Who we are

Our team of expert trainers have exceptional people skills and an enthusiasm for teaching and learning.

As experienced lawyers and , our trainers enjoy sharing their experience on how to conduct fair investigations.
or and arm your team with confidence to tackle the complex issues that arise during an investigation. Or arrange for us to conduct at your workplace.
Get in touch

Meet your trainers

Paula Hoctor

Founder
Q Workplace Training

Belinda Copley

Workplace Investigator Practice Leader (Qld)

Kerryn Tredwell

Workplace Investigator
Practice Leader (NSW, Vic & SA)
experienced lawyers and workplace investigators - Q Workplace Training

Kyleigh Hindson

Workplace Investigator Practice Leader (Qld)

Corlia Fernandes

Workplace Investigator

Susan Forder

Workplace Investigator

Diana Knight

Workplace Investigator

Sarah Hill

Workplace Investigator & Training Specialist

2nd Edition

Workplace Investigations: Principles and Practice

Own the essential guide for HR professionals, employment lawyers and workplace investigators. Edited by Paula Hoctor and Kerryn Treadwell.

Buy now

Paula Hoctor

Founder,  Q Workplace Training

BA LLB (Hons) LLM

The Specialist. The Leader. The Expert.

Leader in the field.

Paula Hoctor is a highly skilled, legally trained and exceptionally experienced workplace investigations specialist. Ten years’ experience as a legal practitioner primarily with Herbert Smith Freehills specialising in employment law has ensured national acknowledgement for Paula as a leader in this domain. Paula regularly conducts investigations and prepares findings of fact in relation to allegations of conflict of interest, harassment and bullying, sexual harassment, fraud, assault, discrimination and other misconduct. Paula also sits on the advisory committee of the Australasian Association of Workplace Investigators (AAWI).

Public and private sector experience.

Paula’s investigations scope an extensive range of both private and public sector clients within Australia including health, higher education and financial services. National law firms such as Minter Ellison, Clayton Utz, Corrs Chambers Westgarth, Herbert Smith Freehills and Ashurst regularly appoint Paula to conduct workplace investigations for their clients. As Principal of Q Workplace Solutions, Paula leads a national team of highly experienced workplace investigators.

Training specialist.

Paula is a specialist in providing practical workplace investigations training to those conducting investigations and those managing investigations.  An engaging and experienced trainer, Paula has a passion for sharing her knowledge with other professionals on conducting fair investigations, including fair treatment of participants.

A co-editor of the market-leading text, Workplace Investigations: Principles and Practice, 2nd edition (LexisNexis Butterworths 2023), Paula is regularly called on to provide training to law firms, private and public sector employers, and present at industry conferences including the Australian Human Resources Institute, AAWI and the Bar Association of Queensland.

Belinda Copley

Workplace Investigator
Practice Leader (Qld)

LLB (Hons) BBus (InternatBus)
GradDip Legal Practice
Cert IV Training and Assessment
LLM (Continuing)

Accomplished Investigator. Broad Experience.

Accomplished Investigator.

An accomplished and experienced employment and workplace relations lawyer, Belinda Copley has spent over 15 years advising on and conducting workplace investigations. Prior to joining Q Workplace Solutions, Belinda’s experience has involved advising on an expansive range of workplace issues including unfair dismissal, discrimination, sexual harassment, bullying, victimisation, allegations of employee misconduct and adverse action claims. Belinda’s sensitive approach ensures sustainable and ongoing working relationships. As a skilled writer and published author, Belinda has also written articles and opinion pieces on aspects of workplace investigations and employee relations.

Facilitating learning through broad experience.

As an experienced trainer, Belinda is able to translate her broad industry experience into practical know-how when conducting workshops for Q Workplace Solutions. Belinda has an engaging facilitation style, and the ability to impart her expert knowledge through the use of real-world examples. She creates stimulating learning experiences, and encourages high-quality group participation, enhancing the learning experience of participants.

