AGENDA

All times in ET

• 8:15 AM

  Registration and breakfast

• 9:00 AM

  Opening remarks from chairperson

  

  Jimmy Vassilopoulos

  Director National Health and Safety
  Purolator

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  Jimmy Vassilopoulos

  Director National Health and Safety
  Purolator

  Jimmy Vassilopoulos is the current National H&S Director for Purolator. With over 20 years of H&S experience he specializes in Behaviour Based Safety, Risk Control and Transportation Safety in the courier industry. Jimmy is currently leading Purolator through a transformational advancement in risk control through a highly customized defensive driving training program and strategic initiatives to reinforce safe behaviour through technology. Many of these initiatives are being applied to both drivers as well as inside manual employees. Since Jimmy started with Purolator in 2022, the organization has experienced a record year in safety metrics.

  Prior Purolator, Jimmy lead the H&S department for UPS Canada for 12 years and previous to that worked as a H&S lead in Europe for various industries such as transportation, hospitality and leisure. He is currently involved projects using AI and predictive analytics to control risk for next generation safety initiatives.

• 9:05 AM

  Keynote: Addressing safety challenges arising from the largest transportation expansion in North American history

  

  Martin Gallagher

  Chief Operating Officer (GO Transit and UP Express) & Chief Safety and Security Officer
  Metrolinx

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  Martin Gallagher

  Chief Operating Officer (GO Transit and UP Express) & Chief Safety and Security Officer
  Metrolinx

  As Chief Operating Officer for GO Transit and the Union Pearson (UP) Express, Martin ensures the delivery of approximately fifteen thousand weekly rail and bus services to customers all over the GTHA. This includes the operation of stations and facilities across eight rail corridors and thirty-two bus routes encompassing four different rail and bus fleets with nearly one hundred locomotive engines, one thousand rail coaches and nearly five hundred GO Bus vehicles being operated and maintained daily. This includes responsibility for an annual ridership of 70 million customers across the network and over three thousand staff supporting or delivering the frontline operation. In addition to this, in the combined role of Chief Operating and Chief Safety Officer Martin has oversight of enterprise safety, including the largest capital expansion program in North America.

  Martin chaired the United Nations expert committee on Rail Operations and Safety from 2014 and spent over ten years as National Head of Safety for Network Rail in the UK where he oversaw the organizational transformation to become rated by The European Rail Agency (ERA) as the safest rail company in Europe. He has also worked in Japan, Australia, Norway, Switzerland, Italy, France, Finland, and New Zealand.

  Martin has a Bachelor of Science (Hons) and a Master of Science in Safety and Risk Management. He is certified in engineering safety management, construction safety, construction design management and safety management systems.

• 9:40 AM

  Panel: Leveraging the latest technology: Role of artificial intelligence, connected wearable technologies, and smart robots

  Safety professionals are looking to leverage the latest technology as its use can help prevent injuries and allow for the early detection and prediction of anomalies that can lead to safety incidents. However, despite its potential, significant barriers exist to the effective adoption of new technologies in the workplace. This session will examine emerging technologies and best practices for how to prepare for future trends. 

  • Best practices for using AI to streamline and automate safety tasks such as hazard and incident reporting, safety inspections, and risk assessments 
  • Using latest developments for enhancing safety communication 
  • Predictive-based safety: How AI technology can be used to support predictive analytics 
  • Advancements in wearable devices and smart robots: risks and rewards 
  • Maximizing the value of safety data: role of data analytics 

  Moderator

  

  Jimmy Vassilopoulos

  Director National Health and Safety
  Purolator

  ×

  

  Jimmy Vassilopoulos

  Director National Health and Safety
  Purolator

  Jimmy Vassilopoulos is the current National H&S Director for Purolator. With over 20 years of H&S experience he specializes in Behaviour Based Safety, Risk Control and Transportation Safety in the courier industry. Jimmy is currently leading Purolator through a transformational advancement in risk control through a highly customized defensive driving training program and strategic initiatives to reinforce safe behaviour through technology. Many of these initiatives are being applied to both drivers as well as inside manual employees. Since Jimmy started with Purolator in 2022, the organization has experienced a record year in safety metrics.

