2024 Value of Biogas West Conference Speakers

Trisha Aldovino, Process Analyst (Azura Associates)

Trisha Aldovino is a Process Analyst at Azura Associates. She completed her Chemical Engineering degree from the University of Waterloo with specialization in Materials & Manufacturing, but she also thrived in the IT and tech industry. Trisha simplifies complex technical concepts into actionable insights for clients, either through developing custom technical training programs or Azura's educational YouTube channel. Believing that teaching is the best way to learn, Trisha documents her learning journey on YouTube as someone new to biogas and RNG. Her videos are ideal for newcomers or those needing a basic technical overview, like lawyers, insurers, and project developers.

Joe Ayala, COO (ECONWARD TECH)

Joe Ayala is dedicated to the commercialization of new technologies, specializing in taking pre-revenue companies and scaling them to achieve $100M+ in annual revenue. As head of ECONWARD’s North American business, Joe oversees the market development, operations management, and technology commercialization of BIOMAK thermal hydrolysis system, which transforms solid waste into pure, high-value feedstocks. Joe holds master's degrees in chemical engineering, business administration, and international business, and has a proven track record of leading successful projects and teams in the renewable energy sector.

Jonathan Bos, Vice President of Asset Development (Village Farms)

Born in the Netherlands and fluent in Dutch, Jonathan has spent his entire career in high-tech horticulture. As part of Village Farms’ (VF) development team, Jonathan contributes towards production improvements, renovations, technology application and asset maintenance. Jonathan was part of the team that designed and constructed the company’s semi-closed GATES™ greenhouse facility in Monahans, TX, and researched, designed, constructed and commissioned the company’s pivot from vegetables to cannabis production at two of its Delta, BC greenhouses. Jonathan is also responsible for VF’s Clean Energy division, and was instrumental in the partnership with Terreva Renewables to upgrade LFG to RNG in Delta, BC.

Jason Bridges, General Manager (Terravest Renewables)

Jason Bridges, P.Eng., is the General Manager at TerraVest Renewables, where he leads RNG development initiatives with a focus on gas processing and separation. With over 20 years of experience in the energy sector, Jason has a proven track record in process design, commissioning, and optimization. His expertise spans from overseeing complex biogas upgrading projects in Canada, the USA and Europe, to managing large-scale shale gas production in Northern BC. Jason is dedicated to advancing renewable energy technologies and ensuring the safe and efficient operation of gas processing systems. He holds a BASc in Mechanical Engineering from UBC.

Jessica Cassidy, Director of Clean Energy and LCA (SCV Consulting)

Jessica Cassidy, B.A.Sc. (Chemical Engineering) is SCV Consulting’s Director of Clean Energy and Life Cycle Assessment, and a well-known industry expert on Canada’s Clean Fuel Regulations. Fueled by her passion for alternative energy and helping companies big and small realize the financial incentives available to them, Jess is a trusted advisor in the Life Cycle Assessment and Greenhouse Gas spaces. Clients from a variety of sectors including oil and gas, biogas/RNG, low carbon fuel distribution, electric vehicle charging network operators, hydrogen, and project aggregators have benefited from Jess’ experienced consulting, reporting, carbon intensity modelling, and accredited verification services.

Alex Dunlop, Vice President, Client Executive (Marsh Canada)

Alex Dunlop, SVP Energy and Power - Risk and insurance advisor for the energy transition. Alex is a Senior Client executive operating out of Marsh’s Montreal office and currently leads the Alternative Fuels segment within Marsh’s renewable energy practice. He has always been passionate about the renewable sector with a keen focus on alternative fuels and their key part in ensuring a smooth transition to a cleaner, more resilient and sustainable energy future. He has also been practicing in the industry for over 20 years.

Christian Faurholt, Energy Policy Advisor (Danish Embassy in Ottawa)

Christian Faurholt is an Energy Policy Advisor at the Danish Embassy in Ottawa. Prior to employment at the Embassy, Christian worked for 5 years for the Danish electricity and gas TSO, Energinet. In this role, part of Christian’s focus was consulting on biogas in Europe, and he worked closely with public stakeholders in Poland and Ireland to help provide expertise on Denmark’s experience transitioning to green gas. He has also been the project manager for “Denmark’s Long Term Development Plan 2024 “for the Danish electricity and gas systems. Christian holds a degree in international relations.

