of Leadership
- Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors
- Professional Safety Coach of the Institute of Safety Coaching and Leadership
Recognition and Awards
Trish is a Founding Member of the Institute for Safety Coaching and Leadership and has received multiple industry awards recognising her contribution to process safety, leadership, and engineering, including:
- John A Brodie Medal, Engineers Australia (2015)
- Trevor Kletz Merit Award, Mary Kay O’Connor Process Safety Center (2018)
- Women in Safety Network – Inaugural Leader of the Year (2022)
- Science and Technology Australia “Superstars of STEM” (2023/24)
- AZBEES – ASBPE Awards of Excellence Bronze Award for Technical Article (2023)
- Jesse H. Neal Award for Best Podcast (2025)
Thought Leadership and Media
Trish is the co-host of the award-winning podcast Process Safety with Trish and Traci, where she shares stories, insights, and practical lessons from leaders across the global process safety community.
The podcast has received industry recognition, including the Jesse H. Neal Award for Best Podcast (2025) and finalist recognition at the Eddie Awards (2024). In addition to the podcast, Trish writes the Stay Safe column for Chemical Processing magazine and is a frequent guest speaker on other industry podcasts, contributing regularly to conversations on process safety leadership and learning.
Purpose
At the heart of Trish’s work is a simple belief: people have a right to go home safely from work. Everything she does – speaking, coaching, writing, and collaboration – is grounded in improving real-world safety outcomes.