Dr. Kaleb Dahlgren is a widely recognized expert on resilience, leadership, and health. A former elite hockey player and survivor of the Humboldt Broncos tragedy with severe injuries, he has transformed adversity into purpose, inspiring individuals and organizations worldwide. Diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age four, Kaleb refused to let it define him, fueling a successful hockey career and a lifelong commitment to advocacy. As the founder of Dahlgren’s Diabeauties, he empowers young athletes with type 1 diabetes while serving as a National Ambassador for two diabetes non-profits. His impact extends beyond the diabetes community—his insights on resilience, mindset, and health have reached millions through global media, including CNN, BBC, CBC, TSN, Maclean’s, and The Players’ Tribune. Kaleb’s memoir, Crossroads, became a #1 National Bestseller, earning praise from hockey legend Wayne Gretzky as a book that “will change your life for the better.” As an International Keynote Speaker, he has worked with industry leaders such as Google, Rogers, TD, Nestle, the NHL, and the Government of Canada, using his powerful story to inspire transformation. Earning his Doctor of Chiropractic degree in June of 2025, Kaleb will be completing his residency specializing in sports with a focus on nutrition, neurology, and concussion management to help elevate and optimize high-performing individuals. His journey is a testament to grit, passion, and purpose, which most recently earned him the prestigious King Charles III’s Coronation Medal (2025). Whether mentoring, speaking, in the community, or providing care, he continues to drive positive change in the lives of others.
Lee-Anne Lyon-Bartley, lovingly know as Canada’s Safety Diva, is currently the Vice President, Health, Safety, & Environment at Dexterra Group, a North American infrastructure support services company. She is a proud alumnus of Toronto Metropolitan University, 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, TMU’s SOPHE OHS program advisory, Threads of Life, the Canadian Institute for Safety, Wellness and Performance (CISWP)’s stakeholder advisory committee and more. She was awarded the 2022 BGIS Canada’s Safest Employer Safety Leader of the Year and has been listed as a Top Women in Safety. In addition to her other volunteer commitments, she is currently serving her second three-year appointment on the Prevention Council of Ontario.
Iqbal Brar is the President and Principal Consultant of IQ Safety Solutions, a firm that partners with companies across Canada to strengthen their safety programs through practical, real-world solutions.
With over a decade of experience, starting on construction sites across Canada and working up to safety leadership on billion-dollar infrastructure projects, throughout his career, Iqbal has influenced safety culture at every level of an organization, from frontline crews to the C-Suite. Before founding IQ Safety Solutions, he served as Regional Health and Safety Manager for one of Canada's largest powerline utility contractors.
As President of IQ Safety Solutions, Iqbal works with companies of all sizes across construction, manufacturing, and beyond, acting as an outsourced safety department, providing fractional safety leadership, and coaching internal safety teams. The firm's approach is hands-on and built around what works in the field.
Iqbal also instructs in Red River College's Occupational Health and Safety Program.
Head of Process Excellence, Health, Safety and the Environment
Sanofi
About Vicki Choy
Vicki Choy Bio:
Vicki Choy is the Head of Process Excellence at Sanofi, where she brings over eight years of progressive leadership experience in Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE) to drive operational excellence across the organization. In her current role, Vicki leads strategic initiatives that optimize processes and strengthen safety management frameworks.
Throughout her career, Vicki has built a distinguished track record of implementing transformational change that enhances organizational performance. A passionate change agent for safety culture, she believes that true safety excellence begins with openness and trust — championing near-miss reporting as a cornerstone of proactive safety management. By fostering an environment where employees feel empowered to surface and share near-miss events without fear, Vicki has helped shift organizational mindsets from reactive to preventive, turning everyday observations into powerful drivers of systemic improvement. Her expertise spans process optimization, compliance management, and continuous improvement, enabling her to translate complex operational challenges into scalable, sustainable solutions.
Scott DeBow, CSP, ARM currently serves as the Director of Health, Safety & Environmental for Avetta. With extensive experience in safety management, serious injury/fatality (SIF) intervention strategy and risk-based learning, Scott plays a pivotal role in driving Avetta's mission to create safe, more sustainable supply chains.
Scott has over 25 years of experience managing and advising on risk and occupational safety. In 2023, Scott was elected by his peers to serve as the Director-at-Large for the executive board of the American Society of Safety professionals (ASSP) and is an active member of the ANSI Z-10 Committee for Safety Management Systems.
