Throughout my career, I have learned that the gap between work as imagined and work as done is rarely about people failing. More often, it reflects the complexity, constraints and trade-offs that exist in every organisation.
Understanding that gap has shaped my approach to risk management. Rather than simply asking whether procedures were followed, I focus on understanding the conditions people worked within, the decisions they faced, and how organisations can learn and improve.
Learning from work as done, not just work as imagined.
35+
Years of practical experience
Global
Trusted internationally
Independent
Strategic risk advisor
High Consequence
Where decisions matter
THE CAREER
Learning from complexity.
Every industry has its own challenges, constraints and competing priorities. Yet one lesson has remained constant. Better decisions come from understanding work as it is actually performed, not simply as it was imagined.
That perspective has shaped every stage of my career. Whether advising boards, supporting major productions, investigating incidents or working alongside operational teams, I have learned that meaningful risk management begins with curiosity, context and understanding before judgement.
Influences.
Dr Todd Conkin
Human performance.
Professor Erik Hollnagel
Resilience.
Professor Sidney Dekker
Relationships matter.
EXPERIENCE ACROSS SECTORS
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Boards & Executive Advisory
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Government & Public Sector
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Independent Investigations
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Inquests & Legal Advisory
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Television, Film & Media
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Major Events & Entertainment
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Marine & Maritime
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Sport & Recreation
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Emergency Management
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Healthcare
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Education
Michael Tooma
Due diligence.
Independent when it matters most.
Clients don't engage me to confirm what they already believe. They engage me to ask difficult questions, challenge assumptions and provide independent advice grounded in evidence, operational context and professional judgement.