Presenters

Terry Tamminen - USA (Keynote)

Former Secretary of the California EPA and Chief Environmental Policy Advisor to Governor Schwarzenegger

Seventh Generation Advisors, Executive Director

From his youth in Australia to career experiences in Europe, Africa and all parts of the United States, Terry has developed expertise in business, farming, education, non-profit, the environment, the arts, and government.

Terry founded the Santa Monica BayKeeper and served as its Executive Director for six years. He later served as Executive Director of the Environment Now Foundation in Santa Monica, CA and co-founded the Frank G. Wells Environmental Law Clinic at the School of Law, University of California Los Angeles.

In the summer of 2003, Terry helped Arnold Schwarzenegger win the historic recall election and become Governor of California. He was appointed as the Secretary of the California Environmental Protection Agency in November, 2003, and Cabinet Secretary, the Chief Policy Advisor to the Governor, in December, 2004. He continues to advise the Governor on energy and environmental policy.

In 2006 Terry founded Seventh Generation Advisors, a non-profit organization which advocates environmental and clean energy policies by providing advice and guidance to political leaders and emerging clean technology firms world-wide and guides climate change policy initiatives for other non-profit organizations. In April 2007, he was named the Cullman Senior Fellow and Director of the Climate Policy Program of The New America Foundation, a non-profit, post-partisan, public policy institute. In September 2007, he was appointed as an Operating Advisor to Pegasus Capital Advisors and became a partner in the Pegasus Sustainable Century Merchant Bank in April, 2009.

Terry serves on several boards of community-based organizations, including the Center for Climate Strategies, The Climate Group, and the Emmett Climate Center at UCLA. Through these institutions, Terry provides advice on climate, energy, and sustainability policy to the Obama Administration, several U.S. Governors, Canadian Premiers, Walmart, Netjets, iGPS, and other global leaders, helping them to build a sustainable environment and economy for generations to come

As an author, his latest book, Lives Per Gallon: The True Cost of Our Oil Addiction (Island Press), is a timely examination of our dependence on oil and a strategy to evolve to more sustainable energy sources. In addition, he is a featured blogger on CNBC, Fast Company and Grist.

 

His Excellency Mr ZHANG Junsai - Australia/China (Conference Dinner)

The Ambassador of the People's Republic of China to Australia

Born in October 1953, in Shanghai of China, Graduated from Beijing Foreign Studies University.

1979-1983 Attaché, Embassy of the People's Republic of China in New Zealand

1983-1988 Attaché and Third Secretary, North American and Oceanian Affairs Dept, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), PRC

1988-1990 Studied at Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, (M.A.) Tufts University, USA

1990-1991 Second Secretary, North American and Oceanian Affairs Dept, MFA

1991-1995 Consul, Chinese Consulate General in Sydney, Australia

1995-1997 First Secretary and Director, North American and Oceanian Affairs Dept, MFA

1997-2000 Counsellor, Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Australia

2000-2003 Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China to the Republic of the Fiji Islands

2003-2007 Deputy Director General, North American and Oceanian Affairs Dept, MFA

2007- Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China to the Commonwealth of Australia Married with one daughter.

 

DONG Zhi yuan - China

Tianjin Environmental Protection Bureau, Vice Director

Mr. DONG Zhi yuan is the Vice Director of Tianjin Environmental Protection Bureau.

Before his appointment, Mr. DONG Zhi Yuan was Section Chief, Deputy Director, and Director of Ninghe County Environmental Protection Bureau, and an Analyst, Section Chief, and Deputy Director of Ninghe County Environmental Monitoring Station.

Mr. DONG Zhi yuan completed M.P., 1991 – Party School of CPC Tianjin Municipal Committee, Philosophy, Soil Chemistry and B.S., 1982 – Tianjin University of Science and Technology, P. R. China, Food Processing.

 

Daniel Callahan - USA (Conference Dinner)

US Consulate, US Political/Economic Officer Melbourne

Dan Callahan is the Political and Economic Officer at the U.S. Consulate General in Melbourne. In that capacity, he covers the states of Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania, as well as the Northern Territory. Before arriving in Melbourne in April 2010, he served in Mexico City as a Consular Officer. Prior to joining the U.S. Foreign Service in 2007, Dan worked for seven years in Washington, DC for the U.S. State Department in the area of chemical weapons arms control and nonproliferation.