  Prior Purolator, Jimmy lead the H&S department for UPS Canada for 12 years and previous to that worked as a H&S lead in Europe for various industries such as transportation, hospitality and leisure. He is currently involved projects using AI and predictive analytics to control risk for next generation safety initiatives.

  Panelists

  

  Olubunmi Alabi

  Senior Manager, National Health and Safety
  HelloFresh Canada

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  Olubunmi Alabi

  Senior Manager, National Health and Safety
  HelloFresh Canada

  

  Shilo Neveu

  Executive Vice President of Health and Safety, Valard Construction Group of Companies
  Canada Regional Director Health & Safety, Quanta Services, Inc.

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  Shilo Neveu

  Executive Vice President of Health and Safety, Valard Construction Group of Companies
  Canada Regional Director Health & Safety, Quanta Services, Inc.

  Shilo Neveu serves as the Executive Vice President of Health and Safety for the Valard Construction Group of Companies and holds the role of Quanta Services Regional Safety Director – Canada. Shilo’s educational background includes a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental and Conservation Sciences, a Bachelor of Law degree (now referred to as a Juris Doctorate), successful completion of the Alberta Bar admission course (although currently a non-practicing lawyer), and designations as a Canadian Registered Safety Professional (CRSP) and a Canadian Certified Utility Safety Professional (CUSP). But don’t let the “lawyer” throw you off!

  Shilo started his career working his way up through the trenches– he knows what it feels like to wear steel-toed boots in -45°C weather. Shilo has overseen HSE operations on projects ranging from $1 Million to over $1 Billion dollars throughout Canada. It’s this experience that helped him develop a deep understanding of HSE management systems and how “people” are the key to their success.

  Only after Shilo cut his teeth in the field did he achieve his Juris Doctorate and drove himself to becoming a successful lawyer in labor and employment law with a specialty in occupational health and safety. With clients ranging from fortune 100 companies to “ma and pa” operations, these experiences refined his technical OHS knowledge to a razor-sharp edge.

  Driven by a passion for knowledge sharing, Shilo engages in teaching, writing, volunteering, and lecturing. Collaborating with esteemed labor, employment, and health & safety organizations across Canada, Shilo actively imparts his expertise while embracing the opportunity to learn from a diverse group of individuals. People see his passion for OHS and it’s hard to ignore…it’s even infectious!

   

   

  

  Chandan Uprety

  Area EHS Manager, Canada
  Microsoft

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  Chandan Uprety

  Area EHS Manager, Canada
  Microsoft

  Chandan Uprety serves as the Area EHS Manager at Microsoft Canada, leading a dedicated team of EHS professionals on Microsoft’s growing Hyperscale Data Center construction projects, which are crucial to Microsoft Azure cloud and AI initiatives.  

  His expertise in reducing workplace injuries and promoting a robust safety culture has been demonstrated on complex multi-billion-dollar projects. Chandan firmly believes that safety is not just a moral obligation but also provides a competitive business edge.  

  Having recently completed his MBA and holding a BASc in Occupational Health & Safety from TMU, Chandan’s career is marked by a commitment to continuous learning and curiosity. His diverse experience spans automotive manufacturing, public sector infrastructure, and the energy sector, allowing him to lead with empathy and a focus on safety. His global perspective, enriched by international work experience, drives his approach to fostering inclusive and safe work environments.  

  He is passionate about networking, mentoring emerging professionals, and encourages connections on LinkedIn to share insights into the field. 

• 10:25 AM

  Networking coffee break

• 10:55 AM

  Direction of regulatory enforcement efforts: Current focus of safety authorities

  OHS regulatory requirements play a critical role in workplace safety management. With the significant increase in maximum fines for OHS offences, as well as the introduction of prosecution-friendly changes in recent years, it is critical to stay informed of the direction of regulatory enforcement efforts. This session will examine key areas that safety authorities are focusing on and provide practical insights into remaining compliant. 

