Leader, Operational Safety and Risk Management Working Group
Recently retired as a Vice President for Syncrude Canada Ltd., Gord joined the University of Alberta in 2010 as Chair and Industrial Professor for the Safety and Risk Management Program in the Faculty of Engineering.
Gord has worked extensively in the oil sands industry. He joined the Imperial Oil/ExxonMobil organization in mid 2007 as a Vice President on Loan from Syncrude Canada Ltd. to advance the Kearl Oil Sands Project. Gord was Vice President, Aurora Bitumen Production at Syncrude Canada Ltd. for five years, served as General Manager of Extraction also for five years, was Manager of Extraction Operations, and formerly Manager of Mine Maintenance/Operations again with Syncrude.
His work to improve workplace safety led to a CIM Distinguished Lecturer Award in 2002. His work to advance the Surface Mining Industry through sharing knowledge, technology, best practices and innovation has led to a second Distinguished Lecturer Award from the Canadian Institute of Mining in 2008.
Gord currently serves on the Alberta Health Services Board where he chairs the Board Quality and Safety Committee. Gord is supporting mining research and technology development in Canada as a board member for the Canadian Mining Innovation Council. He additionally chairs the Surface Mining Association for Research and Technology (SMART). He has also accepted board positions on Careers, The Next Generation Foundation, the Canadian Oil Sands Network for Research and Development(CONRAD) and chairs the J.T. Ryan Safety Committee for the Canadian Institute of Mining.
In 2011, Gord joined the University of Alberta Board of Governors Safety, Health and Environment Committee, and participates on the Leadership Table for a National Injury Reduction Initiative Summit. Gord also works to provide support in safety, risk management and organization effectiveness to firms across Canada.
