Curriculum Vitae - HSE
Steven D Armstrong, OStJ, CD, MSc
*** ********* ****** *.*. Calgary, Alberta, T2C 3Y3
403-***-**** * **********@*****.***
Summary
I am a highly energetic and result- driven HSE leader and Project Manager with over
35-years’ experience in executing HSE in corporate and project roles often in
multinational organizations in some of the most dangerous and complex settings
i maginable.
• Certified in the Canadian Armed Forces training as a Safety Manager, Range
Safety Officer, Hazardous Incident Safety Officer, Accident Investigator
Course, OH&S Manager and Environmental Safety Manager
• Governance: Extensive experience in governance and assurance of global
matrix organizations and challenging joint operational environments.
• Management systems: Known as an expert in the development and
i mplementation of HSE management systems, standards and improvement
p rojects from the ground up to proactively address risks and to turn around
organizational performance.
• Leadership: Reputation for designing and executing successful programs for
t ransforming organizational safety cultures and leadership.
• Extensive Aboriginal and International cross-cultural experience.
Specialties:
Fundamental HSE management competencies: designing of HSE culture and
leadership programs; HSE governance, assurance and auditing; development and
i mplementation of HSE MS and HSE standards; risk management; improving HSE
performance; executing HSE in projects; contractor HSE management; development
of HSE competence frameworks; crisis management.
Safety competencies: construction, demolitions & explosive and operations safety;
human factors; behaviour safety; incident investigation and root cause analysis.
Health competencies: health impact and risk assessments; medical emergencies
p reparedness; industrial hygiene; pandemic, chemical release HAZMAT and
terrorism events.
Environmental and social competencies: corporate social responsibility,
environmental and social impact assessment and management; stakeholder
engagement.
Employment Experience
• Jul 2013 – Present: O wner & Principle Consultant at PARATUS
Education
I am a Leadership and Team-Building Speaker, Consultant and Coach, who
works with a variety of industries helping companies get the best from their
employees. I provide outstanding service in keeping executives and
employees moving towards their objectives and working to their utmost
capacity.
• 2001 – 2013: The Canadian Red Cross
o 2006 – 2013: Director – Alberta Operations
I am responsible for the leadership of the effective delivery of
humanitarian services to over 500,000 Albertans. I lead a team of 120
p rofessional paid staff, 2,000 professional volunteers and 1,000 service
delivery partners with a revenue budget of $30 million.
My role is to position Red Cross with our external partners. I lead a
team who moved our relationship with government from an after-
thought to a peer-to-peer relationship in health and disaster response.
Fully two-thirds of the Red Cross budget and activities are healthcare
related. Health related businesses and activities that range from field
hospitals, to equipment loans and to being the largest homecare
service provider in Canada. I have been part of a national team whose
mandate is to develop a health strategy for the Canadian Red Cross
k nowing that aging populations are the next “natural” disaster facing
citizens and governments. We are exploring structures, systems,
cultures and strategies that will place the healthcare consumer and
t heir family at the centre of concentric rings of caregivers, home and
community.
Additionally, I provide leadership to first- aid, water-safety, injury-
prevention and violence & abuse programs. I believe education,
p revention and wellness initiatives, such as these, prevent people
f rom becoming healthcare consumers and are vitally important
components of the healthcare continuum.
o 2004 – 2006 Sri Lanka Country Coordinator – tsunami
operations
I was responsible for building and leading the team who would
establish the Canadian Red Cross response that would address the
vulnerability of hundreds of thousands of tsunami- affected people.
Working in an extremely complex and challenging environment, we
p rovided emergency relief supplies and shelter to those who lost
everything to the tsunami.
In the post-emergency phase, we were responsible for: building 2,000
homes; rebuilding two regional hospitals & several health centres;
and, developing community based health programs in several
districts.
o 2001– 2004: D irector – Disaster, International & Youth
P rograms in Ontario
I was an integral part of a team tasked to save $2,000,000 in operating
expenses by changing the Red Cross’ organization, structure & culture
t hat resulted in a net fiscal turn around of $3,800,000 at the end of
t hat fiscal year.
During SARS I & II and BC Fires Responses I managed the Red Cross
response across a wide geographic area and dealing with a matrix of
Red Cross, other responding organizations and provincial & municipal
governments. In addition to leading the response, I also lead the team
t hat was the public face of Red Cross to the Public, government and
t he media.
• 1998 – 2001: Chief Administrative Officer, Town of Norman Wells, NWT
I restructured the corporate structure in Town of Norman Wells. The work
entailed the releasing of a number of long-time employees, reorganising a
top-heavy bureaucracy of nine directors into four departments and
i mplementing significant cost control and budgetary measures. I am
extremely proud of this work as I maintained a high standard of honesty and
my principles while dealing with significant labour issues and extremely
complicated & intricate political situation.
• 1976 – 1998: Company Sergeant Major, Canadian Armed Forces -
A rmy
Certainly, the highpoint of my life was to serve Canada as a soldier. A
h ighlight of many highlights was being a key part of the leadership team of
our infantry company rated as the best, most combat ready unit of over 30
r ifle companies; and, lead and serve with those men and women in highly
i ntense and dangerous situations.
I have a wide range of international experience: as part of the NATO
standing force in Europe; United Nations protection and
humanitarian services missions in Sub-Saharan and the Great Lakes
regions of Africa, Namibia, Cyprus & the Sinai; and, protection
m issions in Former Yugoslavian Republic.
References
• Personal, Academic, Employment and Character References available on
request