  • Best practices for safety professionals in adapting to the emerging aggressive stance on OHS compliance and penalties for non-compliance 
  • How the increase in maximum fines under the OHSA is playing out in court 
  • Implications of extended limitation period for laying charges: How it impacts prosecutions 
  • Key sentencing considerations in recent cases: Understanding “aggravating factors” for the purposes of determining a penalty 
  • Increased charges under the General Duty clause: Requirement to take reasonable precautions for safety 

    

  

  Adrian Miedema

  Partner
  Dentons LLP

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  Adrian Miedema

  Partner
  Dentons LLP

  Adrian is a partner in the Toronto Employment group of Dentons Canada LLP. He advises and represents public- and private-sector employers in occupational health and safety (OHS) and employment matters.  

  Ranked in Lexpert for occupational health and safety and in Best Lawyers in Canada and The Legal 500 Canada for labour and employment law, Adrian helps minimize litigation through his practical approach and thorough analytical skills.  He is a strong advocate for clients before courts and tribunals when litigation is the best option. He provides personalized and effective advice by understanding not only the operations and structures of his clients’ businesses, but also their strategic and business objectives.  

  Adrian regularly appears before Ontario courts and employment tribunals on behalf of employers.  Over the course of his career, he has represented employers, constructors, directors and supervisors charged with OHS offenses, working toward a result that manages the legal, personal and public relations risks. 

  Adrian has been an adjunct professor of employment law at Western University.  He is the co-editor of Dentons’ OHS blog, occupationalhealthandsafetylaw.com, and has co-authored three books on employment law topics.  

  Adrian regularly shares his expertise at conferences.  He currently sits on the board of his neighbourhood association in Toronto and is a past director of The Scott Mission and Yonge Street Mission.

• 11:35 AM

  Human and Organizational Performance (HOP) implementation: Novel approaches to address serious injuries

  While there has been a significant reduction in the frequency of workplace injuries over the years, this downward trend has not extended to the most serious injuries and fatalities. This is leading safety professionals to adjust how workplace incidents are viewed and addressed, and to implement novel approaches to safety, such as Human & Organizational Performance (HOP). This session will explore HOP— its value as a safety tool and how it can be effectively implemented. 

  • Key HOP principles and the significant role it can play in safety through changing behaviour: Combining human factors engineering with organizational psychology 
  • Critical steps in preparing for and implementing HOP 
  • Potential of behavioural based training for improving safety 
  • The movement to de-emphasize the measure of total recordable incident rate (TRIR) to focusing on serious incident fatality (SIF) 
  • Best practices for using AI-related technology to assist in potential SIF incident recognition and evaluation 

  

  Gordon Walsh

  Principal Consultant
  Safety Centre of Excellence

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  Gordon Walsh

  Principal Consultant
  Safety Centre of Excellence

  Gordon Walsh has been working in health and safety for over 20 years. Gordon is currently employed with Energy Safety Canada (ESC) as a Principal Consultant, Safety Centre of Excellence. Over his 14 plus years with Enform and now Energy Safety Canada, Gordon has worked in multiple roles and departments. Previous to working with ESC, Gordon worked for two other industry safety associations in trucking and manufacturing. Before starting a career in safety Gordon was employed in various industries including General Construction-Excavation-Gravel Haul, and Underground Mining.

  Gordon completed his OHS Certificate with the University of Alberta and has been qualified as a Canadian Registered Safety Professional (CRSP) since 2007, further completed a Business Essentials Program Certificate through the University of Calgary Haskayne School Of Business and most recently a NEBOSH Tech. Cert. in Oil and Gas Operational Safety.

  Over the past 4 years Gordon has been focused on learning about Human and Organizational Performance working directly with experts in industry and academia to progress the adoption and operationalization of the philosophy of the 5 Five Principles of HOP within the energy industry.

  Gordon has been an instructor of safety courses and a presenter at multiple conferences over the last decade covering topics relevant to frontline workers as well as manager level content.