Tom Ferencevic, CEO (Fitec Biogas)

Tom is an entrepreneur with nearly 20 years of experience in the renewable energy, waste management and agri-business sectors. He is presently the owner and CEO of Fitec Biogas, a family-run business that is rapidly expanding across North America with 6 facilities operating in Canada, a project completed in Mexico in 2024, and designs completed for US facilities in 2024. Recently named the 2024 Biogas Champion by the CBA, Tom’s scientific approach to the design and operation of biogas facilities and his hands-on experience make him one of the most knowledgeable people in the biogas industry in North America.

Guy Gensey, Executive Director of Energy Innovation (B.C. Ministry of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation)

Guy and his teams develop and implement policy, regulation, and legislation to decarbonize BC’s energy systems and support BC innovative clean energy companies. Guy’s two main areas of responsibility include; gas utility policy and regulation and related emission reduction initiatives, and leading low-carbon energy and innovation policy and the BC Innovative Clean Energy (ICE) Fund (which has invested over $114 million in BC clean energy technology companies). Guy has been with the Province of BC for 18 years, working on domestic and international trade negotiations, all aspects of energy and mining, and most recently developing the BC Hydrogen Strategy.

Giovanni Guerrero, Project Manager (CEM Engineering)

Giovanni Guerrero, P.Eng, PMP, is a seasoned Project Manager at CEM Engineering, specializing in biogas and RNG. Giovanni began his renewable energy journey at the University of Waterloo, where he earned a degree in Mechanical Engineering. With over 20 years of experience in renewable energy, Giovanni has successfully led numerous projects across North America, collaborating with diverse teams to deliver next generation projects. His expertise spans biogas, RNG, hydrogen, energy storage and other renewable energy sources. Giovanni’s leadership and hands-on approach have made him a pivotal figure in driving the renewable energy transition, contributing significantly to the advancement of biogas technologies worldwide.

Amal Hmaissia, PhD candidate (Laval University)

Amal Hmaissia is a PhD candidate nearing completion in chemical engineering at Laval University. She is working on developing knowledge-based approaches to understand the dynamics of the start-up phase of anaerobic digesters. Originally from Tunisia, Amal obtained an engineering degree in sanitary engineering in 2017 and received an excellence scholarship from the Tunisian government for her master’s studies in Canada. She joined INRS-ETE to pursue a master's degree in water sciences.

Sam Huang, Solid Waste Lead (Tetra Tech)

Sam Huang is a Project Engineer and Solid Waste Lead in Ontario for the Solid Waste Management Practice within Tetra Tech. Sam is very knowledgeable with all aspects of AD processes, including technology selection, feedstock variation, biogas utilization and digestate management. Sam was the General Manager of Escarpment Renewables, which is an industrial food waste anaerobic digestion facility. He completed his master’s degree in chemical engineering at the University of Toronto with a focus in anaerobic digestion, and holds two bachelor’s degrees in chemical engineering and biochemistry. Sam has both solid theoretical and practical operational knowledge of the organic waste management field.

Steve Kehoe, Director (BMO Capital Markets)

Steve Kehoe, Director in BMO’s Energy Transition and Sustainable Services Group, is a broad specialist focusing on new energy transition technologies including low carbon fuels, RNG, hydrogen, and carbon capture and sequestration. Steve has a Bachelor of Engineering Science (with Distinction) and Master of Engineering Science in Mechanical Engineering (NSERC Scholar, specializing in fluid mechanics) from Western University. Prior to joining BMO, Steve worked in the oil and gas industry, then spent 12 years working in Acquisitions and Divestitures Advisory with BMO’s Energy Group. His work on the hydrogen economy has become an important touchpoint with many BMO clients, government, and agencies.

Matt Lensink, CEO (CEM Engineering)

Matt Lensink serves as CEO of CEM Engineering, where he helps clients achieve decarbonization goals by leading with humility, passion and 15+ years expertise in power generation, CHP, biogas and low carbon projects. As an entrepreneur, Matt leads his team in delivering high-quality services and pioneering projects that substantially reduce energy costs and CO2 emissions. His tenure at CEM Engineering is distinguished by his involvement in numerous low-carbon projects, emphasizing sustainable solutions using a wide variety of technologies. Matt’s leadership style is characterized by a commitment to continuous learning and innovation, driving both his company and the broader energy sector forward.

