Specialties & Experience
General Specialties:
Health and Safety
Specialty Focus:
Work and traffic related and personal Injuries
Education:
Graduate Certificate in Safety Leadership – Griffith University Diploma in Project Management – Varsity College B.Sc. (Hons) Chemistry – Nelson Mandela University EOQ Certified Lead Auditor – European Organisation of Quality Australia WHS Laws (Chartered Institute Certification) Human & Organisational Performance Master Coach
Years in Practice:
25
Number of cases in the last 4 years:
12
Additional Information
René van der Merwe is an expert WHS consultant and former executive with over 25 years' experience spanning high-risk, heavily regulated industries across Australia and internationally. Her background includes senior roles with Qantas, Maersk, Uniting, and Goodyear, where she led major incident investigations, enforceable undertakings, and enterprise risk programs.
As Director of Pro‑Act Safety & Risk Consulting, René provides independent expert witness services to law firms, insurers, and government agencies in matters involving personal injury, serious incidents, fatalities, and systemic WHS failures. She is skilled in applying investigation and root cause methodologies to assess causation, compliance, and the adequacy of risk controls.
René brings a uniquely holistic approach, drawing on both operational and board-level insight to deliver clear, objective and legally defensible reports and testimony. She has acted in matters involving public and private duty holders, contractor models, transport and logistics CoR, slips/trips/falls, workplace fatalities, and child injury/drowning cases.
René is based in Sydney and available for matters nationwide.
As Director of Pro‑Act Safety & Risk Consulting, René provides independent expert witness services to law firms, insurers, and government agencies in matters involving personal injury, serious incidents, fatalities, and systemic WHS failures. She is skilled in applying investigation and root cause methodologies to assess causation, compliance, and the adequacy of risk controls.
René brings a uniquely holistic approach, drawing on both operational and board-level insight to deliver clear, objective and legally defensible reports and testimony. She has acted in matters involving public and private duty holders, contractor models, transport and logistics CoR, slips/trips/falls, workplace fatalities, and child injury/drowning cases.
René is based in Sydney and available for matters nationwide.