ABOUT

Join us October 6 - 8, 2025 at the Delta Hotel St. John's in
St. John's Newfoundland and Labrador for the International Regulators’ Forum (IRF), International Offshore Petroleum Environmental Regulators (IOPER) and International Upstream Forum (IUF) meetings.

IRF AGM, IOPER AGM, and the IUF attendees are invited to the IRF Conference free of charge on October 9-10, 2025.

OCTOBER 6 - 10 HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS

October 6-8: The IRF AGM, IOPER AGM and the IUF meetings will take place at the Delta Hotel St. John’s.

October 9-10: The IRF Conference will take place at the St. John’s Convention Centre.

Organizers have secured reservation blocks at select hotels to make your stay seamless.

Group Reservation Details

The attendees can enjoy exclusive room rates. Book by the deadlines below to claim these offers. For the best proximity to the event venue, we recommend:

Delta Hotel St. John's

Event venue

Rate: $259 CAD per room
Call 1-800-268-1133 and reference the International Regulators’ Forum to book.
Booking deadline: September 5, 2025

Hilton Garden Inn

230 metres from the venue

Rate: $169 CAD per room
Call 1-709-383-1310 and reference the International Regulators’ Forum group rate.
Click here to book online
Booking deadline: August 20, 2025

Alt Hotel St. John's

1.1 kilometres from the venue

Rate: $179 CAD per room
Call 1-709-383-2125 and reference the International Regulators' Forum block.
Click here to book online
Booking deadline: August 28, 2025
GETTING HERE

St. John's International Airport (YYT) is the closest airport to the city centre, just a quick 10-15 minute drive from downtown. It's a three-hour flight from Toronto, with additional connections from major Canadian airports.

TRANSPORTATION
Uber is now available in Newfoundland and Labrador. Alternatively, you can take a taxi. We recommend:
  • Jiffy Cabs
    Call 709-722-2222 or download the "Jiffy Cabs" app
  • City Wide Taxi
    Call 709-722-7777 or download the "City Wide Taxi" app

EXPLORE ST. JOHN'S

Experience one of the oldest and easternmost cities in North America.
St. John's is a vibrant blend of history, culture, and breathtaking coastal beauty. Wander through Jelly Bean Row, a colourful stretch of historic row houses, savour world-class cuisine, and explore scenic trails that lead to stunning ocean views.

Here are some must-visit spots while you're in town.

For the Foodies

Indulge in some of St. John's renowned culinary scene, from cozy cafés to award-winning restaurants:

  • Bannerman Brewing Co.
    Perfect for a morning coffee or an evening pint.
  • Portage Restaurant
    Recognized as one of Canada's top 100 restaurants.
  • Birdie Coffee
    A must-visit for delectable pastries.
  • The Parlour
    Handmade gelato heaven.
  • Terre Restaurant and Café
    A top spot for brunch, dinner, or a quick coffee.
  • Adelaide Oyster House
    Fresh oysters & globally inspired cuisine.
  • The Duke of Duckworth
    Legendary fish and chips. As seen on CBC's Republic of Doyle.
  • Blue on Water
For the Hikers

Immerse yourself in the rugged beauty of Newfoundland's coastline. The East Coast Trail has over 300 km of coastal route with 25 paths to explore. Plan your adventure at the East Coast Trail. Below are some of the most iconic paths near the city:

  • North Head Trail
    The city's oldest and most popular hike, leading through The Narrows up to Signal Hill.
  • Sugarloaf Path
    A scenic 8 km trek starting in Quidi Vidi Village and ending in Logy Bay.
  • Cape Spear
    Experience breathtaking views of the rugged coastline of North America's easternmost point.
For the Culture Seekers

Discover the city's rich heritage and creative spirit:

  • The Rooms
    A cultural landmark showcasing art, history, and breathtaking views.
  • Quidi Vidi Village
    A charming fishing village turned artisan hub, home to the world-famous Quidi Vidi Brewery.
  • Cabot Tower on Signal Hill
    Overlooking the city, this historic site offers incredible views and fascinating history.

Want to explore more?
Visit Destination St. John’s

Agenda

session time icon10/09/2025 08:00 am

Registration — St. John's Convention Centre Main Entrance

session time icon10/09/2025 08:30 am

Opening Plenary — Bowring Ballroom

Facilitated by Roger Grimes (Chair of Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Energy Regulator)

session time icon10/09/2025 08:30 am

Land Acknowledgement — Bowring Ballroom

Land Acknowledgement (Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Energy Regulator)    

session time icon10/09/2025 08:30 am

Welcome by IRF Management Committee — Bowring Ballroom

IRF Management Committee (Sue McCarry / National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority)

session time icon10/09/2025 08:30 am

CAPP Safety Moment Video "Offshore Workforce Perspectives on Safety" — Bowring Ballroom

