SPEAKERS & MODERATORS

Thank you to all of our speakers and moderators!

Cameron Baughen, Baughen Consulting

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Cameron Baughen worked with the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen for over 16 years coordinating solid waste projects and working in emergency operations centres. After leaving the RDOS in 2021, Cameron assisted with refrigerator collection on the west side of Okanagan Lake. Working for the Thompson Nicola Regional District he developed fire and flood debris management programs including curbside collection of flood debris in Merritt. He is proud of the recent ‘Banana Sticker Bounty’ for the District of Summerland which had school kids compete on how many stickers they could keep out of food scrap collection. Those stickers really suck to get out of compost.

Heidi Gerlach, Dillon Consulting

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Heidi Gerlach is a solid waste management specialist with extensive experience in municipal and regional solid waste management planning and contract management in British Columbia. Her expertise includes stakeholder and community consultation, program evaluation and waste management policy analysis. She has over 25 years’ solid waste program management experience, 15 of those as a staff member with BC local governments (City of Chilliwack and Fraser Valley Regional District). Heidi is a recognized leader in regards to disaster debris management planning. She led the Dillon team to support the City of Abbotsford following the ‘atmospheric river’ that flooded Sumas Prairie in November 2021. She provided ongoing support including environmental oversight and on-call senior assistance to mitigate ongoing environmental issues at an emergency temporary transfer station scoped by Dillon.

Charlotte Brown, Resilient Organizations (NZ)

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Charlotte Brown is joint Managing Director of Resilient Organisations Ltd. (New Zealand), a research and consulting group helping organisations, groups and communities to be future ready (www.resorgs.org.nz). As a social scientist with a civil engineering background, Charlotte often works at the interface between physical and social sciences. Charlotte’s areas of specialty include risk management, systems thinking, decision-making and organisational resilience. Charlotte also has particular strengths in the practical application and communication of research. Charlotte is an Adjunct Fellow with the Department of Civil and Natural Resources Engineering at the University of Canterbury, New Zealand and has a PhD in Disaster Waste Management.

Joe Angevine, Foothills Regional Landfill & Resource Recovery Centre

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Joe was born and raised around the Calgary area and has worked in the waste & recycling industry for 20 years. He completed a Bachelor of Management degree from the University of Lethbridge and has been managing the Foothills Regional Landfill & Resource Recovery Centre for 11 years. Joe worked at the Foothills Landfill during the 2013 High River flood and saw the devastation and huge demands placed on the landfill after the disaster. He recently completed a Master’s Degree in Environment & Management from Royal Roads University and completed his master’s thesis: Come Hell or High Water: A Comparative Analysis of the 2013 High River Flood Response. This thesis focused on improving disaster debris management practices in Alberta.

Moderator SHEILA MOLLOY | Coast Waste Management Association

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Sheila Molloy is the Executive Director of Coast Waste Management Association where she builds and facilitates forums for leaders in the solid waste management industry to share knowledge and work towards solutions. This great role is one of many contracts over her 25 years as an interim executive for operations, strategy, and marketing projects across North America. She has proudly contributed to the success of well over 150 organizations in array of sectors and amongst these as a leader for a venture group that built and sold three private technology firms, including one bought by Microsoft. Her passion for the environment is now a key focus in her work and life. Sheila holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) Degree with Distinction, a Diploma in Creative Communications, and was inducted as a lifetime member to Beta Gamma Sigma the international business honour society.

Rachel Morier, Brewers’ Recycled Container Collection Council

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Rachel Morier is the Director of Sustainability at Brewers’ Distributor Limited and The Beer Store, a brewer-based cooperative in Ontario that runs over 400 retail stores and distributes brewers’ products across the provinces to thousands of retail stores and licensees, including bars and restaurants. In her role, Morier is responsible for all aspects of environmental stewardship to ensure that all alcoholic beverage containers and associated packaging are reused or recycled at the highest order. Morier also serves as a director on several beverage container boards and is the Board Chair at the B.C. Brewers’ Recycled Container Collection Council. Prior to joining BDL and The Beer Store, Morier led sustainability initiatives to identify solutions that lead to zero packaging and food waste at PAC Global, a not-for-profit industry association. Morier graduated with a Master in Environmental Studies at York University, and a Graduate Diploma in Business & the Environment from the Schulich School of Business.

