The 2025 Conference is Now Over! Thank you to the nearly 1200 people who participated. The 2026 Western Conference on Safety Runs Monday April 20 and Tuesday April 21, 2026 at the Hyatt Regency Vancouver.
Watch this space for more information coming fall of 2025
2025 Speakers
Wendy Bennett, Executive Director, AgSafe, Langley, BC
Wendy is the Executive Director of AgSafe in British Columbia and has been a health and safety professional since 1995. As an advocate for positive and safe work environments, Wendy is a member of various provincial, national and international safety boards and committees.
Starting with a BA Honours in Psychology and Sociology, Wendy went on to earn her EMBA, Health and Safety Leadership and is a Certified Registered Safety Professional. She has an Advanced Certificate in Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace. Joining AgSafe as the Director of Programs in 2013, Wendy became the Executive Director in 2014. Having worked for more than ten years as the Health and Safety Manager with one of British Columbia’s largest school districts, Wendy brings her knowledge and experience to agriculture. AgSafe benefits from Wendy’s leadership skills and her experience designing and delivering training and education resources. Her goal is to ensure everyone in agriculture has the resources they need to create a safe and healthy working environment.
Wendy also uses her knowledge and experience in her role as a course tutor with the BCIT Occupational Health and Safety Certificate program, was a professor with UFred, and is a mentor to those building a career in Occupational Health and Safety
Iqbal Brar, CRSP, CHSC, CUSP, NCSO, President/Principle Consultant, Winnipeg Manitoba
Iqbal Brar is the President and Principal Consultant of IQ Safety Solutions which specializes in high-risk construction industries. Born and raised in Manitoba, Iqbal has an unwavering passion for all things related to OHS, and his entire professional career has been dedicated to this field.
With over a decade of experience, Iqbal has built a reputation as a skilled and knowledgeable safety expert. His journey began in the field on construction sites across Canada, where he gained invaluable hands-on experience. Over time, he transitioned into overseeing safety management systems on billion-dollar construction projects, demonstrating his commitment to ensuring safety at every level. Iqbal’s expertise has been honed through academic achievements, including graduating with honours from Red River’s Occupational Health and Safety Program, earning the Canadian Registered Safety Professional (CRSP) designation, Certified Health and Safety Consultant (CHSC) certification, and the Certified Utility Safety Professional (CUSP) designation.
Roger Bresden
With 37 years of HSE, Physical Security and Emergency Management experience, Mr. Bresden offers his BVI clients a robust safety management toolbox. Specializing in assisting C-Suite members with managing their organizational Safety requirements, he provides guidance designed to continue to develop organizational Leadership Safety Competencies, resulting in continual safety culture growth and safety performance improvements.His career started in 1982 in the Natural Gas Industry and after 15 years moved into Government, private sector consulting then managed the North American Safety portfolio for Atlantic Power out of Boston Mass. In 2013, Mr. Bresden moved to Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, where he managed Saudi Aramco’s Power Systems Engineering Department Safety Compliance Team. From there, he transitioned into Managing Aramco’s Downstream Business Line HSE, and Operational Excellence portfolio. This role included developing and executing on the Downstream HSE/OE strategy in all in-kingdom Refining & NGL, Pipeline, Distribution and Terminal and Power Systems assets, as well as Aramco’s Domestic Joint-Venture operations and International wholly-owned affiliate organizations worldwide. The portfolio currently covers approximately 80,000 people. During this time, Mr. Bresden and his team were able to help reduce Aramco DS’s Total Recordable Case Rate and Process Safety Event Rates by ten-fold, where it is currently the best performer of all IOGP companies worldwide.
Dan Chow
Dan is a Health, Safety, Emergency Management and Environmental Professional with over twenty-five years of experience in the consulting and energy industries. He brings a unique outlook gained from his safety, environmental assessment, remediation and emergency response experience. He has worked on the front lines of spill and emergency response and has also successfully managed numerous response projects to completion/closure. He holds a technical diploma, a Bachelor of Science, and a Master of Business Administration. He is currently the Executive Director of Lechow HSE Solutions Ltd. and is based in Port Moody, British Columbia.
Terri Downton
I have been a part of the Occupational Health & Safety community since 1988 with my first Industrial First Aid certificate. I went on to a variety of different industries as a first aid attendant including manufacturing and construction. In 1990 I began instructing first aid courses of different levels but primarily the WSBC Industrial First Aid (later Occupational levels 1-3). I was never one that could separate the injury from the ‘how and why’ it happened which led to learning, instructing, and facilitating health & safety courses as well.
