Revolutions in Safety
Revolutions in Safety How Dr. Johanna Pagonis is “Womaning Up” She’s not just leading—she’s redefining leadership. Dr. Johanna Pagonis is putting people at the heart of safety By Luke Hillenbrand Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Dr. Pagonis Puts People and Psychology at the Center. ————————————————————————— “You can have the best systems and equipment. But, if people aren’t empowered to speak up, you’ll always fall short.” Dr. Johanna Pagonis ————————————————————————— That’s the philosophy guiding Dr. Johanna Pagonis, founder of Sinogap Solutions. Dr. Pagonis, an expert in leadership and psychological safety, has redefined how organizations view safety. Her approach is simple but profound; safety starts with people. Their voices, their courage, and their ability to lead from the heart. Falling Into Safety: A Career Reimagined When Dr. Pagonis launched Sinogap Solutions, her focus wasn’t on safety. But a conversation with a former colleague, Christopher Spasoff, changed her perspective. “Christopher is an occupational health and safety lawyer. He told me, ‘What you’re teaching—emotional intelligence, leading with the heart—this is what the safety industry needs,’” Dr. Pagonis recalls. That idea stuck with her. Dr. Pagonis’ early work focused on mental and psychological health, not physical safety. “I can’t tell you how to design an organization for physical safety,” she admits. “But I can tell you how to empower people to use the tools and systems you’ve already put in place.” For Dr. Pagonis, this is the core of the problem. “Checklists and high-tech gear won’t help. If people don’t feel safe challenging the status quo or proposing new ideas, you won’t achieve your safety goals,” she says. Her mission was clear: teach groups to create safe, innovative, and collaborative environments. Her leap into safety wasn’t just about identifying gaps; it was about bridging them. As she consulted with organizations, she found that psychological safety wasn’t a fringe concept. It was a foundation. “It’s not something you tack on,” she says. “It’s woven into every conversation, every decision.” Psychological Safety as the Foundation Dr. Pagonis’ work centers on psychological safety. The idea that people should feel safe to take risks without fear of punishment is a spearhead. “Organizations often focus on the tangible aspects of safety,” Dr. Pagonis explains. “But psychological safety is just as important. Without it, even the best tools and processes will fail.” Dr. Pagonis trains leaders, through Sinogap Solutions, to create safe spaces. Employees should be able to voice concerns and suggest solutions without fearing retaliation. She emphasizes that this isn’t about creating a “bubble-wrapped” workplace. ————————————————————————— “Psychological safety isn’t about avoiding hard conversations. It’s about having the courage to speak up and challenge the system when it’s needed.” Dr. Johanna Pagonis ————————————————————————— Her training programs teach leaders to be vulnerable, build trust, and listen with empathy. “If leaders don’t set the tone, no one else will,” Dr. Pagonis says. “Brené Brown says it best: what a leader does gives permission for others to do the same.” One of her favorite teaching tools is role-playing difficult conversations. “People often freeze when they’re in the moment,” she explains. “Practicing scenarios teaches them to face challenges without shutting down or escalating.” Dr. Pagonis also emphasizes the importance of consistency. “You can’t build trust with one grand gesture,” she says. “It’s the small, daily actions that matter most.” Key Takeaways Psychological safety is the foundation of real safety. Without trust and open communication, even the best systems fall short. Empowered people make safer decisions. When employees feel heard and valued, they’re more likely to speak up and take initiative. Leadership starts with vulnerability. The tone leaders set—through empathy, consistency, and courage—shapes the entire safety culture. Investing in people isn’t soft—it’s strategic. Programs that build confidence and trust drive long-term results in safety, engagement, and performance. Breaking Barriers in Male-Dominated Industries Dr. Pagonis’ work often intersects with male-dominated fields like law enforcement, construction, and transportation. Her course, “Women Up: Ignite the Leader in You,” addresses the unique challenges women face in these environments. “When I started my career, I spent years in male-dominated spaces,” Dr. Pagonis shares. “As a female civilian in law enforcement, I had to earn credibility in ways my male counterparts didn’t.” Those experiences inspired her to create programs that equip women with the skills and confidence to lead. The Women Up course is on its seventh cohort. The program focuses on building confidence, fostering executive presence, and navigating difficult conversations. “One of the biggest challenges women face is confidence,” Dr. Pagonis says. “Whether it’s speaking up