*Apologises for cross-posting* 
 
 The honour of your company is requested at the joint Imperial College London 
and Lloyd's Register Educational Trust Annual Lecture in Transport Risk 
Management.
 
This year Gretchen Burrett, Director of Safety at NATS will present "Ignore 
people at your peril: practical lessons from aviation safety".
 
The lecture will take place on Wednesday 14 October 2009 at 17.30 in Clore 
Lecture Theatre, Huxley Building, Imperial College London, South Kensington 
Campus, London, SW7 2AZ. 
 
Travel information for the South Kensington Campus can be found by following 
this link - http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/campusinfo/southkensington.
 
Tea and coffee will be served from 16.45 and a drinks reception will follow the 
lecture, both in the Senior Common Room, Level 2, Sherfield Building.
 
Attendance at this lecture is free with registration in advance. To RSVP please 
email [log in to unmask]
 
Further event details can be found below.
 
Abstract:The day-to-day decisions and actions of people keep aviation as one 
of the safest forms of transport. Optimising human performance is central to 
achieving our safety goals. However, traditional approaches to safety were 
designed to optimise the reliability of the equipment and not total system 
(human + machine) performance. In my experiences working on the human 
factors aspects of intercontinental ballistic missiles, military aircraft, air traffic 
control, Navy sonar systems and Army battlefield equipment – there are clearly 
emergent common themes. This talk will focus on these key themes and 
practical techniques for delivering tangible business outcomes for the people 
aspects of the system. I will touch on management decision making, culture, 
design, validation and continuous improvement of human performance in safety 
critical systems. Increasingly, as we improve technology, the role of the 
human continues to change and poses new challenges for total system 
effectiveness. In order to effectively manage the safety of our systems a 
practical, professional approach to the people aspects is essential.
 
Biography: Gretchen is an internationally recognised expert in human factors, 
and respected throughout the industry for her knowledge and leadership of 
safety performance. As Director of Safety at NATS, Gretchen has championed 
and given focus to those activities that provide front line operational safety 
benefit. She has also worked to increase partnership within the global aviation 
safety community and is chair of the CANSO Safety Steering Group. Prior to 
joining NATS, she has worked in nuclear certification and safety of 
intercontinental ballistic missiles, joint airworthiness trials for military aircraft, 
design and development of defence systems, and as an expert advisor to 
NATO on human performance and safety critical systems. Gretchen has a 
strong aviation background, having served in the US Air Force, flown jet and 
piston aircraft, and led a multi-national team of test pilots and aircraft 
designers through the development and execution of a new approach to 
operational performance and safety certification.  
 
If you have any questions please feel free to contact me.
 
Best wishes
Laura
 
Laura Brown

Events Officer

Imperial College London 

Communications Division

Level 5 Sherfield Building

South Kensington Campus

London

SW7 2AZ

 

 

Tel: ++44 (0)20 7594 8050

Fax: ++44 (0)20 7594 6700

[log in to unmask]

www.imperial.ac.uk/events

 

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