New NT WorkSafe chief appointed

Following an extensive merit selection process, Ms Peggy Cheong has been appointed as the Executive Director of NT WorkSafe. Ms Cheong has been fulfilling the role in an interim capacity since June.

Ms Cheong is a long term Territorian, having lived in Darwin since early 1988 and brings with her decades of substantial experience in the Northern Territory legal sector, particularly in areas related to occupational work health and safety, workers compensation, and employment law. She has worked extensively with various Northern Territory Government Departments, handled large legal matters, and managed people at different levels.

Ms Cheong is an accredited mediator and has been a long-term member of the Workers Rehabilitation and Compensation Advisory Committee and was the Deputy Chair of this Committee prior to joining NT WorkSafe.

Ms Cheong brings extensive experience in the regulation and compliance area, having been a long-time member and current president of the Council of the Law Society of the Northern Territory, which is a regulatory and member services organisation for the local profession. For many years of her involvement with the Law Society, Ms Cheong has chaired and continues to chair the Ethics Committee that deals with regulatory and compliance issues and conduct complaints.

Ms Cheong has a strong community focus and is a board member of the Darwin Community Legal Services Inc., and a volunteer at Top End Women’s Legal Service.

As she continues to take the helm of one of the Territory’s key regulatory agencies, Ms Cheong seeks to ensure NT WorkSafe delivers its mission of achieving better work health and safety outcomes in the Territory.

“We will continue to focus on our priority industry sectors and risk areas, and implement the activities outlined in our five-year Strategic Plan.”

“With the current shortage of workers in the Territory, I’m also particularly keen on ensuring NT WorkSafe operates in full capacity and has all the resources needed to undertake these actions that are crucial in keeping all Territory workplaces safe.”