Erin Wildeboer, Strathcona County Alberta

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David Kassian, City of Penticton

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Dave Kassian is the Sustainability Supervisor with the City of Penticton and has worked in local government for over 8 years. During this time, the focus of Dave’s work has been creating and implementing both solid waste and climate action programs and policies. Dave was recently the project lead for a region-wide Waste Collection RFP that involved coordinating on behalf of 5 local governments. As a passion project, Dave also developed Penticton’s award-winning Book Recycling Program. Dave’s introduction to waste management was in a consulting role for the City of Penticton to oversee the roll-out of over 30,000 collection carts and assisted with the Town of Oliver’s cart roll-out as well. Outside of work, Dave enjoys traveling with his family, spending time outdoors gardening and hunting, and can often be found reading science fiction novels and short stories.

Terry Fulton, Metro Vancouver

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Terry is a Senior Project Engineer with Metro Vancouver’s Zero Waste Implementation Team, working toward reducing waste generation and advancing the circular economy in the province’s most populous region. Terry manages myriads of excel files and models that help make sense of a wealth of solid waste information from the many players in the region. When not fighting with spreadsheets, Terry enjoys hearing from the many passionate residents and businesses involved in Metro Vancouver’s solid waste management plan update process.

Sean Kawakami, Convertus Group

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Sean is the Business Development Manager for Convertus Group who specialize in the design, construction, finance, and operation of organic waste processing facilities. Convertus operates four facilities in Canada, notably including the Nanaimo Circular Waste BC and Surrey Biofuel sites. Sean started in the industry working for Rehrig Pacific where he had the opportunity to supply containers for residential and commercial collection to municipalities and haulers across British Columbia and Alberta. From there he moved to Waste Connections for a year, before joining Convertus. His experience in supply, collection and processing affords him a unique perspective of the solid waste industry in our province.

Jarret Klim, Synergy/BC Green Business

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Rachel Kagan, Paper and Paperboard Packaging Environmental Council

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Rachel has 20+ years of experience working with industry associations, specializing in policy and regulatory analysis, research and writing, with subject matter expertise in Extended Producer Responsibility packaging recycling policies and programs. Before joining PPEC, Rachel was Vice President of Environmental Sustainability Policy at Food and Consumer Products of Canada. In that role, she developed policy submissions and reports on recycling, food waste, and climate change, and represented Canada’s food, beverage, and consumer goods manufacturers on several stewardship Boards of Directors. Rachel began her career as a policy analyst with the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, before moving to Retail Council of Canada, where she supported and advocated for retailers on federal and provincial product and packaging recycling regulations. Rachel lives in Toronto.

Louise Schwarz, Recycling Alternative

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Gil is Managing Director, Strategic Initiatives with Light House, an organization focused on accelerating circular and regenerative policy and practice in the built environment. Gil brings more than two decades of experience working on CRD waste diversion, including overseeing extended producer responsibility programs for paint, lighting equipment and smoke alarms. While with Light House, he pioneered the introduction of C&D waste tracking technology and is currently developing a Deconstruction Resource Bank, which will be an online repository of all primary and secondary research documentation regarding deconstruction for use by governments, private sector and researchers to further deconstruction best practices. Gil holds a Master of Laws (UBC) and Bachelor of Laws (University of Ottawa).

Tera Grady, Cariboo Regional District

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Tera Grady is the Manager of Solid Waste for the Cariboo Regional District. Tera is passionate about the Cariboo, its residents and furthering waste reduction and diversion. She has ensured that the Cariboo has access to Extended ProducerResponsibility programs. She is co-chair for the BC Product Stewardship Council, a group of local government staff that advocates for improvements to BC recycling programs. She sits on advisory committees for two stewardship agencies and works with IZWTAG and Recycle BC to help facilitate the collection and recycling of household recyclables from First Nation communities in the Cariboo.

Meg O’Shea, Canada Plastics Pact

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Meg is a seasoned change manager with over a decade of experience supporting economic transformations for sustainability. As Director of Strategic Initiatives with the Canada Plastics Pact, Meg works directly with industry, NPOs, and government to implement a circular economy of plastics. CPP facilitates collaboration between value chain segments of the plastics industry in order to accelerate closing the loop on plastics, keeping this valuable resource in the economy and out of the environment. Meg is energized by bringing together disparate fields, objectives, and organizations to collaboratively tackle big gritty challenges.

