My Story

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Thanks for stopping by Ascent Systems Innovation Group! I combine passion, innovation, and a wealth of experience to elevate organizational performance with modern safety science. Allow me to share a bit about myself, my journey, and my passions.

The Academic Roots

My journey into the world of Human Factors (HF) and System Safety began in the picturesque town of Lund, Sweden, where I earned my MSc from Lund University.

Inspired by the mind-boggling events detailed in book: "The Friendly Fire Shoot Down". I was captivated by how a situation where everyone did their best could go so horribly wrong. This fascination ignited a passion within me to delve deeper into the intricacies of human factors and system safety, ultimately setting the trajectory for my career.

Three Decades at WorkSafeBC

For three decades, I had the privilege of working at WorkSafeBC, where my role spanned across various pivotal functions:

   - Educator and Mentor: I educated investigators, applied scientific methods, and mentored officers in conducting complex and serious industrial investigations.

   -HFE Expertise: Provided human factors and ergonomics (HFE) expertise to multidisciplinary teams across engineering, investigations, education, and prevention field services.

   - Developer and Deliverer: Developed and delivered courses, webinars, and workshops to enhance understanding and application of methodologies such as

Appreciative Inquiry, Cognitive Interviewing, Fatigue Risk Management, and Human-Machine Interface to prevent struck-by incidents.

   - Risk Project Leader: Led and supported risk-based projects applying systems methodologies to review performance, understand vertical risk integration, and

develop effective preventative measures.

   - Tool Creator: Developed tools to assess organizational readiness, compliance, and performance.

   - Regulatory Advisor: Advised on regulation development relating to safety-critical work and systems theory, including Incident Command systems.

   - Risk Analyst: Reviewed risk factors related to musculoskeletal injuries, error traps, and communication factors across a wide range of industries.

   - Author: Authored technical reports, bulletins, risk assessment materials, and safety issues reviews, making complex information accessible to wide audiences.

   - Standard Contributor: Participated in CSA Standards Z1005 - Incident Investigation and Prevention Program, Z1516 – Fatigue Risk Management for First Responders, and the CSA Express Document; Human and Organizational

Performance for Optimal Pipeline Performance.

-    Collaborator: Assisted employers, health & safety agencies, and other regulatory stakeholders with developing, integrating, maintaining, and evaluating

system safety strategies.

The Leap to Entrepreneurship

After 30 years of dedicating my skills to help the Regulator manage musculoskeletal injuries, prevent struck-by incidents, facilitate HOP learning in investigations,

manufacturing and construction settings (to name a few) and advancing the application of human factors, I decided to embark on my own entrepreneurial adventure, founding

Ascent Systems Innovation Group. My mission (and passion) is to help employers innovate and elevate their performance with modern safety science and practical,

helpful tools, methods, and scientific knowledge.

Influential Mentors and Shout-Outs

Throughout my journey, I have been fortunate to work alongside and with many brilliant minds. They have inspired, shaped and influenced my career. It all began with doing my M.Sc. in Sweden with an incredible human being Jenny Colman. Endless wrestling of thought-provoking questions and completion of mind-expanding assignments was just the beginning. After a life (and career) changing experience not-to-be forgotten with Sidney Dekker, I was ever so thrilled to engage with Anthony Smoker, Ivan Pupulidy, Dr. Laura Maguire, Ron Gantt, Dr. David Woods, Dr. Richard Cook, Dr. Erik Hollnagel, Dr. Rob Robson, and endless insights from Dr. Steven Shorrock and Dr. Marcian Nazaruk. Their insights, and long track record of transforming science into accessible and actionable nuggets has helped support this message long before it was so widely accepted. Together, their work and guidance have been invaluable, providing a beacon of light along my path.

So, here I am, ready to bring my expertise to you and your organization. Let’s innovate, elevate, and achieve new heights together with Ascent Systems Innovation Group!