2026 Speakers

Nathan Adams, Lawyer

Mann Lawyers LLP

Nathan is an Environmental Lawyer at Mann Lawyers LLP with a background in environmental science, specializing in contamination and property devaluation claims. He brings over a decade of experience in biodiversity research and international sustainable development across Canada, the U.S., Malta, and Indonesia, and now specializes in environmental litigation. Nathan serves as co-counsel on Canada’s first and only certified class action involving PFAS contamination, representing property owners whose drinking water and property value have been impacted. His work bridges environmental science and law, placing him at the forefront of PFAS stigma and contamination class action litigation in Canada. 

Reilly Andrews, Team Lead and Senior Enviornmental Engineer

WSP

Krista Barfoot, Sector Lead, Infrastructure - Canada (Emcee and Conference Co-Chair)

SLR Consulting (Canada) Ltd.

A Brownfield Redevelopment Specialist with SLR Consulting, Dr. Barfoot has over 25 years of industry experience and expertise in strategic site planning, risk assessment, vapour intrusion assessment, and risk management.  Dr. Barfoot’s technical expertise additionally extends to excess soil management, emerging contaminants (including per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances [PFAS]), non-aqueous phase liquid, risk mitigation measures, and stakeholder communication. 

Dr. Barfoot is a qualified person for risk assessment (per Ontario Regulation 153/04), President of the Canadian Brownfields Network, chair of the Ontario Environmental Industry Association (ONEIA) PFAS Committee, and an ONEIA Excess Soils and Brownfields Committee member. She has actively led the development of the strategic approach for revitalizing a number of large, high-profile brownfield sites in Ontario, and is based in SLR Consulting's Guelph, Ontario office.

Maria Bhersafi, Knowledge Transfer Specialist

CMHC

George Biore, Business Development Executive

Berkley Canada

As part of the Environmental Team at Berkley Canada (a niche specialty insurance carrier), George focuses on finding risk transfer solutions for client's environmental risks with a focus on real estate and M&A transactions. Prior to joining Berkley, George spent 20 years as the Environmental Team lead at a large multinational insurance brokerage. Prior to that George was part of the Environmental Risk Management team at two large financial institutions. George also spent 8 years as an environmental risk professional at two engineering companies. George started his career as an environmental officer with a provincial regulator. 

George's areas of expertise include transactional due diligence, environmental liability assessment and risk transfer, and environmental management systems. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Earth Science from the University of Waterloo. 

Janet Bobechko, Partner

WeirFoulds LLP

Janet Bobechko is a Certified Specialist in Environmental Law by the Law Society of Ontario and Partner at WeirFoulds LLP. Janet is a nationally recognized senior practitioner with over 30 years of experience in all aspects of environmental and natural resources law. Janet’s environmental law practice is broadly focused to include climate change and sustainability, Environment Social Governance (ESG), brownfield development, environmental dispute resolution and natural resource development. She routinely provides sophisticated and strategic advice on environmental compliance, mergers and acquisitions, real estate and portfolio acquisitions and dispositions, leasing, financings, and environmental management systems. She has significant experience in construction and infrastructure matters including linear infrastructure and renewable energy. Her dispute resolution work includes advice on environmental aspects in complex civil litigation for legacy contamination, migration of contamination, environmental inspections and investigations, defence of regulatory charges and administrative orders relating to federal and provincial environmental offences, and strategic due diligence advice. She advises clients in the natural resource sector involving mining and Indigenous consultation. Janet advises on climate change issues including climate risk, climate resilient infrastructure, nature based solutions and the impacts to supply chains. She provides support to clients as they look to diversify their businesses with investments into new, low carbon asset classes and clean technologies. She is co-chair of the Ontario Environment Industry Association (ONEIA) Climate Change Committee.

Hannah Chessel

Geosyntec Consultants

Jennifer Danahy, Partner

Gowlings WLG

Timothy Dandar, Environmental Risk Assessor

SLR (Canada) Consulting Ltd.