Tamara Shulman, Tamara Shulman & Associates

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Tamara Shulman is an established sustainability professional committed to transitioning to a circular economy in an equitable and resilient way. Through waste reduction planning and program development, she supports practical solutions for organics management and optimizing ways to share reuse and repair to get the most out of our products. She co-leads the Coast Waste Management Association Plastics Reduction Working Group and serves on the Conference Planning Committee.

Moderator: SHEILA MOLLOY | Coast Waste Management Association

Sheila will moderate the Local Government Roundtable and the Haulers & Fleet Managers Roundtable

Ingalisa Burns, Let’s Talk Trash

Let's Talk Trash Team will host the Educator's Roundtable

Abby McLennan, Let's Talk Trash

Let's Talk Trash Team will host the Educator's Roundtable

Abby McLennan is a co-founder of Let’s Talk Trash, a private environmental consulting firm. Let’s Talk Trash has a passion for re-envisioning waste as a resource and working to re-tool systems towards circularity through innovative thinking and program implementation. Over the past 12 years, LTT has worked with the qathet Regional District, Tla’amin Nation, Recycle BC, fellow consultants and private industry to deliver a regional solid waste education and outreach program, waste reduction initiatives, operational services, waste composition studies and so much more. LTT has partnered with the Ocean Legacy Foundation since 2021 to carry out large scale shoreline cleanup projects. Abby has been the project lead, resulting in the removal of over 150,000kg of marine debris from her project area in the central Salish Sea.

Steve Wiebe, Innotech Fleet Strategies

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Steve is a seasoned fleet management professional with 18 years of experience across the solid waste, transit, municipal, and construction sectors. Three years ago, he transitioned from hands-on fleet and operations management to a consulting role, where he now helps organizations enhance their fleet practices. His focus areas include improving maintenance programs, optimizing vehicle lifecycle management, and developing emissions reduction strategies. Given the growing interest in reducing emissions, Steve has gained expertise in implementing low-carbon fuels, zero-emission vehicles, and industry best practices. Recently, he completed a one-year pilot project with University Endowment Lands, tracking the performance of one of Canada’s first electric refuse trucks.

Dennis Wilson, Nation Group

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Elena Baglietto, Quantum Technology

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Sean Kawakami, Convertus Group

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Sean is the Business Development Manager for Convertus Group who specialize in the design, construction, finance, and operation of organic waste processing facilities. Convertus operates four facilities in Canada, notably including the Nanaimo Circular Waste BC and Surrey Biofuel sites. Sean started in the industry working for Rehrig Pacific where he had the opportunity to supply containers for residential and commercial collection to municipalities and haulers across British Columbia and Alberta. From there he moved to Waste Connections for a year, before joining Convertus. His experience in supply, collection and processing affords him a unique perspective of the solid waste industry in our province.

Stephanie Dalo, Carbon Leadership Forum BC

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Stephanie is a licensed Professional Engineer in British Columbia and Ontario and is the Program Manager of the Carbon Leadership Forum in British Columbia (CLF BC), a program powered by the Zero Emissions Innovation Centre (ZEIC).
Starting her professional journey as a structural engineer, specializing in bridge rehabilitation, her passion for sustainability led her to the UBC Master of Engineering Leadership, Urban Systems program. After obtaining her master degree, she began working on mixed-use, multi-family residential, commercial, institutional, and office buildings, guiding project owners in identifying their sustainability strategy, coordinating and facilitating communication between design teams to keep projects on track towards meeting their sustainability goals. This included conducting Whole Building Life Cycle Assessments to determine a project’s embodied carbon impact and proposing low-carbon design solutions.
Recognizing the intersections between waste, carbon, and affordability, Stephanie advocates for implementing circular economy strategies in the built environment as a holistic strategy for reducing both embodied carbon and construction & demolition waste and supporting social equity.

Leah Berscheid, Cowichan Valley Regional District

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THURSDAY October 24, 2024 | Welcome & Special Greetings | Tribute to Success | Keynote Session

Sheila Molloy, Executive Director, CWMA

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Sheila Molloy is the Executive Director of Coast Waste Management Association where she builds and facilitates forums for leaders in the solid waste management industry to share knowledge and work towards real solutions. This great role is one of many contracts over her 25 years as an interim executive for operations, strategy, and marketing projects across North America. She has proudly contributed to the success of well over 150 organizations in array of sectors and amongst these as a leader for a venture group that built and sold three private technology firms, including one bought by Microsoft. Her passion for the environment is now a key focus in her work and life. Sheila holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) Degree with Distinction, a Diploma in Creative Communications, and was inducted as a lifetime member to Beta Gamma Sigma the international business honour society.

