Chris Watford

As Chief HSE Officer for Audubon Companies, Chris Watford leads the organization’s health, safety, and environmental strategy, driving initiatives that protect people, strengthen compliance, and foster a culture of accountability across all operations. With more than 25 years of experience spanning engineering, construction, energy, mining, and industrial sectors, he has built a proven record of reducing incident rates, advancing safety innovation, and aligning HSE performance with corporate growth objectives.

Chris joined Audubon with extensive leadership experience in both field and corporate environments. He has successfully led HSE programs for multibillion-dollar projects across North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, supporting clients such as Shell, Chevron, BP, ExxonMobil, and Valero. At Audubon, Chris partners closely with executive leadership to integrate safety into daily operations, strengthen governance, and ensure alignment with regulatory and client requirements.

A servant leader committed to continuous improvement, Chris focuses on embedding HSE principles into every level of the business, leveraging innovation and data to elevate performance. He holds a Master of Science and a Bachelor of Science in Occupational Safety and Health from Columbia Southern University. He is also a Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH), Certified Safety Professional (CSP), Chartered Member of IOSH (CMIOSH), Occupational Health Safety Technologist (OHST), and Construction Health Safety Technician (CHST).