Slate of Candidates – 2021/2022 Board of Directors
The Environmental Services Association Maritimes (ESAM) Board of Directors is pleased to present to you, the membership, the following Slate of Candidates for the 2021/2022 Board of Directors. The current board consists of 10 directors, 6 of which will be re-offering for another term. This leaves 4 available positions to fill. Currently there are only 4 nominations, therefore, without objections from the membership, the below candidates will be elected to the board at the 2021 AGM.
Nominee Name / Title: Alex Coldham / Operations Manager – Atlantic Canada
Nominee Province of Residence: Nova Scotia
Business / Organization Name: AGAT Laboratories
Business Service / Product Lines: Environmental Laboratory
Nominee Qualifications
10 years in the commercial laboratory industry, 8 in management between Client Services, IT, Analytics, and Operations
B.Sc. from Dalhousie University in Microbiology and Immunology
Reason for Nomination
I am looking at being more active in the environmental services community. I feel that having a voice for the commercial laboratory sector is important and representing a national organization such as AGAT Laboratories could only strengthen ESAM. I want to be able to use my skills in people management, data analytics, and chemistry to better the community and help drive better understanding of what we in the Environmental Services sector do to protect the environment while growing the economy.
How will the Association Benefit?
I bring a unique mix of experience from the Corporate side working with large scale data analytic projects, IT Software Projects, and national CAPEX programs where I was responsible for looking at AGAT on a macro scale. Then I bring more micro scale management leading regional projects and enure the success and viability of our business in Atlantic Canada. This comes along with looking at an issue from a data mindset while also considering the human impacts.
Nominee Name / Title: Karen Gilbert
Nominee Province of Residence: Nova Scotia
Business / Organization Name: Bureau Veritas
Business Service / Product Lines: Environmental Laboratory
Nominee Qualifications
B.Sc. in Biology from St. Francis Xavier University
23 years experience in various customer facing roles at PSC/Maxxam/Bureau Veritas
Currently the Regional Business Development Manager for Atlantic Canada
Reason for Nomination
I am fortunate to have had the opportunity to work on a wide variety of environmental programs over the past 23 years. I’ve also enjoyed the opportunity to meet and work with so many individuals in our industry. Collaborating with others to develop creative, innovative solutions has been something I have always enjoyed.
I have been an active participant in many ESAM events over the years. Volunteering as a board member gives me the opportunity to further develop my professional skills and also contribute to the success of ESAM.
How will the Association Benefit?
As a former member of the Board of Directors for a local sports association, I am aware of the importance of good communication among board members and with the membership. I am a reliable individual with strong organizational skills. I am also a team player with a positive attitude.
Along with these attributes, I also have the full support of Bureau Veritas. Bureau Veritas has been a premier member of ESAM for a number of years and our staff have been active participants in both social and educational events.
Nominee Name / Title: Josh Perry
Nominee Province of Residence: New Brunswick
Business / Organization Name: RPC
Business Service / Product Lines: Analytical and Engineering Services
Nominee Qualifications
Chemical Technologist graduate from the College communautaire du Nouveau Brunswick (CCNB), working in the environmental services industry since 2002.
Reason for Nomination
Josh has an environmentally focused professional and personal life. At work he strives to understand all aspects of industry regulations and guidelines, and how they fit into providing compliant and practical solutions. He is very interested in the connections between industry and government, the logistics of engineering and analytical services, and how projects and programs are started and taken to completion.
With his family, Josh enjoys many outdoor activities, mostly in a forested or aquatic setting; camping and fishing as favorites. He is curious about the natural world and how modern life incorporates into our beautiful landscapes.
How will the Association Benefit?
Josh has nearly two decades of experience working in the environmental services industry as part of a client relation and business development team for a leading analytical and engineering services company. He’s maintained strong relationships and networks of contacts within the engineering, industrial, commercial and governmental sectors. Josh has helped develop content for newsletters and organized many events management by the former New Brunswick Environmental Industry Association (NBEIA). He would be very excited to promote the mandate of ESAM, while helping maintain and build new connections in the industry.
Nominee Name / Title: Rob McCullough
Nominee Province of Residence: Nova Scotia
Business / Organization Name: AECOM
Business Service / Product Lines: Design Consulting Environmental Science and Engineering
Nominee Qualifications
Rob McCullough
37 years’ experience
Senior Departmental Representative / Technical Specialist/ onsite Technical Lead
Rob is a Senior Scientist/Incident Commander, Senior Technical Lead – Environmental Remediation with AECOM. Rob has experience in management, co- ordination and facilitation of significant response teams on large-scale fuel and Chemical releases in all areas of southern Canada, Northwest Territories and Nunavut. Rob has significant experience with the engagement and operation with aboriginal /first nation groups including both academic and onsite training and project implementation. Rob has managed several aboriginal teams of individuals to successfully complete projects in Alberta, NWT and NU. One of Rob’s assets is his ability to carry out projects located in remote areas requiring a high level of training and competence to direct multi-discipline teams. Rob has overseen many integrity digs in pipeline maintenance programs and large complex projects across Canada and has 37 years of experience in the Canadian Arctic in the North West Territories, Nunavut, Yukon and Greenland. Rob’s experience includes all aspects of remediation on a variety of projects including the Air Navigation System across the Canadian Arctic, the Distant Early Warning System (DEW line) and major releases from both upstream/downstream petrochemical companies across Canada and overseas. Most of Rob’s career has been in remote areas and the Arctic, across mainland Canada and abroad, carrying out bio-remediation, freeze back and landfill systems, hazmat, large site remediation projects, numerous mine reclamations and emergency response for DND, PWGSC, AANDC/INAC, RCMP, TC, EC, major oil companies and Hamlets throughout the Arctic.
Rob holds a Bachelors Degree in Environmental Studies from the University of Waterloo, a Geotechnical Technologist Diploma and an Geological Technician Diploma from Sir Sandford Fleming College
Reason for Nomination
I would like to carry on the involvement that AECOM has established with the association and have a keen interest in the environmental practice in Nova Scotia and the development of the practice.
How will the Association Benefit?
I feel that my work experience, reputation and significant base of clients and contacts will help the association with organic growth and contacts. The association is a group of my peers who I would look forward to working with to develop the association in Nova Scotia and increasing the contact and interactions within the government, private sector and environmental consulting industries.
There will be a call for additional nominations during the AGM. In the case that more candidates step forward, each candidate will have an opportunity to address the membership and a vote will be held to elect the new board.
Please take the time to review the following slate of candidates in advance of the upcoming AGM. The virtual AGM is scheduled for June 16, 2021.
