Instructors' Expertise

Scott Milkovich
Senior Vice President for Intertek Risk Assessment and Management North America. and a distinguished scholar of composite material evaluation, non-destructive assessment, structural analysis, and process control. As both scientist and staff instructor, he was responsible for the creation of the Composite Materials Processing Laboratory at Northwestern University. His clinical experience spans over 25 years researching product safety techniques and practices from analysis of electronic support structures on the B-2 Stealth Bomber to physical modeling of suspension strangulation on adolescents. As the recipient of the Seymour Cohen Award for best original research, he has devoted his career to teaching the masses about risk monitoring and prevention from design to distribution. He has written several articles and journal publications on product safety and is a leading member of SENTAC, ICPHSO, and the ECOSA.
Email: scott.milkovich@intertek.com  

Ruud Overbeek
Dr. Rudolf Alfred Overbeek (Ruud) has been with Intertek since 2003. Initially as Business Development Director Global Outsourcing, designing optimal outsourced solutions to fit Intertek's client's technical and business requirements, Ruud has since 2006 taken up the leadership role managing Intertek's cross-divisional Restricted Substances business. In this role he has been setting up global, practical, and solution-based services to help companies and their suppliers fulfilling the requirements of the various forthcoming global legislations while ensuring an uninterrupted business flow during the enforcement of such legislations. Before joining Intertek, Ruud was a Vice President in a high tech combinatorial chemistry and high throughput experimentation start-up in the Netherlands and a Technology Development Manager in ABB, a major global engineering company, in the USA. Ruud holds a BSc, MSc and Doctorate in Chemistry from Utrecht University, the Netherlands.
Email: ruud.overbeek@intertek.com  

Joel Pekay
Joel joined Intertek in 2006 as the Global Marketing and Business Development Director for Restricted Substances. Prior to joining Intertek, he led the marketing and global business management for restricted substances at Underwriters Laboratories. He has also served on the executive and senior management team of technology, communications, Internet, and wireless companies. Mr. Pekay received Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Drake University.
Email: joel.pekay@intertek.com  

Gene Rider
Intertek Vice President. He has devoted his life to risk analysis and design safety, particularly for consumer products. Working closely with the medical community to develop innovative technologies for assessing the risks posed by consumer products, he has achieved influential status as the leading force in injury prevention with special focus on adolescent exposure. The technologies developed by his corporation have been shared with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and, even more importantly, have been applied to help clients effectively integrate safety into their product designs and business processes. Under his unique direction, RAM has grown to be the world leader in essential safety, providing services to major companies such as Procter & Gamble, SC Johnson, Kraft and NIKE. As the author of numerous articles and publications, he has been asked to write the “Physical Hazards” and “Risk Management” sections in the Encyclopedia of Toxicology, 2nd ed.
Email: gene.rider@intertek.com  

Daniel Stool
Daniel Stool, skilled inventor and artist, holds the title of Human Factors Research Scientist at Intertek. He is an experienced corporate instructor in the field of safety and a prominent author of over 30 publications. Most recently, he was responsible for the concept and construction of the Virtual Child Models (virtual and physical simulations of the anatomy of children) used in risk analysis. His ability to quantify and assess human anatomy has enabled him to develop accurate hazard models for companies worldwide. Fusing biomechanical properties with advanced computer technologies, he has effectively built groundbreaking simulations such as the Suffocation Hazard Assessment Model and Strangulation Hazard Assessment Model to examine the cause and effect of consumer injury.
Email: daniel.stool@intertek.com  

Hal Stratton
Mr. Stratton is Senior Counsel in Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck’s Albuquerque office and a member of the Litigation and Government Relations Groups. With more than 30 years of experience, Mr. Stratton advises and counsels clients in the areas of product safety regulation, products liability litigation, state and federal government regulation and multistate and class action litigation with an emphasis on product safety and liability as well as areas affected by the state attorneys general. Mr. Stratton also counsels clients in the areas of international trade, regulation, and product health and safety. Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Stratton was a member of Dykema Gossett PLLC in Washington, DC. He is currently adjunct professor of law at George Mason University School of Law where he created and teaches a course on state attorneys general and multistate litigation and regulation. Mr. Stratton previously served as Chairman of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the federal agency responsible for regulation and implementation of safety standards for over 15,000 consumer products. In his role as CPSC Chairman, Mr. Stratton founded the Office of International Programs and entered into cooperative agreements with counterpart safety agencies in China, Mexico, Canada, India, Israel and the European Union, among others. Also during his tenure at the CPSC, Mr. Stratton delivered over 100 keynote speeches, lectures and seminars throughout the U.S. and abroad and implemented numerous consumer safety initiatives including the promulgation of the first major regulation by the CPSC, implementation of the nation’s largest ever consumer recall, creation of the web site www.recalls.gov and development of the retailer reporting model for more efficient reporting of substantial product hazards to the CPSC by it’s stakeholders. In 1991, he co-founded the law firm of Stratton & Cavin, P.A. in Albuquerque. In 1986, Mr. Stratton was elected as New Mexico Attorney General and is the only Republican to serve in that position since 1930.
Email: HStratton@BHFS.com  

