ABOUT US​

Guard Safety is certified and qualified, member of IOSH and NZISM, providing practical help with the NZ Health and Safety Act for the maritime and primary industries. Guard Safety was formed in August 2015.

Darren Guard

Darren Guard

Owner

NZISM Executive member
Member of IOSH and NZISM
Holder of the NEBOSH International General Certificate (Distinction Pass)
Holder of Offshore Masters Certificate (NZOM)

Darren Guard was introduced to fishing at a very young age due to his family being “in the business” – Guard Fishing. He worked his way up the business from crew to skipper to Managing Director. Darren spent 20 years in the family business and comments they never had a serious accident which he puts that down to competence and experience, of family and crew.

In 2005 Maritime New Zealand and the Seafood Industry Training Organisation (SITO) asked Darren to help them deliver FishSAFE, their safety training programme for commercial fishing vessels. 70 workshops were held for 1000 fishers, which led to a 51% reduction in new accident claims during the period of its lifecycle. While at Maritime New Zealand Darren studied and gained an Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) qualification among other studies.

Darren’s involved in safety because he’s seen so many people in the industry he knows injured or killed at sea, and feels “it just doesn’t have to be that way.” In 2012 he was employed by Sealord Group Limited as the Health and Safety Manager for Harvesting Operations (the fishing fleet). Through this role Darren continued his association with the fishing industry driving safety initiatives; working alongside crew and shore based personnel alike to ensure that “everyone can go home safe at the end of the day”.

Shalaine started her career in the Market Research industry in roles leading the design, management and delivery of actionable business insights to multinational clients.

Her roles have encompassed that of Researcher, Project Manager and Client Liaison in the end to end process management of projects across various industries.

Shalaine creates business efficiencies through systems, management tools, process improvement and implementation. She is passionate about people, problem solving and working collaboratively with others to create better processes / services / products / business solutions.

Shalaine Jackson

Shalaine Jackson

Business Manager

MA Psychology
BSocSci Hons Psychology
BA Psychology & Criminology

Karyn byrom gradnzism

Health and safety practitioner

NZISM-Graduate Member
NZQA-Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety
New Zealand Direct Marketing Certificate
NZIM Certificate in Supervisory Management

Karyn Byrom started her working life at Wellington Hospital initially as a darkroom technician in the Photography Department and latterly as a Medical Photographer in the Wellington Clinical School of Medicine.  The first ever photo she printed was of a pair of feet following a lawn mower accident, never at that time would she envisage how much safety would become part of her future career.

Moving to Nelson she took a change in career path and for many years was involved in administration roles in both the electrical and mussel processing industry, the latter which brought her to work at Sealord.  During her 16 years at Sealord her interest in health and safety and the right for everyone to be safe developed further. Initially she become a Health and Safety Representative and progressively moved up to a Health and Safety Advisor role for the Sealord fleet.

Karyn has undertaken Health and Safety Representatives training, completed National Health and Safety Certificates and completed her Diploma of Occupational Health and Safety (Level 6) and is a Graduate Member of the New Zealand Institute of Safety Management (NZISM). 

Paul is an experienced HSE professional with more than 30 years’ extensive international experience in the maritime and petrochemical industries including roles as Marine Superintendent, Engineering Manager, Fleet Safety Manager, Project Manager and Surveyor.

Paul is a Ship Master and Mechanical Engineer by trade and began his career at 17 in the Merchant Navy.

Paul also has extensive health, safety and environmental regulatory experience and was Principal Maritime Safety Auditor for Maritime New Zealand.

Paul Hudson

Paul Hudson

Operational Specialist (Health and Safety)

Registered Health and Safety Practitioner with the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH)
NEBOSH International General Certificate in International Health and Safety (IGC)
Registered Incorporated Engineer (Institute of Engineering and Technology)
Member of the Nautical Institute

Courtney Smith

Operations coordinator

Certificate in Business Administration

Courtney grew up in Nelson and has been involved in the fishing industry for over 8 years. Courtney began her career working part time for a local quota broker as an Office Contractor which led to working full time for one of the larger fishing companies where she remained for over 6 years.

Courtney moved into a vessel Health and Safety Administrator role and finally worked her way into the Human Resources team as the Recruitment Manager for deep sea.

Courtney has undertaken Health & Safety Representative Training and holds a Certificate in Business Administration from NMIT. Courtney brings her impeccable organisation skills and excellent customer service to the dynamic team.

He first went to sea from New Zealand on British Reefer ships then went on to sail with the Union Steam Ship Company. Following his sailing adventures Gary joined the New Zealand Fishing Industry where he moved from being a seagoing engineer to fleet management.

Over his career Gary has worked for a diverse range of industry companies: Sealord, Skeggs, Sanford, Independent Fisheries and Moana Pacific Fisheries. At Moana Pacific he served as the Southern Region Manager then spent six years as the Northern Operations Manager and Chatham Island Manager.

Gary managed the FishSAFE training program and more recently has been a Maritime Officer at Maritime New Zealand where he became well versed in MOSS.

Gary is also an Approved Person able to survey under 6 metre fishing vessels. He brings extensive experience in vessel operation, management and safety to the company.

Gary-Levy

Gary Levy

Gary Levy is a qualified Ships Engineer with many years of sea service behind him and an asset to Guard Safety as their Maritime Specialist.

Domonic Venz

Maritime Compliance Specialist

Lead Auditor Cert (ISO/ISM)
NZOM
MSDFV

Domonic is an experienced maritime professional with more than 30 years domestic experience in the fishing and offshore sectors in New Zealand.

He holds commercial maritime qualifications as well as lead auditor accreditation. He has extensive experience investigating serious events to understand and help prevent reoccurrence.

Domonic went to sea at 17 in the deep-sea fishing sector and has worked on a wide range of deep sea, coastal and inshore fishing vessels over the last 35 years. He also has been Master of ROV vessels around New Zealand.

He has specialist health, safety and regulatory experience and was an Auditor, Investigator and Manager for Maritime New Zealand.

We'll show you how Simple Health & Safety Can Be

Guard Safety offer health and safety services for all New Zealand workplaces, both land and sea based.  Effective, simple, compliant workplace health and safety.