SPEAKERS – CWMA

SPEAKERS

Our 2021 Speakers & Panelists

CWMA Conference Committee is proud to bring a great line up of topics and speakers to our community in 2021! Check out the Schedule for topics and discussion themes.

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Meet all of our amazing panelists and moderators…

ALDA NICMANS | BC Product Stewardship Council

Meet Alda Nicmans...

Alda Nicmans is the Executive Director of the BC Product Stewardship Council, a coalition of BC regional districts that are responsible for solid waste management and waste reduction, recycling and re-use in their jurisdictions. One of the primary objectives of the Council is to provide a forum for ongoing dialogue between local governments and stewardship agencies on program operations and other related issues.
Since 1985, Alda has developed extensive experience designing and implementing progressive zero waste management systems in British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario. Alda has served in executive positions for SWANA Pacific Chapter, two stewardship organizations: The Electronics Stewardship Association of BC; and The Tree Marking Paint Stewardship Association, gaining insight and understanding into the future of extended producer responsibility programs in Canada. She has also served on the Board of both the Recycling Council of BC and Ontario.

KADY COWAN | Sustainability Services

Meet Kady Cowan...

Most recently, Kady led the Energy Business Partnerships team at the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) in Ontario. Previously, Kady was Director of Environmental Sustainability Solutions at Atrium Health in Charlotte, North Carolina one of the largest public, not-for-profit hospital systems in the U.S.
She also served as a Sustainability Leader at University Health Network (UHN) in Toronto for almost a decade. Kady practices system science to transform organizational culture, making pro-environmental behaviours easy in large complex work settings. Through participatory and collaborative techniques Kady creates the conditions for staff and executive engagement, positive disruption and simple solutions to emerge and persist for the long-term.

Protecting environmental and human health, as well as conservation of natural and economic resources are the outcomes of her programs. She is currently focused on a framework that embraces the complexity of behaviour, learning and social decision making to complement traditional waste management practice for commercial and institutional organizations.

TYLER LAUINGER | Vitacore

Meet Tyler Lauinger...

After graduating from the University of British Columbia with Batchelor’s of Science honours in the Natural Resource Conservation program, Tyler joined Vitacore Industries as the Director of Recycling Operations.
Soon after joining, he saw an opportunity for the respirator manufacturing company to decrease their own environmental footprint by beginning to recycle all waste materials from production. He has since expanded the recycling program to collect and recycle PPE materials across Canada.
When he is not working, Tyler spends most of his free time coaching youth hockey. He also plays hockey, baseball, and golf.

RYAN PARMENTER | Environment and Climate Change Canada

Meet Ryan Parmenter...

Ryan is the Director of Plastics and Marine Litter at Environment and Climate Change Canada
Ryan began his career at the Conference Board of Canada working on Energy Security and Sustainability Projects. His first positions in the public service were with Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) working on energy and climate change. Ryan also worked for the Northern Contaminated Sites Program at Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) on the Giant Mine Remediation Project. He also worked at the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) on green growth and global relations. Most recently, he was the Chief of Staff to the Associate Deputy Minister responsible for the Laboratories Canada initiative at Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC).
Ryan holds an undergraduate degree in geography and biology from Wilfr2id Laurier University and a Masters in environmental science from the University of Calgary.

JEN FRASER | Synergy Foundation

Meet Jen Fraser...

As the Manager of Project Development & Communications, Jen has a knack for turning abstract ideas into tangible initiatives and processes.

From designing the Project Zero Incubator program to storyboarding educational video content, she enjoys the challenge of the unfamiliar. Jen is well connected to the local green business community and is always eager to make introductions when she sees an opportunity for others to collaborate or learn from one another.

Born and raised in Victoria, Jen has always been captivated with the rugged paradise Vancouver Island has to offer. In her free time Jen can be found kicking the soccer ball around or exploring the abundant hiking trails in the Greater Victoria region with her border collie.

ED RUBINSTEIN | University Health Network

Meet Ed Rubinstein...

Ed Rubinstein is the University Health Network’s Director of Environmental Compliance, Risk and Sustainability.
He’s been leading the hospital’s many environment programs since 1999 and has helped UHN become a leader in environmental sustainability in health care.
Both UHN and Ed’s leadership in the field of “greening health care” have been acknowledged with several awards, including from the Ontario Hospital Association, Canadian College of Health Leaders, Natural Resources Canada, Practice Greenhealth and the Canadian Council of Ministers for the Environment; Ed was recognized as one of “Canada’s Clean 16” in 2018.

