Dr. Stephen Hardcastle has had a passion for mine ventilation for over 40 years that has served industry, regulators and governments alike. His career comprises 32 years with the federal government, CanmetMINING, before migrating to consultancy with BBE. He has always been driven by the need to protect workers while making mines more efficient, and by the conviction that decisions should be based upon sound science and economics. Throughout his career he has focused on providing quality and understanding to drive change in developing mine ventilation simulators, improving measurement and monitoring methods, and advancing technology in ventilation management and control systems. To this end he has led major collaborative research programs and application projects, and has become an authority on controlled recirculation, ventilation on demand (or for production), diesel particulate monitoring, and heat stress among others. Today he focuses on bringing ventilation and cooling expertise and solutions to mines throughout the Americas.