Board Member, OHS:

Gordon Walsh, CRSP

Board Member, OHS:
Marie Sopko, MSc(A), BN, OHNC, RN, CRSP, CPHR

Board Member, OHS:

Brent Chopping
B.Sc., CIH, CRSP

ASHSP EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

President:
Mike Fedun,
CRSP, RPFT

Vice President:
Jennifer McEnhill,
B.M., CRSP

Past President:
Susan Sawatsky,
B.Ed., CRSP

Registrar:
Denise Howitt,
CRSP, CHSC, CRM

BIOS

Mike Fedun,
CRSP, RPFT

Currently the OHS Advisor to the Alberta Government’s Wildfire Management Branch, Mike Fedun is also one of the ASHSP founding members. Mike was the ASHSP’s first Registrar, also participating on the Executive Committee.

Mike is a member of the Association of Alberta Forest Management Professionals (formerly College of Professional Forest Technologists) and was a member/volunteer with the organization through its move from an association into a professional college.

Over 20 years in the forestry sector Mike became increasingly involved and interested in OHS, eventually leaving forestry to pursue OHS as a career and becoming the OHS Advisor for Alberta Justice. Mike’s clients included Alberta’s Courts, Crown Prosecution Services, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, and the Human Rights Commission. After five years with Justice, Mike returned to his roots in forestry to take on his current role.

Mike completed the U of A OHS Certificate Program earning the Government of Alberta Award for academic achievement, and is a proud CRSP and CSSE member. Mike strongly believes that true professional regulation can positively affect the health and safety of working Albertans, and is very much in the public interest.

Susan Sawatsky,
B.Ed., CRSP

Susan Sawatzky, Past Society President, is currently the Director of In-Scope Solutions, a health and safety consulting company specializing in fatigue and stress management and engaging clients across North America. Susan is also an instructor with the University of New Brunswick, the University of Alberta, and the University of Calgary, instructing various courses in their various OHS programs. She is a certified External COR Safety Auditor for the Alberta Association for Safety Partnerships (AASP) and the Alberta Municipal Health & Safety Association (AMHSA) and is a Certified Psychological Health and Safety Advisor (CMHC).

Susan works directly at the industry level with many industry groups and associations, including the mining and resource extraction industry, the transportation industry, and the direct delivery industry, to assist them in guiding change throughout their industries. She was involved in creating fatigue policy and guidelines for the Canadian oil and gas industry as the previous manager of their fatigue portfolio.  She has also worked, at a client level, with many industries including utilities, manufacturing, hospitality, mining, petrochemical, agriculture, municipalities, and atmospheric research, as well as working with several HR and HSE professional associations.

Jennifer McEnhill,
B.M., CRSP

Jennifer McEnhill, ASHSP Vice President, is a Project Manager and Safety Specialist in the firm EHS Partnerships Ltd. with a strong background in health and safety management systems development and evaluation.

She is a graduate with distinction of the University of Alberta Faculty of Extension’s Occupational Health and Safety Certificate program, and is a certified external health and safety auditor for the Alberta Municipal Health & Safety Association (AMHSA), the Alberta Association for Safety Partnerships (AASP), Energy Safety Canada, the Alberta Construction Safety Association (ACSA), and the Continuing Care Safety Association (CCSA). She also holds a Canadian Registered Safety Professional (CRSP) designation.

Jennifer’s areas of expertise include; project management, health and safety management system program development, and management system auditing.

Rory Gibson,
CRSP

Rory Gibson is an independent health and safety professional based in Grande Prairie, Alberta. Rory holds a Canadian Registered Safety Professional (CRSP) designation and is a certified external auditor through Energy Safety Canada. Rory is a former safety professional with the Government of Alberta and has a broad professional experience implementing health and safety programs in a number of industries including upstream oil and gas, mining and transportation. 

Ryan Davis,
MBA, CRSP, CHSC

Ryan Davis is a Management and Occupational Health & Safety Consultant based out of Edmonton, Alberta. His practice focuses on training, mentorship, and Health & Safety Management System (HSMS) audits. With a background in accounting, Ryan’s focus is to demonstrate the return on investment (ROI) in Health & Safety for clients and students alike.

Ryan holds designations as a Canadian Registered Safety Professional (CRSP), Certified Health & Safety Consultant (CHSC), and Professional Gold Seal Certification (P.GSC) through the Canadian Construction Association.

Ryan is a member of the Canadian Society of Safety Engineering (CSSE), Associate Member of the Alberta Construction Safety Association, and serves as the President for the Rotary Club of Parkland After Dark.

Shamini Samuel,
P.Eng, ROH, CIH, CSP

I have worked for more than twenty years in the practice of industrial hygiene, safety and environmental protection across a broad range of industries both in North America and Asia Pacific. Sectors served include oil and gas operations, and consulting for a variety of clients in the following sectors: government, construction, oil and gas, manufacturing, and transportation. Currently I am employed with Suncor Energy as Corporate Industrial Hygiene Manager. Ever since being involved in this field, I have been an active advocate for the industrial hygiene profession, beginning with formation of the Malaysian Industrial Hygiene Association (2003); serving as Treasurer of the Alberta Chapter of the American Industrial Hygiene Association (2009 - 2010), member of the Board of Directors for both the American Board of Industrial Hygiene (2010 to 2014) and the Canadian Registration Board of Occupational Hygienists (2015 – present).

