GWO Safety & Training Forum 2023

Tuesday, 14 November 2023 8:30 AM - 6:00 PM CST

4440, West John Carpenter Freeway, Irving, TX, 75063, United States

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1. Select Seats

2. Review and Proceed

Tuesday, 14 November 2023 8:30 AM - 6:00 PM CST

Sheraton DFW Airport Hotel, 4440, Irving, TX, 75063, United States.

The GWO Safety & Training Forum 2023 is a unique event taking place in North America for the very first time.

Our goal is to bring together the world’s largest manufacturers and owner operators with our community of training providers, certification bodies instructors, and auditors for a day of inspiration, industry insight, networking, and dialogue. 

The United States and Canada have established a vibrant community of safety and training with almost 50 GWO Certified Training providers, supporting almost 15,000 U.S and Canadian workers who are trained to industry standards. Meanwhile, Central and South American training providers are playing a huge part in the region's safety performance as markets like Mexico and Brazil add more wind to their energy mix. 

As a not for profit industry association, we understand how important it is to be on the ground with our community, where we can all look one another in the eye and work together for the good of our industry.

The Safety & Training Forum is designed for just that, with a programme that will activate and engage you on the issues that matter to your community.

Secure your place at the Forum and you'll get to meet with partners, colleagues and customers in an environment where open discussion and debate are our priority.

Not only will you hear first hand all the latest updates from GWO in terms of standards, requirements and future plans, you'll be encouraged to work together as a community to help us grow and improve the way we work together.

In 2022, welcomed guests from across the globe at the first GWO Safety & Training Forum, with attendees from over 60 training providers, plus representatives from our member companies at RWE, Vestas, GE, Vattenfall, Ørsted, Nordex, Equinor, Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy and more.

We look forward to welcoming you for our first event in North America!

Cancellation policy

Cancellation is free before November 1st 2023. 

Global Wind Organisation

http://www.globalwindsafety.org

Global Wind Organisation is a non-profit body founded and owned by its members - all of whom are globally leading wind turbine manufacturers and owners/operators. Our members strive for an injury free work environment in the wind turbine industry, setting common international standards for safety training and emergency procedures. GWO published the first version of the Basic Safety Training (BST) standard in 2012 in response to the demand for a recognisable standard in the wind turbine industry. This was followed by the Basic Technical Training (BTT) Standard in 2017. GWO has since launched a range of other training standards which address the most common safety and technical training needs of the wind industry's largest employers.

Contact the Organizer

Questions

What can I expect from the Forum?

Dialog between the different groups in the GWO community is built into the DNA of the event. There are naturally, plenty of opportunities for networking and the various workshop sessions provide a space for structured engagement on the GWO training and safety program. Bring along your great ideas and be prepared to join in with questions and opinions.

Who should attend?

The GWO Safety & Training Forum is designed for all wind industry decision-makers with a focus on safety and training. The Forum will welcome GWO member representatives, training providers, certification bodies, auditors, and opinion formers. This event is not aimed at wind technicians.

What payment methods do you accept?

Upon submitting your ticket request, you will receive an invoice from our trusted email address, info@globalwindsafety.org. In the invoice, you will find a link that allows you to choose between two secure payment options: paying by credit/debit card or bank transfer. 

How do I reserve a place at the Forum

 

Reservations for the Forum can be made through GWO’s Eventzilla booking system. You may book up to four tickets per booking for yourself and colleagues. After your reservation is approved GWO will invoice you the full amount (200 Euro, approximately 216 USD) exclusive of Texas sales tax. Payment is by credit card or bank transfer only.

Will I be able to attend the Forum online?

 

Unfortunately, we will not be streaming the event. The Forum is designed as an interactive event of panel discussions, round tables, and workshop sessions. GWO believes this kind of event is best held face to face. A summary of the event will be published shortly after for the wider community

Can you recommend any hotels in Irving, Texas?

A preferential rate is available Sheraton DFW Airport Hotel to the Safety & Training Forum guests, should you require accommodation. Rooms are subject to availability: 

https://www.marriott.com/event-reservations/reservation-link.mi?id=1686856170257&key=GRP&app=resvlink  

Are there sponsorship opportunities available?

To inquire about sponsorship opportunities for the Safety & Training Forum please contact comms@globalwindsafety.org

John Barrie
Global Head of Training
Vestas Wind Systems A/S

John has worked in senior training roles within the wind, energy and aerospace sectors for many years. At GWO he has previously helped drive the development of new standards alongside the secretariat as Chair of the Training Committee. John is currently Chair of the Board of Directors

About John Barrie

Global Head of Training
Vestas Wind Systems A/S
Jakob Lau Holst
CEO
Global Wind Organisation

Jakob became Chief Executive in 2016 after co-founding GWO. He is responsible for maintaining the association's governance structure, supporting our membership of wind power companies and driving the industry's adoption of standardised training across the globe.

