ESAA President
Scott Purves, Vice-President, Operations, Matrix Solutions
Scott Purves is a designated environmental professional and professional agrologist with over 20 years of experience in the environmental services industry. Scott obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in land use and environmental studies from the University of Saskatchewan in 2000. Scott is currently Vice President, Operations at Matrix Solutions Inc. and is responsible for the operational leadership and strategic direction of Matrix’s Northern Plains team with offices across Central and Northern Western Canada.
Prior to his role as Vice President, Scott’s focus as a Principal consultant was mainly on large scale multidisciplinary spill response projects, assessment and remediation of contaminated sites, and management of reclamation portfolios with a focus on reducing the total time and cost to closure. His project experience has also included risk assessment and risk management, liability estimation, soil and groundwater monitoring programs, in situ and ex situ remediation, waste management and construction projects. Scott also spent several years away from consulting, working for environmental services companies focused mainly on various ex-situ treatment options for contaminated sites. This led to becoming an eventual part owner and operator of a similar business. These varied experiences have given Scott a broad perspective of the strength of and challenges facing the environmental services sector in Alberta.
Most recently Scott had the pleasure of working with the ESAA team and other industry leaders as part of the ESAA SRP Working Group. Scott has also previously served on the board of directors for Matrix Solutions Inc. from 2017 to 2019 and was chair of the Kalyna Branch of the Alberta Institute of Agrologists from 2015 to 2018. Scott has also served as an advisory member on the Program Advisory Committee for the Bachelor of Applied Science – Environmental Management program at Lakeland College from 2016 to 2021.
ESAA VICE pRESIDENT
David Nuell, Executive Vice President of Environmental, Nichols Environmental (Canada) Ltd.
David Nuell is an Executive Vice President of Environmental for Nichols and has been with the firm since 2007, when he started the Calgary office. While with Nichols, David’s continued growth in the senior management team led to an opportunity to become a Partner in 2021. David owes a lot of his development in the environmental industry to Rob Dickie, who founded Nichols in 1997 and retired in 2022. In total, David has dedicated over 23 years to the environmental and geomatics industries.
David graduated from Lethbridge College in 1998 with a Diploma in Renewable Resource Management, and from the University of Calgary in 2002 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Environmental Science. David is a Professional Agrologist in Alberta and Saskatchewan and is responsible for supporting environmental programs throughout British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan. David is described by his peers as a self-starter and a problem solver who values innovative solutions to complex environmental issues. Since graduating from university, David has been an ardent supporter of the environmental industry and ESAA.
David believes that leadership is an action and not a position. His favourite part of being with Nichols is the role he plays in supporting junior and intermediate engineers/scientists/technologists and helping them grow and develop into strong and passionate leaders. While away from Nichols David enjoys being with his family, which is active in the soccer and ringette communities (Calgary Rangers and South Calgary Ringette, specifically) in Calgary.
ESAA Treasurer
Sean Parker, Partner, McLennan Ross LLP
Sean provides legal advice on environmental issues, commercial transactions and litigation matters.
Sean is Co-Chair of the McLennan Ross’ Energy, Environmental & Regulatory Practice Group. The time Sean spent in the environmental consulting field before becoming a lawyer has provided him with a valuable technical foundation to support his practice in environmental and regulatory law.
Sean advises on an array of environmental management projects and commercial transactions, with a focus on brownfield redevelopment and contaminated site litigation. He acts for a wide variety of clients including large industry players, municipalities, landowners, government departments and administrative tribunals.
ESAA Secretary
Adam Dunn, Vice President – Operations, Earthmaster Environmental Strategies
Adam Dunn is the Vice President – Operations at Earthmaster Environmental Strategies in Calgary, Alberta. He is a graduate of The University of New Brunswick in Fredericton and Memorial University in St. John’s Newfoundland. Adam has a Masters in environmental science and has over 20 years of environmental consulting and management experience in the upstream and downstream oil and gas and commercial industries in Canada.
Adam has significant experience in spill response, hydrogeological assessment, hazardous materials surveys, regulatory compliance and liability management and evaluation.
Adam is a longtime supporter of ESAA and participant in the many ESAA events over his 16 years in Alberta.
ESAA Director
Sylvain Bordenave, Partner and Principal Risk Assessor, Trace Associates Inc.
Dr. Sylvain Bordenave is a professional biologist with more than 15 years of experience in environmental sciences in academia and industry. As a scientist and outdoor enthusiast, Sylvain has been interested in environmental sciences since his university years. After hearing about two major oil tanker accidents impacting the coast of France in the late 90s and early 2000s, Sylvain decided to focus his education and career on environmental challenges and managing our impacts on the environment.
At Trace Associates Inc. (Trace), Sylvain provides senior technical guidance for complex projects, leads the remediation and risk practice, and mentors and trains staff.
Sylvain’s first presentation at an ESAA conference goes back to RemTech Banff in 2015, and he has since participated in multiple events, including as a moderator and panel discussion organizer. As a Board Member, Sylvain is looking forward to increasing his support to the Canadian environmental industry and giving back to the community by helping ESAA continue to provide meaningful support to its members. As a partner at Trace, Sylvain is directly connected with the environmental business, and understands the challenges and the needs of the environmental industry. His role as a practice area lead and principal risk assessor in a growing company illustrates his capacity to foster change and innovation within a team, implement new ideas, and collaborate with other new and growing practices.
Outside of work, Sylvain enjoys spending time in the beautiful Rocky Mountains with his wife and three kids, with friends, or for some solo adventures.