Dan received his B.A. in international political economy from the University of California, Berkeley and his Masters in Foreign Service from Georgetown University. Dan previously lived in Hong Kong and Japan for four years. He is married to Kiri Callahan and has one daughter.

 

Innes Willox - Australia (Keynote)

Australian Industry Group, Director - International and Government Relations

Mr Willox is the Director of International and Government Relations for the Australian Industry Group, with policy and advocacy responsibility across the federal and state government systems including economics, trade, defence, climate change, industrial relations and communications and technology issues.

Previously, Mr Willox served as the Australian Consul General to Los Angeles from 2006 to 2008, representing wide-ranging Australian interests on the west coast of the United States, including the trade, finance, culture, entertainment, arts, bio-technology, environment and energy sectors.

He was the Chief of Staff to the Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs 2004 to 2006, where he served as the principal adviser to the Minister on all policy and political matters across the portfolio and sat in on the National Security Committee of Cabinet and was a member of the Federal Government's Foreign Affairs Council.

Earlier, Mr Willox held a number of private sector and government positions including Manager of Global Public Affairs for Singapore Airlines based in Singapore (2000-04) where he was responsible for communications and regulatory issues.

Mr Willox has also worked as the senior adviser and media adviser to the Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs (1997-2000) which included issues related to the Asian financial crisis.

Prior to that, he was the senior federal political correspondent for The Age (1993-97) and diplomatic editor of The Age (1993-1994), following a career in newspaper management where he served as the paper’s chief of staff (1991-93).

Mr Willox was born in 1963. He holds a BA (History and Politics) from Monash University and is a graduate from the Edinburgh Business School in Economics and Organisational Behaviour.

 

Dean Jeffery Telego - USA (MC)

RTM Communications Inc., President
Risk Management Technologies, Inc., President

Dean Jeffery Telego is President of Risk Management Technologies (RTM) and RTM Communications, Inc. Jeff directs RTM corporate development and oversees the companies technical operations. Jeff has been in the environmental risk management field since 1978.

Risk Management Technologies, Inc performs expert environmental risk management consulting for industrial/ manufacturing clients and financial services companies in the areas of business and real estate transactions, government relations, regulatory and policy analysis, strategic market planning, expert testimony, environmental insurance consulting and risk-based cleanups at industrial/ brownfield sites.  RTM also performs the overall regulatory interface and issues management for clients disposing of contaminated real property.

For RTM Communications, Inc., Jeff creates and chairs two to four national conferences and Webinars on environmental finance and risk management topics each year and develops customized training for the financial services industry in the United States, Asia and in Eastern and Central Europe.  Jeff is the managing co-editor of the book published by RTM Communications, Inc., entitled Environmental Risk Management--A Desk Reference.  RTM Communications also published a “Lenders’ Guide to Developing an Environmental Risk Program,” and is also the current publisher of the Schnapf Environmental Journal.

Jeff Co-founded and is also Executive Co-Director of the Environmental Bankers Association (EBA), a financial services industry trade association created to develop model environmental risk management policies and procedures, exchange information by
means of a clearinghouse and network, and apply this information in practical terms to credit risk analysis process in lending and for trust transactions.

Jeff received his formal education and training in human physiology and biophysics, bioethics, and business administration from Georgetown University and Olivet College.

He has published numerous technical papers on the environmental insurance marketplace and the role of environmental risk management and risk assessment. Jeff is on the Board of Advisors for four publications and on the editorial advisory board for a Risk and Insurance Management Society publication. Jeff is also a contributing author to those publications.

 

Rick Marmur - Australia (MC)

OTEK Australia, CEO

Rick joined OTEK as CEO in April 2007. He has more than 34 years experience in the Business and Consulting marketplace and 11 years experience in General Management /CEO /Director roles, including 15 years Senior Management experience and 8 years IT Software Development and Consultancy experience.

Rick has worked for a number of large local and International companies including Tata Consultancy Services Australia and NZ (Regional Head) and at the ASX Listed Wavenet International Limited (non-executive Director). As the Principal of Marmur Marketing, Rick acted as a consultant and advisor to Telstra, Alcatel and Hyundai as well as many smaller companies. Rick has undertaken senior management roles with Myer, IBM, Computer Sciences of Australia, Hewlett Packard, Carpet Corporation of Australia, Data General, Siemens and Motorola.