Adam Derry, Director of Engineering

360 Engineering & Environmental Consulting

Michael Doucet, National Lead Strategic Growth and Retention

ALS Canada Ltd.

Michael Doucet is the National Lead for Strategic Growth and Retention with ALS Canada' Environmental division. In this role, he provides technical and strategic insight into environmental testing programs that inform regulatory and risk based decision making. His work supports brownfield redevelopment, remediation, regulatory, and infrastructure projects across Canada, with a focus on helping practitioners understand how to effectively engage with laboratory processes and procedures. 

Derek Goring, Chief Executive Officer

Northcrest Developments

Derek is the Chief Executive Officer of Northcrest Developments, a real estate development firm based in Toronto, which is a subsidiary of the Public Sector Pension. Northcrest was created to lead the redevelopment of YZD, the 370-acre former Downsview Airport Lands in Toronto. Prior to joining Northcrest, Derek was a Senior Vice President, Development at First Gulf. Derek also spent 10 years working in public sector real estate development, including senior leadership roles at Infrastructure Ontario and Waterfront Toronto. Derek has been actively involved in the Toronto District Council of ULI for 20 years, where he is currently a member of the Governance Committee and Advisory Board. At the Toronto Region Board of Trade (TRBOT), Derekis proud to serve as Chair of the Business Council of Toronto’s (BCT) new Climate & Energy Transition Council. 

Vanessa Grande, Lead Risk Assessment

EnVision Consultants

Vanessa Grande, P.Geo. (Limited) is the Risk Assessment Lead at EnVision Consultants Ltd. and a Qualified Person for Risk Assessment. She is an environmental professional with extensive experience supporting complex brownfield redevelopment projects across Ontario. Vanessa specializes in human health and ecological risk assessment, risk‑based remediation strategies, and the development and evaluation of risk management measures for sites with subsurface vapour, methane, and other redevelopment‑driven constraints. Her work supports projects proceeding under Ontario’s brownfield regulatory framework, including O. Reg. 153/04, where risk assessment is used to enable redevelopment on challenging sites. Vanessa works closely with multidisciplinary teams, regulators, and project stakeholders to deliver practical, regulator‑defensible outcomes that balance redevelopment objectives with long‑term risk management.

Albert Ho, Senior Director, Environmental Programs

First Capital REIT

Albert Ho is the Senior Director of Environmental Programs at First Capital REIT, a role he has held for over a decade. In this capacity, he provides strategic leadership to manage environmental risk and ensure compliance on a national scale. Albert’s responsibilities include securing Records of Site Condition (RSC) to support key business objectives, such as property development initiatives.  

A licensed professional engineer, Albert brings over 20 years of expertise in environmental risk management, site investigation and remediation, insurance, and sustainability. His career spans both consulting and industry roles, including experience in real estate and manufacturing sectors.  

Albert is also passionate about education and innovation. He serves as a Sessional Lecturer in the Graduate Department of Physical & Environmental Sciences at the University of Toronto Scarborough, where he teaches Contaminated Sites Remediation to Master of Environmental Science students.  He is passionate about advancing environmental stewardship, fostering innovation, and sharing knowledge to inspire the next generation of professionals.

Robert Irwin, Technical Manager, Inorganic Chemistry

SGS North America

Robert Irwin is the Technical Manager, Inorganic Chemistry for SGS North America.   Rob’s mission is the management of technical aspects of the inorganic laboratory, specializing in metals and radio-isotope analysis.  Rob’s duties include development of new technologies, increasing laboratory efficiencies, training/staff development, and working directly with clients on a project-to-project basis to help provide solutions to analytical challenges.    

Rob has over 35 years of experience in analytical chemistry and laboratory management, spending his first 12 years in mineral assay/process control before moving into his current role in environmental analyses.
Rob graduated with a B.Sc. in Chemistry and Biology from Trent University, is a Charted Chemist (C.Chem.) and currently sits on the MECP technical advisory group for O Reg 153.   

