02/05/2026

Vance Darr

Vance Darr, P.E., Director of HSES
Kuraray America

SESSION

EHS Leadership Track | Thursday, June 4 | 9:00 to  10:00
"KuraSafe: Translating HSES Leadership into Action at Every Level"

ABOUT VANCE 
Vance R. Darr, P.E. is a seasoned environmental, health, safety, and sustainability leader with more than 30 years of experience in the chemical and manufacturing industries. He currently serves as Director of Corporate HSES at Kuraray America, Inc., where he leads a multi‑disciplinary team overseeing environmental compliance, safety performance, and regulatory strategy across U.S. operations. Known for building high‑performing teams and driving cultural improvement, Vance has implemented enterprise‑level KPIs, governance processes, and strategic initiatives that strengthen compliance, accountability, and stakeholder engagement.

A registered Professional Engineer in Texas, Vance holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from The University of Texas at Austin. His career includes progressive leadership and technical roles with Kuraray America, Petrologistics, and Lyondell Chemical, where he managed complex regulatory programs, led major permitting efforts, supported incident response, and delivered cost‑effective environmental solutions. Vance is an active industry and community leader, serving as Chair of the Galveston Bay Foundation, a board member of the La Porte Education Foundation, and is also a retired Texas‑certified firefighter.