Kate Cole OAM is an Australian engineer and occupational hygienist whose work has helped protect the health and safety of construction workers, particularly by controlling respirable crystalline silica or "silica dust".
Cole has a Bachelor of Science (Biotechnology) and Master of Environmental Engineering Management from the University of Technology, a Master of Science (Occupational Hygiene Practice) from the University of Wollongong.
[1] Cole's work was heavily influenced by a Winston Churchill Fellowship in 2016, that investigated best practice approaches to preventing illness and disease in tunnel construction workers in Norway, Switzerland, United Kingdom and the USA.
[6] Cole was named as one of the Top 100 Women of Influence by the Australian Financial Review in 2018[7] and is also one of Science & Technology Australia's Superstars of STEM for 2019–2020.
[9] Cole speaks about preventing silicosis and other silica-related diseases on the ABC radio national.