Meet The Team
Discover more about the members of our team.
Andrew Dunning
Vice-President (VP) of Operation
Andrew Dunning is a military veteran who served in the Canadian Army for over 14 years, gaining extensive leadership experience and a global perspective through his travels. With over 20 years of expertise in the safety field, Andrew has held various management roles across multiple industries, including oil and gas, mining, forestry, road construction, civil and municipal works, ice road construction, and earthworks. Andrew is a graduate of the University of New Brunswick (UNB) Health and Safety Certification program, with additional qualifications in Public Relations from Lethbridge College and a Film Studies degree from Toronto Film School. His professional strength lies in fostering a positive health and safety culture within organizations and empowering safety professionals. Andrew’s ability to integrate safety into everyday operations and promote a proactive safety culture has made him a respected leader in the industry. Recently, Andrew has taken on the role of VP of Operations at National Emergency Safety Services (NESS), where he continues to drive safety excellence and ensure the well-being of workers across diverse sectors
Blair White
Health & Safety Manager
Blair has 10 years of experience in the Heath & Safety (H&S) field predominately in the Oil & Gas, Construction and Mining industries. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Co-operative) and Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Memorial University, as well as a post graduate diploma in Safety Engineering Technology (Co-op) from the College of the North Atlantic. He has completed numerous safety training programs and courses including Safety Leadership, TapRooT Cause Analysis, Behavioral Based Observation, Mentally Active Driving, Risk Assessment and Mental Heath First Aid. He believes in a Heath & Safety approach where H&S professionals advise and support management while also working with them in a cohesive work environment that benefits both the workers and supervision.
Richard Lavoie
Senior Construction/Forestry/Nuclear Health and Safety Manager
With over 25 years of Health Safety and Environmental training and experience, Richard holds Occupational Health and Safety Diploma from the Ryerson University. He is certified NCSO, CSO, Nuclear Safety Officer and Common CORE Open Pit Mining Certified. Richard has become a well seasoned positive health and safety mentor. Richard‘s experiences have placed his work in a multitude of worksites around the country. From woodland products, oil and gas, and High voltage power construction sites, Richard can work in any large-scale projects with little or no managing and get the job done. Health Safety Environment is Richard’s prime concern working with companies to produce great safety cultures within.
Jason Panchuk
Health & Safety Manager
Jason Panchuk served in the Canadian Armed Forces for 18 years working in Air Defence and Field Artillery. He transitioned to become a health and safety advisor in 2013, working in construction, oil and gas, and manufacturing. He completed his NCSO and Certificate in Health and Safety and has gained extensive experience in various industries over the past few years. In his free time, Jason enjoys exploring his creative side through videography and photography using drones.
Trey Hale
Emergency Manager, Lead Rescue Technician
Trey has over a decade over emergency response and safety experience, he has worked for multiple municipal fire departments, industrial refineries and as a member of multiple technical rescue teams. Trey has been with the NESS team since November 2019 and has worked as a safety advisor at multiple mine sites throughout British Columbia. During his time off he enjoys constantly taking more training, teaching courses, and being in the outdoors.
Joe Elliott
Field Medic Manager
Joe has 22 years of experience in the British Royal Navy as an Aircraft Mechanic/Armourer to his work in Canada's natural resource industry as a medic and safety advisor. Throughout Joes career, he has always had a keen eye on health and safety. Joe spends his free time advocating for and assisting veterans and first responders.
Darcy Repen
Health & Safety Manager
Darcy is an N.C.S.O. and R.C.S.O., registered with the Applied Science Technologists and Technicians of B.C. since 2006. He has worked with both large and small contracting companies as a Safety Advisor and Lead, and with a major oil and gas facility owner as a third-party consulting inspector on major infrastructure construction projects. His experience spans oil and gas, mining, forestry, agriculture, hydroelectric generation, civil and public utilities construction projects. He holds both Construction Safety Coordinator and Construction Safety Officer certifications from BCIT, and a Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety from the University of New Brunswick.
Mike Ehmann
Health & Safety Manager
Mike has over 20 years experience as a Health and Safety Professional employed in various roles within the Transportation, Heavy Construction, Oil and Gas, and Waste Industries. Mike also brings extensive experience from his time in the Military where he was a driver, driver trainer, and safety supervisor. These experiences have provided him with the tools to provide a positive safety culture within organizations. Mike has a well-rounded educational foundation which includes designation of Certified Director of Safety (CDS), Safety Construction Gold Seal (P, CGS) and National Construction Safety Officer as well as a certificate (with distinction) in Occupational Health and Safety obtained from the University of Alberta. Mike believes in a team approach from all levels of the organization to achieve a safe workplace for workers to thrive and return home safely. This strategy allows everyone success in completing projects on time. In Mike’s down time he enjoys a round of golf, camping with family, and travelling.
Liam Dunning
Health & Safety Advisor
Liam has been with the NESS team since 2023. He is a committed and detail-oriented Health & Safety Advisor with hands-on experience in a diverse range of industries and projects across Canada. Holding a certificate in Occupational Health and Safety from the University of New Brunswick, he brings a strong foundation of knowledge to every task. Notably, Liam has gained valuable insight into extreme operational environments during his ongoing work on the Tibbitt to Contwoyto Winter Road, one of the world’s most challenging seasonal routes. Liam fosters a collaborative approach to Health and Safety by engaging teams and ensuring compliance with best practices. His meticulous attention to detail allows him to identify potential risks, implement effective safety measures, and drive continuous improvement on the job site. In his free time, Liam enjoys exploring creative outlets such as wildlife and landscape photography and videography.
Meghan Fuster
Health & Safety Advisor, Primary Care Paramedic
With 16 years of experience in Fleet Maintenance management and Parts across BC and Alberta, Meghan's background spans Oil & Gas Transport to Aviation. In recent years, she has transitioned to a focus on HSE as a Construction Safety Advisor and is a Licensed Primary Care Paramedic (PCP). Driven by her passion for helping others and advocating for those in need, Meghan is committed to leading and educating the next generation as she continues to grow and gain knowledge.
Francis Johnston
Health & Safety Advisor
Francis brings over 30 years of manufacturing safety expertise to the NESS team, complemented by recent training tailored to the unique safety challenges of the oil, gas, and mining industries. In 2021, he earned an Occupational Health and Safety Certificate with honours from Seneca College. Francis developed his leadership skills through extensive experience in automotive manufacturing, where he contributed to the design and implementation of factory floor plans that effectively balanced pedestrian and vehicle traffic, enhancing overall workplace safety. With a commitment to ensuring every worker returns home safely, Francis focuses on fostering a productive and collaborative workplace where health and safety protocols are embraced as a shared team responsibility. His training in conflict resolution supports his approachable, team-oriented leadership style, with a strong emphasis on diversity and inclusion. Outside of work, Francis applies his passion for safety to managing his 22-acre horse farm in Ontario, where he lives with his wife and two children.