Brendan McShane Chair, CWMA / Recycle BC

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Brendan is the Director, Collection with Recycle BC, and currently sits as Chair for CWMA. Brendan has worked with Recycle BC for nine years, overseeing partnerships and operations throughout the Province. During this time he has had the pleasure of working with the broad spectrum of waste management partners and is grateful for the strong relationships developed throughout the province. Brendan’s introduction to the waste management realm was in 2008, developing recycling programs in rural Costa Rica. In 2017, Brendan joined the Board of Directors with CWMA to further involve himself within the industry and provide a greater service to those partnerships he values. Brendan lives in Victoria with his young family, enjoying all things coastal BC has to offer.

Russ Smith, Capital Regional District

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Rory is the Manager of Sustainability and Asset Management at the City of Victoria. He established and leads the solid waste engineering and planning function of the City with responsibilities for zero waste and circular economy policies and programs, planning and design of municipal solid waste services and corporate sustainability initiatives.
Rory is the current Vice Chair of the Capital Region’s Solid Waste Advisory Committee. He was a founding member of the BC Energy Step Code Council that developed BC’s regulatory pathway to achieve net zero energy buildings and was a member of the project team that led the design of Surrey’s Clayton Community Centre – the largest Passive House facility of its kind. Rory holds a Masters and PhD in natural resources management from the University of British Columbia.

Cindy Coutts, Return-It

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Cindy Coutts is the President & CEO of Encorp Pacific Canada.
She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Guelph and an MBA from York University in Toronto. Over the past 25 years she has worked in the Mining, Waste and Recycling industries and has spent her career to date developing sustainable recycling practices in the private sector while assisting in the development of a regulatory framework that supports the circular economy. She was also President of Recycling Solutions, the world leader in electronics recycling for 15 years.
Cindy has been involved in waste/recycling issues from an environmental, economical, and social business perspective. She has experience working with governments at both the International level (UN and OECD) and the domestic level.

Sylvia Cheuy, Tamarack Institute

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Sylvia Cheuy (pronounced CHEW) – is the Consulting Director of Collaboration with the Tamarack Institute’s Learning Centre. She has spent more than 20 years as a changemaker and champions of multi-sector, citizen-led change efforts and is inspired by the capacity of communities to innovate and advance creative solutions to their most pressing issues. Sylvia is a skilled and seasoned community change facilitator who brings both practical knowledge and first-hand experience her work, which has included designing and delivering capacity-building sessions, both in person and virtually, to clients across North America as well as in Singapore, New Zealand, the UK, and Singapore.

RORY TOOKE | City of Victoria

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Rory is the Manager of Sustainability and Asset Management at the City of Victoria. He established and leads the solid waste engineering and planning function of the City with responsibilities for zero waste and circular economy policies and programs, planning and design of municipal solid waste services and corporate sustainability initiatives. Rory is the current Vice Chair of the Capital Region’s Solid Waste Advisory Committee. He was a founding member of the BC Energy Step Code Council that developed BC’s regulatory pathway to achieve net zero energy buildings and was a member of the project team that led the design of Surrey’s Clayton Community Centre – the largest Passive House facility of its kind. Rory holds a Masters and PhD in natural resources management from the University of British Columbia.

THURSDAY October 24, 2024 | Collaboration for Innovation

Sam Baker, Recycle BC

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Stevan Mikha, Prairie Robotics

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Bud Fraser, University of British Columbia

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Bud Fraser is the Senior Planning & Sustainability Engineer within the Campus & Community Planning department at the University of British Columbia, currently managing the Sustainability Planning and Engagement team. Bud works with business units and stakeholders across the university to develop and implement sustainability and resource conservation plans. With a background in Bio-Resource Engineering including waste and water management, he has been involved in the sustainability planning field for 20 years and is keenly interested in climate protection and circular economy development. Since arriving at UBC in 2013, he has project managed UBC’s Zero Waste Action Plans, Water Action Plan, and the Climate Action Plan 2020.

