Joanne Farrell
Chair of Safe Work Australia
Chair of Brightwater Care Group
Advisory Board Member
Joanne Farrell is the current Chair of Safe Work Australia and Chair of Brightwater Care Group. Her non-executive director roles include those with the Royal Flying Doctor Service (Western Operations), Senate of the University of Western Australia, and Deputy Chair of the Queen Elizabeth II Medical Trust. She is a member of the AICD and Chief Executive Women.
Throughout her career Joanne has been active in supporting First Nations capacity building and reconciliation and has been active in many gender equity related organisations along with mentoring women in both the Mining Industry and Not-For-Profit organisations. She was recognised for contributions to gender equity with awards from the Chamber of Minerals and Energy Western Australia, Financial Review’s Women of Influence and Women in Mining International.
Joanne holds qualifications in Psychology, Economics and Executive Management from University of Western Australia, Curtin University, Australian Graduate School of Management (UNSW) and London Business School.
Joanne’s career has included leadership roles in Human Resources, Government and Community Relations, Health, Safety, Security and Environment and Communications. She has worked in most States of Australia, the UK and the USA.
Advisory Board Member
Joanne Farrell is the current Chair of Safe Work Australia and Chair of Brightwater Care Group. Her non-executive director roles include those with the Royal Flying Doctor Service (Western Operations), Senate of the University of Western Australia, and Deputy Chair of the Queen Elizabeth II Medical Trust. She is a member of the AICD and Chief Executive Women.
Throughout her career Joanne has been active in supporting First Nations capacity building and reconciliation and has been active in many gender equity related organisations along with mentoring women in both the Mining Industry and Not-For-Profit organisations. She was recognised for contributions to gender equity with awards from the Chamber of Minerals and Energy Western Australia, Financial Review’s Women of Influence and Women in Mining International.
Joanne holds qualifications in Psychology, Economics and Executive Management from University of Western Australia, Curtin University, Australian Graduate School of Management (UNSW) and London Business School.
Joanne’s career has included leadership roles in Human Resources, Government and Community Relations, Health, Safety, Security and Environment and Communications. She has worked in most States of Australia, the UK and the USA.
Leadership Roles & Achievements
- Advisory Board Member, Mabo Centre
- Chair, Safe Work Australia (February 2022 - present) - Three-year term appointment
- Chair, Brightwater Care Group - Aged care, disability and retirement services provider (WA-based)
- Deputy Chair, Royal Flying Doctor Service (Western Operations) (appointed 2026) - Board member since 2019
- Deputy Chair, Queen Elizabeth II Medical Trust
- Non-Executive Director, Royal Flying Doctor Service (Western Operations) (2019-2026, then Deputy Chair)
- Member, Senate of the University of Western Australia
- Deputy Chair, Brightwater Care Group (April 2022, elevated to Chair)
- Director, Business Council of Australia - Member Economic Policy and Competitiveness Committee; Member Governance and Citizenship Committee
- Director, Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts (PICA)
- Director, Western Australia Museums
- Member, Western Australian State Training Board
- Member, Perth's Central Institute of Technology's Advisory Council
- Special Advisor, Male Champions of Change
- Co-Chair, 2017 B20 Energy, Climate and Resource Efficiency Taskforce
Honours & Awards
- Chamber of Minerals and Energy Western Australia - Women in Resources Champion Award (2012)
- Australian Financial Review and Westpac - 100 Women of Influence (2017)
- Women in Mining International - Recognition for contributions to gender equity
- First female Managing Director Australia in Rio Tinto history (2016)
- First Executive Committee member with safety as discrete accountability unit (2016)
- Appointed Chair of Safe Work Australia - National WHS policy leadership role
- Keynote Speaker, International Mine Health and Safety Conference 2026
Published Works
- Interview: Joanne Farrell - Mining Executive career based on performance on Tough Talk with Jody Rowe
- Interview Transcript: Oral history interview session with Julia Wallis on behalf of the State Library of Western Australia for the Mining and Energy Western Australia (MEWA) Archive