6:00PM – 08:00PM
Event Program
*timings subject to change
28 October
Welcome Networking Drinks Reception
29 October
08:00AM – 09:00AM
Registration, Networking & Morning Coffee
09:00AM – 09:15AM
Welcome Remarks
09:15AM – 10:00AM
Through the principles of Recognize, Respond, and Respect.
Drew Gaskins examines the critical role these behaviors play in managing risk associated with aerial platform operations. Drawing on industry experience and practical lessons learned, this session explores how hazard recognition, disciplined decision-making, and respect for people, equipment, and working-at-height risks contribute to safer outcomes and stronger safety cultures.
Andrew Gaskins, Safety Director, Gilbane Building Company
10:00AM – 10:30AM
2026 MEWP Rental Market Trends
This presentation will address the current size of the MEWP rental market in North America, recent changes and anticipated future activity. Hot market topics and growth drivers will be highlighted.
Nicole McGregor, Managing Principal, Ducker Carlisle
10:30AM – 11:00AM
Coffee Break
11:00AM – 11:30AM
Data-driven MEWP safety that actually sticks
A lot of MEWP safety lives in manuals and policies that never reach the jobsite. Federico, will explain how focusing on a few clear signals such as usage, access, and pre-use checks can turn safety from paperwork into everyday behavior.
Federico Rio,
Senior Vice President of Product & Pricing, Trackunit
11:30AM – 12:00PM
Choosing the right machine for the right job – Atrium & Spider lifts in a growing market
The presentation will explore the evolution of spider lifts from niche equipment to a growing market standard, driven by increasingly complex job sites and higher expectations in terms of safety and performance. It will highlight how access challenges are changing, from confined spaces to sensitive flooring and uneven terrain, making machine selection a critical factor in ensuring efficiency and risk reduction. A specific focus will be dedicated to the North American market, with real-world insights on emerging applications such as indoor maintenance and arboriculture. Finally, the session will address key industry trends, including sustainability and technological innovation, positioning aerial platforms not just as equipment, but as strategic solutions tailored to modern job site demands.
Paola Palazzani, CEO, Palazzani Industrie
Ben Taft, Vice President of Sales, North America, Palazzani
12:00PM – 12:30PM
Standards Update
This presentation provides an overview of current developments and activities related to Mobile Elevating Work Platform (MEWP) industry standards. Updates will cover work within ANSI/SAIA A92, CSA B354, and ISO standards. The session will highlight recent revisions, ongoing initiatives, and emerging topics affecting MEWP design, safe use, and training.
Tony Groat,
North America Regional Manager, IPAF
12:30PM – 01:45PM
Lunch & Networking
01:45PM – 02:30PM
The Personal Impact of Safety
The presentation will review the impact of safety on different levels of an organization and how transforming your culture from a “have to” workplace to a “want to” workplace can deliver results beyond OSHA compliance.
Steve Hawkins,
Chief Operating Officer, FDR Safety LLC
02:30PM – 03:00PM
The Three Safety Pillars of IPAF in North America:
IPAF Global Update – IPAF North American Regional Council (NARC) Plans – IPAF Safety Campaign
Covering a global IPAF update, plans from the North American Regional Council (NARC), and the latest safety campaign initiatives.
Peter Douglas, CEO & MD, Giles Councell, Director of Operations, Randy Marzicola, VP North America, IPAF
03:00PM – 03:30PM
Coffee Break
03:30PM – 04:00PM
AT&T Presentation
Cristopher Shell, Jason Brewer, AT&T
04:00PM – 04:30PM
Why aren’t we using data to save lives?
Drawing on real case studies from the world’s largest fleets, this session outlines what a genuine predictive safety model for MEWPs could look like, and how we as an industry can make it a reality within a year.
David Swan,
VP of Off-Highway, Geotab
04:30PM – 04:45PM
Closing Remarks
05:00PM – 06:45PM
Working at Height Awards Drinks Reception
06:45PM – 09:15PM
Working at Height Awards Dinner & Ceremony
Conference Speakers
As Safety Director for Gilbane’s Southeast Business, Drew Gaskins leads the region’s health and safety program with a strong focus on proactive planning, accountability, and care for everyone connected to our projects.