I was a Health & Safety Coordinator at two manufacturing companies prior to joining the Employers’ Advisers Office in 2008. At the EAO we provide advice, assistance, representation, and education to the employers of BC on WorkSafeBC matters. I have a certificate in Occupational Health & Safety through Simon Fraser University and continue to educate myself through formal education and experience. Throughout my career I have been a member, chaired, participated and been a guest at a number of Joint Committee Meetings. This allows me to share what works and doesn’t work for joint committees and their recommendations.
Richard Dulong, Northern Sun Safety Inc.
Richard is a successful and independent OHS Consultant where he has been practicing in the occupational health and safety field for nineteen years. His experience stems primarily from the commercial construction industry in both Alberta and BC. In this capacity, he has worked both in the field and in a corporate role as an OHS senior manager leading a team of fifteen safety officers (NCSO’s) for a Vancouver based general contractor.
Since 2007, he has honed his craft as an external consulting auditor in BC for the BCCSA, AgSafe BC, as well as the ACSA in Alberta. His auditing experience gives him a unique perspective on what constitutes a successful and effective safety management systems.
He is a graduate (with distinction) of the Occupational Health and Safety Certificate program from the University of Alberta, has earned his NCSO designation in both Alberta and BC and proudly holds his professional designation of CHSC, earned through the Canadian Society of Safety Engineering (CSSE).
Graeme A. Hooper, Counsel, MLG Law Corporation, Vancouver, BC
Graeme Hooper practises in general litigation, appeals, and all areas of workplace law, with a particular focus on occupational health and safety matters. Graeme regularly acts for employers in matters involving WorkSafeBC and the Federal Labour Program. This includes appealing administrative orders and penalties, representing employers in regulatory and quasi-criminal investigations, and defending those facing statutory injunctions and regulatory prosecutions. Graeme also acts for parties to civil litigation matters seeking certifications before the Workers Compensation Appeal Tribunal.
Graeme maintains a general appeal practice, having clerked with the current and former Chief Justices of British Columbia at the Court of Appeal. Graeme’s appeals include civil, family, and criminal and quasi-criminal matters. Graeme has appeared as counsel in all levels of court in British Columbia and before numerous administrative tribunals. Prior to joining Mitha Law Group, Graeme’s career included work in the civil service, both before and after becoming a lawyer. This included work with the Ministry of Public Safety, the Workers Compensation Board of British Columbia, the Court of Appeal, and the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. Graeme now uses those experiences to assist clients dealing with all levels of government
Bruce Jackson, PgCert, DipAEd, PID, CFIOSH, CRSP, CIT, Vancouver, BC
Bruce Jackson has worked in the OH&S field for more than 28 years, spending 20 years with WorkSafeBC – as a prevention officer, instructor, and working in prevention quality assurance. A safety consultant since late 2017, he provides safety training, management systems auditing, and incident investigation services to industry. He’s a faculty member at BCIT, where he teaches in the OH&S diploma program.
A graduate of BCIT in both OH&S and operations management, he also holds a graduate degree in human factors & safety management systems from the University of South Australia. He has an advanced certificate in psychological health & safety and completed three programs in adult education at Vancouver Community College. Bruce is currently undertaking further graduate studies in OH&S through a university outside of Canada.
He’s a Chartered Fellow of the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health, a Canadian Registered Safety Professional, and a Certified Instructional Trainer.
Bruce actively supports the OH&S profession by volunteering his time to serve on the boards of directors for Health and Safety Professionals Canada and the Auditing Association of Canada. He’s the chairperson of the screening center for the lower mainland of BC for the Board of Canadian Registered Safety Professionals, and has participated in several certification projects for the Board of Certified Safety Professionals in the US.
Sunny Jhaj, Chief Instructor, Thinking Driver, Surrey BC
Sunny Jhaj has spent years on both sides of the road—first as a long-haul driver, then as an instructor, examiner, and program developer. Today, as the Chief Instructor at Thinking Driver, he helps organizations rethink how they approach driver safety. His focus? Addressing the attitudes that shape behavior on the road. With a blend of practical experience and a few unconventional insights, Sunny’s talks aren’t your typical safety lectures. He encourages audiences to go beyond the basics—challenging them to see the connection between mindset and safety performance.
