MEET THE Keynote Speaker
Mike Wahl
Assistant Professor, Memorial University
Mike Wahl
Assistant Professor, Memorial University
Dr. Mike Wahl is an Assistant Professor of Clinical Human Anatomy and BioMedical Sciences in the School of Medicine at Memorial University. He is also the host of the radio show called the Wellness and Healthy Lifestyle Show aka “the WAHL show” on VOCM - which is now becoming a television version of the program that will air on NTV in the Summer of 2022. Mike has spent over 25 years in the field of wellness as an entrepreneur and business person. In 2017 he won the Global Student Entrepreneur of the Year while completing his PHD in Medicine and was selected to attend the G20 Summit on Entrepreneurship on behalf of Canada.
MEET THE Event Speakers
Lisa Birmingham
WRDC
Lisa Birmingham
WRDC
Lisa is a highly skilled facilitator with over 30 years of experience. A former member the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers (CAPS), she has delivered hundreds of professional development workshops on a variety of topics to thousands of employees across the four Atlantic provinces and has a diverse background in education, business, and non-profit.
Prior to joining WRDC in 2014, Lisa was the Western Regional Business Connections Coordinator with Newfoundland and Labrador Organization of Women Entrepreneurs (NLOWE). Lisa holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Winnipeg and an Education degree from Memorial University of Newfoundland. She has taught in the Canadian and International school systems, held various management positions with Bell Aliant with a dedicated focus on Employee Engagement and has managed her own Coaching and Consulting company. Lisa is a certified Mediator, Coach and a Diversity and Inclusion Influencer through the Canadian Centre of Diversity and Inclusion (CCDI).
Throughout her career Lisa has been on numerous boards including the Community Mental Health Association and continues to be a strong advocate for mental health.
Harold Cormier
Corner Brook Pulp and Paper (CBPP)
Harold Cormier
Corner Brook Pulp and Paper (CBPP)
Hal Cormier has been an employee with Corner Brook Pulp and Paper (CBPP) for 32 years and counting. He has been an active OHS Union Rep. on the committee for the past 12 years. Hal is an Ives Certified Industrial Lift Truck Trainer at his workplace and is also a Town Councillor with the Town of Pasadena.
Jamie Curtis
Newfoundland & Labrador Hydro
Jamie Curtis
Newfoundland & Labrador Hydro
Jamie was born in Winnipeg, MB but spent only one week there as he and his Mother returned to Bishop’s Falls where he was raised by his mother and grandparents.
Jamie attended grade school in Bishop’s Falls at Leo Burke Academy and went to Memorial University to complete his bachelor’s degree Mechanical Engineering. Jamie completed his six engineering work terms with Abitibi Bowater, North Atlantic Refining Limited and Exmar Offshore in Houston, Texas before being hired by Nalcor Energy in August 2008 as a graduate engineer. Jamie’s first placement with Nalcor Energy was with Churchill Falls Labrador Corporation where he spent 14 months before being transferred to Holyrood in January 2010. In July 2010, Jamie was hired as the Project and Quality Assurance Engineer at Holyrood and remained in this position until June 2018. In June 2018, Jamie was promoted to the Manager of Work Execution; a position he still holds to this day. During Jamie’s time at Holyrood, he spent five years on the Occupational Health and Safety committee and eight years on the Holyrood High Angle Rescue Team (HART). Jamie's work passion is inspection, piping design and maintenance in the Holyrood plant which he holds so dearly to his heart. In 2017, Jamie won the Nalcor Energy President's Award for Safety.
Jamie is a registered professional engineer with the province of NL. Jamie currently lives in St. John’s with his wife Laura who is a high school chemistry and physics teacher at Centre for Distance Learning and Innovation (CDLI) working from St. John's and teaching students all around our province. Jamie loves spending time with his wife Laura and their dog Stormy enjoying our beautiful province and country.
Rick Donato
HSEQ Manager, RothLochston
Rick Donato
HSEQ Manager, RothLochston
Rick Donato started his safety career in the Automotive Industry for Wescast Industries Inc. in Brantford, Ontario. After several years of automotive safety in the US and Canada, Rick then moved into Municipal safety with the Chippewas of Rama First Nation. Rama was in the midst of a large expansion with the addition of Casino Rama and Hotel Complex where he spent six years. A position was offered to Rick at Wabush Mines in Labrador West until he was offered a position at Major’s Logging Limited (MLL) where he managed the safety system for the Logging Operations, Road Building, Head Office and the Emera Transmission Line Project. At the completion of the Maritime Link, Rick returned to Labrador West as the HSE Manager for RothLochston in Labrador City and is now working in the role of HSEQ Manager out of the Corporate Office in Paradise.
