PHILLIP WHITTAKER
Edmonton
Summary
Strategic operations and operational readiness executive with more than 20 years of leadership experience delivering world-class refinery performance across construction, commissioning, start-up and ongoing operations. Recognized for leading operational readiness strategies, developing high-performing organizations and partnering across Operations, Engineering, Maintenance and Capital Projects to successfully transition complex industrial assets from construction into safe, reliable operation. Experienced leading large multidisciplinary teams, driving operational excellence, implementing governance frameworks, and strengthening organizational capability through coaching, continuous improvement and operational discipline. A collaborative leader who builds trust, develops people and delivers sustainable business results while maintaining an uncompromising commitment to safety.
Overview
24
24
years of professional experience
Work History
Operations Superintendent
North West Redwater Partnership
Sturgeon County
05.2015 - Current
- Joined the organization during construction of Canada’s first greenfield bitumen refinery and became a key leader in developing operational readiness, commissioning, start-up and long-term operational performance.
- Played a key leadership role in the commissioning and successful start-up of a new 78,000 barrel-per-day refinery.
- Led operational readiness activities supporting transition from construction to steady-state operations.
- Established operating standards, procedures and work practices for newly commissioned refinery assets.
- Built and developed high-performing operating teams responsible for safe, reliable production.
- Partnered closely with Engineering, Maintenance and Project organizations to ensure seamless operational handover.
- Managed operating and capital budgets while balancing safety, reliability, production and financial performance.
- Led Management of Change (MOC) governance and operational risk assessments.
- Conducted Pre-Start-up Safety Reviews (PSSR) to ensure operational readiness before startup.
- Directed operations for Tank Farms, Pipelines, Crude Units and Hydrotreaters.
- Led emergency response as Operations Section Chief within the Emergency Operations Centre.
- Oversaw turnaround planning, maintenance prioritization and outage execution.
- Improved operational reliability through proactive maintenance planning and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Performed operational acceptance testing of Emerson DeltaV control systems and Schneider process simulators.
Senior Control Room Operator
Irving Oil
Saint John
08.2002 - 05.2015
- Provided operational leadership within one of Canada’s largest refineries while supporting commissioning activities, refinery start-ups, shutdowns and operational improvement initiatives.
- Led refinery operations during critical start-up and shutdown activities.
- Supported Operator Driven Reliability implementation.
- Participated in TapRooT investigations to strengthen operational reliability.
- Developed operating procedures and training documentation.
- Mentored and developed new operators.
- Supported Management of Change initiatives.
- Coordinated turnaround execution.
- Maintained exceptional safety and environmental performance.
Education
Management Development Certificate -
University of Alberta
Leadership Development Program -
University of Alberta
Fourth Class Power Engineering -
Alberta Boilers Safety Association
Civil Engineering Technology -
New Brunswick Community College
Skills
- Operational Readiness (OR&A)
- Operational Excellence
- Commissioning & Start-up
- Large Capital Projects
- Project Governance
- Asset Operability
- Asset Reliability
- Organizational Change
- Continuous Improvement
- Management of Change (MOC)
- Pre-Start-up Safety Reviews (PSSR)
- Performance Optimization
- Operations Strategy
- Risk Management
- Emergency Response Leadership
- Cross-functional Leadership
- Budget & Cost Management
- Stakeholder Engagement
- Leadership Development
- Coaching & Mentoring
- Health, Safety & Environmental Leadership
Core Leadership Expertise
- Operational Readiness (OR&A)
- Operational Excellence
- Commissioning & Start-up
- Large Capital Projects
- Project Governance
- Asset Operability
- Asset Reliability
- Organizational Change
- Continuous Improvement
- Management of Change (MOC)
- Pre-Start-up Safety Reviews (PSSR)
- Performance Optimization
- Operations Strategy
- Risk Management
- Emergency Response Leadership
- Cross-functional Leadership
- Budget & Cost Management
- Stakeholder Engagement
- Leadership Development
- Coaching & Mentoring
- Health, Safety & Environmental Leadership
Leadership Philosophy
- Operational Readiness (OR&A)
- Operational Excellence
- Commissioning & Start-up
- Large Capital Projects
- Project Governance
- Asset Operability
- Asset Reliability
- Organizational Change
- Continuous Improvement
- Management of Change (MOC)
- Pre-Start-up Safety Reviews (PSSR)
- Performance Optimization
- Operations Strategy
- Risk Management
- Emergency Response Leadership
- Cross-functional Leadership
- Budget & Cost Management
- Stakeholder Engagement
- Leadership Development
- Coaching & Mentoring
- Health, Safety & Environmental Leadership
Additional Items
- Operational Readiness (OR&A)
- Operational Excellence
- Commissioning & Start-up
- Large Capital Projects
- Project Governance
- Asset Operability
- Asset Reliability
- Organizational Change
- Continuous Improvement
- Management of Change (MOC)
- Pre-Start-up Safety Reviews (PSSR)
- Performance Optimization
- Operations Strategy
- Risk Management
- Emergency Response Leadership
- Cross-functional Leadership
- Budget & Cost Management
- Stakeholder Engagement
- Leadership Development
- Coaching & Mentoring
- Health, Safety & Environmental Leadership
Executive Highlights
- Operational Readiness (OR&A)
- Operational Excellence
- Commissioning & Start-up
- Large Capital Projects
- Project Governance
- Asset Operability
- Asset Reliability
- Organizational Change
- Continuous Improvement
- Management of Change (MOC)
- Pre-Start-up Safety Reviews (PSSR)
- Performance Optimization
- Operations Strategy
- Risk Management
- Emergency Response Leadership
- Cross-functional Leadership
- Budget & Cost Management
- Stakeholder Engagement
- Leadership Development
- Coaching & Mentoring
- Health, Safety & Environmental Leadership
Professional Development
- Operational Readiness (OR&A)
- Operational Excellence
- Commissioning & Start-up
- Large Capital Projects
- Project Governance
- Asset Operability
- Asset Reliability
- Organizational Change
- Continuous Improvement
- Management of Change (MOC)
- Pre-Start-up Safety Reviews (PSSR)
- Performance Optimization
- Operations Strategy
- Risk Management
- Emergency Response Leadership
- Cross-functional Leadership
- Budget & Cost Management
- Stakeholder Engagement
- Leadership Development
- Coaching & Mentoring
- Health, Safety & Environmental Leadership
Timeline
Operations Superintendent
North West Redwater Partnership
05.2015 - Current
Senior Control Room Operator
Irving Oil
08.2002 - 05.2015
Management Development Certificate -
University of Alberta
Leadership Development Program -
University of Alberta
Fourth Class Power Engineering -
Alberta Boilers Safety Association
Civil Engineering Technology -
New Brunswick Community College