Meet the Team

Zdenek Sehnal joined IWCF as the Chief Executive Officer in September 2021. With almost 40 years of experience in the oil and gas industry, Zdenek worked for 33 years at Equinor (Statoil) one of the world’s leading energy companies. He spent the rest of his career to date with Baker Hughes, DNV and Sunderland Polytechnic.

Zdenek has a broad depth of technical knowledge and experience in drilling, completion, interventions - particularly snubbing, well control and well integrity.

Having international experience in Azerbaijan, UK, Russia (Siberia), Denmark, Holland, Italy, Nigeria and the US, Zdenek has been involved with well control matters since his first experience on the Saga Petroleum, well 2/4-14, in 1989 working closely with Boots and Coots. At the time it was the most expensive blowout in the world. Since then, he has been involved in resolving numerous well control incidents both directly and as part of investigations teams.

From 2011 to 2021, Zdenek represented the Norwegian branch on the IWCF board of directors. In 2016 he was elected as Chair of the IWCF board, a position he held until his retirement from Equinor in February 2021.

Joanna Taylor oversees the Examination, Assessment Development and Accreditation departments and ensures the successful continuance of the business operations.

Reporting directly to the CEO, she ensures the certification programmes and activities align with the mission and goals of the organisation.

Joanna works closely with the accredited training centres to ensure that programme activities comply with all relative legislation and professional standards.

For any questions related to our programmes please contact Joanna.

Lynne manages all compliance and audit related activity for IWCF, working closely with the CEO and IWCF Board to ensure best practice is followed throughout the organisation.

Lynne manages the IWCF audit programme and quality assurance process and also develops and maintains the compliance programme.

Lynne’s main responsibilities include implementing and maintaining the regulatory policies and procedures across the business.

For any compliance, quality assurance or audit queries, please contact Lynne.

Joyce manages the accounting functions for IWCF and its’ subsidiaries.

Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer, Joyce provides financial support including budgeting information and analysis to assist with effective decision making. She also works closely with the Finance Supervisor to ensure that they maintain good relationships with all members and suppliers.

For any questions related to accounts, please contact Joyce.

Kay is the principal contact for our accounts receivable function and works with our customers to ensure all invoicing queries are resolved and invoice payments are received within our terms.

Kay helps to ensure the accounting functions of our organisation are carried out in a timely, accurate and efficient manner.

For any questions related to accounts, please contact Kay.

Amy is the principal contact for our accounts payable function and works with our vendors to ensure all invoicing queries are resolved and invoices are paid in line with our vendor terms.

Amy provides liaison between the finance department and the other IWCF teams ensuring we have all the information required to produce timely and accurate financial reporting.

For any questions related to accounts, please contact Amy.

Sarah manages the accreditation team and is responsible for overseeing the accreditation of training providers, instructors and assessors accreditation.

Sarah works closely with our Senior Management and stakeholders to continuously improve the accreditation process and introduce new initiatives.

Sarah attends industry conferences, events, and the Australasian Branch Meetings; building rapport with members and communicating new initiatives and updates from IWCF.

For any accreditation enquiries please contact Sarah

Jodie is responsible for reviewing and approving primary centre applications throughout Europe, North and South America and Africa.

Jodie also works with existing centres to maintain centre details, complete programme reviews, instructor and assessor applications.

Jodie can also assist with booking onto the Train the Trainer and IWCF Assessor courses.

Please contact Jodie for any accreditation enquiries.

Gemma works with out existing centres to maintain centre details, complete programme reviews, instructor and assessor applications.

Gemma can also assist with booking onto the Train the Trainer and IWCF Assessor courses.

Please contact Gemma for any accreditation enquiries

Nicole is responsible for reviewing and approving primary centre applications throughout Australia, New Zealand and Asia.

Nicole also works with existing centres to maintain centre details, complete programme reviews, instructor and assessor applications.

Based in Australia, Nicole supports the Exams team by coordinating the scheduling, certification process for accredited centres in Australia, New Zealand and throughout South East Asia.

Please contact Nicole for any accreditation enquiries

Kerrie manages the compliance and quality assurance function within IWCF, working closely with the Senior Management and Heads of Departments to ensure best practise is implemented and followed throughout IWCF.

Kerrie’s main responsibilities include approving all quality assurance documentation for IWCF, providing regular statistical analysis of the continuous improvement process, conducting investigations on behalf of IWCF and managing the internal audit function.
Other responsibilities include monitoring and maintaining the H&S and ISO 9001:2015 requirements within IWCF including training for all staff.

For any compliance and quality assurance queries, please contact Kerrie.

Kevin is responsible for leading a team of regional auditors who conduct the audit programme for IWCF’s global network of accredited training centres.

Kevin’s other responsibilities include collating and reporting on statistical data in relation to audit findings and identifying areas in need of improvement.

For any audit queries, please contact Kevin.

Mark is an accredited IWCF Instructor and Assessor and has previously worked as a contractor working onshore and offshore. Mark has various experience with conventional and cyber simulators being used for training and assessments during well control and other drilling operations.

Mark also undertakes audits and provides technical support to our team of regional auditors.

For any audit queries, please contact Mark.

Ashley’s main responsibility is to monitor and maintain the quality assurance and document control function for IWCF. He works closely with all heads of departments to ensure that all processes and procedures are maintained in line with ISO 9001:2015.
Ashley works closely with the Compliance and Quality Assurance Manager to plan, schedule and report on the internal audits.