Rick has extensive knowledge of the Australian, Regional and International consumer and business markets and is highly skilled in short- and long-term strategic planning, including International corporate marketing strategy development. He has extensive experience in sales, business development, marketing and market research, product development and market introduction, as well as channel development, including franchising, positioning, advertising and promotional programs.

Rick has participated in numerous industry forums and regulatory groups such as AIIA, IEEMA, AMTA, Austel and NICTA.

Rick attended Monash University located in Melbourne, Australia, where he attained an MBA and a Bachelor of Science (Hons) degree in Biochemistry, Physiology and Organic Chemistry.

 

Richard Scofield - Australia / USA

Global Environmental Management, Director

Richard developed comprehensive strategies to provide technical assurance as part of RM's integrity and operating management systems. This includes the development and roll-out of the global project management framework – for all capital projects. Accountable for developing and assessing competencies of our operating staff globally, completing competency gap assessments and developing training to close those gaps to fulfil yearly and long term objectives and enhance staff performance.

Previously, Regional Manager Asia Pacific with responsibility and accountability for managing the Asia Pacific‘s Environmental Team. Responsible for the following: Financial Accountability (i.e. Budgets, Prioritisation of capital spend, Procurement and short and long term contracts); Strategic Long Range Plans for managing liabilities; 5-year Asia Pacific Strategy Plan development and implementation; Internal BP Businesses Advocacy/Relationship Building, and External advocacy with Directors of EPA in Vic, Qld. and NSW. Manager of major operational issues and associated strategies. Accountable for staff development e.g. mentoring, training. Verification (internal/external) of compliance with applicable internal policies and external regulations.

Richard has expertise in environmental remediation technologies including air sparging, vapour extraction and hydraulic controls. Expert in risk ranking, investigation and remediation of service stations, terminals, and depots Expert in PCB/chlorinated dioxins/furans remediation and supervised a large Superfund site contaminated with these materials. Significant expertise in endangered species/wetlands mitigation plans, Worked in large surface and underground coal mines as an environmental/civil engineer. 

 

Simone Rollason - Australia

Chartis Insurance, Senior Underwriter

Simone commenced with Chartis in April 2007 as an underwriter in the Environmental Impairment Liability (EIL) Group in Melbourne. There had been no prior environmental underwriting representation in Melbourne with Chartis, and Simone’s role has been to develop and retain the EIL book of business across the southern region of Australia. Simone’s prior experience was in the environmental consulting sector, having graduated as an Environmental Scientist/ Environmental Engineer at the University of Melbourne in 2000 and then consulting on a number of contaminated land projects across the UK and Australia for 7 years. Simone now holds the position of Senior Underwriter at Chartis.

 

 

Robert Jamieson - Australia

Blake Dawson, Partner

Robert practises in the areas of environmental law, town planning and development law. He is currently the National Practice Head of the Environmental Team at Blake Dawson.

He acts for all sectors of industry and developer clients. He appears as an advocate before the Planning Division of the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal and conducts Supreme Court litigation relating to environmental, planning and rating issues. Robert has recently been involved in a major piece of contaminated land litigation in the Supreme Court of Victoria which is the first case of its kind to analyse in any detail the clean-up provisions of the Environment Protection Act 1970 and the consequences of chemical contamination caused many years ago.

Robert is commended by clients on his ability to develop commercial solutions to complex problems. He is responsive and brings energy and enthusiasm to all he does.

Robert has acted as a part-time lecturer and tutor in the School of Environmental Planning in the Faculty of Architecture at Melbourne University. Now, as a visiting Fellow of the University, he teaches Environmental Law in the under and post graduate programs of the Law Faculty from time to time.

Robert is recognised as a leading Environmental lawyer by Chambers Global 2010, Best Lawyers Australia 2010, PLC Cross-border Handbooks 2008/2009, Best Lawyers International 2008, Euromoney's Guide to the World's Leading Environment Lawyers 2008 and Which Lawyer? Yearbook, 2008.

