Keynote Speakers at NSC Congress 2025 to Address Leadership, Safety and Innovation
From OSHA’s acting chief to an Olympian and an entrepreneur, this year’s keynote lineup will provide perspectives on safety, leadership, and resilience.
- By David Kopf
- Sep 03, 2025
The 2025 NSC Safety Congress & Expo will be held Sept. 15–17 at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, with Professional Development Seminars before and after the main program. Each day of the Congress will feature keynote presentations aimed at providing inspiration and practical strategies to attendees.
On Sept. 15, four-time Olympian Chaunté Lowe will deliver the opening keynote, “Decision-Making to Win at the Game of Life.” Lowe will share personal experiences as an athlete and breast cancer survivor to illustrate lessons on resilience, adaptability, and sound decision-making.
Later that morning, the Campbell Institute Forum will address the use of leading indicators to prevent serious injuries and fatalities, exploring how ASTM standards are evolving to support proactive safety management.
The Sept. 16 Occupational Keynote will feature remarks from Amanda Wood Laihow, acting Assistant Secretary for OSHA. Laihow will provide insights into current worker safety challenges and enforcement priorities, followed by a discussion with NSC CEO Lorraine Martin.
That same day, Brian Fielkow, executive vice president of risk resources at Acrisure, will deliver the Leadership Keynote, focusing on strategies for aligning organizational accountability and safety performance during times of rapid change.
The final day, Sept. 17, will feature Chris Barton, founder of Shazam, who will present “Bringing Impossible Ideas to Life.” Barton’s session ties directly into the Safety Innovation Challenge, an event highlighting emerging technologies selected by attendee vote.
Together, the keynotes reflect a balance of personal inspiration, regulatory perspective, and forward-looking innovation. For attendees, the sessions provide opportunities to hear directly from leaders who shape and influence safety thinking in different contexts.
About the Author
David Kopf is the publisher and executive editor of Occupational Health & Safety magazine.