A Warm Welcome to Our New VP of Canadian Operations — Paul Zorgdrager

At High Reliability Group LLC (HRG), we’re thrilled to introduce Paul Zorgdrager as the new Vice-President Canadian Operations. Paul has over 30 years of Oil and Gas Experience, and a proven track record of building a culture of Operational Excellence.?

Paul’s Story—From Client to Leader at HRG?

Back in 2018, while leading a 120,000 boepd Heavy Oil Operation in Western Canada, Paul brought in HRG to help navigate a big transition: moving from thousands of lower-risk single wells to multiple Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD) Thermal sites. These plants carried higher process-safety risks, and Paul recognized a pivotal opportunity—to establish a standardized culture of Operational Excellence from day one across each new facility.?

Why HRG’s Approach Worked?

1. Deep Roots in Rickover’s Nuclear Navy: The principles that shaped the U.S. Navy’s nuclear program provided the backbone of a rigorous, disciplined approach.?
2. On-the-Ground Operational Assessments: Humbling but enlightening, these assessments pinpointed critical gaps quickly.?
3. Tactical Gap-Closure Plans: Every plan was developed side by side with on-the-ground leaders, ensuring real-world feasibility.?
4. Pre and Post-Work Briefs: This practice ingrained a mindset of continuous learning and accountability.?
5. Consistent Expectations: A singular set of standards across 12 plants meant uniform excellence—even in high-growth scenarios.?

Real Results?

• +96% reliability in SAGD plants designed for 87–90% on-time?

• Significant boosts in process and occupational safety?

• Strengthened leadership capacity during a rapid growth phase?

And that’s where Paul comes in. Through firsthand experience, he realized the power of combining HRG’s proven methods with his extensive Oil & Gas background and recent executive coaching certification. Now, he’s here to bring that synergy to Canadian industry.?

“Striving for zero-incident reliability is not just possible—it’s a conscious decision. I’m excited to help Canadian operations reach that next level of safety and performance.”? — Paul Zorgdrager, P.Eng, CEC?

Connect with Paul?

Whether you’re curious about elevating safety, reliability, or team performance, Paul is the kind of trusted advisor you’ll be glad to have in your corner.?

Follow Paul Zorgdrager to stay inspired on your journey to operational excellence. We’re just getting started!?