Dr. Mark Fleming, Professor, St. Mary’s University
Dr. Mark Fleming is a Professor of Psychology at Saint Mary’s University in Halifax and, from 2013 to 2018, served as the CN Professor of Safety Culture, the first appointment of its kind. He leads SMU’s Safety Culture Research Group, where his team develops practical, evidence-based tools that help organizations strengthen the effectiveness and efficiency of their safety management systems.
Over more than two decades, Dr. Fleming has partnered with railways, regulators, and other high-hazard industries to assess culture, identify leading indicators, and translate insights into targeted improvement. His work emphasizes what leaders and front-line teams can do manage risk and create sustainable change. He is widely recognized for developing novel approaches including the safety culture maturity model and safety culture indicators.
At RailCan25, Dr. Fleming will outline innovative strategies for driving safety improvement including how to address the underlying issues rather that surface symptoms. Attendees will leave with clear, actionable ideas they can adapt immediately to their own operations. Examples will be drawn from rail operations and recent regulatory contexts.