LILLY WOODBURY | Regional Coordinator, Surfrider Foundation Canada

MeetLilly Woodbury...

Lilly Woodbury is the Regional Coordinator for Surfrider Foundation Canada, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of the ocean, beaches, and waves, for all people.
She focuses on policy-based initiatives that are addressing plastic waste and pollution as well as working towards materializing a circular economy.
She’s currently completing her Master’s degree at the University of Victoria’s School of Environment, and won Canada’s Top 25 Environmentalists Under 25 in 2018. Lilly has appeared on GlobalBC, CTV, CHEK, and numerous other broadcast news to weigh in on policy-driven solutions around plastic waste management for ocean conservation.

ALLEN LANGDON | President and CEO, Return-It

Meet Allen Langdon...

As the President and CEO of Return-It, Allen oversees the most successful used beverage container management program in Canada with a mandate to develop, manage and improve systems to recover used packaging and end-of-life products from consumers and ensure that they are properly recycled and diverted from our natural environment. Through its collection network consisting of over 170 Return-It collection sites, including Return-It depots, Express Plus and Express & GO stations, Return-It has routinely exceeded a 75% recovery rate for used beverage containers in British Columbia while at the same time developing a collection network that has become the backbone for a number of other recycling programs around the province.

Allen has extensive experience in sustainability, extended producer responsibility and supporting the industry in evolving to circular economy solutions. Allen serves as a Board member of the National Zero Waste Council, Advisory Council Member for the Canada Plastics Pact, and Advisory Board Member for the Washington State Recycling Development Centre.

Prior to joining Return-It, Allen served as the Managing Director for Recycle BC, the first 100% Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) program for paper and packaging in North America where industry assumed full financial and managerial responsibility for the residential recycling system.

Allen also previously served as the VP of Sustainability for the Retail Council of Canada and the VP of Environment for the Canadian Council of Grocery Distributors, advancing those industries’ responses to a range of complex sustainability issues including climate change, sustainable packaging, EPR programs, and animal welfare.

STEPHANIE VALDAL | Services Coordinator, Comox Strathcona Waste Management

Meet Stephanie Valdal...

Stephanie has worked in local government since 2008 and directly with solid waste services since 2012. The services coordinator position was established in 2018 and provides Stephanie the opportunity to work closely with local non-profits including reuse stores, community groups and individuals within the CSWM service.
Stephanie’s humanities and sociology background provide an ideal educational foundation for developing community and volunteer based policies and programs. In turn these programs have strengthened the communities of the CSWM service while increasing diversion, reducing frequency and volume of improper disposal and reducing costs for the taxpayer.
Stephanie enjoys meeting and talking to residents, conducting outreach and traveling within the service

RUSTAM PUNJA | Geocycle Canada

Meet Rustam Punja...

Rustam Punja is the Business Development Manager for Geocycle Western Canada who operate and manage alternative fuel operations for the Lafarge kilns in Richmond BC and Exshaw AB.
Rustam has been involved in the waste industry for the last 15 years working in sales and management roles with some of the leading solid, liquid, and hazardous waste companies in North America.
One of his proudest professional achievements came in 2019 with the commissioning of the alternative fuels platform at the Lafarge Richmond cement plant which adds up to 80,000 tpy of waste recovery capacity (i.e. landfill avoidance) to the region. His next project will be to commission a 110,000k tpy alternative fuel platform at the Exshaw cement plant in 2023.

RACHELLE ORMOND | Indigenous Services Canada (ISC)

Meet Rachelle Ormond...

Rachelle Ormond is a Senior Engineer within the Community Infrastructure Directorate of Indigenous Services Canada (ISC). She holds a BASc and an MSC in environmental engineering and has over ten years of experience.
Rachelle manages solid waste infrastructure projects supported by ISC’s targeted solid waste funding. She works with various stakeholders to assist First Nations in modernizing their solid waste management systems and achieving their Zero Waste goals.
She also works on other First Nations community infrastructure projects including electrification and water treatment.

LYNDSAY POAPS | Recycling Council of British Columbia

Meet Lyndsay Poaps...

