Meet Our Team

John McMahon
Executive Director

     

 

   

    

   

John is an accomplished senior Environmental Health & Safety Practitioner with extensive international experience working across a broad range of industry sectors, including transportation and trucking. He has held a variety of senior safety and risk management advisory roles within organizations that have substantial logistics and distribution operations, including a career as a government inspector in Food Safety, Environmental Protection and Health & Safety enforcement in the UK. John has also worked as head adviser and consultant to a number of multinational blue chip companies in diverse sectors that include aviation, retail, logistics and leisure & hospitality.

John has a Masters Degree in Business Administration from the University of Glasgow. He also holds an Honors Degree in Environmental Health and a Diploma in Occupational Safety Health from the University of Strathclyde, a Diploma in Advanced Food Safety Management & HACCP from Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh, a Diploma in Environmental Health and is a qualified Prince 2 Project Manager and OHSAS 18001 Auditor. John is also a Chartered Member of the Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (CMIOSH) and a Canadian Registered Safety Professional (CRSP).

 

Leasa Hachey
Manager, Communications & Marketing

 

 
  

Leasa is a talented and award-winning writer and communicator. In 2002 she earned an Honours Degree in Computer Science, with a double minor in Communications and Marketing.  Leasa has won many academic awards, including Student of the Year, the BC and Yukon Newspaper Association scholarship and the prestigious Webster Awards Student Journalist Scholarship. In her spare time, Leasa writes feature stories and essays for various publications. 

Leasa also brings to the Council extensive knowledge of web-related communication. She has practical experience in the use of social media as a cutting edge communications, evaluation and marketing tool within an organization.

Leasa is responsible for developing and directing the Council's communications and business development strategies, including representing the Council on strategic partnership committees such as the Winter Driving Alliance. She represents the Council at public events and trade shows and organizes and manages all Council events and outreach. Leasa authors, edits and designs bulletins, newsletters, press releases and material for public awareness campaigns, and oversees the content strategy for the website.

 

Andrew Chan
Manager, COR Program

 

  

Andrew is a Canadian Registered Safety Professional and a certified auditor with a broad range of safety partnerships.  He has over 25 years of Canadian and international experience, specializing in risk assessment, safety management system development and implementation, safety training and auditing.

Andrew‘s Canadian experience includes serving as a Safety Officer with HRSDC, managing the safety audit program for the BC Forest Safety Council and providing OHS consultancy and auditing services.  Andrew has also worked overseas serving in senior safety management positions such as Manager, Airport Safety for the Hong Kong Airport Authority, Executive OHS Manager for the Hong Kong Hospital Authority, and OHS Audit Scheme Manager/Lead Auditor for the Hong Kong Quality Assurance Agency. 

Andrew is responsible for the on-going development, implementation and quality assurance of the Certificate of Recognition program of the Council, as well as communication with key stake holders such as the trucking industry, WorkSafeBC and the Technical Advisory Committee.

 

Earl Galavan
Manager, OHS Programs

 

 

   Earl has over 20 years experience with inter-city transit in addition to long haul trucking and civil aviation. Throughout his career, instruction and program design were required skills, which led to instructor certifications in several areas. Earl feels that teaching happens at many levels and is an adventure for both the instructor and student that should result in a sense of accomplishment. 

Earl earned a Diploma of Technology in Occupation Health and Safety from BCIT and has found his new profession fascinating and rewarding. His experience working to develop and enhance safe work procedures while ensuring the best understanding by workers continues to highlight his passion for teaching. 

Earl is responsible for the development of the Council's Occupational Health and Safety programs and curriculum, as well as research regarding health and safety in the trucking industry.

 

Lisa Zwissler
Executive Assistant

    

 

 

   Lisa’s experience includes over 12 years in Group Life and Health benefits, most recently in Disability Claims. Lisa's experience in claims helped her develop an extensive understanding of the many challenges employers are faced with in terms of occupational health and safety and return to work programs.

After having her two daughters, the desire to work close to home happily brought her to the Trucking Safety Council of BC where she enjoys the many hats she gets to wear as Executive Assistant. 

 

Tal Sperling
Manager, OHS Program
  - Currently on Maternity Leave - 

Tal has been a consultant in the Environmental and Occupational Health, Safety and Hygiene fields for various consulting companies in the Lower Mainland.  In this capacity, and as a member of joint health and safety committees, she has been involved in the development and review of safe work procedures, the provision of safety training and the performance of safety inspections and risk assessments.  Her experience has required the knowledge of municipal, provincial and federal regulations, including OH & S Regulation and the Worker’s Compensation Act.

Tal holds an Honours Bachelor of Science degree with a specialty in Zoology and has previous research experience involving the review of professional literature in various publications, writing reports and publications, liaison with governmental organizations, corporations and the public and communication of research findings to a broad range of audiences. 

Tal is responsible for the development of the Council’s Occupational Health and Safety programs and research regarding health and safety in the trucking industry.