Meet Our Specialists
Our Experts Committed to Clarity and UX Compliance. We apply the science of safety to user documents.
Together, We’re Better
Our leadership team includes Klaus Hofer (Founder & CEO), Mike Hanna (COO), Verena Seibert-Giller (CSO) and Brett Shields (Director, CAT-i Australia).
Our specialists combine extensive experience across industries. Learn more about their professional focus and personal interests.
Klaus Hofer
Founder and CEO
Corporate psychologist Klaus founded CAT-i in 1989 in Toronto, Ontario, after a workplace incident sparked his passion for usability. Since then, he has trained over 20,000 professionals across 38 organizations to develop safer, more effective documentation. Originally from Austria, Klaus now lives in Canada and enjoys making music.
Mike Hanna
COO (Chief Operating Officer)
With over 20 years as an operator, training foreman, project manager, and procedure analyst in the oil and gas industry, Mike brings a vast amount of knowledge and experience to usability engineering and documentation. He’s kept on his toes by his three active kids.
Verena Seibert-Giller
CSO (Chief Science Officer)
Based in beautiful Vienna, Austria, Verena is a UX psychologist with a 30-year background in researching, teaching, and consulting on UX solutions for industries worldwide. To energize her soul, Verena loves to spend time with her family and go biking or travelling.
Brett Shields
Director for CAT-i Australia Pty. Ltd.
Brett is a Usability Mapping Ambassador, Certified Document Engineer, and Certified Trainer. Based in Perth, Australia, he is a passionate safety leader with over 20 years’ experience in oil, gas, and construction. Previously, he served as a Mine Clearance Diver in the Royal Australian Navy. Brett is a keen traveller, diver, and photographer who loves spending time in, on, or under the water.
Rebecca Staudinger
U-MAP IT License and Training Manager
Rebecca has completed her Bachelor’s Degree in Human Services with a focus in Psychology and is part of Usability Mapping Inc.’s corporate head office in the role of U-MAP IT License and Training Manager. With a strong background in administration and experience in training coordination, she oversees license management, training operations, and office support to ensure smooth and efficient workflows. In her spare time, she enjoys horseback riding, long walks, lake days, and being in nature.
Heidi Sugars
Administrative Officer
Heidi joined the Cat-i Team in 2025 and brings 30 years of diverse administration experience, with the past decade in the post-secondary research sector in Canada. She is always keen to learn something new and is passionate about supporting people to enable strong, effective teams that enjoy their work. She has a Bachelor of Arts from York University and a Bachelor of Education from the University of Calgary.
Ella Shields
Office Administrator for CAT-i Australia Pty. Ltd.
Ella is the Office Administrator at CAT-I Australia Pty. Ltd. She is starting out her career and gaining hand-on experience in an office environment. She is developing her administrative and organisational skills while supporting the team. Outside of work, Ella enjoys playing netball, going on camping and road trips, and going to the beach.
Carol Balogh
UX Document Engineer, U-Map Auditor
Carol specializes in usability mapping technical manuals, standards and procedures. Apart from usability engineering technical documents, Carol is also a knitting specialist of the finest, as her Ravelry site shows.
Leslie Street
UX Document Engineer
Hannes Robier
CEO of the World Usability Congress and Usability Mapping Ambassador
Hannes is the founder and chair of the World Usability Congress.
Hannes and his team are global leaders in engineering UX solutions for industries worldwide.
Hannes represents Usability Mapping Inc. in Austria and worldwide through his consultancy youspi.com.
Hannes and his team are global leaders in engineering UX solutions for industries worldwide.
Hannes represents Usability Mapping Inc. in Austria and worldwide through his consultancy youspi.com.
Isa Stahl
Usability Mapping Ambassador and
UX Document Engineer
UX Document Engineer
A registered psychologist, Isa consults with the Furth Law Firm P.A. in Las Cruces, where she specializes in workers’ rights and labour relations. When she has free time, she works on improving her Spanish, promoting fine arts and working with Dharmahorse.
Lisa West
Australia Usability Mapping Ambassador and UX Document Engineer
Lisa has an 11-year professional background as an advisor in health and safety and as a management system specialist. Lisa has experience in the oil and gas industry, water treatment, and air-gas production.
In her spare time, she likes to knit, run and spend time with family.
In her spare time, she likes to knit, run and spend time with family.
Christa Spengler-Rast
Germany Usability Mapping Ambassador
Christa is a professional trainer with a specialization in soft skills. She is also a management consultant for companies and public administrations. In that role, she also served many Chinese clients and authorities. Her spare time is spent between maintaining her garden and watching world-class soccer matches.
Christa is the Usability Mapping Inc. representative in Germany. You can contact her via CSR Consulting.
Christa is the Usability Mapping Inc. representative in Germany. You can contact her via CSR Consulting.
Kimberley McRae
Usability Mapping Ambassador
A member of the CAT-I team since 2012, Kim is also an active member of the Canadian luge team.
In the Sochi Olympics, she placed 5th in the world, and competing for Canada during the World Championships in 2017 in Innsbruck, Austria, Kimberley won a stellar Bronze Medal, making her the third fastest luger in the world.
In the Sochi Olympics, she placed 5th in the world, and competing for Canada during the World Championships in 2017 in Innsbruck, Austria, Kimberley won a stellar Bronze Medal, making her the third fastest luger in the world.
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