Before joining the Recycling Council of BC Lyndsay as the Executive Director of Leadnow, an independent citizen’s advocacy organization. She co-founded Check Your Head and is the founder of Frontrunner: a campaign school for women in post-secondary education.

She has served as an elected Commissioner to Vancouver’s Board of Parks and Recreation and was an Urban Fellow with the City of Toronto. Lyndsay is passionate about engaging people in social and environmental policy to improve community building and decision making.

JOANNE FEDYK | Saskatchewan Waste Reduction Council

Meet Joanne Fedyk...

Joanne Fedyk has been the Executive Director of the Saskatchewan Waste Reduction Council (SWRC) since 1991. SWRC works toward a waste-free Saskatchewan by promoting waste reduction practices to municipalities, businesses and the public. Joanne’s educational background is in home and family economics. She lives in Saskatoon with the legally allowed number of spouses and cats.

CHRISTINA SEIDEL | Recycling Council of Alberta

Meet Christina Seidel...

Christina holds a PhD in Engineering Management, a Masters degree in Environmental Design (Environmental Science), as well as a B.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering. She operates sonnevera international corp., a waste reduction consulting firm, and is the current Executive Director of the Recycling Council of Alberta. Christina loves rural life, choosing to live on a farm near Bluffton, Alberta, where her and her family raise Warmblood horses, and enjoy many other outdoor activities.

JO-ANNE ST. GODARD | Executive Director, Recycling Council of Ontario

Meet Jo-Anne St. Godard...

ALICE HENRY | Share Reuse Repair Initiative

Meet Alice Henry...

Alice Henry is a researcher, facilitator, and program coordinator with expertise in zero waste and the circular economy, as well as collaborative decision-making. She brings experience in the repair economy, working on textile waste social innovation, investigating the secondhand economy and lighter living landscape, and working as part of a tech startup in the sharing economy to her current work as the Senior Project Coordinator of the Share Reuse Repair Initiative’s Just Circular Recovery and Transition program, and as an Associate with OneEarth.
Henry is excited to support innovators, public institutions, and our communities as we rethink how our systems can work and how our economies can better support all peoples and our planet.

LYNDSEY CHAUHAN | Recycle BC

Meet Lyndsey Chauhan...

Lyndsey has over 20 years of experience in developing and executing marketing, sponsorship and branding strategies. As director, marketing communications for Recycle BC (BC’s 100% extended producer responsibility (EPR) recycling program for residential packaging and paper), Lyndsey is responsible for corporate marketing and communications activities including branding, advertising, sponsorship, events, digital marketing, and all other resident promotion and education.
In her role at Recycle BC, Lyndsey led the organizational rebrand from ‘Multi-Material BC’ to ‘Recycle BC’. She loves bringing brands to life and connecting them to consumers in a meaningful way by developing smart and authentic marketing solutions.

MARK FISHER | Regional District of Bulkley Nechako

Meet Mark Fisher...

After collecting recyclables, Mark’s Boy Scout group went to an abandon building and threw glass against a brick wall as hard as possible.
For Mark it was more than just teenage boys being allowed to smash things … so a lifelong interest in the logistics, and environmental and financial impact of garbage developed.
Waste reduction became a guiding principle for all his food related businesses (café, catering, food truck, farm), as Project Developer/Manager for community projects and social enterprises, and for the last 7 years at the Regional District of Bulkley Nechako as Chair of the Solid Waste Committee and Director fore Area A (Smithers/Telkwa Rural). He’s extremely grateful for the opportunity to share with, as well as learn from all of those participating.

MIRIAM GORDON | Upstream

Meet Miriam Gordon...

Miriam Gordon is the Policy Director for Upstream and a leading architect of policies that reduce single-use products and packaging.
For the past 15 years, Miriam has been a leading advocate for plastic bag, polystyrene foam, and microbead bans and is an expert on waste, water quality, and toxics policy. She has launched campaigns to protect communities whose health is threatened by incineration, fracking, and chemicals in consumer products.
She has also created award-winning pollution prevention and water quality programs for local, state, and federal government agencies. Miriam holds a JD Degree from Vermont Law School and was an undergraduate at Vassar College.

LASKE PARE | Flipside Plastics

Meet Laska Pare...