Rick is enjoying his tenure in Newfoundland & Labrador, and what was intended as a 2 year “adventure” will soon be 10 years. Rick spends his non-work time enjoying music and sports. He is a CRSP and holds 2 volunteer positions with the Board of Registered Safety Professionals. He fully understands the many challenges and is always willing to share and hopefully assist his friends and colleagues in any way he can.
Roy Foster
CRSP
Roy Foster
CRSP
For the past 40+ years Roy has been leading health and safety in Newfoundland and Labrador. He was employed with Corner Brook Pulp and Paper in both the Woodlands and Mill divisions for 36 years. Following his career at Corner Brook Pulp and Paper, he has worked as both a Safety Consultant and trainer which he continues to this day. Roy is a dedicated and results oriented safety professional with extensive experience implementing and managing OHS programs and initiatives within a production environment.
Colin LeGrow
CEO, Technical Rope & Rescue Inc.
Colin LeGrow
CEO, Technical Rope & Rescue Inc.
Colin LeGrow specializes in working in areas where access is challenging and the risk is high. He is an instructor in a number of disciplines including advanced fall protection/work at height, confined space entry/rescue, and high angle rescue. He owns and operates Technical Rope & Rescue Inc., a company of like-minded professionals that provides innovative solutions for hard-to-handle situations. Colin actively participates in the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Canadian Standards Association (CSA) and the International Technical Rescue Association (ITRA). During his 20+ year career he has been involved with Emergency Response for some of the largest projects in the province and assisted his hometown create an emergency response plan. Beyond work, Colin loves spending time with his family, has a passion for outdoor adventure and contributes to his community through volunteering with the Rovers Ground Search & Rescue and various community groups in his hometown Bauline, NL.
Alan MacDonald
Electrician, Corner Brook Pulp and Paper (CBPP)
Alan MacDonald
Electrician, Corner Brook Pulp and Paper (CBPP)
Alan MacDonald is an Electrician with Corner Brook Pulp and Paper (CBPP). He has worked with CBPP for a total of 22 years filling various positions. Alan has been an active OHS committee member with his workplace for the past 8 years, and has been Co-Chair of that committee for the last 2 years. Recently he joined the Emergency Actions Committee which has been dealing with the global pandemic, COVID-19, and its effects on the workforce. This committee’s sole purpose is to navigate the ever-changing challenges that arise when dealing with COVID-19.
Darrin Dunphy
Chief Safety Instructor, SafetyNL
Darrin Dunphy
Chief Safety Instructor, SafetyNL
Darrin Dunphy is the Chief Safety Instructor for Motorcycle and Off-Road Safety, at SafetyNL. Certified by the nationally-accredited Canada Safety Council, Darrin brings 40 years of recreational and professional experience to his field. Most recently he has become one of the founding members of the Witless Bay ATV Safety Association.
Cherylee Osborne
WorkplaceNL
Cherylee Osborne
WorkplaceNL
Cheryl has worked with WorkplaceNL for 11 years serving in the roles of Early and Safe Return-to-Work Facilitator, Case Manager, and for the past 9 years, Health and Safety Advisor – Musculoskeletal Injury Prevention. Prior to WorkplaceNL, she worked in the hospitality industry as a health and safety professional.
Cheryl holds a Kinesiology degree, an Occupational Health and Safety certificate and a Certified Ergonomics Specialist designation. She believes no one’s job should cost their health and wellness and to the end, she is driven to work with employers, workplace parties and stakeholders to strategize ways to prevent musculoskeletal injuries.
Alex Tuff
WorkplaceNL Safety Advisor
Alex Tuff
WorkplaceNL Safety Advisor
Alex Tuff lives in Mount Pearl, Newfoundland. He works as an occupational health and safety advisor with WorkplaceNL. His passion for this career runs deep and he is forever committed to the prevention of workplace tragedy, illness and disease.
Today, Alex is here as a volunteer of Threads of Life – the Association for Workplace Tragedy Family Support -- and its Speakers Bureau.
Threads of Life helps families affected by a workplace fatality, life-altering injury or occupational disease along their journey of healing. It provides these families with referrals and a one-on-one peer support program delivered by trained Volunteer Family Guides who have also experienced a workplace tragedy. Threads of Life is currently working with more than 3,200 family members from across Canada who have been affected by a workplace tragedy.
Many things have changed in Alex’s life since that fateful day. Here is his story.
Jo-Ann Woodland
WorkplaceNL
Jo-Ann Woodland
WorkplaceNL
Jo-Ann Woodland has been employed with WorkplaceNL the for the past 21 years. Throughout her career, she has held various positions in the Claims Services and Prevention Services Departments. Since 2019, Jo-Ann has been primarily working with the Certification Training Standards as Senior Health and Safety Advisor. She has over 15 years’ experience working directly with employers and OHS Committees across all industries.
Jo-Ann is a Certified Health and Safety Consultant (CHSC) and is a graduate from the College of the North Atlantic with a Business Management Program and a Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety, and a Bachelor of Business Administration from Memorial University.
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