in meetings or advocating for themselves, the gap often isn’t in skills but in belief.” One success story stands out. A participant in the inaugural cohort was a senior executive. She was acting in a temporary role while competing for a permanent promotion. The decision-makers passed her over, claiming she was “stressed” and needed “protection.” Dr. Pagonis calls this a classic case of benevolent sexism. “Her male peers were never told they weren’t promoted because someone needed to protect them,” she notes. They denied her opportunities despite her clear qualifications. The program taught the executive to frame her concerns. It also helped her control her emotions in high-stakes talks. “She went back to her boss, asked him to advocate for her, and changed the narrative,” Dr. Pagonis recalls. “Within a month, they promoted her.” The ripple effects of Women Up are far-reaching. Graduates not only advance in their careers but also mentor others. “It’s about creating a cycle of empowerment,” Dr. Pagonis says. “When one woman succeeds, she paves the way for others.” Success Stories That Stick Dr. Pagonis measures success not by how many people take her courses but by the tangible changes they create. A leader in Alberta Health Services had a great example. They turned an emotional intelligence concept into a daily practice. ————————————————————————— “He printed a life-sized emotion wheel, put it on the wall, and used magnets to represent each team member. At the start of every shift, they placed their magnets on the wheel to show how they were feeling. It
Crashing the Safety Party
Crashing the Safety Party How Allan Moore Disrupts the Status Quo His people-first, ego-free approach is redefining what leadership in safety really looks like. By Luke Hillenbrand Facebook Twitter LinkedIn “Nobody ever intended to hurt themselves.” Allan Moore’s words don’t leave much room for ambiguity. A safety veteran, speaker, and author, he has spent decades using hard truths to create change. From oil rigs to boardrooms, Moore has built a career not on telling people what to do, but on showing them why it matters. His story proves that leadership is about connection, not authority. This is an industry that’s equal parts risk, reinvention, and resilience. From the Ground to the Helm Moore didn’t set out to become a safety expert. In fact, his career began in Taiwan as a Mandarin interpreter. One day, the global HSE manager decided she was done with international flights and made Moore the health and safety lead. “I told her I had no experience,” Moore says. “She said, ‘You’re the only one who knows how to say the safety words in two languages.’” What started as an improvised appointment became the foundation for Moore’s career. He threw himself into the role, overseeing plants in Taiwan and Shanghai before returning to Canada. Back home, he managed safety plans for major players like Enbridge, Imperial Oil, and Suncor. ————————————————————————— “I’d spend weeks in the field coaching, auditing, and building safety cultures from the ground up.” Allan Moore ————————————————————————— Moore climbed the corporate ladder, eventually becoming a regional manager for Western Canada. But the role lacked the hands-on connection he craved. “I missed being out there,” he admits. So, he pivoted back to field-based work and never looked back. His time abroad shaped how he approached safety in Canada. In Taiwan and Shanghai, he learned that culture plays a significant role in compliance. “You have to adapt,” he explains. “In Taiwan, hierarchy matters. You can’t just tell people to change without respecting their structure.” This adaptability became his trademark—a skill he brought into every boardroom and field office he entered. Key Takeaways Safety isn’t about authority—it’s about connection. Moore proves that empathy and real talk build more trust than top-down mandates ever could. You can’t lead change from a pedestal. Moore’s hands-on approach shows that walking the walk earns respect—and results. Culture matters as much as compliance. Adapting safety standards across different cultures takes humility, consistency, and presence. Disruption isn’t reckless—it’s necessary. From storytelling to self-reinvention, Moore shows that shaking up the status quo creates space for real progress. Disrupting Safety Norms Moore’s passion for safety comes from years of seeing what doesn’t work. As a worker, he remembers how the “safety guy” was often met with disdain. “We hated the safety guy,” Moore recalls. “They were condescending. They came in, wagged their fingers, and left us with a lecture. Nobody wanted to deal with that.” When he moved to safety, Moore knew he had to change. He had to disrupt the finger-wagging stereotype. When he became a safety professional, Moore vowed to do things differently. “Nobody sets out to get hurt,” he says. “So, I made a promise: no condescension, no blame, just honest conversations.” He leaned on concepts like emotional bank accounts—a principle he learned from Stephen