About Jakob Lau Holst

CEO
Global Wind Organisation
Josh Rogers
Director, Safety, Workforce Training, and Operations
American Clean Power Association (ACP)

Josh Rogers is the Director of Safety, Workforce Training, and Operations at ACP. In this role, Josh leads the ACP team and committees focused on worker safety, workforce development, and operational excellence that will support the renewables industry growth. He brings over 15 years or operational industry experience. Josh spent several years as Director of Solar Operations for Duke Energy, which included responsibility for safety, organizational development, performance, and financial profits and losses at more than 60 facilities across the country. He has also developed standards, training, and operational leadership for at several leading companies such as: ABB, Sun Edison, First Solar, and most recently Fluence. Prior to joining private sector energy companies, Josh served in the United States Navy where he was certified as a nuclear operator and Master Training Specialist. Josh earned his Bachelor of Science in Technology from Excelsior University.

About Josh Rogers

Director, Safety, Workforce Training, and Operations
American Clean Power Association (ACP)
Mathieu Côté
Director, Operations Program
Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA)

Matt is the Director of the Operations Program for the Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA). As such, he works with wind, solar, and storage site operators to develop industry best practices and develop the Canadian renewables workforce of the future. Matt has been working in the wind industry since 2011, having worked for a Wind/Solar/Hydrogen developer in a sales role in France, as well as jobs as Customer Relations Coordinator, Commercial Manager and Managing Director for a major wind turbine manufacturer in the United Kingdom, Quebec, and Nova Scotia. He started his career commissioning the MAPLE Nuclear reactors in Chalk River, Ontario. He has a Co-op Physics degree from Dalhousie University in Halifax, NS. In his spare time, he attempts marathons and wrangles a precocious 5-year-old son. Matt is descended from Québécois and Norwegian settlers, and he grew up on Anishinaabe & Nippissing territory in Northern Ontario. He is currently based in Montréal, QC.

https://renewablesassociation.ca/

About Mathieu Côté

Director, Operations Program
Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA)
Wesley Witt
Senior Vice President of Health, Safety, Security and Environmental
RWE

Wes is an experienced HSE professional and has been in his role at RWE since 2021. Wes earned his bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in safety, security and emergency management from Eastern Kentucky University. He is currently in GWO’s Board of Directors and Chair of the NAM Committee

About Wesley Witt

Senior Vice President of Health, Safety, Security and Environmental
RWE
Ann Duedahl
Global Learning Leader
GE Renewable Energy

Ann has been working with GWO actively in the Training Committee since 2014 with SGRE, and has been Chair of the Training Committee since 2022

About Ann Duedahl

Global Learning Leader
GE Renewable Energy
Kristy Abel
Head of HSE, North America Region
Vestas

Kristy Abel is an environmental, health, and safety (EHS) leader with more than 20 years of experience in the North American electric generation, transmission, and distribution industry. She holds an MBA in Global Energy from the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, UK, and an MS in Environmental, Health, and Safety Management from the Rochester Institute of Technology. Kristy is currently the Head of HSE at Vestas North America, leading a high-performing team of HSE professionals representing all aspects of Vestas’ value chain including manufacturing, construction, transport and service. She is a strong advocate for a no harm incident culture, and committed to advancing wind industry workforce development to secure a safe and skilled workforce for tomorrow’s renewable energy industry.

About Kristy Abel

Head of HSE, North America Region
Vestas
Claire Wright
Lead Trainer & Consultant
Wright Training

Claire is an authority in height access and rescue within the wind industry in Australia. She leads a dedicated team of trainers committed to driving best practice standards. Currently, Claire is collaborating with the Global Wind Organisation’s (GWO) development team to elevate training standards on a global scale. Her unique approach integrates hands-on, activity based education in Train the Trainer programs. Claire’s mission goes beyond regulations; she is committed to fostering an environment where safety isn’t just a checkbox, but a critical standard that measurably impacts operational integrity.

About Claire Wright

Lead Trainer & Consultant
Wright Training
Brandon McKelvain
Training Manager
Safety Technology USA

Brandon joined STL USA in 2019 with over a decade of wind industry experience. To date, he has helped develop twenty GWO instructors, supporting eight different GWO training providers in North America.

About Brandon McKelvain

Training Manager
Safety Technology USA
Magdalena Kryszewska
Managing Director
Windhunter_academy

Magdalena Kryszewska – a managing director of windhunter_academy – the first GWO Training Provider opened in Central and Eastern Europe. For the last 12 years, I completed full GWO BST, GWO BTT, GWO ART, GWO EFA, GWO SLS training... about 50 - 100 times each; technical training in service lift, overhead crane, telehandler, cherry picker, crane, hoist and winch... about 60 times each; electrical licence training 73 times (as for Oct, 2023). Yet still, I know wind safety is not about the machines. People come first.

