In this episode, host Angelique Dickson, President of the Inogen Alliance, discusses the 25th anniversary of the Alliance with Keith Knoke, Chair of the Board Inogen Allaince / EVP, Antea Group USA; and Alex Ferguson, CEO of Antea Group UK. They reflect on the past, present and possible future of the Alliance’s mission: connecting global challenges with local expertise to deliver practical environmental, health, safety (EHS), and sustainability solutions worldwide.
Episode 1 of Rethinking EHS, Season 3 reflects on 25 years of the Inogen Alliance, highlighting how its success has been built on connecting global organisations with deep local expertise to tackle complex environmental, health, safety, and sustainability challenges.
The discussion underscores key lessons for organisations: prioritise local knowledge, embrace technology, and foster strong partnerships to deliver meaningful, scalable impact, ultimately demonstrating that sustainable progress depends on aligning global ambition with on-the-ground realities.
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00:00 – Intro
00:03 – Opening & Series Introduction
01:13 – Setting the Scene: Topics & Guests
01:43 – The Origin Story: Why the Alliance Was Created
03:15 – Rising Complexity: Regulation & Local Expertise
05:43 – Why an Alliance Model (Not Expansion)?
07:21 – Evolution Over 25 Years
09:49 – Key Moments: When the Model Proved Itself
16:32 – The Present: Strategy, Purpose & Growth
22:09 – The Future: Risk, Uncertainty & Opportunity
31:52 – Advice & Closing Reflections
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Sponsor
Rethinking EHS is brought to you by the Inogen Alliance. Inogen Alliance is a global network of 70+ companies providing environment, health, safety and sustainability services working together to provide one point of contact to guide multinational organizations to meet their global commitments locally. Visit http://www.inogenalliance.com/podcast to learn more.
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Links
https://www.Inogenalliance.com/resources
https://www.Inogenalliance.com/podcast
Angelique on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angeliquedickson
Alex on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-ferguson-1a40b511
Keith on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keith-knoke-27587a7
Produced by https://www.madcontent.co.nz
Angie (00:00)
Hello and welcome to Season Three of Rethinking EHS: Global Thinking, Local Delivery, brought to you by the Inogen Alliance.
I’m Angie Dixon, President of the Inogen Alliance, and it’s a pleasure to be opening this season — a particularly special one as we celebrate our 25th anniversary.
For the past 25 years, our global network has worked together to connect local expertise with global challenges, helping organisations navigate complex environmental, health, safety, and sustainability issues across the world.
In 2026, we continue that journey.
Join us as we travel the world, talking with colleagues to uncover real stories of impact through expert insights and on-the-ground experiences — highlighting practical solutions and bold strategies that drive change.
By connecting global goals with local expertise, we’ll explore how knowledge can be transformed into action for people, organisations, and our planet.
Throughout the season, we’ll be diving into key topics including global compliance and risk management, environmental planning, and the growing importance of psychosocial EHS in the workplace.
Today, I’m joined by colleagues and friends:
Alex Ferguson, CEO of Antea Group UK, and Keith Knoke, Chair of the Board of the Inogen Alliance and Executive Vice President at Antea Group USA.
Together, we’ll explore the past, present, and future of the Inogen Alliance as we celebrate 25 years. So let’s get started.
Angie (05:15)
Let’s start with the spark. We’ve got 25 years of a very successful alliance. Keith, you were involved early on — what problem were we trying to solve? What was that defining moment?
Keith Knoke
From the perspective of Antea Group USA, our business was changing. We needed to serve our clients globally.
We reached a point where, if we were going to continue to grow, we had to support clients beyond our own geography. That recognition was the initial spark.
At the same time, our clients were becoming more global. Their EHS functions were struggling with regulations, expectations, and cultural differences across countries. They needed help managing that complexity.
Angie
And Alex, you came in a little later — what did you see at that time?
Alex Ferguson
I was around when it started, and what stood out was the pace of regulatory change.