Jodie Frank, Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District

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Kate Masters, Capital Regional District

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As the Communications Liaison within the Capital Regional District’s Environmental Resource Management division, Kate coordinates and implements communication initiatives to carry out the region’s Solid Waste Management Plan. Kate has bolstered awareness of solid waste issues in the capital region while developing a keen interest solid waste policy, planning and environmental sustainability. Prior to working for the CRD, Kate worked at the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce and Camosun College and has experience in graphic design, marketing, and event coordination.

Gwen McCamley, New West Gypsum

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THURSDAY October 24, 2024 | Far and Away: Diversion Success in Rural Communities

Gene Larsen, Heiltsuk Nation

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Gene Larsen is from the Heiltsuk nations in Bella Bella, BC. He is the Site Manager for Heiltsuk Environmental Service Limited (HESL) at the local Transfer Station. Gene oversees the day-to-day operations and helps coordinate with the stewardship associations to move their products out of the community. Having been in this role for 2 years now, he has found it to be a very rewarding experience to help his community for the future generations to come.

Simone Sebalo, Zender Environmental Health/Solid Waste Alaska Taskforce

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Michael is a leading sustainable business expert, with over 20 years’ experience across North America, Europe and Asia. His work has most recently been focused on public and private sector EPR, circular economy and climate mitigation projects, cross-sectoral initiatives and government relations advocacy as Vice President of Sustainability at Retail Council of Canada, Director of Sustainability at GFL, Director of Climate Change & Sustainability Services at Ernst & Young and as Vice President of Business Development & Strategy at Bee’ah, a UAE based integrated waste management company. In Michael’s current role at Retail Council of Canada, he currently leads the sustainability practice, supporting retailers and quick service restaurants nationally with government advocacy, pre-competitive collaboration and the development of knowledge sharing platforms on a range of issues including EPR, plastic waste reduction and ESG and climate action.

Reilly Kosinski, Zender Environmental Health/Solid Waste Alaska Taskforce

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Michelle Kresnyak, Gabriola Island Recycling Organization

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Michelle Kresnyak is the General Manager of the Gabriola Island Recycling Organization (GIRO) and an environmental educator. Her passion is to educate and inform the island community on best practices to rethink, reduce, reuse and recycle. Since 2014, she has designed and implemented a Zero Waste curriculum teaching students on Gabriola how to become effective stewards for the planet. She is also co-founder of C2C Threads, a circular economy textile initiative. The goal of the initiative is to capture the textile waste stream on Gabriola and repurpose it into durable products and shred for stuffed applications. This project is pioneering how to turn waste into a valuable resource and raising awareness of the pollution created from the fast fashion industry.

Tim Ames, First Nations Recycling Initiative

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Tim’s passion for reduction, reuse and recycling led him to the role of Manager, at the First Nation Recycling Initiative (FNRI ) where he works to collaborate with First Nation communities. Tim works together with communities on their recycling programs and community recycling events. To support his work, Tim works in partnership with the Indigenous Zero Waste Technical Advisory Group (IZWTAG), Indigenous Services Canada (ISC), Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy, and the eleven participating stewardship agencies, which all contribute to the success of this work. Prior to joining the FNRI , Tim was the Manager of Special Project at Recycle BC as well as co-led the SFU Radius Change Lab Series, taught sustainability, and innovation, and mentored entrepreneurial startups also at SFU. He was also the European Managing Director of a leading technology company, focused on sustainability.

Michael Zarbl, Major Appliance Recycling Roundtable

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Michael joined the Major Appliance Recycling Roundtable as the Executive Director in July 2017.
Prior to that he was the Director of Operations at Recycle BC (formerly MMBC) the extended producer responsibility program for packaging and printed paper. Before joining Recycle BC, Michael was the Senior District Manager for Waste Management of Canada for four years, where he was responsible for the entire operation of the Vancouver Hauling District.
Michael also has an extensive supply chain management background with direct experience in the key activities along the supply chain, culminating in direct waste management industry experience. Michael has a BA from Concordia University in Montreal and is fluent in both English and French.

Stephanie Phillips, Circular Economy & Deconstruction at City of San Antonio

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Katie Kennedy, City of Seattle

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Katie Kennedy serves as Seattle Public Utilities’ Construction and Demolition Waste Lead. Katie works to increase building material reuse and salvage through Salvage Assessments required for remodeling and demolition projects and to promote and incentivize deconstruction as an alternative to demolition. She manages the City’s requirements around C&D recycling and diversion including material disposal bans, mixed waste processing qualified facility program, and waste diversion reports for building permits. She also works to measure and communicate greenhouse gas benefits based on increasingly focusing on reuse and waste prevention. Katie supports the local circular economy, especially for wood, through incentives, grants, and policies.