Raj Kehar, Partner

WeirFoulds LLP

Emma Kirsch, Principal Hydrogeologist

SLR Consulting (Canada) Ltd.

Emma is a Professional Geologist with over 25 years of experience in the environmental consulting industry, providing senior technical and management guidance at SLR for a variety of real estate, industry, and government projects. Emma’s diverse expertise in contaminated site assessment, conducting Tier 2 exclusions/modifications, regulatory consultation, conceptual site model development, risk management planning/assessment, and remediation, gives her a unique perspective on the full picture view of initial assessment though regulatory closure processes in Alberta. Emma has a passion for synthesizing large and complex issues down into practical and achievable approaches to help clients meet their environmental management goals. If she has a beef with any regulatory nuances or inconsistencies, you can bet you will hear about it!

Kathyrn Matheson, Team Leader, Risk Assessment & Toxicology

SLR Consulting (Canada) Ltd.

David Meikle, Vice President Western Region

Milestone Environmental Contracting Inc.

David Meikle is the Vice President, Western Region for Milestone Environmental Contracting Inc., where he leads strategic growth and operations across Western Canada. With over 30 years of experience in the contracting industry, David has managed large-scale environmental projects involving remediation, water treatment, mine reclamation, and hazardous material abatement. 

Suvish Melanta, Associate (Emcee and Conference Co-Chair)

Grounded Engineering Inc.

Ms. Suvish Melanta is an Associate at Grounded Engineering with over a decade of experience in environmental engineering services. As a licensed Professional Engineer in the Province of Ontario, she has managed numerous greenfield and brownfield development projects involving risk assessments, remedial excavations, soil management activities, environmental compliance monitoring. Suvish has worked on York’s vivaNEXT project and currently works with many leading provincial developers, providing strategic guidance on environmental and hydrogeological aspects for high-rise developments, and the application of Ontario regulations and regional development policies. Suvish holds undergraduate degree in biological engineering from the University of Arkansas and a graduate degree in civil and environmental engineering from the University of Maryland.

Sean Morris, Senior Engineering Technologist

Grounded Engineering Inc.

Erin O'Brien, Regional Manager, Geoenvironmental

Tetra Tech Canada Inc.

Erin O’Brien is the Geoenvironmental Manager, Western Canada for Tetra Tech’s Environment & Water Practice. She is a Professional Geoscientist who has worked in a Project Manager role for much of her 25+ year career. She has 17 years of experience in the investigation, assessment, and remediation of contaminated land and groundwater.  Although investigations for the former Northfield Coal Mine began in the early 90’s, Erin did not become involved in the project until 2022.

Michael O'Neill, Project Manager

Green & Thriving Neighbourhoods

Martin Pothier, Business Development Project Manager

Remea Canada

Reanne Ridsdale, PhD Candidate

Toronto Metropolitan University

Reanne Ridsdale is a PhD Candidate at Toronto Metropolitan University and a previous board member for Canadian Brownfields Network, ending in April 2026.  She is also part of Sustainable Remediation Forum Canada. Her research focuses on how brownfields can be strategically redeveloped as vehicle for social justice in marginalized communities. She completed her Master’s in 2015 from the University of Saskatchewan in her hometown of Saskatoon. She worked as a sessional instructor at Brandon University, Manitoba.  She lives in Minnedosa, MB with her husband and two young kids. 

