Josh spent 15 years as a mechanic before arthritis pushed him to rethink his future. He moved into the safety world through a field medic role, then into remote diamond drilling camps where heli access and shifting weather can trap crews for days. When evacuation is not guaranteed, risk tolerance changes fast. 

That early experience taught him the value of planning, emergency response, and clear expectations. It also shaped his leadership style. He learnt that unsafe methods might feel faster in the moment, but they cost time, bodies, and trust in the long run. The focus became finding ways to work safely, efficiently, and without injury or property damage. 

Today, Josh supports a diverse workforce at Nupqu, spanning forestry, environmental monitoring, archaeology, native plant nurseries, and GIS. That variety strengthens critical lessons. Safety culture cannot be generic. It has to make sense to the work people are doing that day, in that terrain, under those conditions.