Laska Pare (she/ her) is Founder & CVO (Chief Vision Officer) Flipside Plastics
Laska is a creative force who believes “the best is yet to come” when it comes to recycling. Her unshakeable spirit and focus on creating value rich products from recycled material is fueling circular possibilities in a linear industry. She’s an obsessive organizer, enthusiastic fly fisher and loves tickling the frets on her ukulele.

DR. FIONA MILLER | Centre for Sustainable Health Systems

Meet Fiona Miller...

Dr. Fiona A. Miller is a Professor of Health Policy in the Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation in the Dalla Lana School of Public Health; she holds the Chair in Health Management Strategies, is a Connaught Scholar and is Founding Director of the Centre for Sustainable Health Systems.
As Director of the Centre for Sustainable Health Systems, Miller leads and supports efforts to improve the environmental and social sustainability of health systems, through research, practice change and policy advocacy.
As a policy scholar, Miller brings a critical political economy perspective to the analysis of technological innovation and sustainability transitions. Her work aims at sustainable ‘demand driven’ innovation.

HELEN HARAKAS | Brands for Canada (BFC)

Meet Helen Harakas...

Helen is the Executive Director of Brands for Canada (BFC). Over the past 20 years, she has led the evolution of BFC from a local social service agency into a national, leading charitable organization. BFC provides manufacturers, retailers, and the community with the ideal channels to distribute surplus new clothing, used clothing, and other basic-needs items — keeping approximately $40 million worth of surplus goods out of landfills and places them into the hands of thousands of Canadians in need.
Helen has a bachelor’s degree in psychology, a master’s degree in adult education, and multiple post-graduate executive business certificates. She is currently collaborating with leaders in the Canadian recycling and waste management industries to reimagine optimal social, economic and environmental solutions.

CHLOE DUBOIS | Ocean Legacy Foundation

Meet Chloé Dubois...

Chloé Dubois is the President and founding member of the Ocean Legacy Foundation, an integrative program which aims to monetize ocean plastics, plastic pollution concentration zones are cleaned, innovative technologies are built to collect and process plastic, plastic pollution policy gaps are addressed and crucial tools for education and awareness are facilitated.
Since co-founding Ocean Legacy in 2014, Chloé has organized more than 30 extensive cleanup expeditions in 4 countries, and has engaged thousands of people in direct-action cleanups, education, and recycling initiatives. She has an honours undergraduate degree in Environment and Resource Management with a diploma in Strategic Environmental Assessment from the University of Waterloo, Canada.
Chloé has co-created one of the first ocean plastic innovation and processing centres in North America which has now set up recycling infrastructure, including purchasing a small-scale plastic-to-fuel machine in 2015 to manage wasted plastics.

JAMIE KAMINSKI | HSR Zero Waste

Meet Jamie Kaminski...
Jamie Kaminski
- President of HSR Zero Waste / Director of Zero Waste Canada / Board Member of the Zero Waste International Alliance (ZWIA)/ Chair of the Zero Waste Definition Working Group / Chair of the Zero Waste Hierarchy Working Group / Zero Waste Business Associate / True Advisor
Jamie’s experience is in solid waste management from both a ground level as well as from a policymaking perspective. Jamie’s area of expertise lies within internationally accepted Zero Waste policies and programs including Zero Waste training, education, and Certification development.
Jamie works with fellow policy advisors to create strong, practical and enforceable policies and programs that drive change towards Zero Waste. With 30 years of active engagement in the waste diversion industry working for HSR, Jamie has developed extensive experience in understanding how regional policies and bylaws affect the existing waste management system from the perspective of the service provider, the client, as well as the region as a whole. As the lead policy advisor for Zero Waste Canada, Jamie represents the primary reference point for Zero Waste policies nationwide

RUSS SMITH | Capital Regional District

Meet Russ Smith...

FAISAL MIRZA | City of Vancouver

Meet Faisal Mirza...