Brian Ferguson is the Vice President of Health and Safety at Walker Industries, where he leads the organization’s health and safety strategy across a diverse portfolio of construction, aggregates, environmental, industrial and manufacturing operations throughout North America.
With more than 20 years of experience in occupational health and safety, including 10 years with EllisDon, Brian has developed and led programs focused on serious injury prevention, operational risk, regulatory compliance, leadership accountability and the integration of health and safety into business planning and execution.
In his current role, Brian oversees a multidisciplinary health and safety function supporting approximately 1,200 employees across more than 80 locations. His work includes executive and Board reporting, critical risk governance, safety management systems, leadership development, contractor management, incident prevention and organizational culture.
Brian is known for translating complex operational and regulatory risks into clear business priorities that support informed decision-making, operational continuity and sustainable performance.
His professional background also includes experience in security, surveillance and the skilled trades, giving him a practical understanding of frontline operations and the realities of managing risk in complex work environments.
Chamath (Cham) Harischandra is a Strategic Solutions Manager accelerating growth across North American carrier partner channels through AI-powered safety, telematics, and in-warehouse intelligence. He specializes in translating complex, multi-solution portfolios into outcome-driven value for sales teams from SMB to Enterprise.
Cham works closely with account teams, carrier partners, and executive leadership to identify and advance high-impact opportunities, driving pipeline depth and channel engagement. His commercial approach is built on precision: articulating the right case for change, the urgency of now, and the differentiated value only Powerfleet delivers. He brings a builder's mindset to every channel relationship, focused on long-term partnership value and sustainable growth.
Paramedic Divisional Commander and EVAP Program Lead
Peel Regional Paramedic Services
About Mandy Johnston
Mandy Johnston is a Paramedic Divisional Commander and EVAP Program Lead who has built a reputation for leading meaningful change in paramedic services - transforming environments to better support, protect, and empower frontline professionals.
Mandy is the visionary behind the External Violence Against Paramedics (EVAP) program, which she began as a grassroots initiative while working on the front line. Driven by both lived experience and a deep commitment to paramedic safety, she has grown EVAP into a research-informed, provincially adopted violence prevention program that continues to gain national and international recognition.
Her work has been recognized with Visionary and Leadership Awards, and an Excellence Award from the Paramedic Chiefs of Canada - honours she values most for what they represent: real impact on the safety and well-being of paramedics across the profession.
As a leader and speaker, Mandy is known for her authenticity, energy, and practical insight. She speaks candidly about the realities of workplace culture, violence in healthcare, and what it takes to build programs that don’t just exist - but make a measurable difference. Her approach is grounded in experience, driven by purpose, and focused on creating safer, stronger systems for those on the front line.
With over 24 years of experience across multiple sectors and international environments, Kirwin Lalla is a strategic, people-first leader who partners with organizations to deliver sustainable performance and long-term stakeholder value. His approach is grounded in systems thinking, enabling organizations to align mission, vision, and operations with evolving customer and stakeholder needs. By designing integrated strategies and scalable support systems, he helps organizations optimize performance today while building capability for tomorrow.
Kirwin has worked extensively with C-suite executives, senior leadership teams, and frontline employees, creating alignment across all levels of organizations. His leadership philosophy is clear and unwavering: “People first in everything you do, and the best will follow.” He believes that individuals drive behaviour, behaviour shapes culture, and culture ultimately determines organizational success. Through this lens, he has consistently enabled high-performing, resilient cultures that support innovation, growth, and operational excellence.
With over 17 years of experience leading Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) across diverse industries and geographies, Kirwin brings a multi-disciplinary, business-integrated perspective to safety leadership. He holds the globally recognized designations of Canadian Registered Safety Professional (CRSP) and Certified Safety Professional (CSP), underscoring his expertise and commitment to advancing the profession.
Kirwin is a strong advocate for reframing safety as a value-generating function, rather than a compliance-driven obligation. He emphasizes that safety cannot be a zero-sum outcome—organizations must not compromise one stakeholder group to satisfy another. By embedding safety into the broader value proposition, he has enabled organizations to achieve financial performance, environmental stewardship, and positive societal impact simultaneously.