 

Jane Hall - Australia

Blake Dawson, Senior Associate

Jane is a senior associate with experience in a wide range of environmental, planning, property and water law areas. She regularly provides advice relating to regulatory compliance, pollution issues and prosecutions, complex transactions involving contaminated land, compulsory acquisition, general commercial property transactions (particularly in relation to the water industry), and environmental and planning approvals in both the Commonwealth and Victorian jurisdictions.

Jane has provided training seminars to clients, and has been seconded in-house (namely South East Water Limited and Parks Victoria) on a number of occasions.

Jane membership includes: National Environmental Law Association; Australian Water Association; and Law Institute of Victoria.

Jane has a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Science.

 

Grant Scott - Australia

OTEK Australia, Director

Grant is a leading expert in environmental and petroleum industries in Australia, United States, Africa and South America.

He is a founder of OTEK Australia in Australia and throughout Asia.

He is an Australian Lawyer with a Juris Doctor from the University of Melbourne, as well as a Certified Professional Engineer (Chemical Engineering) and Member of the Institute of Engineers, Australia.

His memberships also include the Institute of Company Directors and the Society of Petroleum Engineers.

 

 

Jennifer L. Hernandez - USA

Holland and Knight, Partner

Jennifer L. Hernandez co-chairs Holland and Knight’s national Environmental Team and leads the West Coast Land Use and Environmental Law Team, and divides her time between the San Francisco and Los Angeles offices. She has achieved national prominence in her work on brownfields, redevelopment and master planned community projects.

Current matters include  major  master planned brownfields redevelopment projects including three on military bases, several new town  and resort  projects,  and  biotechnology , industrial  and utility  expansion projects.

Her practice is statewide, divided among Northern and Southern California and the Central Valley.

Ms. Hernandez represents clients in the private, public, and non-profit sectors in land use and environmental project permitting, compliance, litigation and public advocacy work. She has taught land use and environmental law for the University of California and Stanford Law School, and frequently speaks for client and lawyer professional associations and continuing education seminars.

 

Dr. Paul Vogel - Australia

EPA WA, Chairman

Dr Vogel was appointed Chairman of the Western Australian Environmental Protection Authority in November 2007.  Prior to his appointment, he was the inaugural Chief Executive and Chairman of the South Australian EPA from November 2002, with responsibilities for environmental regulation, development assessment and radiation protection.

Paul has worked across the three tiers of government, business and community and has extensive senior management experience in organisational and regulatory reform and strategic and collaborative approaches to sustainability, natural resources management, waste management, air and marine quality, site contamination and radiation protection.

Dr Vogel is also a Board director of a national Cooperative Research Centre on Contamination Assessment and Remediation of the Environment.

Ignacio Dayrit - USA

Centre for Creative Land Recycling, Director Programs

Ignacio Dayrit is the Director of Programs for the Center for Creative Land Recycling (CCLR).  Ignacio coordinates CCLR's technical assistance program for redevelopment projects. He is a redevelopment expert having spent 21 years with the City of Emeryville (California) Redevelopment Agency, where he was responsible for the city's Brownfields Program, and was instrumental in the Emeryville's redevelopment of hundreds of acres of blighted, contaminated property.  Under his guidance, the city received a Stockholm Challenge award from the King of Sweden and three Phoenix Awards.

Ignacio has presented and written widely on sustainable brownfield redevelopment topics such as financing, loan and grant programs and management, program development, community participation, low-impact development and institutional controls.

Mr. Dayrit has over 23 years of experience in public sector development, covering areas such as fiscal and financial analysis, public debt financing, feasibility analyses, public-private partnerships and urban design. He holds a BS in Architecture from the University of the Philippines and a Master in City Planning from the University of California at Berkeley.

 

Julie Kilgore - USA

Wasatch Environmental, Principal

Julie Kilgore, Principal of Wasatch Environmental, Inc., a Salt Lake City based environmental engineering, and construction firm has also been elected to the ASTM International Board of Directors.

Kilgore brings more than 15 years of expertise to the board including her experience as chair of the ASTM Real Estate Assessment and Management Committee. In this position she led the national task force responsible for developing the ASTM practice for conducting Environmental Site Assessments. She also served as a negotiator for environmental professionals on the EPA federal advisory committee. In addition to her appointment, she is involved in the environmental affairs committee of the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce and is the President of the Utah Women's Alliance for Building Community. Kilgore's appointment demonstrates her commitment to the industry, knowledge, leadership, and dedication to her community and the environmental industry.

