ASSP Energy Corridor Section Meeting – October 2026

TOPIC: Building the Future: Embracing the Cathedral Thinking Approach for High Reliability Organizations

SPEAKER: Paul Leonard, Principal at SinoCelt LLC and Senior Technical Advisor at Disrupt Software

Attendees will earn 0.1 CEUs for attending

JOIN US on October 8^th as we hear from Paul Leonard on “Building the Future: Embracing the Cathedral Thinking Approach for High Reliability Organizations”. Cathedral Thinking is a concept inspired by the construction of medieval cathedrals, which spanned generations and required meticulous planning, a solid foundation, and unwavering commitment. In the context of building a HRO, cathedral thinking emphasizes the importance of establishing a long-term vision while focusing on sustainable and systemic improvements. The foundation of this approach is trust. Visionary leadership is the cornerstone of our cathedral, articulating long-term objectives and instilling values of safety and excellence throughout the organization. Continuous learning represents the iterative process of refinement, encouraging adaptability and resilience. A focus on becoming a HRO ensures that the principles of cathedral thinking are embedded in daily operations. HROs operate under the understanding that failures can have catastrophic consequences, aligning every decision with the overarching desired goals. This is cathedral thinking in action – a persistent, disciplined approach to building something enduring and remarkable.

Paul A. Leonard is a globally experienced Health, Safety, and Environment executive with more than four decades of leadership across the chemical manufacturing and electric utility industries. He has held senior roles in the United States, France, Germany, China, Mexico, and Ireland, leading complex operations and capital projects in some of the world’s highest-risk industrial environments. Paul has served as Vice President for HSE or Enterprise Safety for multinational organizations including Arkema, Orbia, and Entergy, where he led large-scale safety transformations, reduced serious injuries and fatalities, and strengthened enterprise risk and ESG governance. His work spans over 50 countries and includes building high-performing, multicultural leadership teams capable of executing consistent safety and compliance standards while respecting regional and cultural differences. Today, through his advisory work and speaking engagements, Paul continues to support organizations seeking to strengthen safety culture, manage enterprise risk, and operate responsibly across borders in an increasingly complex global landscape.

Learning Objectives:

• Explain how Cathedral Thinking supports long-term safety excellence and organizational reliability.
• Identify leadership and cultural practices that foster trust, learning, and resilience.
• Identify opportunities to apply Cathedral Thinking concepts within your own organization to enhance safety decision-making and organizational reliability.

As always, feel free to arrive before the presentation for networking and lunch!

Agenda

11:00 am to 11:30 am Networking and lunch

11:30 am to 11:45 am Welcome and Section Business

• Welcome
• Sign In
• Introductions
• Old & New Business

11:45 am to 12:45 pm Presentation

In-Person Location

960 Memorial City Way (next door to Memorial City Club)

Houston, TX 77024

All attendees should park in the 920 Memorial City Way parking visitor area (the parking garage). The parking in front of the conference room is reserved for the gym and the management office.