'Oil and gas industry collaboration: APPEA update' Monday 8 August, 8:40am

Bruce Lake is the Managing Director of Vermilion Oil and Gas Australia which owns and operates the Wandoo production facility and field offshore Dampier.

Bruce has been an APPEA Board member since 2008 and has chaired the APPEA Health Safety and Operations committee since that time, having been an active member of the committee for much of the previous ten years. He is also the Chair of the APPEA/Industry Taskforce response to the Montara and Macondo incidents.

Bruce has over 30 years of experience in the oil and gas industry in Australia and New Zealand in Engineering, Operational and Management roles. He has worked both onshore and offshore for a broad range of operating companies including majors and independents.

'Decision making: Is it something you've forgotten?', Monday 8 August, 9.00am

Simon leads the national regulatory operations of NOPSA, managing five teams of occupational health and safety inspectors based in Perth and Melbourne.

Simon has extensive global experience as a chemical engineer, providing process safety expertise to major hazard facilities, and as a senior regulator to a range of high hazard industries.

'The science of intentions: Can a no-blame culture be a reality?' Monday 8 August, 9:20am

Martin Ralph has been the Managing Director of IFAP since August 2001.  As part of his role Martin manages the implementation of IFAP's occupational safety and health consulting services.

Martin has developed and delivered a wide range of occupational safety and health solutions in Australia and abroad, including a United Nations sponsored program for radiation protection and occupational health and safety specialists in the South East Asian tin mining industry.

Martin has also led a number of organisational safety culture improvement projects, utilising techniques developed and endorsed by Professor E Scott Geller, a renowned world leader in the field of Behavioural Based Safety.

Martin has completed a Bachelor of Science - Environmental Science, and Honours in Environmental Physics and a Graduate Certificate in Organisational Psychology.  He is a member of the IFAP Board of Directors and was Australia's first Chartered Radiation Protection Professional and is Immediate Past President of the International Network of Safety and Health Practitioner Organisations.

'Practical sessions: The future of safety in the workplace - 'Psychologial Risk Mitigation'' - Monday 8 August, 10:45am

Joshua Hawes, Principal Psychologist, Critical Components has a professional background in performance enhancement, organisational psychology and critical incident response. He has also been involved with forensic and military psychology throughout his professional career.

Josh has considerable experience in dealing with Critical Incidents (locally, regionally, nationally and internationally) and is able to assist organisations and personnel in how to develop psychological resilience within the work environment. Josh has been personally involved in implementing effective policies that are relevant to individual businesses and supporting and guiding organisations through the difficult times during a critical incident. 

‘What does a potato have to do with safety? A neuroscience insight into how you perceive, act, learn and remember in the workplace” Monday 8 August, 10.45am

Nada Wentzel has over twelve year's industry experience in safety culture and leadership development with large multi-national organisations in the oil & gas, mining, power, food manufacturing, rail and service industries.

Prior to consulting, Nada worked as an offshore engineer with ExxonMobil. She was a key member of the Esso Longford disaster crisis management team in 1998 and then following, took on the role as safety manager.

She was also involved in a horrific fire accident with her husband camping which resulted in 35% burns to her body which she shares in key note presentations. Her story is passionate and inspiring.

Nada is also currently studying for her Masters in Nuero Leadership which focuses on understanding how the brain works and changes based on relationships, feelings and beliefs.

'Practical Sessions: Workforce involvement and engagement in the UK offshore industry' - Monday 8 August - 10:45am

Steve Walker joined the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) 35 years ago.  During his time in HSE Steve has worked in a wide number of operational posts (covering industries such as major hazard chemical plants, the offshore industry, railways, construction, agriculture and general manufacturing), providing proactive inspections/audit, accident investigations and enforcement activity.

Steve also spent 5 years work on international and national policy for the transport of dangerous goods, including representing the UK at United Nations and European Union levels.

Steve became Head of HSE's Offshore Division (OSD) in 2009, after 5 years as an OSD Operations Manager.  OSD is responsible for assessing and regulating the integrity and safety of the approx 300 offshore oil & gas installations on the United Kingdom Continental Shelf (UKCS), ranging from mobile drilling rigs to fixed production platforms, and related activities such as diving operations and well interventions.  Inspectors from OSD are responsible for checking compliance with the law and the accepted safety case through inspections and investigations of activities on all types of offshore installations.

'Practical sessions: Safety Cases - involving the workforce' - Monday 8 August, 10:45am

Jeremy Dunster currently manages NOPSA's Technical Services Team whose responsibilities include early engagement, research, and standards and guidance.  He has a background in mechanical engineering and management and has coordinated the development and maintenance of integrated management systems for the oil and gas industry. 

Prior to his appointment with NOPSA, Jeremy worked as a senior regulator with a Joint Authority, administering HSE legislation governing offshore oil and gas activities.

'Interactive workshop: Incident management' - Monday 8 August 2011, 2:30pm

Garry had 20 years as a Firefighter and Officer SA Metropolitan Fire Service and the last 15 years in Oil and Gas Sector. (WA). Garry has a Masters Degree in Emergency Management (NSW) and a Diploma Firefighting Mgt. (Vic).

He is currently Vice President Institution of Fire Engineers Australia and was the Chair of the National Committee for the development of Incident Management Competency Standards (PMA) for the Chemical, Hydrocarbon and Refining Sector, and is presently involved in research in cognitive engineering with UWA on incident command training and assessment.

Garry manages the Incident Management Training Centre in Perth for ERGT Australia.