 

Mark Prentice - Australia

KPMG, R&D Incentives Partner

Mark has extensive experience with various Australian, Federal and State based Government incentive programs. Mark has extensive specialist knowledge with the R&D Tax Concession scheme and other government grants.

Mark also assists clients with strategic R&D planning issues, scoping R&D projects, preparation and lodgement of various application forms, schedules and attachments with relevant government bodies, and in presentations to government bodies, including project audits where required.

Mark and his team are passionate about R&D and have been a proactive force in the Australian marketplace.

Mark will ensure you receive the highest levels of service.

Mark is a Graduate of Electrical Engineer at the University of Melbourne and a Sales and Marketing Post Graduate at the University of British Columbia.

 

Charlie Bartsch - USA

US EPA, Senior Program Advisor - Office of Solid Waste Emergency Response

Charlie Bartsch has more than 25 years of experience in economic and community development program and policy analysis focusing on brownfield reuse. He is a nationally recognized authority on emerging public-private and state and federal brownfield financing and process initiatives. Currently, he is Vice President and Senior Fellow for Human Services and Community Development at ICF International. He serves ICF as its brownfields policy expert. Formerly, he was Director of Brownfield Studies at the Northeast-Midwest Institute.

Mr. Bartsch was instrumental in the evolution of the brownfield issue from its inception in the early 1990s, producing the first evaluation of the emerging brownfield market (the landmark New Life for Old Buildings) developing the first case studies of brownfield reuse successes (Lessons from the Field), preparing the first Brownfields State of the States analysis of state reuse programs, and carrying out the first federal cross-agency analysis of programs applicable to brownfield situations (Guide to Federal Brownfield Programs).

Over the past two decades, he has written numerous other reports and publications and, most recently, has co-authored Financing Strategies for Brownfield Cleanup and Redevelopment and Recycling America’s Gas Stations. He has also carried out analyses of state brownfield financing programs and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Phoenix Awards project winners.

Mr. Bartsch often testifies before Congress on issues of economic development, most recently on HUD brownfield financing innovations, brownfield reauthorization, and brownfield tax incentives. He is chair of the National Brownfield Association’s Advisory Board and a national board member of GroundworksUSA. He serves on the advisory board of the National Vacant Property Campaign and the editorial board of BNA’s Environmental Due Diligence Reporter.

Mr. Bartsch has been a tireless advocate for brownfield revitalization. He has conducted workshops and offered training in more than 40 states and nearly 300 communities. In 2001, he received the International Economic Development Council’s Chairman’s Award for Outstanding Service for ten years of work on brownfield policies and legislation.

 

Willy Accame - USA

Panattoni Development Company, Director - Risk Management and Environment

Willy has over 27 years experience in risk management and has a diverse background in property redevelopment, insurance, litigation, environmental risk, and natural resources. At Panattoni Development Company, he manages risk throughout the company’s operations and is responsible for negotiating and structuring insurance for the company. Panattoni Development is the largest privately owned commercial real estate company in the US and develops, leases, and manages over 50 million square feet of industrial, office and retail projects in more than 150 cities throughout the US, Canada and Europe. Willy directs environmental due diligence, remediation, manages tenant risk, assists with divestitures, and serves as the Chair of the company’s Sustainability Committee. He establishes environmental policy, oversees and coordinates ongoing litigation, manages contractual risk, and advises the company’s Board of Directors and Investment Committees. Willy also serves on the Board of Directors of Quanta Indemnity Company, an admitted insurance carrier in the US.

Willy holds a Bachelor’s degree in Geology from the University of Maryland and a Master’s degree in Geochemistry and Remote Sensing from Purdue University. He has taught Environmental Geology at the University of Maryland and has spoken widely on a variety of environmental, insurance, and related topics.

 

SUN Yichao - China

Environmental Protection Bureau - Tianjin, Ji County Project Manager

Mr. Sun Yichao received his Bachelor Degree of Science in environmental engineering from University of Science and Technology Beijing in 1993.

Sun also has M.A. in economics from Nankai University, Tianjin, China and has been employed by Tianjin Academy of Environmental Sciences as senior environmental engineer since 1999.

