Our Team
Rae coburn
I live on a small lifestyle block with my firefighter husband and 2 darling boys. We have a lot of chickens, some goats, a pony and a couple of cats. Whilst I grew up in rural North Canterbury I spent a few years after uni working in Sydney enjoying the hustle and bustle of the city life. My time there saw me working in IT and outsourced business services management. It was there that I got my first taste of health and safety when I took on a coordination role for the multi-national company I was working for. Back in NZ after the birth of my first son I have been involved in business management in the hospitality, tourism and primary produce industries.
I love getting outdoors, pottering about on our land, hanging out with my chooks, going hiking - but I also enjoy a good book snuggled up in the sun or in front of the fire. I've kept up with my studies since graduating from uni with Commerce and Sociology degrees and have studied post graduate health and safety as well as health promotion. My thirst for learning has yet to abate!
I'm a bit of an organiser and I like to help out where I can so I've channelled some of this passion into various local community groups such as junior rugby, sport promotion, early childhood education, where I've served in various roles.
My experience has taught me that working together is the best way to promote safe and healthy workplaces and I'm keen to help other business owners and managers to engage with their teams too.
lou ochsner
I am happiest when I'm in my garden with my boys. My husband and I are currently working on an 'Extreme Makeover - garden edition' at our place in South Canterbury! Our two young sons are our helpers.
Other weekend activities include bike riding and exploring the local landscape, sharing our love of the outdoors with our boys.
My career beginnings were in the adventure tourism industry - bungy jumping, rafting and rock-climbing my days away for almost a decade...but the time came when I had to get a haircut & get a real job (literally had to cut off my dreads!). I re-trained as an Amenity gardener and a new career in landscaping followed. When I took a summer contract building back-country tracks on Mt. Ruapehu for Dept. of Conservation, I met my husband. Our central North Island romance moved location to the South Island nine years ago &, two kids later, we both agree we will never go back!
My aspirations shifted three years ago when I began studying towards a Diploma in Health & Safety. I gained business knowledge and skills through my admin job and other voluntary work, the whole package leading to a business partnership with Rae.
The culture of a workplace is really important, this is where we like to focus our discussions. Everyone needs to be involved, everyone needs to care. We hope to inspire others to improve their practices so that NZ's workplace injury statistics improve.