  Gordon sits on the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Area OHS Advisory Council as well the Construction Safety Research Alliance (CSRA) Safety Culture research project.

   

• 12:05 PM

  Networking lunch

• 1:05 PM

  WSPS Roundtable: An open forum with leaders that are steering the way in health & safety

  With the landscape of workplace safety continuously transforming, organizations, more than ever, need to focus on safety issues and explore what its role looks like in an evolving workplace. This interactive discussion will bring together a group of talented and inspiring leaders that have driven successful safety strategies by championing innovative safety values. They will share their stories and their journey in making health, safety and wellness a priority for their organization.

   

  This session is hosted by Workplace Safety & Prevention Services in collaboration with Canadian Occupational Safety.

  Moderator

  

  Jody Young

  President & CEO
  Workplace Safety & Prevention Services

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  Jody Young

  President & CEO
  Workplace Safety & Prevention Services

  Jody Young is the President & CEO, Workplace Safety & Prevention Services.  She is a health and safety leader with over 30 years of experience in both public and private sectors. Most recently, she held the role of Assistant Deputy Minister, Employment and Training Division with the Ontario Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. In that role, she provided strategic leadership to the transformation of Employment Services in Ontario. She has extensive experience leading large teams, oversight of transfer payment arrangements, and organizational transformation. Jody also brings a participative and inclusive leadership style, a deep understanding of the sector and strong technical expertise.

  Panelists

  

  Lee-Anne Lyon-Bartley

  EVP, Health, Safety, Sustainability, Quality & Community
  Dexterra Group

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  Lee-Anne Lyon-Bartley

  EVP, Health, Safety, Sustainability, Quality & Community
  Dexterra Group

  Lee-Anne Lyon-Bartley, lovingly know as Canada’s Safety Diva, is currently the Executive Vice President, Health, Safety, Sustainability, Quality & Community at Dexterra Group, a North American infrastructure support services company. She is a proud alumni of Toronto Metropolitan University SOPHE, is a CRSP (Canadian Registered Safety Professional) and a CP-FS (Certified Professional- Food Safety). She was a regular guest on the Steven and Chris show on CBC and has appeared on several Canadian news networks.  She volunteers with WSPS, My Safe Work, TMU’s SOPHE OHS program advisory, Threads of Life and more. She sponsors the Safety Diva Canada Scholarship with the Jamaican Canadian Association.  She was awarded the 2022 BGIS Canada’s Safest Employer Safety Leader of the Year and consecutively has been listed as a Top Women in Safety.  She is currently serving a three-year appointment on the Prevention Council of Ontario. Connect with her on LinkedIn and follow #talkingHSEQtuesday for safety, quality, and sustainability tips. 

  

  Joel Richer

  National Health & Security Leader
  EMCO Corporation

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  Joel Richer

  National Health & Security Leader
  EMCO Corporation

• 1:55 PM

  Panel: Meeting the growing role of EHS professionals in ESG

  Organizations are under growing pressure to act in a sustainable, environmentally friendly, and socially responsible manner. EHS professionals and those managing ESG processes often perform similar tasks and share responsibilities. This requires effective integration of OHS and ESG activities. This session will examine the expanding ESG role of safety professionals and its practical implications.  

  • Best practices for aligning the growing overlap of ESG and EHS responsibilities: Evolving ESG-related duties of safety leaders 
  • Preparing for Canada’s new Forced and Child Labour in Supply Chains Act 
  • Role of safety professionals in establishing a cross-functional/departmental approach to align ESG strategy implementation 
  • Managing the increasing role of OHS in diversity, equity, and inclusion: How safety leaders can integrate DEI in the workplace  
  • Best practices for meeting ESG reporting requirements from a safety perspective 

  Moderator

  

  Lee-Anne Lyon-Bartley

  EVP, Health, Safety, Sustainability, Quality & Community
  Dexterra Group

  ×

  

