About NextEra
Creating space to redesign the system for BetterWork
Who We Are
NextEra was founded to help organisations design BetterWork – work that is productive and safe, and that leaves people in a better state than when they arrived.
We partner with boards, leaders and practitioners who know that simply doing more of the old safety isn't enough. Together we create space to rethink how work is designed, led and supported, so safety and performance are woven into everyday decisions.
Our Mission & Vision
BetterWork, BetterLives, BetterWorld
We help organisations move from risk-averse, compliance-only approaches to risk-capable, human-centred systems. That means:
- Understanding how work is really done, not just how it's imagined on paper
- Learning from everyday success, not just from adverse events
- Designing with workers, not just for them
- Creating conditions where people can adapt safely and productively
From Hunting Broken Parts to Growing What Works
Traditional safety often asks “What failed?” and “Who is to blame?”. It focuses on deviations, broken parts and tightening controls.
At NextEra, we start from a different place:
- What's working and why?
- What helps and what hinders critical functions?
- How do people adapt every day to keep work on track?
We Focus on BetterWork:
- Growing capacity, not just fixing problems
- Seeing adaptation and risk as sources of insight, not just threats
- Starting from appreciative inquiry, grounded in the realities of everyday work
Our work is grounded in contemporary safety thinking and Human and Organisational Performance (HOP) principles – recognising that context drives behaviour, human error is normal, and how leadership responds truly matters.
The NextEra Compass
To navigate this journey, we use the NextEra Compass – four directions that shape how we work with you:
Engage
Consulting & Assurance
Understanding your current system, context and challenges.
Enable
Strategic Talent & Leadership
Building leadership, talent and structures that support BetterWork.
Equip
Learning Re-imagined
Building practical skills and tools grounded in real work.
Effect
Research & Design
Research, design and iterate to embed BetterWork over time.
Our Origins and Diane's Role Today
NextEra was originally founded by a group of practitioners who wanted to challenge traditional, compliance-only safety and bring contemporary, human-centred approaches to life.
Today, Diane Ah-Chan leads NextEra and continues to shape its direction and partnerships.
- Co-founder and Director of NextEra
- Background in HR, safety and risk management across multiple sectors
- Experienced in governance, strategy, organisational change and safety systems
- Passionate about evolving how organisations think about people, risk and work
Earlier co-founders played an important role in shaping NextEra's early thinking, values and brand. While they are no longer in the business day-to-day, their contribution to the foundations of NextEra is recognised in how we continue to work, learn and partner with others.
How We Collaborate
We don't work from a scarcity mindset. We believe many organisations and practitioners are ready to make the journey – they often just need help understanding how to get from here to there.
We:
- Create space to listen and understand your context
- Co-design practical steps that fit your reality
- Partner with others in the eco-system where it adds value
- Focus on building capability, not dependency