Miss Dynamite isn’t just a name. It’s a statement.

​

Walking into my first international explosives gathering, one thing becomes immediately clear. This is not simply a technical event. It is a place where responsibility is shared, understood, and carried by every professional in the room.

​

The International Society of Explosives Engineers stands as more than a space for learning. It reflects what defines excellence in our industry. Knowledge here is earned through experience. Authority is built through consistency. Safety is not a slogan. It is a discipline.

​

What gives weight to this gathering are the people who shape it. Conversations with leaders such as Ron Gilbert, Jerry Wallace, Paul Stirk, Mike Koehler, and Billy Youngs reveal careers built on decades of discipline, accountability, and unwavering respect for safety. Their reputations speak long before any formal presentation begins. Excellence here is never claimed. It is demonstrated.

​

ISEE 2026 also reflects a clear evolution within the explosives industry. Women are not entering the field. They are shaping it. Meeting figures such as Dr Catherine Aimone Martin, whose research has influenced generations, Kristen Kolden, whose leadership continues to guide ISEE with clarity and vision, and Dr Rachel Baum, whose work advances explosives engineering, makes this evolution tangible and undeniable.

 

Equally inspiring is the diversity of professional paths now visible in the industry. Connecting with second generation blasting and drilling professionals like Kriste Allen highlights the importance of legacy and continuity. Engaging with innovators such as Oana Meins of Detecht and Erin Sanders from Dyno Nobel illustrates how innovation, communication, and leadership increasingly intersect to shape the future of explosives engineering.

 

This experience is made even richer by sharing it with trusted colleagues and friends from Montréal. Alongside Nadya Michel of Monox and Rosa Sayasith of EPC, conversations extend beyond the event itself and toward the next chapter of Women in Explosives, grounded in collaboration, mentorship, and shared responsibility.

​

The global nature of the industry is equally present. Exchanges with colleagues from South and Central America, including Ulises Komatsu of Hanka, Jorge Cordoba, and Jairo Escobar of Glencore Colombia, reinforce the idea that safety culture and professional standards grow stronger when knowledge crosses borders.

 

One conclusion stands above all others. Safety must always remain the number one priority.

 

Safety does not occur by chance. It is intentional, disciplined, and collective. One error can cost lives, and in this profession, there is no margin for complacency.

 

Every blast pattern, geological context, and site condition demands respect, preparation, and teamwork. There are no universal formulas. There are informed decisions guided by experience, protocols, and accountability.

 

One of the most striking moments of ISEE 2026 comes from engaging with legal experts Ralph Burnham and Kelly Ratliff. Through a simulated court scenario, the importance of documentation becomes unmistakably clear. Blasting reports, logs, and records are not administrative obligations. They are legal, ethical, and human safeguards. Precision on paper reflects discipline in the field.

 

ISEE 2026 reinforces a fundamental truth. Progress in explosives engineering depends on shared knowledge, continuous learning, and uncompromising standards. The future of this industry is shaped quietly, through responsibility.

 

Miss Dynamite leaves this gathering with clarity, conviction, and a renewed commitment to carry these standards forward on every site, with every team.

​