Samantha Edwards
Principal Consultant, Sydney
Samantha Edwards is passionate about helping organisations to develop effective solutions to complex workplace issues and to build positive, ethical workplaces. With substantial experience in employment law and in-house workplace relations roles, Samantha has a deep understanding of workplace relations as well as a genuine curiosity for people and the causes of workplace conflict. She specialises in conducting robust workplace investigations as well as understanding and resolving workplace conflict and dysfunction through workplace reviews and mediation.
Samantha holds qualifications in law and HR, and after completing university, worked as an Associate to Justice Moore of the Federal Court of Australia. As a workplace relations advisor and manager, she has led negotiations for enterprise agreements, advised on the interpretation of industrial instruments, provided advice on terminations, poor performance, restructures and redundancies, managed workplace disputes, and developed frameworks for risk management and legislative, for employers within the FMCG, labour hire and retail industries.
Samantha has over 15 years’ experience in workplace relations and investigations, having worked in legislative development/policy, corporate workplace relations roles and as an external investigator and consultant.
Samantha has managed numerous complex investigations as both an internal and external investigator, for employers within the private and public sectors, as well as not for profit entities. Her investigation experience spans the full gamut of workplace issues including sexual harassment, bullying, fraud, victimisation, discrimination, professional conduct and safety, including investigations involving multiple parties, external reporting obligations and managing multiple internal and external stakeholders.
Samantha is skilled at conducting workplace reviews and critical incident reviews, quickly grasping complex situations to identify underlying and systemic root causes. Bringing her depth of experience in both workplace relations and HR, and a genuine curiosity for people and the causes of workplace conflict, she is recognised for providing valuable insights and practical, sustainable solutions to build positive, ethical workplaces.
Samantha was also involved in the development of the modern award system and Fair Work legislation, and has an intimate knowledge of the regulatory and compliance frameworks navigated by employers.