ESAA Director
Louise Burden, Director, Ashwell Consulting
Louise has over 25 years of experience as an environmental consultant within Canada, Ireland and the UK, specializing in the assessment and management of contaminated sites. She graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Geology from Imperial College, London UK in 1998 and returned to school in 2005 to earn a Master’s degree in Hydrogeology from the University of Birmingham, UK.
Louise’s career began at a small geotechnical and environmental consulting firm and progressed through several international environmental and engineering consultancy’s where she took on management and leadership roles. Groundwater risk assessment for waste management facilities led to human health risk assessment for contaminated sites that ranged from the birthplace of the industrial revolution to the former Chelsea Military Barracks in London. After working for two years in the Republic of Ireland, Louise moved to Canada in 2009 and joined Worley Consulting (formerly Worley Parsons Komex and Advisian). In 2017 Louise started Ashwell Consulting and provides services as an independent consultant.
ESAA Director
Danielle Hutson, Business Development Manager, Element
Danielle Hutson is an environmental advocate with a strong commitment to sustainability and conservation. With a background in environmental science, business development and communications, Danielle brings a wealth of experience and a fresh perspective to her potential role as a Board Member of Environmental Services Association of Alberta.
Danielle holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies from Concordia University in Edmonton, where she focused on natural alternatives to harmful chemical usage in the marine industry. Over the past 23 years, she has worked in various capacities within the industrial and environmental sector, beginning her career in the Canadian Armed Forces.
As a business development manager, Danielle has developed close ties with industry stakeholders and has a keen understanding of operational interests and challenges arising within the environmental sector. Danielle is dedicated to making a positive impact on the environment and her community. She volunteers her time with people with developmental disabilities, and advocates for sustainable practices in her personal and professional life. She brings a unique blend of strategic thinking and passion for environmental advocacy that raises awareness, promotes conversation, and inspires action. She envisions a future where Canada leads the world in environmental stewardship and sustainable development.
ESAA Director
Laura Rathgeber, Vice President, AGAT Laboratories
With over 16 years of experience in the environmental and oil and gas sector, and a degree in environmental studies and biology, Laura started her career as an environmental scientist with a small private firm working on site remediation and reclamation in remote areas around Alberta. After consulting, she moved into a business development role with AGAT Laboratories for the environmental division working closely with consultants and oil and gas companies supporting remediation and reclamation site closure activities.
To further her career, she also spent time with Stantec as a senior consultant focusing on strategic growth in Western Canada and Newalta as an Area Sales Manager leading the waste management sales team for Northern AB and BC, enhancing her knowledge in the environmental compliance and waste management field. Now back with AGAT Laboratories as the Vice President of Business Development and National Accounts, Laura works closely with the senior sales and client services teams leading business development, marketing and strategic growth across Canada.
ESAA Director
Lincoln Weller, Associate, Project Manager, Stantec
Lincoln Weller is a professional geoscientist with over 17 years of environmental consulting experience. Lincoln obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology from Acadia University in Wolfville, Nova Scotia in 2005. He started his career conducting gravity surveys then joined Jacques Whitford (now Stantec) in their geotechnical team. After a couple years, he migrated over to the environmental team where he remains today.
Lincoln is an Associate, Project Manager, and Environmental Geologist with the Site Investigation and Remediation (SIR) team at Stantec. He is responsible for the planning, management, and execution of Phase I and II Environmental Site Assessments, remedial excavations, risk management plans, physical and contaminant hydrogeological assessments, and annual groundwater programs on sites that span all sectors (i.e., commercial, municipal, brownfield, oil and gas, mining, federal, community development, and transportation). Lincoln is also the Alberta Sector Representative for commercial and insurance clients and connects with new and existing clients to understand and offer up solutions for their projects.
Lincoln has previously served as a team lead for the SIR team and was responsible for the career development and resourcing of over a dozen team members. Today he continues to provide mentorship to junior and intermediate level staff and is passionate about teaching and encouraging them to embrace new initiatives to drive their careers.
Throughout his career, Lincoln has developed a strong network of support to deliver projects and is quick to work together with other Stantec disciplines to meet or exceed client expectations. This collaborative approach has given Lincoln a good knowledge of the diversity within the environmental consulting industry in western Canada, consistently providing innovative ideas to solve complex problems for clients. Lincoln lives in Calgary, Alberta and enjoys spending his free time hiking, rock climbing, and canoeing.
ESAA Past President
Rob Traynor, Managing Principal, SLR Consulting Canada
Rob Traynor is an accomplished Management Executive who has been practicing in the areas of Strategy, Business Development, Marketing and Operations for over 25 years. He started his career working in Account Management and after several successful years opted to pursue a career in the environmental field. In 1999 Rob joined Environmental Health Professionals Ltd. (EHP) which ultimately became Golder Associates. At Golder, Rob quickly progressed through the organization and became a senior partner with the firm and ultimately held the role of Global Director, Client Relations and Strategic Partnerships.
In 2015 Rob joined international environmental consulting firm SLR Consulting and is presently Managing Principal and National Director for Oil and Gas.
Throughout Rob’s career he has continually been asked to take on challenging roles and projects and has done so in some very difficult structural, market and financial conditions. He cites his ability to see and make sense of the big picture, his ability to establish relationships at all levels, and the ability to attract, retain and empower quality people, as the primary reasons for his successful track record and for being able to effect change in organizations. He jokingly calls himself the ‘renovator’ or ‘cleanup man’, being the one brought in to fix problems or sort things out.