In the UK, we had new environmental legislation coming through, and it was clear this wasn’t isolated — it was happening globally. If you were advising clients operating internationally, you needed local expertise. Things were changing too quickly to manage remotely.
To provide meaningful advice, you had to have people on the ground.
Keith Knoke
And that wasn’t just the UK — across Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America, countries were introducing new regulations. It was a period of significant global change.
Angie
So why an alliance? Why collaborate instead of building one global company?
Keith Knoke
Honestly, it was pragmatic.
Opening offices everywhere simply wasn’t feasible. We needed a different model to support clients globally.
But it had to be more than “I know someone in another country.” It needed structure, consistency, and trust. That’s where the alliance model came in — a practical solution to a real delivery challenge.
Alex Ferguson
And the people mattered too. This wasn’t driven by acquisition or consolidation — it was built by people who naturally collaborated.
Working with independent businesses gave us something different, and that mindset shaped how the alliance developed.
Angie
That’s still true today. The alliance is made up of independent companies who choose to work together — and that choice really matters.
Angie
Keith, what’s surprised you most over 25 years?
Keith Knoke
Early on, it was very tactical — helping clients with audits or projects in different countries.
What surprised me is how far we’ve evolved. Today, we’re supporting enterprise-level risk and global programmes. I wouldn’t have imagined that at the start.
Alex Ferguson
For me, it’s the breadth of services.
If you’d told me 25 years ago we’d have ergonomists as part of EHS, I wouldn’t have expected that. At the same time, I’m surprised we’re still having some of the same conversations around climate change.
It shows how the world has evolved — and how we’ve had to adapt alongside it.
Angie
When did you realise — this really works?
Keith Knoke
When we moved from small projects to supporting large multinational clients globally.
That shift — from tactical support to strategic partnership — was the moment it became clear how powerful this model was.
Alex Ferguson
Mine was actually a small project.
A client had a few sites in the UK, plus one in Dubai and one in Australia. I made a couple of calls, and it all came together seamlessly.
It wasn’t just that it worked — it worked easily. That’s when it clicked.
Keith Knoke
And today, it’s expected. Clients now assume you’ll have local expertise globally. It’s no longer a “nice to have.”
Angie
The alliance is built on relationships — what we call a social contract. Keith, how does that show up in practice?
Keith Knoke
It’s the glue.
These aren’t just contacts — they’re relationships. That trust allows us to collaborate in a way that goes beyond contracts. We solve problems together.
Angie
And for clients, that means consistent, trusted support globally.
Angie
Alex, what’s keeping clients up at night?
Alex Ferguson
Uncertainty.
There’s constant change — geopolitical, environmental, operational. Clients are trying to understand what risks matter and how to respond.
That’s where consistency and trusted relationships become incredibly valuable.
Angie
And Keith — where are the opportunities?
Keith Knoke
We need to stay focused on what we do well.
The world is getting more complex, and the need for local expertise isn’t going away. There’s a real opportunity to continue building on that and strengthening what already works.
Angie
One piece of advice each — Alex?
Alex Ferguson
Keep it simple.
Use less, protect the environment, and keep people safe. That’s good business — no matter what label you put on it.
Angie
Keith?
Keith Knoke
Leverage your network.
The EHS field is built on relationships. The more you engage, the more you learn — and the better you become.
Angie
How would you describe the past 25 years — and the next 25?
Alex Ferguson
The first 25 years were about building something real.
The next 25 are about adapting — to new challenges, new technologies, and new ways of collaborating.
Keith Knoke
For me, it’s been a highlight of my career — working with a global community of incredibly smart people.
Looking ahead, it’s about continuing to grow, improve, and lead in this space.
Angie
Thank you for joining us for the first episode of Season Three of Rethinking EHS: Global Thinking, Local Delivery.
As we celebrate 25 years of the Inogen Alliance, this series reflects what makes our network unique: global collaboration, local expertise, and a shared commitment to accelerating a resilient planet for all.
If you found today’s conversation valuable, be sure to follow the series and share it with your network.
Until next time, thank you for listening — and for being part of the global EHS community turning knowledge into action.