Every industrial hygienist I know is passionate about protecting worker health. Many are also involved in protecting health for consumers or the public. It is time for us to join hands and work towards regulating our profession. We must improve our outreach to penetrate multiple audiences in order to increase awareness of industrial hygiene and the importance of hiring competent industrial hygienists. This awareness needs to clearly and concisely explain the benefits provided to society by the services of the profession. I look forward to contributing to this important effort which is critical to both worker and public protection and to the sustainment of our profession.

Michele Kutz,
ROH, CIH

Michele is an American Board Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH), and a Canadian Board Registered Occupational Hygienist (CRBOH. She has served as the Education Director and Executive Secretary with the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) Alberta local section, and in 2017, was elected Central and Western Provinces Director with the Canadian Registration Board of Occupational Hygienists (CRBOH). Michele co-authored an industrial hygiene paper on silica worker exposure in abrasive blasting in Alberta which was published by the Annals Occupational Hygiene (Oxford Press).

She worked for nearly six years with the Alberta Ministry of Labour Occupational Health and Safety Policy and Program Development branch, as a Director of Occupational Hygiene and federal Hazardous Products Act/Hazardous Products Regulation Inspector. Prior to working with the Government of Alberta, Michelle worked for Golder Associates, she started her career at the University of Calgary. Michele is currently Senior Occupational Hygienist with Stantec.

Christopher Spasoff,

Christopher Spasoff is one of only a handful of lawyers with experience on both sides of the OH&S regulatory regime, having spent time as both an OH&S Crown Prosecutor and OH&S Defence Lawyer.

Often sought out for his practical, easy-to-understand advice and common-sense approach to problem solving, Christopher left the Crown in May 2014 to establish F2 Legal Counsel, the first and only law firm in Alberta exclusively dedicated to the practice of occupational health and safety law.

As an advisor to both employers and workers on a variety of OHS issues including stop work orders, workplace investigations, and the defence of OHS charges, Christopher is passionate about sharing his knowledge and experience whenever possible.

Marie Sopko

Marie Sopko is President, Leading Edge Health & Safety Consulting Ltd., providing strategic occupational health, safety, wellness and human resources services to Canadian, USA & International based organizations. Marie commenced at Alberta Health Services as WHS Director, Governance and Standards August 20, 2018, leading & directing three teams: standards & training, program development & improvement, and WHS Audit & Compliance.

Marie is a Senior Leader specializing in occupational health & safety (OH&S) management systems, risk assessments, policy and program development, health and industrial hygiene (IH) program management, training, wellness and Human Resources consultation for oil & gas, mining, education and utility companies. She has a reputation for proficiency in H&S leadership to business teams, mid and senior level management.

Marie was formerly Director, Global Occupational Health & Wellness with Newmont Mining. She led global OH&W governance, developed and directed the global strategic processes. Prior to Newmont, Marie developed and managed the OH&S and IH programs and audited systems with Nexen Energy, TransAlta & PanCanadian.

Marie holds a Master’s of Science degree from McGill University, and a Bachelor’s degree from University of Lethbridge. She has completed additional studies at the University of Calgary and Grant McEwan University. Marie is a Certified Occupational Health Nurse, a Certified Registered Safety Professional and a Chartered Professional in Human Resources. She is co-author of the published book “The Guide to Occupational Health & Safety in Offices”.

Marie is a member of many professional organizations, including the Canadian and American Society of Safety Engineering and CPHR Alberta. She is currently Board Member for the University of Lethbridge Alumni Association Calgary Chapter (ULAACC) Board of Directors and sits on the CPHR Alberta Policy & Research Advisory Committee. Marie is Past President of the Provincial AOHNA & Vice Chair of IPIECA Health Committee.

Brent Chopping,
B.Sc., CIH, CRSP

I have been dedicated to the comprehensive practice of industrial hygiene and occupational health & safety for more than 10 years, and have been an avid supporter of the occupational hygiene profession in Alberta. I have served on the Board of Directors for the American Industrial Hygiene Association, Alberta Local Section for 6 years, with roles including Secretary, President-Elect, and President. I am currently employed with Canadian Natural Resources Limited as Corporate Industrial Hygiene Advisor for North American Operations, with responsibility for worker health protection in oil and gas exploration, construction and production including conventional, unconventional, thermal and oil sands assets. I also represent industry as Vice-Chair of the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP) Industrial Hygiene Committee. I am currently working with the ASHSP on the Occupational Hygiene Practice Review Committee.  

Through my time in the industrial hygiene and safety professions, I have had the opportunity to mentor and help develop many early career professionals, sharing with them the value of pursuing continuing education and professional certifications. I am proud to have inspired and supported people in their pursuit of Registered Occupational Hygienist (ROH), Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH), Registered Occupational Hygiene Technologist (ROHT), Canadian Registered Safety Professional (CRSP) and Certified Safety Professional (CSP) designations. I strongly believe it is time for a step-change in the protection of worker and public health in the province of Alberta, through a robust system of professional practice protection and title protection. Employers in this province should feel confident hiring professionals with well-defined and defensible skill sets proctored by an organization serving the best interests of workers and members of the public. Through the efforts of the ASHSP, the visibility of the occupational hygiene profession can be improved and the value created for Alberta’s workforce and citizens can be maximized. I welcome the opportunity to participate in this process and support the important work being undertaken by ASHSP.