Covey’s The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. “Years ago, I read Stephen Covey’s The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, and it stuck with me,” Moore explains. “Covey talks about emotional bank accounts. Make deposits with positive interactions, like praise for a job well done. Then, you will have the trust to make a withdrawal when needed. It’s crucial, especially in cultures like Taiwan where people can lose face easily.” Moore’s approach emphasizes empathy and connection. “You can’t preach safety from a soapbox,” he says. “You have to walk into the room, listen, and show people you care.” His candid, human-centered communication has made him trusted in the safety industry. He also brought storytelling into his work. Moore realized early on that stories connect better than statistics. “People don’t remember numbers,” he says. “But they’ll remember the time someone got hurt because a shortcut was taken. Stories stick.” Breaking Borders in Safety Culture Moore’s international experience gave him a unique lens on risk. “In Canada, our risk tolerance is low,” Moore says. “In some other countries, it’s very different. I’ve seen welders using cardboard instead of masks. It’s night and day, but our cautious approach here saves lives.” He’s quick to point out the benefits of Canada’s cautious approach. “Our standards save lives. That’s a fact,” he says. But even here, challenges remain. Mergers and acquisitions, for example, often smash together cultures with conflicting priorities. “It takes time to align those expectations,” Moore says. “But the payoff is worth it.” Cultural differences taught Moore to adapt. In Taiwan, safety compliance often involved balancing respect for hierarchy with the need to speak up. ————————————————————————— “You have to find a way to honor the culture while introducing new standards. People watched what I did more than what I said. If I didn’t wear my PPE, why would they?.” Allan Moore ————————————————————————— The Power of Reinvention For Moore, risk isn’t just something to mitigate—it’s something to embrace. His upcoming book, Party Crash Your Life and Career, explores the idea of calculated risk-taking. “I wasn’t invited to the party,” Moore says. “But that didn’t mean I couldn’t show up. Nobody handed me a golden ticket, so I had to crash the gates and prove myself every step of the way.” This mindset isn’t just the cornerstone of his career—it’s his philosophy for leadership in safety. Moore believes that disrupting the status quo often means surprising people. It means showing up where you weren’t expected and proving your worth, not just talking about it. That mindset shaped his career. From pivoting into safety to trying his hand at stand-up comedy, Moore believes in growth through discomfort. “You don’t grow by playing it safe,” he says. “You grow by showing up, even
Safety Leadership Takes a Team
Safety Leadership Takes a Team Insights from Alex Hollingsworth By Luke Hillenbrand Facebook Twitter LinkedIn How Alex Hollingsworth Transformed Safety for 20,000 Workers Managing safety across a global workforce is no small feat. For Alex Hollingsworth, former Manager of Group Training and Learning at South32, it was a challenge he approached with innovation, resilience, and a relentless focus on improvement. Over nearly three years, Alex oversaw safety training and learning initiatives for 20,000 individuals, including 10,000 employees and an equal number of contractors, spread across Australia, South Africa, and the Americas.His tenure at South32 built on 16 years at Rio Tinto, where he developed global training strategies and honed his expertise in high-risk industries. Alex’s journey offers valuable insights into the complexities of safety management and the power of digital transformation. Background and Expertise When Alex Hollingsworth joined South32 in 2022 as Manager of Group Training and Learning, he brought with him a wealth of experience in learning and development. His role required navigating the complexities of decentralized operations across Australia, South Africa, and the Americas—regions with vastly different regulatory landscapes, cultural contexts, and operational challenges. ————————————————————————— “It’s about building safety systems together so that everyone involvedcan be proud of the achievement and processes that make safety intuitive and achievable for everyone involved.” Alex Hollingsworth ————————————————————————— In South Africa, Alex faced the challenge of adhering to stringent government legislation policies and training requirements that were unique to the region. Safety regulations were often deeply influenced by local labor laws, and the diversity of languages and cultural expectations added another layer of complexity. “In South Africa, you have to account for a workforce that speaks multiple languages, each with their own nuances, while ensuring compliance with highly specific training requirements,” Alex shared. In Australia, where open-cut mining operations