Emily Larose is the Vice President, Regulatory and General Counsel at the Electrical Safety Authority. The ESA is the administrative authority that regulates and promotes electrical safety in Ontario. ESA's mission is to enable a safe, electrified Ontario through expertise, regulatory oversight and collaboration.
Emily’s accountabilities include oversight of the Legal and Policy groups, Data and Safety, Engineering and Technical Services and Licensing. As a member of the organization’s executive leadership team, she works with her peers on integrated business planning, strategy development and culture.
Prior to joining ESA, Emily practised civil litigation and regulatory law, specializing in the life sciences and energy sectors. Emily is a member of the Research Ethics Board of the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto.
Board of Registered Canadian Safety Professionals (BCRSP)
About Larry Masotti
Larry Masotti is retired from Workplace Safety & Prevention Services (WSPS), a not-for-profit organization with a mandate to meet the health and safety needs of 171,000 businesses in the agricultural, manufacturing and service industries, representing 4.2 million employees across Ontario. Larry has previously held roles at WSPS as the Director, Strategic Relationships and Director, Marketing and Business Development in Toronto, Ontario.
With over 25 years of health and safety experience, Larry currently serves as the President for Minerva Canada Safety Management Education Inc., as an International Review Panelist for the National Safety Council’s R.W. Campbell Award, and as a Gallery Services Associate at the Detroit Institute of Arts. He is also the Chair of the Board of Governors for the Board of Canadian Registered Safety Professionals.
A Canadian Registered Safety Professional who holds a Master’s degree in Organizational Leadership, Bachelor’s degrees in both Adult Education and the Arts, he has developed expertise in diplomatically operating in political environments to build alliances, partnerships and strategic relationships. He has recently been awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal for his work in health and safety. Larry is dedicating this chapter of his professional life to building cultures of safety everywhere by inspiring the leaders of tomorrow.
Shane Mercer is the senior editor of Canadian Occupational Safety, a leading publication covering workplace safety, regulation, and risk management for professionals across Canada’s most complex industries. Drawing on more than two decades in broadcast and digital media, he leads editorial strategy and day‑to‑day operations for the COS website, shaping story selection, commissioning, and publication across channels to drive audience engagement and industry impact.
He reports and edits original news, long‑form features, and investigative pieces, and regularly conducts in‑depth interviews with senior safety professionals, executives, and industry leaders to surface practical insights for readers.
Outside of his editorial work, Shane is an active nature lover and sports enthusiast, which helps keep his reporting grounded in real‑world experience.
Shilo’s career has spanned from the worksite, to the courtroom, to the boardroom. Having received his Environmental Degree, Shilo started his career in Toronto working for PCL Construction Ltd. as a Loss Prevention Supervisor. While at PCL, Shilo oversaw HSE operations on projects ranging from $1 Million to over $1 Billion dollars throughout Canada. Following his time at PCL, Shilo obtained his Law Degree and passed the Alberta bar exams. As a lawyer, Shilo worked for a number of prestigious law firms in Alberta and had a legal practice primarily focused on Occupational Health and Safety.
Shilo also teaches and develops programs for the University of Alberta OHS diploma program. Shilo likes to give back to the community – he is on the CRSP regional screening committee and is a frequent presenter for non-profit organizations across Canada. In addition, Shilo has also achieved his CRSP and CUSP designation.
Maria Pontes is a health and safety leader with more than 25 years of experience in occupational health and safety, construction operations, and workforce training. As the Director of Health & Safety at Empire Homes, she oversees health and safety programs across residential low-rise and high-rise construction projects. Since joining Empire Homes in 2007, Maria has led the development and implementation of comprehensive corporate health and safety programs, including auditing and inspection systems, return-to-work initiatives, and regulatory compliance strategies aligned with Ontario's Occupational Health and Safety Act and Construction Regulation 213/91. She has also contributed to numerous industry committees and working groups, championing continuous improvement and best practices across the construction sector. Maria holds both a Gold Seal Certification and National Construction Safety Officer (NCSO) designation. Recognized for her collaborative leadership style and practical approach to risk management, she is committed to building strong safety cultures, improving organizational performance, and ensuring every worker returns home safely each day.
