U.S. Events

Comprehensive suite of training opportunities

Speakers

Meet Our Team
David F. Alden, P.E.

David F. Alden, P.E.

Manager, Technical Services at Tersus Environmental
David serves as the Manager of Technical Services at Tersus Environmental, where he is a dedicated professional with extensive experience in environmental engineering and technical services. In this pivotal role, David is instrumental in fostering innovation and excellence within the realm of environmental solutions. He provides crucial technical support for Tersus' biotechnology-based solutions, specializing in the management of complex environmental liabilities and cost reduction for site closure.
Gary M. Birk, P.E.

Gary M. Birk, P.E.

Managing Partner at Tersus Environmental
Gary is a distinguished figure in the environmental remediation industry, serving as the Founder and Managing Partner of Tersus Environmental, LLC, headquartered in North Carolina. Additionally, he holds the position of Director at Tersus Environmental Limited, based in Ireland. Armed with a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from North Carolina State University, Gary boasts registrations as a Professional Engineer in NC, VA, and FL. With an impressive career spanning 40 years, Gary has been at the forefront of developing and implementing cutting-edge technologies for in situ remediation of contaminated soil and groundwater. His expertise extends globally, having undertaken projects in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and Africa. Gary's passion lies in leveraging sustainable green technologies to address environmental challenges, particularly in groundwater and soil restoration.
Phil Dennis, M.A.Sc.

Phil Dennis, M.A.Sc.

Principal Scientist, SiREM
Phil Dennis has over 25 years of experience working in the fields of molecular biology, microbiology and environmental remediation. Phil holds a Masters of Applied Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Toronto and an Honours B.Sc. in Molecular Biology and Genetics from the University of Guelph. As a Principal Scientist at SiREM, an industry leader in bioaugmentation and bioremediation testing, Phil focuses on research and development and management of molecular genetic testing services.
Sandra Dworatzek, M.Sc.

Sandra Dworatzek, M.Sc.

Principal Scientist, SiREM
Sandra is a Principal Scientist with more than 25 years of experience in bioremediation of chlorinated solvents, petroleum hydrocarbons, emerging contaminants and other recalcitrant compounds. She has specific technical experience in the design of laboratory treatability studies, the scale up of growth of aerobic and anaerobic microbial cultures for bioaugmentation laboratory and field pilot tests, and evaluation of aerobic and anaerobic bioremediation, zero valent iron and chemical oxidation technologies in the laboratory. She currently provides senior technical oversight of laboratory treatability studies and the development and scaleup of new bioaugmentation cultures, including novel cultures for BTEX compounds under anaerobic conditions and aerobic 1,4-dioxane bioremediation. Sandra currently is the industry lead on a Genome Canada funded project for the commercialization of anaerobic BTEX degrading cultures.
Jeff Roberts, M.Sc.

Jeff Roberts, M.Sc.

Operations Manager, SiREM
Jeff Roberts, M.Sc. Earth Sciences, University of Waterloo. Jeff is a laboratory manager at SiREM with extensive technical experience in the laboratory assessment and field implementation of soil, sediment and groundwater remediation technologies at sites containing contaminants including chlorinated solvents, petroleum hydrocarbons and other recalcitrant compounds. Over the past ten years he has conducted and managed hundreds of bench-scale treatability studies and also has technical experience in the growth, scale up and field implementation of several anaerobic microbial cultures for bioremediation remedies.
John Sankey, P.Eng

John Sankey, P.Eng

President, True Blue Technologies, Inc.
John Sankey, P.Eng is President and Principal Engineer at True Blue Technologies. He holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. John has over twenty years’ experience in the development and implementation of technologies for in situ characterization and remediation of contaminated soil and groundwater, including In Situ Thermal Remediation (ISTR), In Situ Chemical Reduction (ISCR), and bioremediation. John sits on steering committees for groundwater sampling and monitoring symposiums which focus on investigating and identifying the extent of contamination and to evaluate the human health and ecological risk. John’s focus also includes providing technical support for in situ cutting-edge and sustainable green remediation technologies that help environmental consulting companies restore groundwater and soil at challenging sites. In 2004, John founded True Blue Technologies, a business dedicated to providing engineering, technical support, and business development for technologies in groundwater remediation and characterization. John maintains offices in Long Beach, California and Vancouver, British Columbia.