Faisal is a Senior Project Manager in the City of Vancouver’s Solid Waste Strategic Services Branch and the City’s lead on construction & demolition (C&D) material recovery, recycling, and upcycling as per the 2018 council-approved Zero Waste 2040 strategy (https://vancouver.ca/green-vancouver/zero-waste-vancouver.aspx).
What’s more, he works on various initiatives including clean technology integration, information technology (IT), public art, and building infrastructure for the City’s 320 ha landfill located in Delta, BC. With respect to clean technology, he’s currently exploring the feasibility of developing a former recycling receiving yard into a zero waste technology demonstration/incubator site for innovative technologies in partnership with the Vancouver Economic Commission (https://vancouver.ca/green-vancouver/zero-waste-demonstration-hub.aspx?
Faisal is a Professional Engineer in British Columbia and Washington State, a Project Management Professional, and has an MBA from Vancouver’s Simon Fraser University

DANNY TOURVILLE | Tzeachten First Nation

Meet Danny Tourville...

Danny Tourville is the current Property and Public Works Manager for Tzeachten First Nation. He has pushed many green initiatives for the Nation, such as curbside waste/recycling/compost pick up, a backyard composting program, and newest endeavour – the Recycle Zone.
He hopes for the Nation to be a leader in lessoning our communal carbon footprint on Turtle Island.
Danny is a journeyman carpenter by trade, and also practices building inspections on the side through his company ‘La:lem Building Inspections and Consulting’ where he loves to push the envelope in bettering building practices on reserve.

TIM JONES | Recycle BC - First Nations Recycling Initiative (FNRI)

Meet Tim Jones...

Tim Jones is the Field Services Specialist, First Nations at Recycle BC and leads the First Nations Recycling Initiative (FNRI). Facilitate community recycling initiatives throughout BC, coordinate recycling activities with First Nations community in conjunction with participating stewardship agencies.
He supports and works with First Nation collectors partnered with Recycle BC program.

LUCINDA PHILLIPS | IZWTAG

Meet Lucinda Phillips...

Lucinda Phillips has been the Executive Director for IZWTAG since 2019, previously worked as a Band Administrator for N’Quatqua and was also a Chief for her community for 4-years. She has over 30+ years of experience in Management/Administration in working with First Nations communities and ISC programs and services. Lucinda loves the country life (born and raised) and is currently working on expanding her new passion within the Farm life 😊

MARTIN DICKSON | Thompson-Nicola Regional District

Meet Martin Dickson...

Martin Dickson is the Environmental Services Coordinator for the Thompson-Nicola Regional District (TNRD). In 14 years at the Regional District he has been primarily involved in community engagement, operations and now program and policy development related to Solid Waste Management. He is also the TNRD representative on the BC Product Stewardship Council.
As the file lead for the TNRD’s relationship with Recycle BC, Martin has also supported TNRD member municipalities in onboarding as collection partners. This role has presented the opportunity to collaborate with Recycle BC in the development of the Bulk Recycling Consolidation Pilot Project for First Nations Communities in the region.
Martin is also the TNRD’s point of contact for the Indigenous Zero Waste Technical Advisory Group and works with their project team to receive stewarded materials at TNRD waste management facilities for end of life processing.

MICHAEL ZARBL | Major Appliance Recycling Roundtable

Meet Michael Zarbl...

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.

LINDSEY BOYLE | Circular Citizen / One Earth

Meet Lindsey Boyle...

Lindsey Boyle, Founder, Circular Citizen / Sr. Associate, One Earth

Lindsey is passionate about business that supports people’s well being and regenerates nature. Working at the intersection of the climate emergency and the circular economy, Lindsey is a strategist who creates insight into target audience’s needs and motivations and illuminates barriers to (and frustrations with) circular choices. Lindsey’s most recent work was as Project Lead for OneEarth’s Oneearthweb.org/motivations project, in partnership with Sitra, the Finnish Innovation Fund, and Vancity Credit Union.

Lindsey is also Vice President of Consumer Insights with The Sound and Board President for the Sandown Centre for Regenerative Agriculture in North Saanich, BC Canada.

SUE MAXWELL | Ecoinspire

Meet Sue Maxwell...

Sue Maxwell is the principal of Ecoinspire, a consulting business which focuses on sustainability and zero waste planning, working with governments, NGOs, EPR programs and businesses.
She has been a councillor and an active volunteer in Whistler for waste reduction and community planning and more broadly with Zero Waste BC, the Climate Caucus, and others. S
he has a Master of Arts in Environment and Management from Royal Roads University.

RORY TOOKE | City of Victoria

Meet Rory Tooke...

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.

ANDREA PANICH | Capital Regional District

Meet Andrea Panich...