Allen MacKinnon, Vice President of Product Management (SysAdvance Technologies North America)

Allen MacKinnon is a seasoned engineering, operations and service professional with over 15 years' experience in alternative energy and clean technology. Allen has spent the last 3 years overseeing commissioning and service operations of biogas upgrading systems in Canada, Brazil, Europe and the US. As VP, Product at SYSADVANCE North America, Allen is focused on bringing his Product Engineering and Customer Service experience to deliver first-class biogas upgrading solutions. Allen holds a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of British Columbia and a Management of Technology MBA from Simon Fraser University.

Ryan Milligan, Senior Safety Officer (Technical Safety BC)

Ryan Milligan lives and works in the beautiful city of Victoria BC, although his work takes him all over the province. He spent 15 years working in commercial and industrial heating and air conditioning before joining Technical Safety BC in 2014, originally starting as a Gas Safety Officer in the Victoria office. In 2017, he took on the Senior Safety Officer Gas role. In this role he gets to support Safety Officers and clients across the province with applying the various regulations and adopted codes in various applications including natural gas, propane, biogas, and hydrogen.

Wesley Muir, Manager, Business Development, Veolia North America (Canada)

Wes Muir is Manager of Business Development for Veolia Canada, and leads the company's growth in anaerobic digestion. He has over 22 years experience in the private waste services sector, and has an extensive background and expertise in all facets of waste management including collection, transfer, diversion and recycling, organics management, landfill development and expansion, waste to energy, and emerging technologies throughout Canada and the US.

Nikan Nadimi, CEO (Carbonik Firm)

Nikan Nadimi is the founder of CNF, a small company that plays a crucial role in guiding stakeholders through complexities of the carbon markets. With extensive experience in RNG projects and a deep understanding of Carbon Intensity (CI) scoring, Nikan has been instrumental in helping clients optimize their low-carbon fuel programs. Known for his expertise in CI calculations and the latest modeling specifications from Environment and Climate Change Canada, he often quips, "Calculating carbon may be intense, but with the right formula, it just makes sense".

Ben Nishi, Senior Manager of Commercial Accounts (FortisBC)

As Senior Manager of Commercial Accounts for FortisBC, Ben manages an energy portfolio of over $350 million which includes industry sectors such as healthcare, social housing, market housing, office buildings, education and municipal facilities. Ben’s responsibilities include energy efficiency implementation and execution, and the low carbon fuels program. Ben is on the board of directors with Homebuilders Association of Vancouver, and has been a member on the CHBA Fraser Valley board of directors for 5 years, a member of the CHBA BC Government Relations Committee for 7 years, and was credited with the Innovative Energy Solutions award from the Energy Solutions Center in 2016.

Corynne O’Farrell, Research Scientist (SixRing)

Corynne O’Farrell is an environmental microbiologist whose academic journey began with an undergraduate degree in Microbiology from the University of Calgary, and culminated in an MSc in Biology from the University of British Columbia; specializing in agricultural microbiology. As a Research Scientist at SixRing, Corynne is working towards improving the sustainable production of biogas and renewable natural gas. Driven by a passion for applying scientific research to real-world environmental challenges, Corynne is dedicated to developing practical solutions that contribute to a cleaner, greener future.

Chris Perry, Owner (GrowTEC)

Chris is an interdisciplinary thinker and soil whisperer, with a green thumb and a heart for the planet! Hailing from a long line of farmers with a vision as vast as his 5,500-acre farm, Chris is on a mission to integrate the art of regen farming with renewable energy production. Imagine fields of gorgeous green potatoes, golden canola and bountiful cereals, all thriving and powered by a circular economy, carbon-negative, on-farm biogas operation. In 2014, he turned this dream into reality by founding GrowTEC. Get ready to be energized by the potato farmer with an electric dream, where sustainability meets innovation for a greener tomorrow.