Kerryn Tredwell

Workplace Investigator
Practice Leader (NSW, Vic & SA)

BA LLB (Hons)

Employment Law Expert. Trusted Professional.

Employment Law Expert.

An employment and labour law specialist, Kerryn Tredwell brings over two decades of legal experience, expertise and skill to conducting often highly sensitive workplace investigations for Q Workplace Solutions.

As a dedicated workplace investigations specialist, Kerryn draws on her background as Senior Associate and Partner in leading national and international law firms, where she managed numerous legal claims for clients including sexual harassment, discrimination, unfair dismissal and general protections. Kerryn’s experience spans industries ranging from financial services, insurance and technology to transport, manufacturing, health, film and media, for public and private sector clients.

Experienced Trainer and Presenter.

Kerryn has been described as an engaging and knowledgeable facilitator, and has conducted many training seminars across her career, including masterclasses in workplace investigations for Q Workplace Solutions. A skilled speaker and presenter, and never short of a war story or two, Kerryn is highly sought-after and has spoken at events and conferences across Australia including the Australasian Association of Workplace Investigators national conference.

experienced lawyers and workplace investigators - Q Workplace Training

Kyleigh Hindson

Workplace Investigator

Practice Leader (Qld)

LLB (Hons)

Superior Investigation Skills. Results Oriented.

A valued member of Q Workplace Solutions since 2014, Kyleigh Hindson offers clients her expertise accumulated over two decades of conducting thorough, fair and reliable workplace investigations.

During this time, Kyleigh has conducted countless investigations and reviews for a broad range of global and national private sector organisations as well as federal, state and local public sector entities. Investigations are conducted meticulously, sensitively and fairly and include highly complex and large-scale issues across many industries such as mining, health, education, construction, professional services, banking and finance. Kyleigh’s significant workplace investigation experience includes sexual harassment, bullying, discrimination, conflicts of interest and misuse of resources.

Prior to joining Q Workplace Solutions, Kyleigh was a consultancy director for almost a decade and appeared as a litigation lawyer across several jurisdictions in both the public and private sectors. Kyleigh has significant experience in the gathering and presentation of evidence and provided advice and representation across a broad range of matters including commercial and workplace disputes, criminal prosecutions, mining, native title, property, land, tenure and administrative law.

Multi-skilled, commercially astute and professionally driven, Kyleigh is renowned for her ability to deliver objective and comprehensive investigations for Q Workplace Solutions’ clients.

Corlia Fernandes

Workplace Investigator

BA LLB (Hons) MBA

The Big Picture. Knowledge in Practice.

Talented Achiever. Proven Ability.

A specialist in her field, Corlia Fernandes has been involved in managing, conducting or overseeing workplace investigations for over 18 years. An acknowledged authority on employment law, industrial and employee relations and human resource management, Corlia has valuable expertise in a broad range of investigative matters such as equal employment, discrimination, disciplinary and dismissal issues, and intensive reviews of internal human resource systems, structures and procedures.

The Big Picture. Knowledge in Practice.

During her impressive career, Corlia has worked extensively in people management practices in the Australian resources sector, focusing on the productivity of employer and employee relationships. Corlia’s broad senior executive level organizational knowledge is supplemented by her top tier legal experience in managing workplace related matters pertaining to employees.

Astute Educator.

In addition to her industry experience, Corlia trained in her early years as a university lecturer, and is an accomplished speaker and adult educator. Corlia has conducted numerous training seminars and workshops on workplace investigations throughout her time with Q Workplace Solutions, including one-day seminars to clients from varied industries and ad hoc training requested by employers, including in the financial services and transport sectors. Corlia is also regularly called on to present at industry conferences such as the 2019 Australasian Association of Workplace Investigators Conference in Sydney.

Susan Forder

Workplace Investigator
BA(Hons) JD(Hons)

Skilled Investigator. Valuable Insight.

Broad Experience. Sensitive Approach.