Drawing on decades of construction experience, Drew understands the importance of building safety into every phase of the work. He partners closely with project teams to reinforce safe practices, identify potential risks, and support a culture where safety is personal, consistent, and shared across the jobsite.
Through regular project audits, trend analysis, and targeted follow-up, Drew helps teams address unsafe acts and conditions before they lead to incidents. His hands-on approach strengthens safety performance across the region while supporting Gilbane’s commitment to the well-being of trade partners, clients, project teams, and surrounding communities.
Paola Palazzani is President of Palazzani Industrie S.p.A., a family-owned company with 90 years of experience in the design and manufacturing of aerial work platforms. She leads the company with a strong focus on innovation, sustainability, and international growth. Under her leadership, Palazzani has strengthened its global presence, while continuing to invest in advanced technologies and eco-friendly solutions for working at height.
Ben is Vice President of Sales at Palazzani North America, where he is responsible for driving commercial strategy and business development across the North American market. With extensive experience in the aerial platform sector, he focuses on expanding dealer networks, strengthening customer relationships, and supporting the growth of Palazzani’s presence through a structured and market-oriented approach.
David Swan is VP of Off-Highway at Geotab, leading strategy and growth for connected construction. A seasoned product and innovation leader, he has driven SaaS expansion, scaled global teams, and advanced digital transformation. He is known for data-driven strategy and influential industry thought leadership.
Nicole McGregor is a Managing Principal at Ducker Carlisle, a global market research and consulting firm specializing in the Heavy Equipment industry. Throughout Nicole’s 30-year career, she has focused on monitoring trends within heavy equipment markets around the world including partnership with IPAF on an annual MEWP Rental Trends study for more than a decade. Her areas of expertise include Voice-of-Customer and Voice-of-Channel research, Competitive Intelligence and Strategy Development. Nicole holds a Bachelors of Science in Marketing from Indiana University.
Federico Rio is a 25-year veteran of construction having cut his teeth in the heavy equipment industry with Caterpillar. Specializing in machine design, digital & technology, and sales & marketing, he joined Trackunit in 2023 where he is Senior Vice President of Product & Pricing.
Steve Hawkins is the COO of FDRsafety LLC, located in Franklin, TN. Prior to his work with FDR, Steve served as the Administrator of the Tennessee OSHA program and led the agency for 20 years. He subsequently served for 18 months as the Deputy Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Labor. He served on the Federal OSHA Advisory Committee for Construction Safety and Health and as the Chair of the Occupational Safety and Health State Plan Association. Steve has over 37 years of experience in the field of safety and health.
Peter joined IPAF in 2019, having previously been an IPAF Board member. He formerly worked for IPAF Member firm Nationwide Platforms in a variety of roles over more than 27 years.
Since Peter joined IPAF, he has driven forward the global IPAF accident reporting project, overseen a significant rise in uptake of IPAF's eLearning worldwide, as well as the introduction of new training courses and the implementation of the ePAL IPAF app for MEWP and MCWP operators.
Peter has over three decades' experience in powered access and hopes to make the industry worldwide as safe as it possibly can be. As a member of the Access Industry Forum (AIF), Peter continues to contribute IPAF's views to the UK APPG of MPs inquiring into falls from height. He is also a trustee of the AIF's No Falls Foundation.
Giles is directly responsible for the management, administration and implementation of IPAF’s training programmes. He is a certified IPAF instructor for mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs) and a British Standards Institute (BSI) accredited ISO 9001 lead auditor.
Giles holds an honours degree in business management. Prior to joining IPAF, he spent eight years in the construction industry and two years in the construction recruitment sector.
Tony has occupied his current role for over 15 years and brings the knowledge and experience of over 30 years in the equipment rental industry with a focus on temporary work at height. Known as a subject-matter expert regarding the safe-use and training for mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs), he is also a member or chair of MEWP standards for design, safe-use and training for US ANSI A92 standards, Canadian CSA B354 standards, and ISO TC214 international standards. He is an author and presenter on MEWP safe-use and training and was awarded the Access Lift & Handlers 2019 Person of the Year status in recognition for his contribution to the industry.
Become a 2026 Speaker
Suggestions for presentation topics and speakers are welcome for Working at Height 2026. Please contact Catalina Ayerbe for additional information.
Catalina Ayerbe
IPAF Events Manager
✉ events@ipaf.org
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