2025 Value of Biogas West Conference Speakers

Amir Ghasdi, RNG Lead – Americas (GHD)

Biography: With >20 years in oil & gas and renewable gases, Amir Ghasdi is technical and market lead for GHD’s Future Fuels portfolio in the Americas. Amir has led 40+ biogas utilization and 100+ hydrogen projects across North America and Europe. His expertise spans process design, product development, and market strategy for renewable fuels including RNG, hydrogen, and CO2 utilization-related solutions. As part of GHD’s Future Fuels initiative, Amir helps shape decarbonization strategies by integrating technical, commercial and policy insights. He’s passionate about turning waste into value and advancing clean fuel adoption through innovative, scalable solutions that support the energy transition.

Chris Perry (GrowTEC)

Biography: Chris is a fourth-gen Alberta spud farmer who champions integrating energy with agriculture. He leads Perry Family Farm’s 6,000 irrigated acres and founded GrowTEC in 2014. From 2014 - 2023, the 633-kW plant produced ~2.5× farm power while exporting. Since July 2023, GrowTEC upgrades biogas to RNG. Today it runs as an on-farm energy pack producing >2× the needs of the farm and 30,000-MT storage. As a farmer, Chris interconnected to two separate utility grids, a rare feat. In 2022 he partnered with EverGen, selling 67% of GrowTEC; he now co-chairs the CBA to advance farmer-friendly policy.

Dan Pfeffer, Senior Partner (PAA)

Biography: Dan is a Senior Partner at PAA, based in Ottawa. Dan works with clients at the federal, provincial, and international levels, leading the firm’s environment and clean energy practice. Dan holds a Ph.D. in political science from Queen’s University, where he specialized in Canadian politics and political theory. He also obtained degrees from the University of Ottawa and Montreal’s McGill University, and taught politics at Queen’s and l’Université du Québec à Montréal. Dan has negotiate policies such as cap and trade, carbon pricing, and low carbon fuel standards in jurisdictions across Canada and has helped clients in their international engagement.

Dana Wong, Managing Director, Canada Low Carbon Fuels (Anew)

Biography: Dana joined Anew Canada in 2025 after leading strategic initiatives including compliance and reporting of FortisBC's renewable and low carbon fuel portfolio. Dana has extensive experience advancing B.C.’s clean energy and carbon market development, and driving climate-aligned solutions through policy advocacy, education, engagement, and partnering with diverse stakeholders. Dana has previously served as co-chair of the Board of Directors of the Canadian Biogas Association, member of the Board of Directors of the Community Energy Association, and member of the City of Burnaby’s Environment Committee. She holds a Master’s degree in international economics, energy and environmental policy.

David Weyburn, Director Strategic Partnerships & Infrastructure (SJI)

Biography: David Weyburn joined SJI in March 2024 after 15 years of developing projects and technology in the bioenergy sector. Dave is on SJI’s Corporate Strategy & Business Development team, which is responsible for developing and executing SJI’s growth strategy. With a deep understanding that comes from the experience gained developing, owning and operating a failed merchant sewage sludge anaerobic digester, Dave also supports SJI’s project delivery team as it builds out the company’s fleet of RNG assets. Prior to biogas, Dave worked as an aerospace and defense industry systems architect specialized in technology innovation and new business design and development.

Domenico Gorni, R&D Coordinator (AB Energy Canada)

Biography: Domenico’s experience in control loops and automation logics, in addition to a deep knowledge of power plants and microgrids, has allowed him to successfully design and build whole automation processes on many AB projects around the world. Having joined the company in 2018 as Instrumentation and Control Engineer designing control systems for many different projects, Domenico now coordinates a team in the Research and Development department of the company. He has a PhD in the field of Computer Science with a thesis focused on optimization algorithms for comfort control in smart buildings.

Felicia Crozier, Process Support Engineer (Convertus Group)

Biography: Felicia Crozier is the Process Support Engineer at Convertus Group. She began her career as a summer student at the Surrey Biofuel Facility before completing a B.A.Sc. in Chemical and Biological Engineering in 2019. Felicia returned as a Process EIT and was promoted to Process Leader in 2021, where she led the Surrey Biofuel process team and focused on optimizing system performance. In 2025, Felicia transitioned to a national role as part of the newly formed Process and Support Optimization Team, supporting all Convertus Canada facilities.

Gio Guerrero, Project Manager - Biogas (CEM Engineering)

Biography: Giovanni Guerrero is a Project Manager based in Calgary, Alberta, specialising in biogas and renewable natural gas. Giovanni leads initiatives that integrate CO₂ capture and utilisation into renewable natural gas systems, advancing low-carbon energy solutions and improving carbon intensity performance. Giovanni’s recent work includes food waste valorisation and operational optimisation, contributing to Alberta’s climate-forward energy transition.

Jeff Photakis, RNG Sales Manager (Clarke Energy)

Biography: Upon completing his Chemistry degree certified by the American Chemical Society, Jeff Photakis advanced various renewable projects, technologies and products. One project was the first in the US to both inject biomethane into the natural gas infrastructure while filling compressed natural gas vehicles on-site, receiving the EPA Landfill Methane Outreach Program’s 2013 Project of the Year Award. Jeff joined the Clarke Energy team in 2022 to grow the biogas sector as the USA RNG Sales Manager. Jeff is active on the Beverage Gases Technical Committee of the International Society of Beverage Technologists to support advancing biogenic CO₂ use in beverages.