Rory Tooke, City of Victoria

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Rory is the Manager of Sustainability and Asset Management at the City of Victoria. He established and leads the solid waste engineering and planning function of the City with responsibilities for zero waste and circular economy policies and programs, planning and design of municipal solid waste services and corporate sustainability initiatives. Rory is the current Vice Chair of the Capital Region’s Solid Waste Advisory Committee. He was a founding member of the BC Energy Step Code Council that developed BC’s regulatory pathway to achieve net zero energy buildings and was a member of the project team that led the design of Surrey’s Clayton Community Centre – the largest Passive House facility of its kind. Rory holds a Masters and PhD in natural resources management from the University of British Columbia.

Paul Henderson, Metro Vancouver

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Sonam Bajwa, Regional District of Nanaimo

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Sonam Bajwa is a Solid Waste Planner at the Regional District of Nanaimo with over 10 years of experience in the solid waste industry. She started her career working with Tetra Tech where she focused on waste audits and then moved over to a stewardship agency, working on province and nation-wide extended producer responsibility programs. Her focus now is the ongoing implementation of the Regional District of Nanaimo’s solid waste management plan. Sonam holds a B.A. major in Geography with a Specialty in Environmental Studies, complemented by a certificate in Spatial Information Systems

THURSDAY October 24, 2024 | Marquee Speaker: The Largest Collaborative Reuse Pilot Program in Canada

Jo-Anne St Godard, Circular Innovation Council

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Charlotte Masemann, Environment & Climate Change Canada

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Dr. Charlotte Masemann is a policy analyst for Environment and Climate Change Canada with the Plastics Regulatory Affairs Division, working on the development and implementation of the Federal Plastics Registry. She was recently awarded a master’s degree in public administration by the University of Victoria. Her master’s thesis was entitled Getting the Job Done: Understanding Barriers and Enablers to Municipal Climate Action in Greater Victoria. Before moving to Victoria in 2019, she was an economic and environmental historian, teaching in the History Department at Carleton University in Ottawa.

Avery Gottfried, BC Ministry of Environment & Climate Change Strategy

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Sheila Molloy is the Executive Director of Coast Waste Management Association where she builds and facilitates forums for leaders in the solid waste management industry to share knowledge and work towards real solutions. This great role is one of many contracts over her 25 years as an interim executive for operations, strategy, and marketing projects across North America. She has proudly contributed to the success of well over 150 organizations in array of sectors and amongst these as a leader for a venture group that built and sold three private technology firms, including one bought by Microsoft. Her passion for the environment is now a key focus in her work and life. Sheila holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) Degree with Distinction, a Diploma in Creative Communications, and was inducted as a lifetime member to Beta Gamma Sigma the international business honour society.
ole is one of many contracts over her 25 years as an interim executive for operations, strategy, and marketing projects across North America.
She has proudly contributed to the success of well over 150 organizations in array of sectors and amongst these as a leader for a venture group that built and sold three private technology firms, including one bought by Microsoft. Her passion for the environment is now a key focus in her work and life. Sheila holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) Degree with Distinction, a Diploma in Creative Communications, and was inducted as a lifetime member to Beta Gamma Sigma the international business honour society.

Josh McLean, Ocean Legacy Foundation

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Josh McLean graduated from UBC’s Sauder School of Business with a concentration in Sustainability in 2017, and joined Ocean Legacy in 2021, initially taking on a role encompassing marketing, communications, and business development support. As Director of Product and Business Development, Josh is responsible for commercializing Ocean Legacy’s recycled ocean plastic pellet, called Legacy Plastic™, and associated end products. Ocean Legacy has partnered with manufacturers across several industries including watercraft, building supplies, fishing instrumentation, and more to create an economic value for plastics recovered from oceans, shorelines, and marine industrial cleanup.