Andrea works at Hartland landfill, researching solid waste management and health & safety topics, developing risk assessments, preparing jobs safety analysis, exposure control plans, emergency preparedness and coordinating required safety training. As a joint occupational health and safety member,

Andrea prepares minutes and agenda’s and presents health and safety material to the committee. She has experience in environmental monitoring, sampling and working in analytical laboratories, processing samples for analysis. Andrea has a B.Sc. in Environmental Science, a diploma in Environmental Technology and a certificate in Environmental and Occupational Health.

ABBY MCLENNAN | Let's Talk Trash / qathet RD

Meet Abby McLennan...

Abby McLennan is a founding member of Let’s Talk Trash, a registered partnership that focuses on solid waste operations, education, and waste reduction .

LTT’s primary contract has been with the qathet Regional District (formerly Powell River Regional District), creating an innovative waste reduction campaign, supporting solid waste operations and most recently working on the creation of a Resource Recovery Centre. In addition, the team partnered this year with the Ocean Legacy Foundation for a series of shoreline cleanup initiatives and with Maura Walker and Associates where they conducted their first regional waste audit.

LTT has a passion for pushing the business as usual in the waste sector into next level diversion that both inspires and encourages retooling and rethinking.

STEWART YOUNG JR | GFL Environmental

Meet Stew Young Jr...

Stew Young Jr is an experienced solid waste industry professional.
He is the general manager for GFL solid waste operations on Vancouver Island. Prior to GFL, Stew was the Vice-President for the Alpine Group and was the co-chair on the Vancouver Island Recycling & Waste Industry Coalition (VIRWIC). Stew also served a board member for the SWANA Pacific Chapter. In 2015 he was recognized with the top 20 under 40 business award. In addition, he is the CEO of SKY Environmental, and the Director of Altitude Management.
He also holds multiple designations with the Solid Waste Association of North America. While away from work, Stew enjoys spending time with his family, summers at the lake, and playing golf.

BRENDAN MCSHANE | Recycle BC

Meet Brendan McShane...

Brendan is the Manager, Collection Quality and Development for Recycle BC, and currently sits as Chair for CWMA. Brendan has worked with Recycle BC for 7 years, overseeing partnerships throughout the Province, with a focus on Coastal operations. Throughout 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. 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.

MARK KURSCHNER | Product Care

Meet Mark Kurschner...

Mark is the president of Product Care Association based in Vancouver, BC, Canada. Product Care is a non-profit industry association that operates product stewardship programs across Canada. Products and programs managed by Product Care include paint, lighting products, flammable liquids, pesticides, smoke alarms, as well as small appliances and outdoor power equipment. Mark became the president of Product Care Association in 2002 and is a qualified lawyer. Among many other projects and initiatives, Mark was honoured to work with the Indigenous Zero Waste Technical Advisory Group (IZWTAG) to help them set up their not-for-profit organization. Mark lives in Vancouver, but he is a frequent visitor to the family cabin at Shawnigan Lake on Vancouver Island.

SONAM BAJWA | Regional District of Nanaimo

Meet Sonam Bajwa...

Sonam Bajwa is the Solid Waste Planner at the Regional District of Nanaimo. Sonam holds a B.A. major in Geography with a Specialty in Environmental Studies, complemented by a certificate in Spatial Information Systems. In her time at the RDN, she has been responsible for the consultation and implementation of the Solid Waste Management Plan, the region-wide curbside collection program and departmental communication. Prior to the RDN, Sonam was Program Coordinator for province and nation-wide product stewardship programs. She got her start in the solid waste industry working for Tetra Tech, where she was a Solid Waste Auditor and Outreach Ambassador.

JULIE DICKSON OLMSTEAD | Save-On-Foods LP

Meet Julie Dickson Olmstead...

Today, as the Managing Director of Public Affairs and Corporate Social Responsibility for Save-On-Foods LP, Canada’s largest privately-held Western-based retail grocery chain, Julie holds responsibility for public affairs, corporate responsibility, government and industry relations and strategic planning for sustainability, zero waste and environmental leadership projects.
Currently, in addition to participating in a wide range of strategic food industry initiatives and cross-sectoral projects, Julie is a senior member of Retail Council of Canada’s National Grocery and Pharmacy COVID-19 Response Table; a member of the board of directors of Encorp Pacific (Return-It), Call2Recycle, Multi-Material Stewardship Manitoba, Food Banks BC and BC Agriculture in the Classroom Foundation. Julie is also a member of the Management Board of Canada’s National Zero Waste Council; the Canadian Food Policy Advisory Council and the Canada Plastic Pact Senior Advisory Council.
An accomplished presenter and accredited adult educator, Julie is a long-standing member of the Canadian Public Relations Society (CPRS). She has developed content for and hosted lectures, workshops, seminars and university courses on effective media relations, community engagement, internal communications strategy, issues and crisis management, reputation management, business management and social media. She was proud to be named a Star Women in Grocery award winner in 2021.