  Lee-Anne Lyon-Bartley

  EVP, Health, Safety, Sustainability, Quality & Community
  Dexterra Group

  Lee-Anne Lyon-Bartley, lovingly know as Canada’s Safety Diva, is currently the Executive Vice President, Health, Safety, Sustainability, Quality & Community at Dexterra Group, a North American infrastructure support services company. She is a proud alumni of Toronto Metropolitan University SOPHE, is a CRSP (Canadian Registered Safety Professional) and a CP-FS (Certified Professional- Food Safety). She was a regular guest on the Steven and Chris show on CBC and has appeared on several Canadian news networks.  She volunteers with WSPS, My Safe Work, TMU’s SOPHE OHS program advisory, Threads of Life and more. She sponsors the Safety Diva Canada Scholarship with the Jamaican Canadian Association.  She was awarded the 2022 BGIS Canada’s Safest Employer Safety Leader of the Year and consecutively has been listed as a Top Women in Safety.  She is currently serving a three-year appointment on the Prevention Council of Ontario. Connect with her on LinkedIn and follow #talkingHSEQtuesday for safety, quality, and sustainability tips. 

  Panelists

  

  Bertrand Revenaz

  VP Product ESG & Data Intelligence
  EcoOnline

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  Bertrand Revenaz

  VP Product ESG & Data Intelligence
  EcoOnline

  With a passion for sustainability and technology, Bertrand has made significant contributions as the Co-Founder and Chief Product/Technology Officer of Ecometrica. Over the past 15 years, Bertrand has been instrumental in developing SaaS solutions that assist organizations and governments in understanding and managing environmental impacts, particularly in the areas of climate change, carbon emissions, ESG, and biodiversity. Prior to Ecometrica, Bertrand dedicated their skills to a variety of sectors, including finance, energy, and agriculture, focusing on greenhouse gas assessments and sustainable practices. Their international experience also includes working with the World Bank to improve environmental decision-making through IT systems in Eastern Europe.A key milestone in their career was founding and contributing to Ecometrica’s growth and its eventual acquisition by Ecoonline. 

  

  Jennifer Richardson

  Director-Environment, Safety, Employee Health & Wellbeing
  The Royal Canadian Mint

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  Jennifer Richardson

  Director-Environment, Safety, Employee Health & Wellbeing
  The Royal Canadian Mint

  Jennifer Richardson is the Director of Environment, Safety, Employee Health & Wellbeing at the Royal Canadian Mint where she leads a team of 11 professionals who endeavor to make the Mint a better place, every day. She has a degree in Biomedical Science from the University of Guelph and Master degree in Occupational and Environmental Health from the University of Toronto.

  Prior to joining the Mint, Jennifer spent 13 years working for Resource Environmental Associates (REA) where she was the Sr. Consultant and Managing Director for the National Capital and Eastern Ontario operations.

  While Jennifer claims that developing the Mint’s Mental Health Program has been the highlight of her 25 year career, she also claims that her biggest accomplishment to date has been growing her family to include two wild little boys and a husband who share her love of fishing, nature, and ice rinks.

  

  Angelica Rotundo

  Associate Director, Safety, Health & Environment
  Apotex Inc.

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  Angelica Rotundo

  Associate Director, Safety, Health & Environment
  Apotex Inc.

• 2:40 PM

  Networking coffee break

• 3:10 PM

  Panel: Addressing psychological safety and mental health

  There is growing recognition of the role that mental and emotional wellness plays in overall employee health, productivity, retention, and safety. This session will examine best practices that safety leaders can follow for establishing an integrated approach to managing employee psychological safety.  

  • Best practices for identifying and addressing psychological risks in the workplace  
  • Implementing effective tools to enhance employee psychological fitness: promoting health through wellbeing education, understanding, and awareness  
  • Addressing burnout as a workplace health and safety issue  
  • Use of technology to help employers monitor their employees’ stress and anxiety levels   
  • Mental health first aid in the workplace: training staff in mental health first aid  

  Panelists

  

  Robin Angel

  Strategic Advisor OHS
  Correctional Services, Department of Justice, Nova Scotia

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  Robin Angel

  Strategic Advisor OHS
  Correctional Services, Department of Justice, Nova Scotia

  Robin Angel MSc. CRSP, is a safety professional with over 30 years’ experience in occupational health & safety (OHS). Robin has a Master of Science degree from Royal Roads University (British Columbia) and a Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Guelph (Ontario) and Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) Certification from Queens University (Ontario).