John Dunaway, Director of Sales (Vilter by Copeland)

Biography: John leads a dedicated team in delivering reliable biogas solutions powered by Vilter's innovative Single Screw Compressor technology. With a background spanning over two decades, John brings extensive experience and technical expertise in industrial compression systems. Prior to joining Vilter, John held key roles with Cook Compression and Dover Precision Components. John holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering and an MBA from the University of Louisville, grounding a strategic vision for high-performing biogas systems in strong technical foundations.

Kenneth Hansen, Group COO (BioCirc)

Biography: Kenneth has been at the forefront of the European biogas and RNG industry for nearly two decades. He began his career in 2008, helping build Denmark’s gas trading exchange, and later established and sold an energy supply company. From 2016 to 2021, Kenneth shaped Nature Energy’s feedstock portfolio as Sourcing Manager. He then launched Bio Recycling, an organics trading platform that later merged into BioCirc, where since 2022 he has been instrumental in growing the company into the world’s second-largest RNG producer.

Maryam Omidvar, CEO and Founder (Ethox Energy)

Biography: Maryam Omidvar is the CEO of Ethox Energy, a clean technology startup transforming biogas into low-carbon fuels. She holds a PhD in Chemical Engineering and has led R&D projects across the U.S., Denmark, and Canada. An award winner from the U.S. Energy Transition Center, Maryam is recognized for her work advancing sustainable energy solutions and circular economy models.

Michael Ray, Manager of Engineering (ThioSolv)

Biography: Michael Ray is Manager of Engineering at ThioSolv. He has held this position for 3 ½ years, where he works on producing cost-effective, revenue-generating solutions to ammonia and sulphur removal at refineries, gas wells, and of course, anaerobic digesters. Michael studied at the Colorado School of Mines, where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering. Michael lives in St. Petersburg, Florida, where he enjoys spending time at the beach, cycling down trails, and travelling to parts of the world he has never been.

Monique Nobert, Co-founder & VP, Carbon Solutions (MDM Carbon Advisors)

Biography: Monique is a results-driven executive, who recently retired from an integrated oil company, following a successful 35-year career in strategic business development and commodity marketing.
In her final role, Monique played a key part in building an environmental commodities team that secured compliance credits to meet Canada’s environmental regulations, giving her a unique perspective on the intersection of policy, markets and innovation. Monique holds an M.B.A. from Queen’s University and completed executive management studies at Harvard Business School. Monique is also a registered chemical engineer having earned her degree from the University of Alberta.

Phillip Abrary, President & CEO (Taurus)

Biography: Phillip has over 35 years of professional experience in managing and building businesses.  He is a serial entrepreneur with deep experience with the commercialization of novel environmental technologies.  Prior to Taurus, Mr. Abrary founded Ostara where he commercialized a first of its kind nutrient recovery system invented at the University of British Columbia.  The system was successfully scaled up and implemented in major cities throughout North America and Europe.

Raphaël Le Deley, Managing Director (Prodeval North America)

Biography: Raphaël is the Managing Director of Prodeval North America, a company specializing in biogas to value and renewable natural gas solutions. With over a decade of experience in energy efficiency and technical industries, Raphaël brings a unique blend of leadership, sustainability focus, and engineering insight. After moving to the U.S. to support his wife's international career, he transitioned from being a stay-at-home father to leading operations in the automotive and healthcare sectors during the COVID era. In 2023, he joined Prodeval, driven by a strong belief in converting methane into clean energy to help build a more sustainable future.

Russ Smith, Senior Manager - Environmental Resource Management (Capital Regional District)

Biography: Russ has worked for thirty years in local government utility services with a focus on financial and strategic management. Russ’ primary area of responsibility with the CRD is regional solid waste management, focused on financially sustainable waste diversion, resource recovery and residual management.

Saumya Suresh, Applications Engineering (Anaergia)

Biography: Saumya Suresh is an Applications Engineer at Anaergia, focusing on anaerobic digestion and biogas treatment. Saumya holds a Bachelor's degree in Biotechnology from India and a Master's in Environmental Engineering from Carleton University, Ottawa. With a strong focus on organic waste treatment, Saumya combines technical expertise with a passion for environmental conservation, actively engaging in creek restoration, invasive species management, and plastic pollution cleanup.

Sergey Baranov, Sales Manager, North America (Thoeni North America)

Biography: Sergey Baranov is the North American Sales Manager for Thoeni North America Inc., a leader in design, engineering, and manufacturing of core components for advanced high-solids biogas plants with a portfolio exceeding 170 biogas systems operating worldwide. Sergey has over 20 years of experience in the biogas sector, beginning with the familyowned lagoon business and extending to leadership roles with some of the world’s largest environmental companies. Sergey’s expertise spans from environmental solution selling to delivering innovative circular economy solutions that transform organic waste into sustainable energy across North America.