Don Berezowski

Accomplished Senior Executive with over 30 years of progressive leadership experience in Health & Safety, Risk Management, Loss Prevention, and Operational Excellence within complex, multi-site, national organizations. Recognized for transforming safety cultures, implementing enterprise-wide risk mitigation strategies, and driving measurable improvements in organizational safety, regulatory compliance, and business continuity. Proven track record of leading large, geographically dispersed teams, aligning safety initiatives with corporate strategy, and fostering high-performing, people-centric cultures.

A trusted advisor to senior leadership, with expertise in navigating evolving regulatory environments and positioning organizations to achieve industry-leading health and safety outcomes.

Director, Environmental Health & Safety - Walmart Canada Inc. - Toronto, ON

(2018-01 - 2025-01)

Provided strategic oversight and executive leadership for Walmart Canada's Health, Safety, and Environmental programs across 403 retail locations and 12 distribution centres, leading the organization to record-setting safety performance and enhanced operational resilience.

• Directed national safety strategy, achieving the company's best health and safety results in over a decade by reversing declining incident trends and embedding a high-accountability safety culture.
• Championed enterprise-wide standards, compliance protocols, and risk management frameworks ensuring alignment with regulatory requirements and operational excellence targets.
• Recipient of the Retail Council of Canada (RCC) Excellence in Retailing Awards for Health & Safety in 2023 and 2024, recognizing innovative program enhancements and measurable safety outcomes.
• Provided executive counsel to senior leadership on EHS regulatory compliance, emerging legislative requirements, and strategic risk mitigation initiatives.
• Oversaw national claims management for WCB/WSIB, optimizing claims performance and financial outcomes, including maximizing available rebates.
• Managed capital and operational expenditures across the Health, Safety, and Environmental portfolio, including business case development and return-on-investment analysis for key safety initiatives.
• Led Walmart Canada's environmental risk management, ensuring compliance with air emissions, transportation of dangerous goods (TDG), and sustainability objectives aligned with corporate social responsibility.
• Fostered cross-functional collaboration with senior leaders across operations, facilities, HR, and legal to embed risk-informed decision-making and elevate the organization's safety maturity.

Divisional Vice President, Loss Prevention, Health & Safety - Sears Canada Inc. - Toronto, ON

(2006-01 - 2018-12)

Executive leader responsible for national Health & Safety, Loss Prevention, and Risk Management programs across Sears Canada's retail, distribution, and corporate environments, overseeing a workforce of over 400 safety and security professionals.

• Directed the development and implementation of an enterprise-wide Health & Safety Management System, achieving sustained year-over-year reductions in incident rates, including a 60% decrease in time-loss injuries.
• Integrated risk management, operational controls, and safety education to strengthen organizational resilience and regulatory compliance across all business channels.
• Drove over $40 million in shrink reduction through strategic Loss Prevention initiatives, while maintaining a consistent focus on safety excellence and risk mitigation.
• Spearheaded the creation of industry-leading training and leadership development programs for Health, Safety, and Loss Prevention teams, building organizational capability and succession pipelines.
• Recipient of seven RCC Excellence in Retailing Awards for Health & Safety and four awards for Loss Prevention, recognizing best-in-class program execution and results.
• Honoured with the RCC "Lifetime Achievement Award" in 2018 for outstanding contributions to health, safety, and risk management within the Canadian retail industry.

National Manager, Corporate Productivity - Sears Canada Inc. - Toronto, ON

(2004-01 - 2006-12)

• Led national productivity initiatives generating over $150 million in operational savings through process optimization, risk management integration, and stakeholder alignment.
• Designed and implemented programs reducing merchandise returns by $100 million within a 12-month period, while safeguarding operational continuity and customer experience.

Progressive Leadership Roles - Sears Canada Inc. - Toronto, ON

(1989-01 - 2004-12)

• Advanced through a series of increasingly senior leadership roles, including National Director of Loss Prevention and Health & Safety, with broad accountability for safety, security, and operational risk functions across the organization.

Bachelor of Science - Physical Education Major, Social Studies Minor - University of Alberta (1989-01 - 1992-01)