Maria Robibero is an influential safety leader with over 15 years of experience. She has supported more than 50 projects at Ledcor, where she led the development of their new Ontario HS&E Management System. A Canadian Registered Safety Professional and Certified Safety Professional, she earned Ledcor Construction’s first Gold Flag and led the transition to COR 2020 Certification, while reducing the total recordable injury frequency. Maria leads a team of 8, combining technology and strategy by standardizing Procore, developing Power BI dashboards, enhancing training compliance and actively mentoring women to thrive in the industry. Maria serves on multiple industry committees, including the OGCA and IHSA and is a member of CAWIC. Recognized as one of OHS Canada’s Top 25 Under 40 and On-Site Magazine's 40 Under 40 in Canadian Construction, she is redefining inclusive, proactive, data-driven safety leadership.
Nickolai Sampath, CHSC, Founder of BA Safety Solutions, is a senior Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) leader with over 16 years of experience advancing safety culture and environmental sustainability across high-risk, complex operations. As Senior Manager, Health, Safety & Environment and Market Decarbonization lead, he integrates ESG principles through data-driven decision-making, risk-based observations, and targeted workforce education.
Nick is recognized for driving meaningful, organization-wide impact—transforming safety performance, advancing environmental stewardship, and strengthening operational resilience. Nick’s leadership centers on embedding durable safe behaviors through engagement, accountability, and continuous improvement, cultivating resilient, high-performing safety cultures that exceed regulatory requirements and align with evolving ESG expectations.
Dylan is Managing Director of The Redlands Group Inc., with over 20 years of expertise as a business owner, Vice President of Safety, Not-For-Profit Board Leader, and International Keynote Speaker. The Redlands Group provides client-focused solutions addressing your Health, Safety, and Risk assurance needs. The team has the expertise to deliver results from executive-level strategy development to front-line staff training, right-sized for your organization.
With his strong personal drive to pursue and achieve professional excellence, he not only works to excel in his professional development but also works to coach, mentor, and energize members of work groups to achieve their full potential. Dylan is a sought-after International Keynote Speaker delivering engaging messages focused on Management Systems, Influence, Change, and Risk Management. As a result of his professional and volunteer achievements, Dylan was awarded the Canadian Society of Safety Engineering’s highest award, the 2016 Safety Professional of the Year.
Dylan is pursuing a master’s degree at Royal Roads University with concentrations in Leadership and Executive Coaching.
Peter Sturm is a senior Safety, Health and Risk Management consultant with STURM Consulting Inc. His expertise supports businesses success in health and safety, workers compensation, insurance, incident investigations, prevention and sustainability.
Peter is the co-author of the ASSP Accident Investigation Techniques – Best Practices for Examining Workplace Incidents and Chairs the CSA Z1005-21, Workplace Incident Investigations standard.
He teaches safety and incident investigations at the University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies, University of Fredericton and George Brown College.
His leadership roles include:
Chair CSA Z1005 Incident Investigation Standard
Past President, Canadian Society of Safety Engineering,
Director & Executive Team member of Minerva Canada,
Past Board Governor of the Canadian Registered Safety Professionals Board
Executive Board member of the Centre for Safety & Health Sustainability
He holds the designations of Canadian Registered Safety Professional, Professional Member (CSSE) & Certified Health & Safety Consultant as well as an Executive MBA in Global Leadership,
He was awarded the CSSE Safety Professional of the Year in 2015, & Outstanding Service to CSSE/Volunteer of the Year in 2019.
Sean Tarnowsky is the Corporate HSE Manager with Top Grade Energy Services based in Calgary, Alberta. Beginning his career in the energy construction industry in 2011, he has worked with organizations as an HSE leader across Canada and the northern United States, now focusing on the HSE development with Top Grade Energy Services since inception in 2022. Sean’s approach to safety encompasses identifying and developing new methods of workforce engagement, while maintaining a personalized relationships to establish an approachable and robust safety management system.
Sean graduated from Mount Royal University with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in 2011 and obtained his CRSP designation in 2022. In 2024 Top Grade Energy Services was awarded Canada’s Safest New Employer Award and in 2026 the 5-Star Safety Culture Award through Canadian Occupational Safety.
National Director, Health & Safety Management Systems
Canada Post
About Virginie Tremblay
Virginie Tremblay is a senior health and safety leader with extensive experience advancing occupational health and safety programs, governance, and operational risk management across complex national organizations. As National Director, Health & Safety Management Systems at Canada Post, she leads the technical health and safety function responsible for national programs, policies, reporting, and the integration of safety in design into corporate projects across Canada.