Sunny’s style is relaxed and conversational, often mixing in humor and real-world examples to keep things engaging. His goal is simple: inspire meaningful change in how people think, act, and make decisions behind the wheel. And if that means sharing a few surprising takes along the way—well, that’s just part of the fun.
Dr. Nicole Legg, PhD., Vancouver, BC
Dr. Nicole Legg (she/her) received both her Masters of Science and PhD in Clinical Psychology from the University of Victoria. Dr. Legg completed her Clinical Psychology Residency with the Fraser Health Authority at Royal Columbian Hospital, and currently provides psychological assessments and treatment in the community. She is a research-scientist, a therapist, and a professional speaker on mental health and wellness.
Dr. Legg has been providing talks on a range of mental health topics for more than 9 years to corporate employees and executives, government and not-for-profit organizations, schools, health clinics, and more. She has received exceptional feedback and reviews on both her engaging speaking style and the applicability of her talks. Dr. Legg combines her first hand experience in treating clients with mental health concerns, along with her rigorous training in evidence-based mental health interventions, to inform her comprehensive expertise in mental health and wellbeing. She has provided talks on mental health and engagement in high-risk behaviours to employees and executives at the Canadian Forces, British Columbia Legislative Assembly, Salesforce, Earls Head Office, District of North Vancouver, DailyHive, Hudson Pacific Properties, branches of the British Columbia Provincial Government, among many others. Dr. Legg has been featured on podcasts, radio programs, and in articles to share her expertise on various wellness topics. She has also been an invited guest speaker for a number of university psychology courses and awards ceremonies, and has been an invited guest panelist for organizations to discuss mental health, difficult life transitions, risky behaviours, and more.
Dr. Legg’s area of research focuses on understanding when and why people engage in high risk behaviours (e.g., substance use, disordered eating), as well as investigating the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on Canadians’ mental health. She has given talks at various national and international conferences on the findings from her research and has received federal research fellowships and numerous awards in recognition of her research achievements. Dr. Legg’s work has been published in several peer-reviewed scientific journals in her field and she has co-authored textbook chapters for the Oxford and Cambridge University Press. Dr. Legg is an advocate for mental health awareness, but in her free time you can find her taking advantage of the many outdoor activities in Vancouver.
Jeff Lyth, QSP Leadership Inc. Vancouver BC
Since beginning his career in safety over 25 years ago, Jeff Lyth has become recognized as an expert and innovator in workplace safety and leadership.He obtained his Canadian Registered Safety Professional (CRSP) and Certified Health and Safety Consultant (CHSC) designations, and served as Director of Corporate Health and Safety for nearly a decade before leaving safety management to work entirely in the leadership development/safety differently space.
Throughout his career, Jeff has been involved in industry-leading innovation, such as the first Canadian use of computerized tower-crane anti-collision systems, the province-wide use of the ‘Safety Climate Tool’ survey from the Health and Safety Laboratory in the U.K., and the development of the BCCSA Silica Tool.
Jeff has represented the Canadian Construction Association (CCA) on Health Canada’s transition to the Globally Harmonized System (GHS), and was accepted by the Department of Foreign Affairs as a Canadian Construction Occupational Health and Safety Specialist and participated in two missions to central China. He currently works in assisting organizations and safety departments to move beyond conventional views of health and safety and to break through the performance plateaus associated with those views.
Mike Harnett, President, Solaris Fatigue Management
Mike Harnett is a specialist in optimizing worker health, safety and performance utilizing a systems approach. With over 30 years’ experience, she is regarded as a subject matter expert on the science of fatigue and risk management principles. With a background in human factors and sleep neurobiology, Mike is recognized for her ability to integrate complex research into the specific operational context of an organization or industry sector. She has been a consultant to various government agencies including the Canadian Standards Association (CSA Group), US Federal Rail Association (FRA), and NASA. Mike continues to be an active participant on several CSA technical committees for the development of national standards, including
- CSA Z1516: Fatigue Risk Management for First Responders (currently under development)
- CSA Z1002: Hazard Identification and Elimination; Risk Assessment and Control
- CSA Z1003: Psychological Health and Safety in the WorkplaceIn 2019, she was co-author of Workplace Fatigue: Current Landscape and Future Considerations for the Canadian Standards Association.
