It was a shock and very sad for many to learn that Professor Stein Haugen, a pioneer in the subject of risk management, dear friend of many, colleague and chairman of Safetec, passed away suddenly in June 2022, aged 62.

Stein Haugen was employed by myself in Safetec in the autumn of 1984, while he completed his MSc degree at NTH/NTNU in marine technology and was associated with the Safetec company throughout his career. His work on collision risk modelling in his PhD thesis (NTNU 1991) was ground-breaking and has had great significance for risk management in the Norwegian petroleum industry. He has held several roles in the Safetec group of companies, including Chairman of Safetec UK, CEO of Safetec, Head of R&D and Chairman of the Board in Safetec.

From 2010–2021 he was a full professor at NTNU, where he managed several national R&D programmes and supervised many master students and PhD candidates. Stein taught a very popular Basic Risk Analysis course for MSc students in all faculties at NTNU for many years. He also had a part time position in Wuhan University of Technology in China for several years.

As a supervisor he was very popular with his students. In the words of one of his PhD candidates, Xue Yang: “Since 2012, you have been my mentor, and it never ends. You have a big heart, are so positive, supportive and caring all the time. You will always be remembered, respected and loved from the bottom of our hearts.”

Stein wrote many standards, policy documents and a very large number of client reports. He published a significant number of peer-reviewed research articles, and some textbooks throughout his career. His latest textbook “Maritime Transportation, Safety Management and Risk Analysis” was published by his co-author Svein Kristiansen at the end of 2022.

In 2021, Stein returned to a full position at Safetec. He justified this with his eagerness for project work with clients and his curiosity to help develop new services. Stein wanted to spend the rest of his career doing the kind of work he found most enjoyable. The more complex and difficult the projects, the more he enjoyed the challenge. Stein had an extensive national and international network, he was a popular speaker at many international conferences, and his expertise and advice were highly sought after.

Stein was active on the international research arena as well as in ESRA in several capacities, his latest function was as General Chair for the ESREL2018 conference in Trondheim with the title: “Safe Societies in a Changing World”.

One of Safetec's most important carriers of continuity has passed away far too soon. He will be remembered as a gentle, dedicated, down-to-earth and highly respected professional, supervisor, colleague and highly valued friend.