Sean Kawakami, Convertus Group

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Sean is the Business Development Manager for Convertus Group who specialize in the design, construction, finance, and operation of organic waste processing facilities. Convertus operates four facilities in Canada, notably including the Nanaimo Circular Waste BC and Surrey Biofuel sites. Sean started in the industry working for Rehrig Pacific where he had the opportunity to supply containers for residential and commercial collection to municipalities and haulers across British Columbia and Alberta. From there he moved to Waste Connections for a year, before joining Convertus. His experience in supply, collection and processing affords him a unique perspective of the solid waste industry in our province.

Moderator: VERONICA BARTLETT | Morrison Hershfield

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Veronica Bartlett is an environmental and waste management consultant with over 15 years’ experience. With a postgraduate degree in ecotoxicology from Uppsala University, Sweden; Veronica started her career developing “waste management and minimization plans” for municipalities across New Zealand. New professional challenges and the beautiful coast mountains attracted Veronica to North Vancouver where she joined Morrison Hershfield’s growing team in 2012. Over the last ten years, Veronica has worked on many projects: from the development of solid waste management plans to communication and engagement strategy development. Away from work, Veronica is an active Council member of her strata complex and enjoys having fun in the outdoors – trail running, mountain biking, hiking, and skiing.

Gil Yaron, Light House

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Jamie Madill, Pro-Claim Group

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amie Madill serves as the Director of Sustainability at The Pro-Claim Group (PCG), a collaboration of restoration companies committed to raising industry standards in sustainability, innovation, and performance. He champions best sustainable business practices across the property insurance industry, with his leadership helping to influence over 250 restoration contractors to advance their own sustainability initiatives. Under Jamie’s leadership, PCG is reinventing the restoration industry by elevating standards in technology, sustainability, and customer service. This is exemplified through a national resource recovery program and transitioning all partners to electrify their fleets. He loves to collaborate with others to uplift the restoration industry and drive sustainability initiatives within the broader construction sector. Jamie’s work exemplifies a commitment to environmental stewardship and innovative industry leadership.”

Candice Ruggero, Cascades Recovery+

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Candice is a Corporate Sustainability Manager with 20 years of dedicated service in the waste management industry with expertise in both hazardous and non-hazardous waste. She has spent the last 15 years with Cascades, a renowned company known for its commitment to sustainable practices and its foundation in circular economy principles. Currently leading the team of advisors within Cascades ‘Recovery division, Candice is passionate about improving the quality of recyclable materials and utilizing them in the manufacturing of new products. Together with her team, she actively collaborates with stakeholders to identify areas for improvement, implement efficient processes, and monitor the progress, all aimed at continuously enhancing recycling programs. Candice is committed to leveraging Cascades knowledge and expertise to promote understanding and adoption of circularity both within and outside the company, ensuring that the value and benefits of this approach are widely recognized.

Glyn Lewis, Renewal Home Development

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Glyn Lewis is the founder and CEO of Renewal Development. Renewal’s mission is to rescue good homes slated for demolition by relocating and repurposing them for vulnerable populations and communities in need. Renewal seeks to force change on both the demolition industry and the construction industry by proving the possibilities of circularity and sustainability. Glyn holds a Master’s Degree in Sustainable Community Development and is an alumni of President Barack Obama’s presidential campaigns. He has been leading the growth of Renewal Development since 2021.

Sarah Willie, Comox Valley Regional District

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Currently the Solid Waste Planning and Policy Development Manager at the Comox Valley Regional District, Sarah has previously worked within the solid waste field for the City of Vancouver, Metro Van, Product Care Association and as a consultant to Call2Recycle. Currently Co-Chair of the BC Product Stewardship Council and a Recycling Council of BC Board Member, Sarah has a keen interest in all things solid waste. A rule follower when it suits her, she is keen to help us gain insights from some innovative best practices and irritate operations with her policies and emails.

Thank you to all of our speakers and moderators!

Pre-Conference Virtual Session: Disaster Debris: Lessons Learned and Strategies for the Future (October 8)

Cameron Baughen, Baughen Consulting

Heidi Gerlach, Dillon Consulting

Charlotte Brown, Resilient Organizations (NZ)

Joe Angevine, Foothills Regional Landfill & Resource Recovery Centre

Moderator SHEILA MOLLOY | Coast Waste Management Association

Pre-Conference Session: Measurable Success in Waste Reduction (October 10)

Rachel Morier, Brewers’ Recycled Container Collection Council

Erin Wildeboer, Strathcona County Alberta

David Kassian, City of Penticton

Terry Fulton, Metro Vancouver

Sean Kawakami, Convertus Group

Pre-Conference Session: Perspectives in Waste Reduction forCommercial Businesses (October 16)