Trevor Phenix, Vice President of Development (Scovan Engineering)

Trevor Phenix is a professional engineer with over 16 years of experience in engineering, fabrication, and large-scale facility integration. He recently joined Scovan as the VP of Development, where the company excels in seamlessly integrating complex technology packages into large balance-of-plant projects. Trevor’s entrepreneurial background includes founding businesses in software, M&A consultancy, tech investment, and industrial infrastructure, with the latter firm merging with Scovan. With deep expertise in financing and investment, Trevor now leads Scovan’s focus on its energy transition portfolio, particularly biogas and CO2 capture projects, ensuring their successful execution while minimizing costly mistakes and maximizing viability.

Alex Ripley, Commercial Advisor and Team Lead (Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

Alex Ripley is a Commercial Advisor and Team Lead on the Danish Trade Council’s Waste, Recycling & Biogas Advisory. The Trade Council is the export promotion and investment attraction agency of the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Alex’s team offers a wide range of consulting services to Danish companies entering the North American market, including on competitive intelligence, market entry, government relations, and business development. More broadly, their objective is to facilitate solutions-sharing between Denmark and the United States and Canada. Alex comes from a professional background in economic development, and is a graduate of Dalhousie University and the University of Toronto.

Cecilie Soerensen, Commercial Manager for North America (Ammongas)

Cecilie holds a Master of Science in International Business from Copenhagen business School, and in addition to her experience in the wind industry, she has worked in the North America biogas and RNG industry since 2020. During this time, she has acquired extensive knowledge of biogas, RNG, H₂S removal, upgrading and CCUS in both Europe and North America via her previous jobs for the Danish Ministry’s Waste and Biogas team and Biogasclean - a desulfurization company. Today she is Ammongas’ Commercial Manager for North America and manages all company activities and projects from their subsidiary in Texas.

Sally Taylor, Director Strategic Development (EcoEngineers)

Sally Taylor is a director of strategic development for RNG, focused on the Canadian market, for EcoEngineers, a consulting, auditing, and advisory firm with an exclusive focus on energy transition. Sally has more than two decades of experience working in the energy sector, including leading the development and growth of an RNG business unit for an Ontario-based developer. She has a deep understanding of emerging regulations, business impacts, and the challenges of adapting to a clean energy economy.

Dr. Wei Wang, Research Engineer (Highbury Energy)

Dr. Wei Wang holds a doctoral degree in Chemical Engineering. His expertise includes biomass conversion and renewable fuel production process development, GHG emissions and carbon intensity, fouling mitigation and intellectual property. He joined Highbury Energy in 2019 as a research engineer and has been involved in multiple R&D projects including fouling in biofuel production, bio-RNG, carbon capture, RFG processes for natural gas substitution, and liquid biofuel production from biomass. He also has a background in fossil fuel processing.

Sam Wright, Manager Canadian Low-Carbon Fuels (Anew Climate)

Sam Wright manages the Canadian low-carbon fuels compliance team for Anew Climate. Having started his career in oil and gas, Sam joined Anew in 2021 to perform CI modeling and LCAs on RNG projects. He has modeled and registered pathways for dozens of biofuel projects under the RFS, California LCFS, BC LCFS, and Canadian CFR. Through his work with regulators, verifiers, and across the biofuels value chain, Sam enables Anew customers to generate LCF credits on hundreds of thousands of tonnes of displaced emissions. Sam is a professional engineer with APEGA and holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in chemical and environmental engineering.

Travis Woollings, General Manager (Cornerstone Renewables)

After graduating Georgian College with a marketing diploma, Travis immediately began to build marketing and sales experience in the transportation industry. During this time, Travis came across an opportunity to develop a compost market from municipal SSO. From 2008 to 2013, Travis worked as the Sales & Marketing Manager for Orgaworld Canada. During this time, Travis developed markets for compost, ammonium sulphate and bedding products. In 2013 Cornerstone Renewables was formed. Travis played an integral part in its development. Today, thanks to Travis’ hard work, Cornerstone Renewables now sources 27-30,000 tonnes/month of feedstock for 15 biogas plants in multiple provinces.

Dr. Fenglou Zou, Principal Research Scientist (Volta Energy)

Dr. Fenglou Zou obtained her PhD from the University of Zurich and currently works at Volta Energy as a principal research scientist, focusing on the development of circular carbon-based energy technologies. She has nearly 30 years of work experience in industrial R&D, specializing on the development of green energy solutions, including biomass and greenhouse gas transformations, as well as catalysts and polymers.