Basel Metropolitan Area
My Story: From Scout to CBRN Defence Officer Growing up in Vienna, a city full of history, I became a scout at the age of six. The Principles – Do your best. A good deed every day. Leave a place better than you found it. Always be prepared. – accompany me to this day. Twelve years later, I joined the army, became a reserve officer, and served for over 20 years. The army taught me perseverance, focus, and leadership: being prepared for the worst requires constant attention and preparation. From Research Assistant to CEO In Switzerland, I worked on Generation IV nuclear reactors, which are not only safe, but also offer an answer to the problem of nuclear waste. The technology enables the recycling of waste and produces energy in the process. As a research assistant, I determined safety-relevant data for these reactors – because safety starts with knowledge. The Fukushima disaster radically changed the perception of nuclear energy. Germany and Switzerland dropped out, and I realized that emotions influence decisions more than facts. Understanding and communicating risk is just as important as evaluating it. As a project manager, I developed a new process for radioactive waste and solved a long-standing problem. In international consulting, I carried out risk analyses in the chemical industry on three continents, got to know safety cultures in over 20 companies and trained over 300 employees. The best technology is worthless without well-trained people. Mistakes are often dismissed as "human error", but a strong safety culture is crucial. I see great potential in AI, but the question arises: Is AI allowed to make safety-relevant decisions, who is responsible and how do we ensure ethical action? I work on these topics as part of my work at Dechema, VDI and Loss Prevention. My path led me through many stations. Some people think I'm unsteady, I see myself as a seafarer who uses every journey as an opportunity to learn and grow. Now I'm a captain – our "rhysafe" crew combines proven engineering practice with innovation. Together, we protect people, the environment and values. Safety is not a state, but a process and our drive! This conviction led to the founding of rhysafe AG in Basel. We combine experience and innovation for safe systems – by consulting in all areas of process safety. Interested? Feel free to contact us!
Expert for Chemistry in CBRN-Defense Member of the Austrian Force Disaster Relief Unit (AFDRU) Officer in the Austrian Militia