The major research interests are focused on: Structure, diversity and distribution of soil microbial communities; Diagnosis of soil impairment; and Soil remediation by microbial communities or thermal distortion technology.

The ongoing important projects on soil and sediment remediation include: In situ remediation of DDT-contaminated soil by plant-microbe technology in Ji County, Tianjin, China; Polluted sediment investigation of a industrial waster water pool in Hangu district in Tianjin; and Pollution control and sediment rehabilitation project for Haihe River estuary.

 

Laurence S. Kirsch - USA

Goodwin Procter LLP, Partner

Laurence Kirsch brings his combined background in science and the law to his practice as an environmental litigator, counselor and transactional attorney.  His matters involve air, surface water, groundwater, hazardous waste, sediments, toxic substances, indoor air quality, all of the major U.S. environmental statutes, and national and international corporate transactions.

Mr. Kirsch’s litigation victories include appellate decisions overturning the listings of sites on the Superfund National Priorities List, including the first such decision in the history of the Superfund program, and an unusual judgment for the defense in a cleanup cost recovery trial.

He has performed environmental reviews of individual plants and entire companies throughout the US and internationally.  He has represented clients in negotiations with government environmental agencies and private parties; and worked extensively with experts in evaluating cleanup actions (including toxicological and risk assessment issues) and assuring regulatory compliance.

He also advises businesses including major financial institutions on environmental implications of real estate and corporate transactions, including securitizations.  He advised on environmental aspects of a $1.9 billion securitization involving hundreds of properties, then the largest commercial mortgage securitization in U.S. history.

Mr. Kirsch was selected for inclusion in Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business and The Best Lawyers in America, and was listed as among the “Best Lawyers in Washington” by Washingtonian Magazine.  He lectures at seminars and conferences and has taught law school courses, and has appeared as an expert in environmental law in print media and television.

Mr. Kirsch graduated from Harvard Law School, where he was Managing Editor of the Harvard Environmental Law Review.  He has a M.S. in Energy Management and Policy and a Bachelor of Applied Science, summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, from the College of Engineering and Applied Science of the University of Pennsylvania.

 

Dr. DENG Xiaowen - China

Tianjin United Environmental Protection Engineering Design Co. Ltd, Senior Environmental Engineer

Dr. Deng Xiaowen has a M.A. in environmental science from Tianjin Normal University in 2003 and a Ph.D. in Ecology from Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Dr. Deng Xiaowen has been employed at Tianjin United Environmental Protection Engineering Design Co., Ltd (TUEED) as a senior environmental engineer since 2007.

The major research interests are focused on effective recycling of solid wastes; carbon and nitrogen transformation in water and soil as well as environmental impact assessment.

 

 

Wayne Mo - Australia / China

ANZ, Director - Natural Resources Group

Wayne Mo joined ANZ Natural Resource team in Oct 2008 as a Director. He was General Manager of ANZ Beijing Branch from 2005 to September 2008. Wayne has over 15 years experience in banking industry in China, Singapore and Australia. Since joining ANZ in 2001, Wayne had held various senior positions in ANZ, including GM Beijing; Head of Manufacturing Industry -  Asia; Deputy General Manager, Shanghai Branch; Head of Corporate and Institutional Banking - China etc. until he assumed his current role. Before joining ANZ, Wayne had worked in Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi, Shanghai Branch for 6 years. Wayne holds a MBA from Webster University, USA, and Bachelor of Economics from Shanghai University of Finance and Economics. He sat on the board of Australia China Chamber of Commerce, Beijing from Oct 2006 to September 2008. Wayne has significant recent experience in facilitating Chinese company's investment into Australia, and the banking and financing services associated to those investment. 

 

Colin Johnston - Australia

CSIRO, Principal Research Scientist

Colin Johnston is a Principal Research Scientist for CSIRO with over 30 years experience investigating groundwater recharge, groundwater dynamics, contamination of soils and groundwater by multi-phase organic compounds and the design of remedial systems. 

For the past 19 years Colin has specialised in the distribution and fate of non-aqueous phase liquid (LNAPL and DNAPL) contaminants in soils and aquifers and how they act as a source of contamination through their partitioning to groundwater and the soil atmosphere.  Most of this work is based around evaluating and improving the effectiveness of remedial technologies.  