Jarret Klim, Synergy/BC Green Business

Rachel Kagan, Paper and Paperboard Packaging Environmental Council

Louise Schwarz, Recycling Alternative

Tera Grady, Cariboo Regional District

Meg O’Shea, Canada Plastics Pact

Tamara Shulman, Tamara Shulman & Associates

Roundtable Facilitators | Educator’s & Communicator’s RT | Local Government RT | Hauling & Fleet Management RT

Moderator: SHEILA MOLLOY | Coast Waste Management Association

Ingalisa Burns, Let’s Talk Trash

Abby McLennan, Let's Talk Trash

WEDNESDAY October 23, 2024 | Reducing Carbon Intensity in Fleets & Vehicles

Steve Wiebe, Innotech Fleet Strategies

Dennis Wilson, Nation Group

Elena Baglietto, Quantum Technology

Sean Kawakami, Convertus Group

WEDNESDAY October 23, 2024 | Reducing Material and Carbon Waste Through Deconstruction, Reuse and Design for Disassembly

Stephanie Dalo, Carbon Leadership Forum BC

Leah Berscheid, Cowichan Valley Regional District

THURSDAY October 24, 2024 | Welcome & Special Greetings | Tribute to Success | Keynote Session

Sheila Molloy, Executive Director, CWMA

Brendan McShane Chair, CWMA / Recycle BC

Russ Smith, Capital Regional District

Cindy Coutts, Return-It

​Sylvia Cheuy​, Tamarack Institute

RORY TOOKE | City of Victoria

THURSDAY October 24, 2024 | Collaboration for Innovation

Sam Baker, Recycle BC

Stevan Mikha, Prairie Robotics

Bud Fraser, University of British Columbia

Jodie Frank, Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District

Kate Masters, Capital Regional District

THURSDAY October 24, 2024 | Legends & Prospects / Interview with a Legend

Gwen McCamley, New West Gypsum

THURSDAY October 24, 2024 | Far and Away: Diversion Success in Rural Communities

Gene Larsen, Heiltsuk Nation

Simone Sebalo, Zender Environmental Health/Solid Waste Alaska Taskforce

Reilly Kosinski, Zender Environmental Health/Solid Waste Alaska Taskforce

Michelle Kresnyak, Gabriola Island Recycling Organization

Tim Ames, First Nations Recycling Initiative

Michael Zarbl, Major Appliance Recycling Roundtable

THURSDAY October 24, 2024 | Virtual Vignette: Collaborating for Groundbreaking Deconstruction Policy & Action

Stephanie Phillips, Circular Economy & Deconstruction at City of San Antonio

THURSDAY October 24, 2024 | Pursuits & Actions for a Zero Waste Region

Katie Kennedy, City of Seattle

Rory Tooke, City of Victoria

Paul Henderson, Metro Vancouver

Sonam Bajwa, Regional District of Nanaimo

THURSDAY October 24, 2024 | Marquee Speaker: The Largest Collaborative Reuse Pilot Program in Canada

Jo-Anne St Godard, Circular Innovation Council

FRIDAY October 25, 2024 | Marquee Speaker: Canada’s Zero Waste Agenda

Charlotte Masemann, Environment & Climate Change Canada

Avery Gottfried, BC Ministry of Environment & Climate Change Strategy

FRIDAY October 25, 2024 | Where to Now?: End Market Development

Josh McLean, Ocean Legacy Foundation

Sean Kawakami, Convertus Group

Aaron Laslo, Can-Do! Green Technologies and Urbanjacks

Erick Serpas Ventura, VEMA Deconstruction

Al Boflo, Reclaim Plastics

Moderator: VERONICA BARTLETT | Morrison Hershfield

FRIDAY October 25, 2024 | Legends & Prospects – Interview with a prospect

Gil Yaron, Light House

FRIDAY October 25, 2024 | Committed to Something Greater: Shaping Best Practices

Jamie Madill, Pro-Claim Group

Candice Ruggero, Cascades Recovery+

Glyn Lewis, Renewal Home Development

Sarah Willie, Comox Valley Regional District

Pre-Conference Session: Perspectives in Waste Reduction for
Commercial Businesses (October 16)

Sylvia Cheuy, Tamarack Institute