A professional engineer with l’Ordre des Ingénieurs du Québec (OIQ), Virginie holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Sherbrooke. She is also a Canadian Registered Safety Professional (CRSP) and a Certified Human Resource Professional (CHRP), bringing a multidisciplinary perspective that bridges engineering, workplace safety, and people management. She further contributes to the safety profession through her volunteer role on the BCRSP Qualification Review Committee.
Virginie’s contributions to the field have been recognized through her nomination for the 2020 Safety Leader of the Year award and her inclusion among the Top 40 Women in Safety in 2021, 2024, and 2025.
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. Jimmy was recently the recipient of the 2024 OHS Canada Silver Professional of the year.
Gaby Victoria is the Director, Environmental and Health & Safety at CAPREIT, the nation’s largest publicly traded provider of quality rental housing with over 45,000 units across Canada and Europe. She is an experienced OHS leader with experience in corporate, government, and consulting environments. Specializing in OHSMS, incident management, OHS auditing and workplace harassment and violence prevention, Gaby has been the recipient of several industry excellence awards, including “OHS Team of the Year.” Through her leadership, CAPREIT has built more consistent safety practices, stronger employee confidence, and a more proactive approach to risk. Gaby holds certifications in radiation safety, disability management, Incident Command System, and ISO 45001.
Jeremy is a labour and employment lawyer specializing in occupational health and safety and regulatory law. As a former Ministry of Labour prosecutor, Jeremy has detailed and special expertise in occupational health and safety and other regulatory matters. He advises and represents organizations and their management in all sectors. Jeremy provides proactive and strategic advice following serious workplace incidents, during regulatory inspections (including in challenging orders and directions), with respect to work refusals, and on other sensitive health and safety issues. In addition, Jeremy is one of the most experienced, skilled, and successful health and safety litigators in the country. He has a track record of success after acting as counsel in numerous trials, appeals and hearings before every level of court in Ontario, before boards of arbitration, the Ontario Labour Relations Board, the Occupational Health and Safety Tribunal Canada, the Canada Industrial Relations Board, and Coroner’s Inquests.
Jeremy is a co-author of the Annotated Occupational Health and Safety Act, a leading text used by lawyers and human resources and health and health and safety professionals. He is also a frequent writer, speaker and lecturer on health and safety law and issues. As well, Jeremy is a past Chair of the Occupational Health and Safety Subcommittee of the Canadian Association of Counsel to Employers (CACE).
Shortly after entering private practice, and for more than a decade, Jeremy has been recognized as a leading occupational health and safety lawyer. He has the highest ranking, as “most frequently recommended”, in the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory and is also listed in the Best Lawyers in Canada.
Troy Winters is the National Coordinator, Health and Safety for the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), Canada's largest union. A Certified Registered Safety Professional, he leads the development and implementation of the national occupational health and safety program for CUPE's 800,000 members across 2,300 locals.
Troy represents CUPE members on multiple governmental committees and legislative reviews and contributes to the development of national and international standards in occupational health and safety management, infectious disease control, and ergonomics.
Serving as Deputy Chair of ISO Technical Committee 283 on occupational health and safety and Convener of working group six, Troy leads the committee revising ISO 45001, the global occupational health and safety management system standard. At the Canadian Standards Association, he chairs the Canadian Mirror Committee for ISO/TC 283 and has led or vice-chaired technical committees developing CSA Z45001, Z1005, Z1008, Z1002, Z1006, and Z412. In 2026, Troy received CSA Group's John Jenkins Award, its highest honour, in recognition of his leadership and contributions to occupational health and safety standards.
Troy will be releasing his first book, Hazards not Headspace, The Three-Level Framework for Workplace Psychological Safety in the fall.
Scott Witte is a safety technology specialist, advising organizations on how to protect their distributed workforces in the field. Using the People, Environment, Task risk assessment system, Scott helps to develop the right approach using OK Alone’s safety platform to improve organizational oversight and emergency response.
With more than 15 years of developing solutions for organizations across North America, he uses this broad experience to find the right technology and set-up for each organization. His recent experience includes setting up dedicated personal safety technology and oversight for corrections facilities, such as Florida and Nabraska, as well as utility companies across North America.
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