For this, Colin has extensive experience in monitoring the distribution, fate and transport processes in aquifers as well as modelling, and has made key contributions in the further development and application of remediation technologies.  Recent work has been focused on the fate, transport and remediation of contaminants in heterogeneous and structured aquifer materials. 

He holds an adjunct position at the University of Western Australia School of Earth and Environment, and has published over 150 journal papers, conference papers and reports to industry and regulatory agencies.

 

Andrew Pruszinski - Australia

EPA SA, Principal Advisor Site Contamination

Andrew is a Principal Adviser with the South Australian Environment Protection Authority. Prior to joining the EPA in 2004, Andrew managed an environmental team at SKM. Before consulting, Andrew practiced in the mining and industrial sectors.

Andrew is a member of the Board of the Australian Land and Groundwater Association and a part time lecturer with the University of South Australia. He is also a member of specialist groups within CRC CARE (Contamination Assessment and Remediation of the Environment).

Andrew has extensive professional experience, throughout Australia and internationally. He has published many papers in relation to this work.

At the Environment Protection Authority, Andrew has and continues to play a vital role in the development of innovative and risk-based site contamination legislation for South Australia.

 

Dr John Hunt - Australia

Thiess Services, Technical Services Manager Remediation

John is the Technical Manager for Thiess Services, where he is responsible for technical input to remediation projects. This includes problem definition, approvals and licensing, stakeholder consultation and communication and project trouble shooting.

John has worked in the environmental industry for 20 years, across a range of disciplines including environmental planning, contaminated site assessment, contaminated site remediation, remediation technologies, thermal plant design and operation, waste recycling and municipal waste processing. Previous employers in the remediation field include ADI Limited and Groundwater Technology.

Some of the larger remediation projects that John has been closely involved with include:

• Rhodes Peninsula, New South Wales – treatment of 260,000 tonnes of soil at former chemical plant, contaminated by TPHs, PAHs and dioxins by thermal desorption;
• Penny’s Bay Hong Kong - treatment of 120,000 tonnes of soil at former boat yard, contaminated by metals. TPHs, dioxins and PCBs using immobilization, bioremediation and thermal desorption; and
• Highett Victoria - treatment of 80,000 tonnes of soil at former gasworks contaminated by TPHs, and PAHs by thermal desorption.

John’s qualifications are in the earth sciences. He has previously worked as a senior professional exploration geologist in the petroleum industry, for the CSIRO as a coal research geologist and as an environmental planner. He attributes his understanding of risk and uncertainty estimation and management, which is critical to site remediation projects, to his professional experience in the earth sciences.

Dr Hunt is a Director of the Australian Land and Groundwater Association.

 

Mike Baker - Australia

Liberty International Underwriters, Vice President - Casualty Asia Pacific

With over 20 years experience in the insurance industry, Mike is well placed to take on this new senior management position within the LIU Casualty Division.  Charged with leading the product portfolio across the Asia Pacific region, Mike’s current priorities are focused on identifying and driving best practice across the regional team, as well as managing and supporting key business initiatives.

Mike has been with LIU since 2009.  Prior to this, he has a raft of experience across many insurance classes within Europe.  Based in the UK for most of his career, Mike has had experience in varying business environments and countries, and has been with both broking houses and underwriters throughout.

His most recent positions were with Royal and Sun Alliance and Aon in London where he was responsible for placement, servicing and client relations for mulit-class insurance programmes targeting large global corporations.

 

Tom Graze - Australia

VicUrban, Infrastructure and Development Advisor

Tom Graze is a Civil Engineer with an MBA and has over 20 years experience in the Property Development Industry.

From 1998 to 2003 Tom was the General Manager, Development and Infrastructure, for the Docklands Authority, (which later became VicUrban). Tom was responsible for the development activities which saw the 200ha derelict port, begin its transformation to a modern residential, commercial and visitor destination in the heart of Melbourne.
Docklands is one of Australia’s largest construction projects and a large urban renewal project by world standards.

The redevelopment also included the construction of major roads, bridges and the remediation of a major gasworks site that had served a large part of Melbourne for a number of decades.

Tom now runs his own boutique residential development company.  Since 2003 Tom has been an advisor to Vicurban on matters ranging from development to infrastructure and remediation.