ED WALSH | Return-It

Meet Ed Walsh...

Ed Walsh has more than 30 years of experience in the recycling and waste diversion industry. Having spent much of this time as a key executive member of collection operations and contract implementation teams, Ed’s experience encompasses the design, implementation and management of multiple large-scale collection and processing contracts throughout BC, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba, including the installation and management of alternative fuel collection fleets and fueling infrastructure. Currently serving as Director of Operations, Vancouver Island for Encorp Pacific (Canada), Ed represents Encorp on key matters and opportunities related to all Return-It and other used beverage container collection depot operations on Vancouver Island. Ed is a Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) Certified Manager of Collection Systems and a Director on the Recycling Council of BC (RCBC) and holds a Bachelor of Economics from the University of Lethbridge.

PAUL MCDONALD | Government of Ireland

Meet Paul McDonald...

Paul McDonald, Waste Policy and Enforcement, Government of Ireland
Paul McDonald heads the Unit in the Department of Environment overseeing Plastic Policy – which involves managing the transposition of a number of European Union Directives in the plastics and packaging area.
He has worked on the environmental policy brief for a number of years and co-authored the Departments ‘Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy’ published in September 2020’.

GWENDOLYN LOHBRUNNER | Clean Communities, Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy

Meet Gwendolyn Lohbrunner...

Gwendolyn Lohbrunner first worked for the Ministry in 1995 and has since rejoined in 2014. She has over 25 years of experience in environmental protection.
Her current position is Director of the Clean Communities section at the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy, where she leads a team of specialists developing policy for circular economy, solid waste and landfill management, plastics, and organic waste. Current projects include the CleanBC Plastics Action Plan, organics infrastructure funding programs, and economic stimulus funding programs for recycled plastics and marine debris clean-up. In her spare time, Gwendolyn is kept busy raising her three sons and enjoying the outdoors.

MONTY HORTON | Ditidaht First Nation

Meet Monty Horton...

Monty Horton, MCIP RPP, Lands Administration Consultant, Ditidaht First Nation
I’m a Professional Planner, and have been working for VI First Nations in a Land Management capacity for the past 15 years.
Before that I was a Planner at the Regional District in Nelson and Penticton. I graduated with a BSc from UNBC in Prince George in 1998, and a Forestry Diploma in 1993 from Selkirk College in Castlegar.

COLIN BELL | RecycleSmart

Meet Colin Bell...

http://recycle-smart.com Chief Innovation Officer
Colin holds a Broadcasting Diploma from Mount Royal College and a BA in Communications from Royal Roads University. Prior to co-founding RecycleSmart, he spent over a decade as an athlete, coach and event manager in the winter sport of Biathlon, including managing the biathlon venue for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games. Today, he leads the business operations team at RecycleSmart with a focus on digital transformation, improving efficiency and value for clients across Canada.

BOB MCDONALD | Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy

Meet Bob McDonald...

Bob McDonald has been managing waste diversion programs in BC for the past 30 years. He was involved in the BC government’s original ‘in-house’ managed stewardship programs in the early 1990’s and returned to the Ministry in 2014 to lead some 21 different Extended Producer Responsibility programs now in place.

He also served for the Cowichan Valley Regional District for the years in between, helping it achieve one of the lowest per-capita waste disposal rates in Canada, while also building a thriving local waste management industry. Bob has a diverse range of education, including the trades, marketing management and business administration.

When not in an arena or building an off-grid cabin on the Sunshine Coast, Bob resides in Shawnigan Lake north of Victoria.

SHEILA MOLLOY | Coast Waste Management Association

Meet Sheila Molloy...

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 100 organizations in array of sectors including 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.

BRENT REEMS | District of Saanich

Meet Brent Reems...