  Robin has worked in chemical manufacturing, oil and gas exploration, oil refinery operations, manufacturing, and provincial and federal governments in the areas of safety, occupational hygiene, international auditing of safety, environmental and quality management systems. Robin has instructed university courses in Industrial Hygiene, Measurement & Analysis, Occupational Health, Safety Systems and Risk Management.

  Robin is currently employed with the Nova Scotia Department of Justice as Strategic Advisor Occupational Health and Safety with the oversight of more than 500 employees. In 2022 and 2023 Robin was awarded the Canadian Occupational Safety Top Woman in Safety award and she was presented with the Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee Medal in recognition of significant service to the province and service during COVID.

  

  Sarah Abdul-Rasoul

  Safety Analyst
  Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada

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  Sarah Abdul-Rasoul

  Safety Analyst
  Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada

  

  Allan Shanks

  Senior Vice-President, Health, Safety & Environment
  AtkinsRéalis

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  Allan Shanks

  Senior Vice-President, Health, Safety & Environment
  AtkinsRéalis

• 4:00 PM

  Safety in the multigenerational workplace

  Today’s workplace has multiple generational groups working together, each with distinctly different attitudes, motivations, priorities, and ways of communicating. In addition, different age groups encounter differing safety risks in the workplace. Ensuring all employees are equipped to competently carry out their role is critical in avoiding accidents in the workplace. This session will look at how to overcome the challenges of establishing a safety program that addresses the needs of a multigenerational workforce. 

  • How to encourage appropriate styles of education and mentoring 
  • Re-designing your training schemes to ensure they can be easily understood by all employees. 
  • Dealing with the stereotype trap – and helpful examples of what works 
  • Pitfalls and issues that arise in different sectors 
  • Understanding the unique vulnerabilities and safety challenges for each generation 

  

  Jasmine Ramrup

  Safety Systems Lead
  Barrick Gold Corporation

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  Jasmine Ramrup

  Safety Systems Lead
  Barrick Gold Corporation

  Jasmine Ramrup, Senior Safety Specialist at Hemlo Mine that is owned and operated by Barrick Gold Corporation, for over two years. Hemlo Mine is a residential gold mine located near Marathon, Ontario.

  Jasmine has a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Education Degree in Adult and Continuing Education and an Honours Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety. Jasmine’s educational background in culture, education and training, and management systems brings a variety of technical knowledge to the EHS Team at Hemlo.

  Jasmine’s interests and passion projects include inclusive and diversity projects, especially within mining, addressing new & young workers to industry, and incorporating technology wherever possible.

• 4:30 PM

  Closing remarks from chairperson

  

  Jimmy Vassilopoulos

  Director National Health and Safety
  Purolator

  ×

  

  Jimmy Vassilopoulos

  Director National Health and Safety
  Purolator

  Jimmy Vassilopoulos is the current National H&S Director for Purolator. With over 20 years of H&S experience he specializes in Behaviour Based Safety, Risk Control and Transportation Safety in the courier industry. Jimmy is currently leading Purolator through a transformational advancement in risk control through a highly customized defensive driving training program and strategic initiatives to reinforce safe behaviour through technology. Many of these initiatives are being applied to both drivers as well as inside manual employees. Since Jimmy started with Purolator in 2022, the organization has experienced a record year in safety metrics.

  Prior Purolator, Jimmy lead the H&S department for UPS Canada for 12 years and previous to that worked as a H&S lead in Europe for various industries such as transportation, hospitality and leisure. He is currently involved projects using AI and predictive analytics to control risk for next generation safety initiatives.