Having graduated many years ago as a mechanical engineer I left University with the desire to have a career in corrosion or welding engineering. As a young engineer I choose to have diversity in my career, and gained experience in the civil, pipeline, nuclear, corrosion product manufacturing and sales, coatings contracting and consulting industries. This gave me the invaluable experience of having worked in many disciplines, which has supported me in being an effective technical leader.On arriving in Canada I was immediately directed to Alberta with my skills, and found myself employed in the upstream industry, performing tank inspections, pressure equipment inspections and integrity assessments. Since 2002 I have been hands on in the field during turnarounds and on pipeline inspections, and progressed to being a senior team member on major projects and ultimately the team lead in charge of integrity management for a large midstream company.The opportunity presented itself to start consulting in 2011, and it has been an exciting journey of continuous technical and personal development ever since. Leading and developing an enthusiastic team of technologists and engineers is a privilege, and leading projects such as the regulator sponsored ‘Pipeline Safety Review’ in Alberta and others have been great opportunities.Working with customers and being responsible for delivering professional services and products, providing strong regulatory and engineering guidance has been great. I have also been a participant and supporter of industry associations, and being a strong believer of continuous improvement and improved safety, these have been platforms for personal interaction with others with the same goals as well as opportunities to share the message on improved risk management and safety culture.Safety and environmental stewardship are not optional any more, and this presents opportunities for improvement and development of innovative technical leadership.