2022 Speakers

The conference was SOLD OUT and is now over. BUT watch this space this coming spring for information on the 2023 conference.  

Gary Anaka

Gary Anaka is a professional Brain-based teaching facilitator. He has been presenting keynotes and workshops in the exciting new field of brain research since 1997 to tens of thousands of professionals and the general public. He has presented Safety Conference keynotes in six Provinces. He is a strong advocate for brain safety on the job, overall wellness and is famous for his audience engagement. His lively, energetic sessions have been called, both professionally and personally, life changing.

Cathy Cook

Cathy Cook as extensive health and safety experience spanning several decades in the private and public sectors, as well as in non-profit organizations. She worked in forestry and municipal settings and prior to her retirement in 2017 she was the Executive Director of the BC Municipal Safety Association.

As President of Safe Harbour Consulting, Cathy works with employers and associations to deliver training programs, help organizations improve their safety culture and assist in implementing and strengthening safety management systems.

Mike Harnett

Mike Harnett is President of Solaris Fatigue Management, a consulting firm that specializes in optimizing worker health, safety, and performance. An award-winning speaker, Mike is regarded as a subject matter expert on the science of fatigue and its impact on safety. She has been a consultant to various government agencies including the Canadian Standards Association, and NASA.

Mike is currently guiding various regulatory, labour, and safety associations in developing fatigue risk management plans. She also assists private industry, including trucking and mining.

Mike is recognized for her ability to simplify complex subjects, like driver fatigue, and deliver their content in an innovative manner for all audiences.

Laurie Lowes

Laurie brings a wealth of experience to the class. He has been involved in workplace safety and security for over 40 years. Laurie is past President of the Retail Loss Prevention and Retail Safety Societies, a Criminal Justice Instructor and a First Aid instructor. In addition, he is the recipient of several awards including the Governor General Lifetime Achievement award, Langara Outstanding Alumni, Order of Saint John Ambulance Priory award , CSSE Special Project and Leaders of Tomorrow Mentor of the Year award.

Norm Ralph

Norm has over (30) years’ experience in Occupational Health & Safety.  He got his start in Occupational Health & Safety in the early 80’s working for Western Canada Steel, a local steel manufacturing plant.   When the plant closed, Norm found new employment as a Safety & Quality Assurance coordinator at CAPTIN, a wheel manufacturing division of Toyota.

He remained in the roles for over 10 years before moving on to his next challenge as a Safety Consultant with the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority.  Recognizing his desire to work in a more hands-on approach with workers, in 2003 Norm moved on to a new role as a Senior Safety Analyst with the SkyTrain Operation and in 2013 he was promoted to Manager of Occupational Health.

Norm is a member of the CSSE, Canadian Society of Safety Engineering.  During his 25-year membership he has held numerous elected positions within the local Chapter; two consecutive terms as Chapter Chair, Vice Chair and Director.

Norm has his CRSP and CHSC designations, Canadian Registered Safety Professionals and Canadian Health & Safety Consultant.  As well Norm is also a Certification Disability Management Professional CDMP.

Norm now works for his own company, Apex Abilities where he continues to work with companies to improve their Health & Safety performance by providing: Customized Health & Safety Education & Training, Disability Management Consulting Services, Occupational Wellness Programs, and Ergonomic Assessments & Solutions

Tanya Steele

Tanya Steele is a well-respected and sought-after Speaker and Trainer. Words that have been used to describe Tanya’s instruction are passionate, energetic, relatable, practical and fun. Utilizing her field of 27 years of experience as Safety Instructor, OFA Instructor, Auditor and Safety Advisor, she offers her students and clients real life scenarios and solutions. 

Tanya has spoken across the country at conferences such as the CSSE National Conference, Western Conference on Safety, Manitoba NCSO Conference, Ironworkers Professional Development Conference, Go2HR Tourism Annual Conference, AgSafe Agricultural Professional development day and Bridging the Gap Construction Conference.  She speaks to groups such as Human Resources, Managers, Supervisors, Owners, Safety Coordinators and workers on a variety of topics that relate to them.

Terry Swain

Terry has over 40 years in occupational and traffic safety fields, Terry entered the occupational safety field in 1982, as the BC Safety Council’s Industrial Safety Division manager. His role took him across BC and Canada conducting various workplace safety courses and speaking at various occupational safety conferences for literally thousands of workers, safety committee members, supervisors and managers in industries as diverse as logging, chemical production, manufacturing, IT, accounting and more.  In 1994 he founded the Pacific Safety Center Ltd, now one of Western Canada’s best known occupational health and safety organizations. He is one of only 3 safety professionals to ever be awarded the Robert Wright Lifetime Achievement Award for Occupational Safety and Health.  He was a founding member of the Trade Safety Coordinator and Construction Safety Officer Development Committees and has sat on numerous other occupational health and safety advisory committees.