David Hancock (Chair of CAPP's Atlantic Canada Safety Committee)

session time icon10/09/2025 09:15 am

Why are we not learning from accidents? — Bowring Ballroom

FACILITATOR

Dave Randell (Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Energy Regulator)

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Dr. Nippin Anand

session time icon10/09/2025 10:15 am

Break

session time icon10/09/2025 10:45 am

Innovation in Training - Stream 1 — Bowring Ballroom

FACILITATOR

Robert Normore

(Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Energy Regulator )

Speaker 1: Zdenek Sehnal (International Well Control Forum)

Subject 1: Innovation in well control training

Speaker 2: Captain Chris Hearn (Marine Institute)

Subject 2: Lowering the risk and controlling the response:

Major emergency management and scenario based training using our HF expertise, simulation capacity and emergency response experience

Speaker 3: Dawn Patten (Virtual Marine)

Subject 3: Advances in simulated training

session time icon10/09/2025 10:45 am

Workforce Engagement - Stream 2 — Bannerman Ballroom

Facilitator: Keith Pike (ExxonMobil)

Speaker: Diana Khatun (International Association of Oil & Gas Producers)                                           

Subject: Safety by numbers: Call for action

Speaker: Dale Brow (ExxonMobil)

Subject: Innovation through workforce engagement & personnel safety management system

session time icon10/09/2025 12:00 pm

Networking Lunch

session time icon10/09/2025 01:00 pm

The Ocean Ranger — Bowring Ballroom

Quintessenial Vocal Ensemble performing “Atlantic Blue”

Facilitator: Tina Putt

session time icon10/09/2025 01:30 pm

Aging Facilities: Innovations with respect to managing and predicting lifetime and issues with aging assets - Stream 1 — Bowring Ballroom

Facilitator: Marshall Conway (Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Energy Regulator)

Speaker 1: Harvey Johnstone (International Association of Oil & Gas Producers)

Subject 1: Aging facilities

Speaker 2: John Cadigan (Enaimco)

Subject 2: Managing aging assets safely: A roadmap for data-driven innovation in offshore operations 

session time icon10/09/2025 01:30 pm

Breakthroughs in Investigation Techniques and Sharings - Stream 2 — Bannerman Ballroom

Facilitator: Ryan Brown (Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Energy Regulator)

Speaker: Zoë Gulley

session time icon10/09/2025 02:45 pm

Break

session time icon10/09/2025 03:15 pm

How New Technology is Impacting Work in the Offshore Industry — Bowring Ballroom

Facilitator: Finn Carlson (Havtil)

Panelists:

Jim Rocco (The International Association of Drilling Contractors)

Kerry Moreland (ExxonMobil)

Diana Khatun (International Association of Oil & Gas Producers)

Torleif Husebo (Havtil)

Dr. Irfan Nawaz (Lloyd's Register)

session time icon10/09/2025 04:15 pm

Day 1 Wrap-up — Bowring Ballroom

Facilitator: Jill Mackey (Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Energy Regulator)

session time icon10/09/2025 04:30 pm

Social Event — St. John's Convention Centre Foyer

Informal networking social with drinks, hot and cold hors d'oeuvres, and live music

session time icon10/10/2025 08:00 am

Registration — St. John's Convention Centre Main Entrance

session time icon10/10/2025 08:30 am

Workplace NL Safety Moment — Bowring Ballroom

DeeAnne Feltham-Scott (WorkplaceNL)

session time icon10/10/2025 08:40 am

Exploring Titanic: Managing Risk in Extreme Environments — Bowring Ballroom

Facilitator: Keith Landra (Canada Energy Regulator)

Keynote Speaker: Larry Daley

session time icon10/10/2025 09:40 am

Safety in the Renewable Energy Industry — Bowring Ballroom

Facilitator: Christine Bonnell-Eisnor (Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Energy Regulator)

Speaker: Beate Hildenbrand (G+)

session time icon10/10/2025 10:20 am

Break

session time icon10/10/2025 10:50 am

Human Factors & AI - Stream 1 — Bowring Ballroom

Facilitator: Laura Critch (Equinor)

Speaker 1: Linn Iren Vestly Bergh (Havtil) 

Subject 1: AI and safety 

Speaker 2: Dr. Steven Mallam (Marine Institute)

Subject 2: AI, AI captain! Who needs human factors in a world of autonomy? 

session time icon10/10/2025 10:50 am

Regulator session on keeping up with emerging technologies: Managing new tech with old regulations - Stream 2 — Bannerman Ballroom

Facilitator: Nick Dawtry (Worksafe NZ)

Speaker 1: Torleif Husebo (Havtil)

Subject 1: Implementing new technology in the light of goal oriented regulatory requirements

Speaker 2: Matthew Blackburn (Health and Safety Executive)

Subject 2: Challenges of recognising, understanding and adapting regulatory regimes for emerging technologies

session time icon10/10/2025 11:45 am

Networking Lunch

session time icon10/10/2025 12:45 pm

Regulatory Sandboxes: Capture vs. Collaboration - Stream 1 — Bowring Ballroom

Facilitator: Stephen Hanson-Hall (Health and Safety Executive)

