Set up in September 2014, HASANZ is an umbrella body for 10 organisations, including the New Zealand Institute of Safety Management and the New Zealand Safety Council and works to raise professional standards. The organisation plans to launch the country's first online register of OSH professionals, which aims to provide businesses with improved access to reliable OSH advice.
Aldridge is the former chief executive of InfraTrain New Zealand, which provides industrial training for the civil infrastructure sector. He will be responsible for managing HASANZ's operations and implementing its business strategy.
While he was head of InfraTrain, Aldridge led the Built Environment Training Alliance, which was closely involved in building capability and workforce training for the Christchurch rebuild, after the 2011 earthquake.
"My work in the Christchurch rebuild in the high-risk infrastructure construction industry brought home to me the importance of health and safety," he said.
Aldridge takes up the HASANZ position on 12 February.