Quinn Rochon, Associate

Gowling WLG

Steve Russell, Senior Risk Assessment Specialist and Toxicologist

MTE Consultants

Steve is a Senior Risk Assessment Specialist and Toxicologist at MTE Consultants with over 18 years of experience in human health and ecological risk assessment. He has prepared and supported numerous risk assessments in accordance with Ontario Regulation 153/04 and federal guidelines, helping complex contaminated sites move toward regulatory acceptance and redevelopment. Steve’s work focuses on how environmental science, data and toxicology are used to inform practical, defensible solutions that balance protection of human health and the environment, achieve regulatory compliance, and promote constructability and project feasibility. Steve has been involved in projects ranging from industrial and commercial properties to large urban brownfield redevelopments where risk assessment plays a critical role in enabling Record of Site Condition approvals. Steve’s background allows him to offer insight into how risk assessment can support decision-making, strategically integrate remediation and risk management into brownfield projects, and address uncertainty, to ultimately help convert environmental liability into viable development opportunities. 

Dr. Steven Siciliano, Professor, College of Agriculture and Resources

University of Saskatchewan

Steven Siciliano is CEO and Co-Founder of LiORA and a Professor of Soil Science at the University of Saskatchewan. His research spans soil toxicology, remediation, and ecosystem processes, with a focus on how contaminants affect human health and soil function. His work has contributed to innovative remediation technologies and significant hydrocarbon reduction at contaminated sites.

Steven is presenting on behalf of Lulu Peng

Lulu Peng is a Data Analyst and Customer Support Specialist at EMS Inc. She holds a Ph.D. in Soil Science from the University of Saskatchewan, where her research focused on plume estimation modeling and soil metagenomics, with an emphasis on microbial community dynamics and their role in contaminant degradation. Her work combines spatial analysis, modeling, and data visualization to support contaminated site assessment and environmental decision-making.

Emily Terpstra, Project Engineer

Grounded Engineering Inc.

Ms. Emily Terpstra is a Project Engineer with Grounded Engineering and has over 4 years of experience in environmental engineering; coordinating, managing, and reporting many Environmental Site Assessments, Excess Soil Management scopes, and site remediation projects. Emily holds an undergraduate degree in Geological Engineering from the University of Waterloo and a Master of Environment and Sustainability from the University of Western Ontario. She is a licensed Professional Engineer in the province of Ontario and is a Qualified Person (QPESA) with the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks.

Bruce Tunnicliffe, President

VEI Contracting Inc.

Mr. Tunnicliffe is President and founder of VEI Contracting Inc., and founder and organizer of the SMART Remediation Technical Seminar Series. Mr. Tunnicliffe holds a Master’s degree from the University of Waterloo and is an Environmental Engineer with over 25 years of experience designing and implementing remediation programs for contaminated soil, groundwater and soil vapours. Most recently Mr. Tunnicliffe has been involved with some of the most innovative PFAS remediation work in Canada, including at full-scale with the installation of two Permeable Reactive Barriers and ex-situ treatment of heavily contaminated water, and at bench-scale especially with Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada after VEI won a coveted grant to actively study and test the destruction of PFAS compounds in contaminated media.

Nicole Vasey, Sales/Development Coordinator

Momentum Developments

Nicole Vasey is a Development Coordinator at Momentum Developments, where she has been a key member of the team for over five years. In her role, she supports the planning, execution, and delivery of development projects, contributing to both strategic direction and day-to-day operations. Nicole has played an important role in advancing Momentum’s projects and maintaining strong relationships with partners, consultants, and stakeholders. Her experience and leadership continue to support Momentum’s growth and success across its development portfolio.

Tim Whalen, Managing Principal and Environmental Engineer

SLR Consulting (Canada) Ltd.

David Wong, Regional Lead - East Environment

EnVision Consultants

David Wong, P.Eng., Consulting Engineer, QPESA is the Regional Lead – East and Principal Technical Advisor – Environment at EnVision Consultants Ltd. He is a Consulting Engineer with extensive experience supporting complex brownfield redevelopment projects across Ontario. David specializes in environmental site assessment, remediation planning, excess soil management, risk assessment, and the design and implementation of risk management measures under Ontario’s regulatory framework, including O. Reg. 153/04 and O. Reg. 406/19. He provides responsible charge oversight on projects involving challenging site conditions, active redevelopment timelines, and multi stakeholder regulatory engagement.