Other responsibilities include collating data for statistical analysis, reporting on continuous improvement and supporting the audit function.

For any quality assurance or document control queries, please contact Ashley.

Rachael manages the examinations team in order to provide administration support to international training and assessment centres.

Working closely with the Head of Operations and FORUM development team, Rachael manages the scheduling and certification process for training centres.

For any examination or FORUM related questions or guidance, please contact Rachael.

Faye Tait is a Customer Account Advisor within the Examinations team.

Faye works closely with our training centres and invigilators to ensure they have all the necessary information in place on FORUM for upcoming assessments. She is also responsible for approving new schedules in FORUM as well as issuing eCerts to successful candidates when they complete their assessments.

For any questions related to schedules or eCerts, please contact Faye.

Laura Goldie is a Customer Account Advisor in the Examinations team.

Laura works closely with our training centres and invigilators to ensure they have all the necessary information in place on FORUM for upcoming assessments. She is also responsible for approving new schedules in FORUM as well as issuing eCerts to successful candidates when they complete their assessments.

For any questions related to assessments or eCerts, please contact Laura.

Kirsty is a Customer Account Advisor in the Examinations team.

Kirsty works closely with our training centres and invigilators to ensure they have all the necessary information in place on FORUM for upcoming assessments. She is also responsible for approving new schedules in FORUM as well as issuing eCerts to successful candidates when they complete their assessments.

For any questions related to assessments or eCerts, please contact Kirsty.

Jenny Lindsay is responsible for maintaining our question database, eNetAssess. This includes editing, adding and generating new assessment materials.

Jenny works closely with the Training and Development department to address all candidate comments and reports on the findings regularly. Jenny also works closely with her team to offer support with translations and maintenance of questions in the system.

For any assessment quality questions, please contact Jenny.

Heather works within the Examinations Department to provide day to day administrative support, working closely with the Examinations System Specialist and Customer Account Advisors.

Leanne works within the Examinations Department to provide day to day administrative support, working closely with the Examinations System Specialist and Customer Account Advisors.

Kirsten manages all marketing, events and membership activity for IWCF.

Her main responsibilities include creating IWCF’s communication strategies and delivering these to our key stakeholders including members, candidates and training centres.

By working closely with all departments to gain understanding of new projects, Kirsten ensures these are communicated effectively to our global audience using information notices, monthly updates and social media channels.

Kirsten manages all of IWCF’s membership activity including welcoming new members and supporting all existing members including during the yearly renewal process.

Kirsten often attends industry events to meet with key stakeholders and liaise with potential members to promote IWCF’s values.

For any marketing, event or membership enquiries, please contact Kirsten.

Corey manages IWCF’s PR and communication strategy, delivering clear and consistent messaging to all stakeholders.

Her main responsibilities are to develop engaging content for key communication channels including newsletters, social media and website articles. She is responsible for the daily management of inboxes and online courses including customer queries. She also supports the administration of membership applications, certification and the membership renewal process.

By working closely with other departments, Corey assists with the implementation of the company mission, vision and values across internal and external communications.

She assists with the coordination and promotion of IWCF events to maximise attendance and engagement from members across the industry. Corey also attends industry events to meet with key stakeholders and liaise with potential members to promote IWCF’s values.

For any PR, communications, event or membership enquiries, please contact Corey.

Rae manages the Training and Development Department and is responsible for the development and continuous improvement of new and existing programmes of training and assessment, including translations into all approved languages.

Rae works closely with Senior Management and key stakeholders to develop innovative, relevant and engaging programmes of training and assessment aligned to our strategic goals.

A key part of Rae’s role is to measure, analyse and report on the performance of our programmes of training and assessment identifying areas for improvement. Rae designs and implements processes to ensure candidates receive a high-quality assessment whilst supporting the development of transformational change initiatives.

For any translation enquiries, please contact Rae.

Katrina is our Programmes and Assessment Development Specialist.

A large part of Katrina’s role is working with question writers and technical committees to make sure all assessment content is in line with IWCF guidelines.

Katrina is skilled in plain English writing and editing and assists the IWCF team to create clear written communication.

For any translation enquiries, please contact Katrina.

Gloria Garofalo is our Translation Adviser.

Gloria is responsible for creating and managing translation projects, working with our external translation partner and internal technical translators and reviewers. Gloria also works closely with the Examinations Team to process translated questions and investigate question comments on translations.

Gloria speaks Italian and English, and also understands Spanish and French (A1 level).

For any translation enquiries, please contact Gloria.

Paula Ornelas is our Training and Development Adviser.

Paula assists with the effective development and continuous improvement of IWCF programmes of training and assessment and is responsible for creating and maintaining all technical images used in IWCF assessments.

Paula works closely with technical translators and reviewers to investigate and resolve technical questions related to translated content.

Paula speaks Portuguese and English, and understands Spanish, French and Italian (A1 level).

For any translation enquiries, please contact Paula.

As Project Supervisor, Laura is responsible for the recording and monitoring of all board approved projects.

Laura works closely with all Heads of Departments and FORUM development team to ensure successful completion of agreed project deliverables.

For any IT or project related questions or guidance, please contact Laura.

Jill Chipchase provides governance and company secretarial support to the Trustee Directors.
Reporting directly to the Chair, she ensures the ongoing efficient operation of the IWCF Board of Trustee Directors, planning Board meetings and liaising with external regulators and advisors reviewing developments in corporate and charity governance to support Board effectiveness.