Elizabeth Turnbull
Elizabeth Turnbull, Senior Safety Engineer at Intertek, is a global expert in both quality assurance programs and product safety training. As a professional technology officer for the Defense Clothing and Textiles Agency, she proficiently conducted numerous supplier and manufacturer surveillance visits for the continual auditing and certification of both systems and products for an array of established corporations. As a sourcing specialist with Nike’s (SRT – Strategic Response Team), she successfully achieved world class quality through the design and implementation of supplier approval and ranking criteria as well as through the conception, design, and development of Nike’s renowned cost of quality database. She is a primary liaison between Intertek’s esteemed team of safety engineers and various fortune 500 companies within the beverage, toy, and textile industries executing intensive product safety training courses across the globe to insure the essential safety of consumer products.
Email: elizabeth.turnbull@intertek.com

Europe Instructor Region  

Gareth Emerson
Bilingual academic of electronic engineering, is Director for Intertek Risk Assessment and Management's European Office. Awarded meritorious achievement for his outstanding educational studies in Johannesburg, South Africa, he has become a skilled specialist in both project methodology design and coordination. His knowledge of mechanical, electrical, and hydraulic industries has prepared him for the road ahead teaching corporations and business institutions alike on project management and business processes. His experience in strategically implementing effective safety procedures and policies has made him an influential asset to the industry.
Email: gareth.emerson@intertek.com  

Geraldine Healy 
Senior Safety Engineer for Intertek Risk Assessment and Management's European Office, has exceptional knowledge and experience working in both the medical and clinical services industries. She offers unique support to the engineering team at Intertek with a MSc in Science and BSc in health science and a skilled background in medical terminology, literature, physical / cognitive processes, as well as child development. She most recently worked at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in London interfacing with both public and private health professionals. She has personally presented at as well as attended prestigious training courses enhancing the communication and understanding of consumer injury and prevention.
Email: geraldine.healy@intertek.com  

Jeremy Opperer 
European Technical Operations Manager for Intertek Risk Assessment and Management's European Office, recently received his Doctorate in Mechanical Engineering. As a Research Assistant at the Center for Intelligent Processing of Composites, he contributed to the advancement of statistically based quality control. His previous work has provided valuable insight into the product development process. He has successfully written and collaborated on several publications regarding quality control and processing, and has presented at various international conferences. In addition, his experience designing toys in the past for a major manufacturer has supported his knowledge and understanding of consumer concern and adherence to safety standards.
Email: jeremy.opperer@intertek.com  

Asia Instructor Region

Nelson Chan
Dr. Nelson Chan, PhD, BEng, CEng, FIMechE - As the Vice President of Asia Pacific Operations for Intertek Risk Assessment & Management, Nelson has developed consumer product safety and quality assurance programs highlighting injury prevention for many brand name companies. Nelson was educated in the UK and has worked in many countries including UK, Canada, US, China and Hong Kong. Nelson possesses a doctorate degree in Biomedical Engineering and is a Professional Chartered Engineer (CEng). He was elected as a Fellow Member of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (FIMechE) for his contribution in advancing the science of engineering and his contribution in engineering education. With his background in the areas of Biomedical Engineering, Injury Prevention and Manufacturing Operations, Nelson also has an extensive experience in the areas of project management, design of laboratory equipment, scientific research and social accountability. In Intertek, Nelson is responsible for the development and operations for Asia Pacific and also manages safety, quality assurance and social accountability programs for customers. He has made extensive contributions to brand name companies to achieve the goal of injury reduction, prevention and social accountability. Nelson also heavily involves in the research and development of new technologies for assessing hazards on consumer products and has published and array of journals worldwide in the area of biomechanics, safety and quality. He is also a member of ISO working committee on Image Safety.
Email: nelson.chan@intertek.com  

Perry Chan
An associate member of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers and a graduate member of the Hong Kong Institute of Engineers. He has organized total quality management and assurance systems for diverse clientele across the globe. Solely responsible for the implementation of ISO 9001/9002 for Meinhardt Consulting Engineers Ltd., he successfully transformed an entire corporation into a quality assertive entity. With over a decade of experience in supplier / vendor relations, he strategically implements site safety and analysis of injury data. He is fluent in English, Cantonese, and Mandarin and a master interpreter of business information systems.
Email: perry.chan@intertek.com  

Andrew Dale
Andrew Dale, international product liability lawyer and of counsel at Orrick's Hong Kong office, has extensive experience in international commercial litigation, product liability and internal corporate investigations. His recent accomplishments include examination and resolution of product liability and recall issues, obtaining substantial bank disclosure orders, appointing provisional liquidators, and advising upon legal regulatory issues for prestigious corporations in Asia Pacific and Europe. He has been practicing law in Hong Kong for six years and prior to that in London.

Allan Leung
Senior Partner and head of Commercial Dispute Resolution Practice in Asia for Lovells law firm. He deals with a broad range of commercial dispute work with particular emphasis on product liability, contentious insolvency, fraud, asset recovery, regulatory affairs, defamation, professional indemnity, and other insurance related matters. He is also involved in PRC related arbitration and litigation for a variety of foreign corporations. Recognized as an outstanding litigator, he has authored, co-authored, and edited prominent publications concerning civil procedures and Product Liability. He was Chairman of the Hong Kong Law Society’s Working Party on Civil Justice Reform (2002 - 2004), is a member of the Joint Tribunal of the Law Society and Bar Association of Hong Kong, and an external examiner of the Postgraduate Certificate in Law Civil Advocacy at Hong Kong University. He also served as a Temporary Master of the Court of First Instance of the Hong Kong SAR.
Email: allan.leung@Lovells.com  

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