About Magdalena Kryszewska

Managing Director
Windhunter_academy
Christopher Furlan
Head of Training Quality Assurance
Global Wind Organisation

Christopher managers GWO standard review and development. Prior to joining GWO in 2022, Christopher has been developing training standards and digital learning solutions within general aviation and healthcare. His key focus area is the development of learning cultures.

About Christopher Furlan

Head of Training Quality Assurance
Global Wind Organisation
Julie Brown
Head of Training Development
Global Wind Organisation

Julie manages GWO's training standard reviews and development projects. A specialist in stakeholder management and pedagogical tools, she previously worked in the USA and Middle East before becoming a course manager for fire inspector and management courses.

About Julie Brown

Head of Training Development
Global Wind Organisation
Thomas Grønlund
Senior Project Manager
Global Wind Organisation

Thomas manages GWO training standard review and development. Thomas had a long career in the Danish Navy, Training and Education branch, before joining GWO in August 2020. His key focus areas are pedagogical and didactic development.

About Thomas Grønlund

Senior Project Manager
Global Wind Organisation
Dan Ortega
North America Representative
Global Wind Organisation

Dan joined Global Wind Organisation in July 2021 following a fifteen year career with Vestas. Dan is responsible for growing our training provider network in the USA & Canada, and representing members across the region.

About Dan Ortega

North America Representative
Global Wind Organisation

About American Clean Power

https://cleanpower.org/ Sponsor Logo

About Tech Safety Lines

https://www.techsafetylines.com/ Sponsor Logo

About High Plains Technology Center

https://www.hptc.edu/ Sponsor Logo

About RelyOn Nutec USA

https://relyonnutec.com/ Sponsor Logo

About Massachusetts Maritime Academy

https://www.maritime.edu/mcre Sponsor Logo

About Pinnacle Career Institute

https://www.pcitraining.edu/gwo-0 Sponsor Logo

About Team 1 Academy

https://team1academy.com/ Sponsor Logo

About Wind Trade Academy

https://windtradeacademy.com/ Sponsor Logo

About Arcon Training Center

https://www.arcontraining.com/ Sponsor Logo

About FMTC / M&A Safety Services

https://fmtcsafety.com/en/ Sponsor Logo

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Sessions on Nov 14, 2023

08:20 AM

Networking Breakfast

08:20 AM - 09:10 AM

Sponsors

09:10 AM

Welcome to the Safety & Training Forum

09:10 AM - 09:25 AM
  • +1
  • Dan Ortega

    North America Representative

    Global Wind Organisation

09:25 AM

Opening Remarks

09:25 AM - 09:45 AM
  • Wesley Witt

    Senior Vice President of Health, Safety, Security and Environmental

    RWE

09:45 AM

Panel Discussion: How Will Standards Help to Solve the Workforce Challenge?

09:45 AM - 10:30 AM
  • +4
  • Josh Rogers

    Director, Safety, Workforce Training, and Operations

    American Clean Power Association (ACP)

10:30 AM

Networking Break

10:30 AM - 11:00 AM

Sponsors

11:00 AM

Workshop Session: Growing the Wind Workforce – Addressing the Common Challenge

11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
  • Dan Ortega

    North America Representative

    Global Wind Organisation

12:30 PM

Networking Lunch

12:30 PM - 01:30 PM

Sponsors

01:30 PM

Panel Discussion: Harnessing and Accelerating Instructor Talent Development

01:30 PM - 02:30 PM
  • +4
  • Thomas Grønlund

    Senior Project Manager

    Global Wind Organisation

02:30 PM

Networking Break

02:30 PM - 03:00 PM

Sponsors

03:00 PM

Workshop Session: Growing with Quality

03:00 PM - 04:30 PM
  • +1
  • Dan Ortega

    North America Representative

    Global Wind Organisation

04:30 PM

Fire Side Chat: John Barrie & Jakob Lau Holst Talk Strategy

04:30 PM - 05:00 PM
  • +1
  • John Barrie

    Global Head of Training

    Vestas Wind Systems A/S

05:00 PM

Happy Hour

05:00 PM - 06:30 PM

Accommodation

 

A preferential rate is available Sheraton DFW Airport Hotel to the Safety & Training Forum guests, should you require accommodation. Rooms are subject to availability. You can book your room via this link: 

https://www.marriott.com/event-reservations/reservation-link.mi?id=1686856170257&key=GRP&app=resvlink