 

Beatrice M. Schaffrath - China

Baker and McKenzie - Beijing Office, Partner

Beatrice M. Schaffrath advises clients on strategic, operational, regulatory and crisis management issues, especially with respect to projects in or related to the People’s Republic of China (PRC). She is a member of several of the Firm’s global teams, including the China Practice Group, and the Compliance, Dispute Resolution, and Environment practice groups. She regularly presents and comments on the implications of anti-corruption, environmental and other compliance-related regulatory developments in the PRC and in Asia, especially from a comparative context. Ms. Schaffrath is admitted to practice law in several jurisdictions in the United States of America (US) and is a registered foreign lawyer in Hong Kong and in the PRC. She is a past vice-chair of the American Bar Association’s China Law Committee.

Ms. Schaffrath regularly counsels multinational companies — in both transactional and non-transactional contexts — on compliance and dispute resolution matters, with particular focuses on anti-corruption, corporate governance, ethics, and environmental issues. Ms. Schaffrath is experienced in matters involving the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and the PRC’s anti-corruption, environmental and climate change regulatory regimes.

 

Tacy Telego - USA

Risk Management Technologies, Inc., Vice President
RTM Communications, Inc., Vice President

Tacy Cook Telego is Senior Vice President with Risk Management Technologies, Inc. (RTMI) and RTM Communications, Inc. (RTMC).  Tacy has been an Accredited Public Relations (APR) practitioner over 35 years.  After 20 years as a Public Affairs Officer in the U.S. Federal Government, she came to Risk Management Technologies, Inc. (RTMI) in 1988 as VP of Communications in order to establish RTM Communications, Inc. 

In that capacity she has edited and published two books on environmental risk management in real estate transaction and in financial institutions.  She handles all the media contacts and conference publications of both Risk Management Technologies, Inc. and RTM Communications, Inc. as well all the meeting planning and travel arrangements for RTMI, RTMC and the Environmental Bankers Association.  She oversees all exhibits, sponsoring, printing, mail list (140,000 names) and mail house projects.

As the Executive Co-Director of the EBA, she handles the day to day administrative and correspondence needs of the 150-member trade association, planning the details of meetings and events, writing for BankNotes (quarterly) and EBA Alerts (monthly), participating in committee meetings.  She handles the day-to-day finances and banking, while preparing monthly and annual reports to the Board of Governors, to EBA members and to the various government agencies.

Tacy’s organization skills and communications skills positively impact every company, staff and client of Risk Management Technologies, Inc., RTM Communications, Inc., and Environmental Bankers Association.  She shares those skills in numerous pro bono activities that benefit women and children as well as in her professional organizations, such as PRSA and WWPR.

She worked as a Federal Public Affairs Officer in Washington, DC, Chicago, San Francisco and Los Angeles for the Department of Defense (Air Force), Defense Mapping Agency, Military Sealift Command, Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the Department of Treasury Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, before joining RTMI to incorporate RTMC.  She travels extensively and has lived in Japan as well as the USA.

Tacy Cook Telego graduated from Douglass College of Rutgers University with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and Political Science.  She earned her Master of Science in Public Relations from The American University of Washington, DC.  

 

Dr Peter Gehrke - Australia

SMEC, Australia Manager - Natural Resources

Peter Gehrke is Australian Manager for Natural Resources with SMEC, and has 28 years research and management experience in fisheries and aquatic environments in Australia and internationally. His research and management experience covers a wide range of impacts on aquatic environments, including water quality, environmental flows, and aquatic ecosystem health in rivers and estuaries, and potential interactions with climate change.

He has extensive experience in government, having worked as a Research Director and Principal Research Scientist with CSIRO, and Principal Research Scientist with NSW Fisheries. Peter has led research teams and worked with several Cooperative Research Centres, including the CRC for Coastal Zone, Estuary and Waterways Management, CRC for Freshwater Ecology, and the Pest Animals CRC.

He has also served as a Director of the Consortium for Integrated Resource Management coordinating strategic initiatives to support sustainable development of Queensland’s natural resources. Peter currently leads SMEC’s programs to improve natural resource management in Australia and internationally, and to provide sustainable development solutions.

He has published over 120 scientific papers, book chapters and reports.