REGINA — Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation CEO Phillip Germain has been elected volunteer secretary general and Kevin Mooney, vice-president of prevention and employer services is elected as volunteer president of the bureau of the International Social Security Association’s (ISSA) International Section on Prevention in the Mining Industry.
Following the election in Bochum, Germany, as of January 2026, Mooney and Germain will lead ISSA’s global membership in advancing occupational health and safety in mining through international collaboration and knowledge sharing. The section’s mission is to promote globally accepted working conditions and safety standards across large mining enterprises and small-scale extractive industries.
“We are pleased to extend our congratulations to Kevin and Phillip for these elections at the international level, which are a testament to Saskatchewan’s growing leadership in workplace safety,” said Gord Dobrowolsky, chair of the Saskatchewan WCB. “These roles will contribute meaningfully to global safety standards in mining as they work to address complex safety issues in the industry.”
Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, ISSA is a non-profit which is the leading international organization for social security institutions, bringing together more than 320 agencies from 150 countries. Its special commission on workplace safety and prevention includes 14 international sections focused on safety standards in specific industries, including mining.
Both Germain and Mooney bring decades of experience in health, safety and prevention leadership, including leadership of WorkSafe Saskatchewan at the WCB.
“The workplace is changing which creates new safety challenges for safety leaders. Collaboration is a core value and this volunteer position is a tremendous opportunity to bring together like minds as we partner together to tackle safety issues facing industries today,” said Germain.
Germain has been a leader in health and safety before becoming CEO of the WCB in 2019. After moving to Saskatchewan in 1995, he held progressive leadership positions focused on prevention, employer services and policy. His volunteer service spans provincial and international organizations dedicated to safety, disability prevention and work-injury insurance. His background is grounded in collaboration with industry, labour and community partners to deliver better outcomes in safety and prevention.
Mooney has also been a leader in safety and prevention across the province and holds an MBA from the University of Fredericton and a Bachelor of Human Justice from the University of Regina. As a Canadian registered safety professional, his career spans law enforcement, transportation, agriculture and retail sectors. Throughout his career, he has received formal recognitions, including the Saskatchewan Safety Professional of the Year and the Premier’s Award for Excellence in the Public Service.
“As workplaces change, so do safety issues. I am excited to play a further role in addressing some of these complex safety issues through collaboration here in Saskatchewan and around the world,” said Mooney, who also serves as the Saskatchewan representative on the Council of Governors for the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) and previously served as the president of the Saskatchewan Safety Council and chair of the South Saskatchewan Chapter of the Canadian Society of Safety Engineering.
“We have an opportunity to look at what others are doing and showcase safety innovations that we are seeing right here in Saskatchewan. I look forward to fostering partnerships that will help improve safety outcomes in mining communities locally and around the world.”
ISSA Mining is planning an international mining safety conference in Saskatoon, Sask. Sept. 22-24, 2026.
“On behalf of ISSA Mining, we are pleased to partner with the Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation Board, Saskatchewan Mining Association and the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum to host this premier international event dedicated to advancing safety, health and well-being in mining,” said Mooney.
Learn more about the event at issasafety.cim.org.
