Archive | Speaker

Joseph Dahmen is Associate Professor at the UBC School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture, where he is Chair of the Bachelor of Design in Architecture, Landscape Architecture and Urbanism program. Professor Dahmen directs the Biogenic Architecture Lab and is co-founder of Mycofoundry, a startup company developing commercial applications of mycelium biocomposites. He is a founding […]

Pierre Benabidès is a leading consultant in the waste management sector, involved in recyclability assessment and end markets development for recyclable materials on behalf of producers, recyclers, PROs or trade associations. For the Circular Plastic Taskforce, he is acting as Executive Director as he coordinates planning and implementation of the different projects undertaken by the […]

Mary Tress (pronouns she/her) is a Climate Programs Coordinator with the City of Nelson. She oversees the innovative Pre-treated Organics Program, designed to keep residential food waste out of the landfill and help manage wildlife attractants through the use of in-home pre-treatment appliances. Mary holds a Bachelor of Arts and Sciences in agricultural sciences and […]

Ryan Hefflick is a lifelong entrepreneur and sustainability advocate whose passion for recycling began at the age of five, returning beverage containers to the local Bottle Depot in Edmonton with his father. That early spark evolved into a career spanning clean energy development, recycling operations, and most recently, cutting-edge technology. After more than 25 years […]

Vahid Rashidi is an accomplished and results-driven leader with over 10 years of experience in project management, stakeholder engagement, and operational leadership within the public sector. He has a proven track record of success in planning, executing, and delivering large-scale, complex projects, including the recent Apartment and Condo Waste Collection Program for the City of […]

Iris Monner is the Manager, Standards Strategic Development at CSA Group (Canadian Standards Association) and holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Queen’s University. She has over 15 years of experience developing and applying national and international standards at CSA. In her current role, Iris is tasked with identifying opportunities for standards-based solutions within the […]

Jay Sanderson is the founder of Backroads Reclamation and a national leader in developing circular infrastructure for Canada’s built environment. With over 20 years of experience in heavy transport, logistics, and materials handling—including roles at Halliburton, Mammoet, Bantrel and ConocoPhillips—Jay brings a systems-driven, operations-first lens to solving complex waste and recovery challenges. In 2020, as […]

Sophie Langlois-Blouin is a seasoned manager with 20 years’ experience in the environmental field. With a master’s degree in environment and a bachelor’s degree in communications, she stands out for her extensive expertise in project management and strategic development. As Project Director – Deposit & Circular Economy at Machinex, Sophie designs and implements deployment strategies […]

Don McKenzie is the Owner of McKenzieIBC, a 2nd generation family business specializing in packaging solutions for Agricultural, Industrial and Food/Beverage Inputs. With a focus on IBCs – (Intermediate Bulk Containers), McKenzieIBC has been influencing packaging designs and finding unique solutions for critical value chains for over 32 years! Don started his professional career as […]

Chris is the Co-Founder and CEO of Sixone, a company revolutionizing blended plastic recycling. Sixone’s technology selectively extracts useful materials from complex waste – starting with polyester from post-consumer textiles – into high-quality circular polymers. Prior to founding Sixone, Chris was an executive at Texhong Textile Group and was both an operator and investor in […]