have dominated for decades, the focus for achieving safety performance with the power of digital transformation, was on ensuring seamless integration with legacy processes in a way that brought the workforce along for the journey. Meanwhile, in the Americas, the challenges varied widely depending on whether the project was a well-established site or an emerging greenfield operation. In some areas, Alex’s focus was on building training programs from the ground up, ensuring that safety was embedded into every stage of development. “At South32, I learned that no two regions are the same,” Alex explained. “The key was finding a balance between respecting local differences and maintaining a globally unified approach to safety. It’s about building systems and processes that make safety intuitive and achievable for everyone involved.” This ability to adapt and lead across such diverse landscapes highlights Alex’s exceptional skill in fostering a global safety culture that remains effective no matter the regional challenges. ————————————————————————— “Training isn’t something you set and forget. Every change—from new equipment to organizational structural shifts—requires reassessing and realigning on capability requirements.” Alex Hollingsworth ————————————————————————— Lessons from Rio Tinto: A Foundation for Excellence Before joining South32, Alex Hollingsworth spent 16 years with Rio Tinto, one of the world’s largest and most complex mining operations. During his tenure, Alex rose to the position of Senior Manager of Learning and Development, a role that involved overseeing training initiatives for thousands of workers across the globe. “Rio Tinto’s iron ore network is the largest and most profitable single mining operation in the world,” Alex shared. “Managing training in such a high-stakes environment required setting an effective framework for the deployment of consistent and efficient training solutions balancing global consistency with local flexibility.” To achieve this, Alex led a decentralized training model, where training operational teams partnered with operations tailored execution on identifying specific capability requirements and then delivered through a centralized framework to meet specific and local operations strategy requirements regional needs while adhering to global standards. This approach ensured uniform safety practices while addressing the specific challenges of individual sites, from environmental hazards to cultural and regulatory differences. In managing such complexities, flexible and scalable software applications became indispensable. These tools allowed global companies like Rio Tinto to maintain oversight, ensure compliance, and streamlining of training across diverse regions. Few solutions on the market are capable of managing both the global and local demands of safety and training, making adaptable software an essential part of any safety strategy. Key responsibilities during his time at Rio Tinto included: Developing High-Value Training Strategies:Alex crafted comprehensive strategies to ensure consistency in safety and operational training across multiple continents. Fostering a Culture of Safety:Alex prioritized making safety a shared value across all teams, empowering workers to take ownership of their practices. “Safety isn’t just a policy; it’s a mindset,” Alex explained. His focus on collaboration created a unified approach to safety, strengthening practices across diverse sites. Leading through Change:As new technologies and regulatory frameworks emerged, Alex led initiatives to integrate them into training programs, ensuring Rio Tinto remained at the forefront of safety innovation. ————————————————————————— “Rio Tinto prepared me to think big, act decisively, and never lose sight of the people behind the numbers. That focus on people—ensuring every worker is safe and supported—has been at the core of everything I do.“ Alex Hollingsworth ————————————————————————— This foundation proved invaluable when Alex transitioned to South32, where he applied the lessons learned at Rio Tinto to tackle new challenges in safety management. His ability to navigate complexity, implement large-scale strategies, and foster collaboration positioned him as a transformative leader in the safety training industry. Challenges in Safety Management Imagine managing safety for 20,000 workers, including 10,000 contractors, spread across multiple continents, each with its own set of regulations, environmental challenges, and cultural norms. For Alex Hollingsworth, this was the reality at South32. It was a role that demanded more than just technical expertise—it required innovation, persistence, and the ability to lead through complexity. One of the most pressing challenges Alex faced was the company’s reliance on paper-based processes for managing training and certifications. “We printed 150,000 sheets of paper monthly for training documentation,” Alex explained. “It was highly error-prone and laborious, leading to low confidence in our systems.”
