Overview

In conversation with industry experts on accelerating learning for safety in industries with catastrophic incident risk.

The event, supported by IChemE Safety Centre, will be a structured discussion around the topic of ‘Learning to learn’ in the context of accelerating individual and organisational competence for next-generation safety in industries with catastrophic incident risk. Our discussion will draw on the experience of three experienced safety professionals from different backgrounds, inviting views from our audience.

We will explore:

• Understanding the reality of operational practices (“work as done”) as the basis for learning rather than “work as imagined”
• Psychological safety as the foundation of a learning culture
• The journey from individual to organisational learning
• The value of systems thinking and interdisciplinary learning to address safety challenges in an increasingly complex world
• How AI, advanced analytics, and digital twins can accelerate learning, but may also introduce new risks and blind spots

This event is held in partnership with Hazards Forum. The lecture will be held at the Institution of Civil Engineers, One Great George Street, to be followed by networking drinks and food at IMechE.

Agenda

16:30 - 17:00 Registration & refreshments

17:00 - 18:30 Panel discussion: Following introductions, hear contemporary perspectives from our speakers and join in the debate.

18:30 - 19:30 Networking, drinks & finger food

Speakers

Gus Carroll, CEO, Empirisys

Gus is CEO and co-founder of Empirisys, a tech start up that uses applied data science to improve process safety and operational risk in complex, high hazard sectors such as oil & gas, chemicals and refining. He is chair of the COMAH Strategic Forum. Gus has worked in senior leadership roles in high hazard industries for over 20 years and has a passion for helping leaders create high performing teams. Gus was previously Chief Engineer at Centrica and holds degrees in Chemical Engineering and an MBA from Henley.

Professor Sharon Clarke, Professor in Organisational Psychology, University of Manchester

Sharon Clarke is a full Professor in Organisational Psychology. She has published widely around culture, leadership, safety risk and resilience from a behavioural perspective, in some of the top international journals for organisational psychology and safety science. She is Editor-in-Chief at the APA Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, and was awarded a lifetime fellowship of the EAOHP in 2022. Her research interests span safety climate and culture, leadership, and resilience

David Bartlett, Technical Director, RB Safety Consultants

David Bartlett graduated from University College London and joined the Royal Navy in 1987 as an Aircraft Engineer, later becoming a Maintenance Test Pilot. He flew Sea King operations from HMS Invincible in the Adriatic, qualified on Chinook, Lynx and Gazelle, and completed six years of test-flying at RNAY Fleetlands and RNAS Culdrose. He later held senior engineering roles at Culdrose and Portsmouth. As a Captain, he helped lead aviation regulatory transformation after the Nimrod Review. Promoted Commodore, he became the Navy’s first Safety Director, transforming the Navy Safety Centre. Since retiring in 2019, he has worked as a safety consultant.

The material presented in this webinar has not been peer-reviewed. Any opinions are the presenter's own and do not necessarily represent those of IChemE or the Safety and Loss Prevention Special Interest Group. The information is given in good faith but without any liability on the part of IChemE.

Time

16.30–19.30 GMT.

Disclaimer: IChemE will not be storing or controlling any data linked to this event.