Toronto - Speakers

Dr. Glenn Ferguson is a Senior Scientist and Program Director for Brownfield Risk Management at Intrinsik Environmental Sciences Inc., and has more than 17 years experience in the areas of toxicology, human health and ecological risk assessment, and risk communication. Dr. Ferguson qualifies as a QPRA under Ontario's Record of Site Condition Regulation, and has overseen or contributed to hundreds of risk assessments, including many successfully completed in compliance with O. Reg. 153/04. While at Intrinsik, Dr. Ferguson has managed or been the technical lead of risk assessment projects evaluating potential health impacts related to complex contaminated industrial and residential sites, mining and smelting impacts, oil refineries, incinerators, landfills, electrical power generation facilities, transportation corridors, major airports, abandoned mine sites, fuel oil spills, and drinking water contamination. Dr. Ferguson has also been a Lecturer at Ryerson University in the graduate Department of Environmental Applied Science and Management, teaching students on the use of toxicology and risk assessment in today's society.

Mr. Harper is a managing partner in the Kilmer Brownfield Equity Fund which is the Canada's first private equity fund to specialize in brownfield redevelopment in the Canadian marketplace. The pairing of brownfield redevelopment and private equity capital is intended to specifically address the financial barriers that have historically impeded activity on brownfield sites during the site restoration and redevelopment stages.

Mr. Harper's primary role is to quantify and manage the environmental risks associated with the Fund's brownfield opportunities and to integrate site remedial strategies with site redevelopment and finance. Through his active involvement in many brownfield initiatives and leadership in the Canadian Brownfield Network (CBN) Mr. Harper has provided strategic advice on various topics that have encouraged policy and regulatory reforms for brownfield redevelopment in Canada.

John Willms, LL.B., B.Sc., is a partner in Willms & Shier Environmental Lawyers LLP and is an Environmental Law Specialist, certified by the Law Society of Upper Canada. John has practised environmental law, land use planning and municipal law since his Call to the Bar in 1974. John has represented a wide range of clients in both public and private sectors, in Canada and abroad. His environmental law expertise is complemented by his interest in and understanding of technical issues, ranging from hydrogeology to air dispersion modeling. He serves as Co-Chair of the Policy and Technical Committees with the National Brownfield Associations. He is a member of the Environmental Committees of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce and the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters.