Dr Shaheem de Vries is the current head of the Western Cape Government Health Emergency Medical Services. Having completed internship in 2000, he has spent nearly 20 years in emergency medicine – most of that within the pre-hospital services. His journey has seen him exposed to a many varied developing and developed EMS systems across Africa which has also afforded him recognition by the WHO as an EMS global expert. He is currently completing an executive MBA at the Graduate School of Business with a special interest in safety within complex systems.