In 2017, Mike was invited to participate as a subject matter expert for the National Safety Council Blue Ribbon Panel addressing fatigue in the United States. In the private sector, Mike has guided airport authorities, airlines, municipalities, trucking, mining, manufacturing, utilities, oil& gas, construction, maritime, healthcare, arts & entertainment, and first responder sectors. An award-winning speaker, she is an internationally sought-after presenter and educator.
Allan James Moore, CRSP
Having travelled to over 50 countries and worked on 4 continents, Allan is skilled at using cultural fluency to connect with diverse audiences. Allan gained experience with large group facilitation through the various presentations, speeches, and workshops that he delivered in Mandarin and English, while working in Taiwan, China, and Canada. This has helped him design group exercises that get his audience engaged and excited to participate and network Allan is committed to staying active and up-to-date on his areas of expertise. He has been a CRSP since 2010 where he has been serving on the board for 6 years and is the current chair. Throughout his career, he has held various leadership roles in esteemed organizations such as Stanley Tools, Wood Environment & Infrastructure Solutions and WSP Inc. While at Wood, he delivered safety speeches to clients such as Enbridge, Imperial Oil, Suncor, TransCanada, Nalcor, and many others .
Joe Roberts: Skid Row to CEO
Joe Roberts aka The Skidrow CEO is an expert on resilience and change. Having experienced both catastrophic failure and extraordinary success Joe teaches how to overcome the roadblocks that get in the way of high performance. He helps companies and individuals redefine what’s truly possible by confronting limiting mindsets. Participants at Joes’ events leave inspired and moved to action. What is most amazing about Joe is that in 1989 he was living on the streets of Vancouver as a homeless skid row addict. Through perseverance, determination and his resilient human spirit, Joe pulled himself out of darkness and despair, to become a highly respected business and community leader.
Janet Schmidt, Janet Schmidt & Associates. Winnipeg Manitoba
Janet has a Masters of Education (1987) with a focus on organizational behavior. Janet has been mediating, coaching and training for over 35 years, specializing in the workplace. Her training has focused on building employees capacity to talk about performance gaps or other work concerns that all too frequently get ignored. Her focus in mediation has been to help people understand and analyze their own situations and together find ways to resolve differences and create plans to move forward. She has provided coaching, mediation and training services in many organizations in Manitoba, as well as numerous other private and public institutions in Canada and around the world. Janet has taught courses in conflict resolution at the University of Manitoba and University of Winnipeg. Janet has written articles on decision-making, guilt and shame, and forgiveness. See Janet’s Ted X talk on Utube “If You could See what I See, You could Achieve your Dreams”
Don Schouten, Senior Manager, Policy Regulation and Research Department, WorkSafeBC
Don Schouten is a Senior Manager in the Policy Regulation and Research department at WorkSafeBC, responsible for helping to develop and change OHS regulations. Don has held several positions at WorkSafeBC prior to taking on his current role these include Senior prevention advisor for the OHS Practices department and manager for Construction for the Industry and Labour Services Department.
Prior to joining WorkSafeBC Don spent over 20 years in the construction Industry, while in industry, Don served as a member of the Board of Directors of several industry association including: Vancouver Regional Construction Association, Council of Construction Associations, Construction Labour Relations Association, and the Construction Safety Association of B.C. Don is a graduate of the Civil and Structural Engineering Technologist Program at the B.C. Institute of Technology.
Rodney Scollard, Senior Policy and Legal Advisor, WorkSafeBC
Rodney is a Senior Policy and Legal Advisor with WorkSafeBC where he oversees regulatory review projects which result in new, or revised, regulations to the province’s Occupational Health and Safety Regulation. Prior to joining WorkSafeBC, he practiced civil litigation with a Vancouver-based firm. Rodney is also a mechanical engineer and, before embarking on a legal career, worked in various manufacturing roles in the food & beverage and pulp & paper industries. In his current role, he enjoys most interacting with subject matter experts and stakeholders to find pragmatic solutions to regulatory challenges which will ultimately help improve health and safety at all workplaces.
