Throughout this week, The Central App is celebrating International Women’s Day by featuring one amazing woman from our community each day, highlighting their unique journeys and contributions.

Health and safety consultant Sarah Thomas reflects on over a decade in heavy industry while advocating for female representation in leadership for International Women's Day.

Sarah founded her consultancy, Be Safe Now!, in 2011 as a sole practitioner, and in the early days, she often found herself being the only woman and the youngest person in the room. She built credibility by getting out on site and developing deep technical knowledge of safety legislation and guidelines. "Earning credibility requires balance," Sarah said. She aimed to be approachable and human, yet uncompromising in professional standards. Today, Sarah continues her work at locations ranging from Moke Lake to Roxburgh and Dunedin.

She now uses her voice with confidence to help open doors for other women. Her primary advice to women in leadership is to stop waiting to feel ready. Sarah believes that clarity and courage are more important than gaining another certificate or course. "Confidence is often the differentiator, not competence," she said. She encourages women to invest in building strong professional networks from day one. For Sarah, a major career milestone involved delivering a nationwide webinar for the New Zealand Institute of Safety Management. This opportunity followed an intensive leadership programme in the United Kingdom. Sarah was mentored by Trish Kerin, a leading figure in Australian health and safety.

She is passionate about seeing genuine female influence in boardrooms and industry working groups. Sarah believes that when women are present, conversations broaden and risks are considered more holistically. Equity leads to stronger decisions and better outcomes for everyone. "Representation matters because it shapes perceptions of risk," she said.

Despite still being in the minority in some rooms, Sarah continues to pull up a chair. She recharges in the Central Otago backcountry to stay grounded as she pursues her mission of safer workplaces.