Speaker 1: Samantha Peace (Health and Safety Executive)

Subject 1: Capture vs Collaboration, the UK experience

Speaker 2: Seb Corby (Safetytech Accelerator)

Subject 2: Redrawing the lines: How regulatory sandboxes and collaborative innovation are rewriting the tech–industry–regulator relationship 

session time icon10/10/2025 12:45 pm

Operational Safety - Stream 2 — Bannerman Ballroom

Facilitator: Robert Mout (Dutch State Supervision of Mines)

Speaker 1: Nicole Deyell  (Energy Safety Canada)

Subject 1: The evolution of safety in energy: A Canadian perspective

Speaker 2: Tristan Grech (Cougar Helicopters)

Subject 2: Compliance and how we are using innovation to support it   

Speaker 3: Garud Sridhar (SLB)

Subject 3: Why remote operations matter now

session time icon10/10/2025 01:40 pm

How can AI and emerging technologies be used in risk management, trending and operations - Bowring Ballroom

Facilitator: Linn Iren Vestly Bergh (Havtil)

Speaker 1: Dr. Irfan Nawaz (Lloyd's Register)

Subject 1: AI and Emerging Technologies – reshaping risk management, trend analysis and operations

Speaker 2: Arne Jarl Ringstad (Equinor)

Subject 2: Digitalization in major accident prevention

session time icon10/10/2025 03:00 pm

The Responsible Use of Innovative Technologies and AI — Bowring Ballroom

Facilitator: Rob McGrath (Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Energy Regulator)

Panelists:

Scott Tessier (Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Energy Regulator) 

Sue McCarrey (National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environment Management Authority) 

Sigve Knudsen (Havtil) 

Samantha Peace (Health and Safety Executive) 

Luiz Henrique de Oliveira Bispo (Brazilian National Agency for Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels) 

session time icon10/10/2025 04:00 pm

Conference Wrap-up — Bowring Ballroom

Facilitator: Scott Tessier (Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Energy Regulator) 

Theodor Kockelkoren (Dutch State Supervision of Mines) 

RELIVE THE HIGHLIGHTS

IRF 2023



Frequently Asked Questions


Add Settings

Yes, there are several parking options close to the event space. They include:

Private Parking Garages (paid):

  • 351 Water Street (Three Fifty One)
  • 330 Duckworth Street (Metro Park)
  • 1 Clift’s-Baird’s Cove (A.P. Parking Garage)
  • St. John’s Convention Centre (limited parking available)

City Hall Parking Garage:

  • 10 New Gower Street
  • Open to the public after 5 p.m. on weekdays and all weekend.
  • Permit-only before 5 p.m. on weekdays

On-Street Parking (paid):

  • Available throughout downtown, including New Gower Street.
  • Free after 6 p.m. and on weekends.
  • $1.75/hour during paid hours.
  • Pay at nearby stations or use the PayByPhone app.
  • Maximum parking times are posted in each area and listed on the City of St. John's website.
In St. John’s, October usually brings cool temperatures — around 10°C during the day and 4°C at night — with an average of 13 days of rain. Locals have a nickname for our classic forecast: RDF (rain, drizzle, and fog). It tends to show up when you least expect it, so pack layers and don’t forget a raincoat or umbrella.
For a quick snack or essentials, look for Marie’s Mini Mart or Needs Convenience — local favourites for on-the-go items. If you need a pharmacy, Neighbourhood Pharmacy is the only one located in downtown St. John’s. You’ll find it at 78 Queens Road, open weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Larger pharmacies like Shoppers Drug Mart and Lawtons Drugs are also available outside the downtown core.
Check out Destination St. John’s, a destination marketing organization that highlights events, experiences, and places to explore around the city. Visit destinationstjohns.com.
The IRF Conference will be held at the St. John’s Convention Centre, which is directly connected to the Delta Hotel by a convenient pedway. Or, it is a quick walk across the street. There will be wayfinding signage onsite to assist you.

Yes! Both the St. John’s Convention Centre and the Delta Hotel are wheelchair-accessible.

  • St. John’s Convention Centre:
    • Public sidewalks have curb cuts for wheelchair access.
    • Automatic doors at the main entrance (New Gower Street) and parking garage entrance.
    • Wheelchair-accessible restrooms throughout the building.
  • Delta Hotel:
    • All meeting rooms and common areas in the conference centre are wheelchair-accessible.
St. John’s is in Newfoundland Standard Time (NST) — one of the few time zones with a half-hour difference. That means we’re GMT-2:30.
St. John's has multiple reputable taxi services available including Bugden's Taxi 1-709-722-4400, City Wide Taxi 1-709-722-7777, and Jiffy Cabs 1-709-722-2222. City Wide Taxi has a stand at the St. John's International Airport. Uber is also available throughout the city and can be accessed via the app.