Executive Team

Mr. Whittaker is the President and Chief Executive Officer of United Safety and is based out of the global headquarters in Airdrie, Canada. Mr. Whittaker founded the company in 1987 and his vision and guidance have been a driving force in growing the business from a start-up to establishing it as a global leader.
His vision to create safe zones in high risk environments with unwavering commitment to the quality of service has served the company well and has put it on the path to continual success. He plays a critical role in overseeing key aspects of the business including Operations, Consulting, Sales, Field Management, Quality, Human Resources and Innovation.
Mr. Whittaker was the recipient of the “2010 Entrepreneur Of The Year” finalist by Ernst and Young, a prestigious award for leaders who have transformed innovative ideas into viable, sustainable enterprises, created jobs and built thriving communities. By showing tremendous focus and strength of character, these leaders have successfully taken their businesses to the next level.

Daryl Helmer is the Chief Financial Officer and is based out of the global headquarters in Airdrie, Canada. He comes with over 20 years of vast experience in the oil & gas industry and works closely with United Safety’s executive board, providing financial foresight and coordinating strategic planning and forecasting activities. He joined United Safety in 2006. In his previous company, he served as Director of Finance for Premium Brands Holding. Earlier in his career, Mr. Helmer held many financial roles while with Baker Hughes from 1988 through 1999. He received his accounting designation in 1999 from the Society of Management Accountants of Alberta (CMA).

Dr. Elie Daher is the Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer and is based out of the Eastern Hemisphere HQ in Dubai, UAE. Dr. Daher brings 27 years of Oil and Gas experience serving in multiple Operational, General Management, Consulting, Global Marketing and Sales roles in Reservoir Characterization, Software and Technology, Technical and Business Consulting, in over 15 different countries for Schlumberger.
Dr. Daher serves on several advisory boards and committees namely Chief Marketing Officer Council (CMO), The Business Performance Management (BPM), Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) HSE advisory board, IADC HSE committee as well as Engineering and MBA programs at the American University in Dubai (AUD).
Dr. Daher holds a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from ESIB-Beirut, a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) and a Doctorate degree in Business Administration from Southern Cross University – Australia.

Timothy Wallace is the Executive Vice President for the Western Hemisphere and is based out of Houston, USA. He has previously held the position of United Safety’s Vice President for USA, and has over 20 years of experience in leadership positions at global manufacturing and service companies including Sulzer Chemtech and Chemineer Inc. Prior to joining United Safety, he was the Senior Vice President of Sales & Marketing for Corrpro where he led significant sales growth in the oil, gas, and pipeline markets. Mr. Wallace has a BS in Chemical Engineering from the University of New Hampshire and an MBA from the University of Massachusetts.

Randy Becker is Senior Vice President for Technology and Supply Chain. He is based out of the global headquarters in Airdrie, Canada. Mr. Becker has 16 years of experience with United Safety and more than 30 years of experience in the oil and gas industry. He comes with a strong background in Operations, Purchasing, Technical Support and Innovation. Mr. Becker plays a key role in advising and implementing legacy-building innovations for the company and is the head of our global research and development team.

Douglas Heeley is Senior Vice President for Strategy, Integration and Development. Mr. Heeley previously served as Vice President for Human Resource, Health and Safety. He is based out of the global headquarters in Airdrie, Canada. He has been with United Safety for 20 years and has held senior roles in Training, Health, Safety, Quality and Corporate functions. Mr. Heeley is a member of the global strategic business function providing strategic support, global and cultural integration, change and people empowerment. He has broad international experience having worked in Europe, South East Asia, Middle East and the United States. Mr. Heeley is an active member of the Canadian Council of Human Resources Associations and the Society of Human Resources Management. He is a Certified Human Resources Professional and an Accredited Training and Development Professional with a degree minor in workplace learning, human resources management and adult education certification from the University of Calgary.

Shayne McCallum is Vice President for Canada and USA and is based out of the global headquarters in Airdrie, Canada. He has19 years’ experience in the oil and gas industry and has been with United Safety for 13 years. He has held a number of senior positions including Area Manager, Operations Manager and General Manager in multiple regions during this time. He has been instrumental in the growth and development of the Industrial service line which has the largest growth potential for United Safety worldwide. Mr. McCallum’s drive and passion for the company along with his background continues to contribute to the overall success of United Safety in Canada and United States, as well as around the world.

Babar Shah is the Vice President for Latin America, and is based out of our Canadian Headquarter. He has been with United Safety for 12 years and has served in a number of senior roles including Vice President and General Manager of International, General Manager of Saudi Arabia, Operations Manager of West Africa and Vice President for Latin America. Mr. Shah has a strong background in strategic planning, operations, business development, and project & country startups. He has broad international experience, having lived and worked in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, United States, Angola, Congo, UAE, Pakistan and Canada. He has a degree in Manufacturing Engineering from Boston University.

Darrell Dowd is the Vice President of Industrial, Eastern Hemisphere and is based out of Dubai, UAE. He comes with 26 years of experience in the oil and gas and petrochemical industry working in both owner/operator and contractor roles. Mr. Dowd has previously held positions such as VP Business Development and VP Americas. He has been instrumental in developing the industrial business around the globe and was responsible for the start-up of the USA business unit. Mr. Darrell’s expertise is major maintenance activities such as shutdowns, turnarounds and brown field expansion.