Erik Hollnagel was born in Copenhagen, Denmark. He holds an M.Sc. in psychology from the University of Copenhagen, and a Ph.D. in psychology from the University of Aarhus (Denmark).

Erik Hollnagel is presently Professor and Industrial Safety Chair at MINES ParisTech (formerly École des Mines de Paris), visiting professor (Professor II) at the Department of Industrial economics and technology management (IØT) at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) in Trondheim, and Professor Emeritus at the Department of Computer and Information Science (IDA) at Linköping University (LIU), Sweden. Prior to that he was professor of Human-Machine Interaction at IDA/LIU (1999-2006/2008), visiting professor at the Department of Mechanical Engineering, LIU (1997-1999); Principal Advisor, OECD Halden Reactor Project, Norway (1995-1999); Technical Director, HRA Ltd., UK (1993-1995); Senior researcher, Department Manager, and later Principal Scientist, Computer Resources International, Denmark (1985-1993); Associate professor, Psychological Laboratory, University of Copenhagen (1985-1986); Head of Man-Machine Interaction Research Division, OECD Halden Reactor Project, Norway (1982-1985); Research fellow, Risø National Laboratory, Electronics Department, Denmark (1978-1982); Associate professor, Institute of Psychology, University of Aarhus, Denmark (1971-1978); Computer programmer (1962-1968).

Erik Hollnagel is an internationally recognised specialist in the fields of resilience engineering, system safety, human reliability analysis, cognitive systems engineering, and intelligent man-machine systems. He is the author of more than 300 publications including thirteen books, articles from recognised journals, conference papers, and reports.

Erik Hollnagel has been Visiting research fellow, Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute (Japan, April, 1994), Visiting Scientist, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base (OH, USA, May 1997 & 2002), Visiting professor, University of Kyoto (January – March, 2000), Visiting research fellow, National Maritime Research Institute (Japan, February, 2003), Michael Fam Visiting Professorship in Engineering, Nanyang Technical University, (Singapore, July-August 2004), as well as Honorary Visiting Professor, Department of Psychology, University of Manchester (1994 – 2001) and Honorary Senior Research Fellow, University of Birmingham (1994-1996). He was joint Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Cognition, Technology & Work, and is a member of the editorial boards of Safety Science, Theoretical Issues in Ergonomics Science, IEA Journal of Ergonomics Research, International Journal of Virtual Technology and Multimedia, the Advisory Board of Cognitive Science Quarterly, the International Consultant Board of 'Le Travail humain', and the Advisory Committee for the Journal of Korean Nuclear Society. 

Erik Hollnagel has been member of the Risk Commission of the Danish Academy of Technical Sciences (1986-1989), Representative (International Region) in the Council of the Association of Computing Machinery (ACM) (1994 - 1997), President of the European Association of Cognitive Ergonomics (1994-2000), and member of the Swedish Reactor Safety Council (1996-2002).