Susan Forder’s impressive experience as an investigator spans a broad range of matters, from conflicts of interest, misconduct and breaches of competition and consumer law to discrimination, bullying and sexual harassment. Susan specialises in large-scale, complex and detailed investigations requiring sensitivity and insight, particularly those involving vulnerable interviewees.

Industry Knowledge in Practice.

A former barrister specialising in commercial, workplace and administrative law, Susan has conducted investigations for numerous employers in both the public and private sector, including mining and resources companies, financial services, and the telecommunications industry. Susan’s tenure at Crown Law offered her the opportunity to gain valuable employment law experience advising and assisting numerous government departments in relation to workplace relations matters, including in health and education.

Talented Trainer.

A skilled communicator, Susan also has an extensive background in adult education and training. Susan was employed as a sessional tutor in legal studies at the University of Queensland during her time as a lawyer. At the invitation of the Queensland Law Society Susan provided a series of continuing professional development training sessions to the legal industry and its clients. Susan’s enthusiastic and knowledgeable training sessions are highly regarded by clients of Q Workplace Solutions.

Diana Knight

Workplace Investigator
BA(Hons) JD(Hons)

Experienced Trainer. Accomplished Investigator.

Accomplished and Experienced.
Diana is a specialist investigator, accomplished conflict resolution practitioner, and experienced educator. Prior to joining Q Workplace Solutions, Diana was a senior investigator and conciliator at the ACT Human Rights Commission. Diana has had more than 11 years’ experience understanding conflict, conducting complex and sensitive investigations, and resolving complaints. Through her work, she has gained valuable experience and insight across a range of industries.

Specialised and Skilled Trainer
Diana has extensive experience leading workshops and training courses attended by a diversity of industry professionals, across public and private sectors and community-based organisations. She has delivered workshops addressing discrimination, harassment and bullying, managing complaints processes and investigations, and resolution and mediation skills. Diana’s workshops on specialist topics such as, culturally responsive investigation strategies, dealing with challenges in complaints handling, and working with people experiencing vulnerabilities have been well-received.

Hands-on and Facilitative Educator
Diana takes theory and knowledge and translates it to experience and practice. She is a facilitative and discussion-based trainer, and designs activities to help her learners experiment, try new skills, and see what works. Diana’s workshop participants gain skills and strategies they can customise and immediately use at their workplaces.

Diana’s foundations as a university lecturer and tutor have given her the specialist skills to deliver quality adult learning and teaching. She is an accomplished mediator, conciliator, conflict coach and mentor. She enjoys sharing her own challenges and war stories and invites others to share theirs.

Sarah Hill

Workplace Investigator & Training Specialist

LLB (Hons)

Understanding. Consultative. Passionate.

Industry Experience and a deep understanding
Having spent ten years as a legal practitioner (primarily with Herbert Smith Freehills), Sarah has an in-depth comprehension of workplace challenges and incidents. In 2013, Sarah commenced working exclusively as a workplace investigation specialist for Q Workplace Solutions; handling complex and highly sensitive investigations for public and private sector clients.
Delivering effective workplace training starts with a deep understanding of workplace dynamics and people culture. Sarah’s legal and workplace investigation background and her wide experience in dealing with a variety of stakeholders in challenging environments, provides her with a wealth of practical knowledge to understand the training needs of your individual business.

High Demand for Training
Sarah has returned to Q Workplace Solutions to manage the high demand for our in-house, tailored and public training workshops, and to ensure our public resources continually exceed best industry standards.

Passionate about Training
Sarah is passionate about workplace training, and strongly believes in a pragmatic approach to helping businesses develop their front-line managers and leaders. When it comes to training programs, Sarah is driven to ensure Q Workplace Solutions meets the particular needs of participants and seeks to understand the culture and objectives of your organisation when delivering bespoke programs. Our training workshops are expertly developed to create an open and safe place where participants can put forward ideas, learn from the trainer and other peers.