Tanya Steele CHSC, RCSO, NSCO, TR Steele Company
Tanya Steele has a vision to help Managers, Supervisors, and Safety Coordinators, influence workers through effective on-site training. Utilizing her 25 years of experience as a Safety Advisor, Auditor, Trainer and Company Owner, Tanya will give you practical skills on how to educate and train workers. Tanya is a well-respected and sought-after trainer. Words that have been used to describe Tanya’s instruction are passionate, energetic, relatable, practical and fun. Tanya has held several Provincial and National board positions either as a committee member, Chair or President. Some of these include the CSSE Outreach Committee, CSSE Hiring Guide, VRCA Educational Committee and the NAOSH Week Steering Committee and has received a “Professional Leadership Award for Women” and an “Educational Leadership Award
Tanya Tighe, Manager, Health and Safety, Insurance Corporation of British Columbia, North Vancouver, BC
Tanya Tighe brings over 19 years of expertise in the field of Organizational Health, Safety, and Disability Management, with comprehensive experience spanning both the public and private sectors in Canada and internationally. Tanya’s career in safety began in the private sector with the development and implementation of OHS management systems in remote mineral exploration operations across Nunavut, Yukon, Northwest Territories, Guyana, and Ethiopia. Building upon that foundation, her professional expertise includes extensive public sector experience leading organizational health and safety in the municipal government and education sectors.
A passionate educational leader, Tanya completed her master’s degree in education at Queen’s University and holds Canadian Registered Safety and Certified Disability Management Professional designations. She facilitates training on an array of topics within her field and is an Instructor in Langara’s Health, Safety, and Environmental Compliance program. In her current role as ICBC’s Manager, Health and Safety, she leads a team of specialists in integrated disability management and occupational health and safety. Tanya’s dedication to continuous improvement and her strategic approach to health, safety, and wellbeing have made her a respected leader in her field. She combines her vast experience with a deep commitment to education and professional development, ensuring a safer and healthier workplace for all.
Ishani Weera, Executive Director, BC Federation of Labour, Health & Safety Centre.
Ishani Weera is the Executive Director of the BC Federation of Labour Health & Safety Centre, which will celebrate 25 years of prevention through education in 2026. She also serves as the curriculum lead for Stand Up for Safe Workplaces, a three-year workforce innovation project of the BC Centre for Women in the Trades focusing on occupational mental health, equity and psychological injury prevention in the construction sector. She is interested in how labour education and popular education principles empower workers and worksites to organize for hazard elimination and build collective safety cultures.
Don Wilson, Chief Client Officer, SafeStart, Belleville Ontario
Don’s working background includes over 25 years of experience in instructional design, vocational education, e-learning, industrial education, and health and safety training.As a motivational speaker on 24/7 safety concepts, he has been a frequent presenter at corporate health and safety meetings, as well as NSC, ASSP and VPPPA conferences at both the national and local level. He has also presented briefings on 24/7 safety to the leadership of all branches of the U.S. Armed Services at the Pentagon, and has taught classes on various subjects at safety schools and organizations across North America and around the world. Don donates all his speaking fees to charities that improve the safety of communities.
Haley Whishaw, Training Specialist, Arete Training.
Haley joined the ARETE team in 2016 and has fast become another sought-after ARETE training specialist. She has facilitated customized workshops for a broad range of low, medium, and high-risk employee groups in social services, education, municipal government, hospitality, retail, healthcare, and beyond. She fully understands the risks and various challenges frontline workers face when interacting with customers and clients. With her animated delivery, energy, and ability to connect with participants of all ages, she is a hit in every workplace she trains.
Brad Young, Senior Account Executive/Safety Specialist, Saskatchewan Region, Personal Safety Division, 3M Canada Company
Brad Young has been the Safety Specialist for 3M Canada in the Saskatchewan region for the past 16 years. Prior to working at 3M, Brad spent 7.5 years working for a safety and industrial supply company. Brad’s expertise is in personal protective equipment, specializing in respiratory, hearing, eye/head/face, and fall protection. Brad’s primary focus is on the training and education of proper selection, use, care, and maintenance of personal protective equipment. Brad resides in Regina with his wife and three children.
Captain Mary-Francis Zielinski, Royal Canadian Air Force
Captain Mary-Frances Zielinski is a RCAF Tactical Helicopter pilot who currently works as an Air Advisor and Flight Safety Investigator for the Canadian Army of the West. This involves Risk analysis, work with UAS, Lasers and Weapons templating. She has deployed to Iraq, Bosnia, USA and the Arctic. Mary-Frances has held a standards officer position teaching Intructor trainers in Combat and Military First Aid. She has been an Operations officer for Afghanistan tours, Canadian Olympics and Arctic emergency response. As a commercial helicopter pilot she has flown Fire fighting, oil and gas, and mining. MF also sailed and flew with the Canadian Coast Guard during many SAR (search and rescue), remote community aid missions and aiding vessels in distress. She is a mom of a teenage son and enjoys her pets.
