NIS 2011 Facilator, Keynote & Speakers

Facilitator: Dianne Buckner

Dianne Buckner is an incredibly versatile presenter and producer who has hosted programs on both of Canada’s major networks, from national newscasts to magazine shows. She is a skilled interviewer, writer, and producer, and an accomplished speaker. Buckner is best-known to Canadians as the host of CBC Television’s hit reality program “Dragons’ Den”, where eager entrepreneurs pitch their business ideas to a group of self-made Canadian millionaire investors. Prior to joining CBC, Buckner spent five years at CTV, where she hosted the popular consumer program Live It Up! and was back-up host for “Canada AM”. She also worked as a news reporter for “CTV National News”. Buckner also has a profile in print media. She writes for the Metro chain of newspapers, parlaying her 18 years of business journalism into a weekly column for the Workology section of the paper.

Keynote Speaker: Dr. Penny Burns, AMQ International’s Principal Director

Presentation - The Road Ahead: why and how Asset Management can help you move faster with more confidence

Dr. Burns is an Economist who has been involved in Asset Management Strategy since the early 1980s. For 20 years, Dr. Burns was closely involved in every major asset management development in Australia, and many in New Zealand. She invented most of the asset management and Infrastructure Depreciation definitions now in common use around the world and developed the concept papers for the very first Total Asset Management Manual. She has been an academic researcher, Ministerial Adviser, consultant and now editor of the longest-running publication in asset management.

Speaker: Jonathan Levine is Professor of Urban Planning at the University of Michigan

Jonathan specializes in transportation and land-use planning and is the author of Zoned Out: Regulation, Markets, and Choices in Transportation and Metropolitan Land Use (Resources for the Future, 2007). He is currently leading a three-year project, funded by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the Federal Highway Administration, the Graham Environmental Sustainability Institute, and the Michigan Center for Advancing Safe Transportation throughout the Lifespan, to measure and compare transportation accessibility between 30 of the largest metropolitan areas in the United States. He has taught as Visiting Associate Professor of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University, and as Visiting Lecturer in the Faculty of Architecture and Town Planning at the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology in Haifa.

Speaker: Jonathan Burns, Bsc., MSc., CA, is a Director in PwC’s Infrastructure & Project Financing (IPF) team and is based in Edmonton.
Theme - Financing the Opportunities

Jonathan joined PwC from KPMG’s Infrastructure and Project group in Australia. He brings nine years experience advising both the public and private sectors on the procurement and financing of major infrastructure projects. Previously, Jonathan worked on some of the largest and most high profile infrastructure projects and Public Private Partnership (P3) projects in Australia and Northern Ireland. Since arriving in Canada, Jonathan has advised on a number of projects, including the City of Edmonton’s Southeast and West LRT Project, McGill University Health Centre P3, Iqaluit Airport Project and the Nunavut Capital District Project. Jonathan has significant experience in providing commercial, procurement, risk and financial advice on large projects.

Speaker: Honourable Ken Krawetz, Deputy Premier, Minister of Finance

Speaker: Can Xiao, City of Phoenix 

Speaker: Patricia Bugas-Schramm, President PBS Consulting
Theme - Defining the Need 

Patricia Bugas-Schramm is the President of PBS Consulting Inc., a management consulting firm providing asset management services to public works organizations since 2007. Patricia is an accomplished asset management trainer basing training on practical case study experience. She is an expert in assessing, building and implementing performance-based asset management capabilities in government agencies. Patricia has over 30 years of experience implementing strategic initiatives within local government. As the Asset Management Coordinator, Patricia led implementation of the infrastructure management program for Portland, Oregon’s $8.1 billion transportation network.

Speaker: Konrad Siu, Director, Office of Infrastructure and Funding Strategy, City of Edmonton
Theme - Defining the Need

Konrad Siu is the Director, Office of Infrastructure and Funding Strategy for the City of Edmonton. The Office’s primary mandate is to implement Edmonton City Council’s Infrastructure Strategy to address the City’s growing disparity between infrastructure capital needs and available funding. Konrad has been actively involved in a number of national initiatives related to asset management, including the InfraGuide (the Canadian National Guide to Sustainable Municipal Infrastructure), National Round Table on Sustainable Infrastructure, National Asset Management Working Group and Core Public Infrastructure National Advisory Committee; and also contributed to the development of a ‘Framework for Assessment of State, Performance and Management of Canada’s Core Public Infrastructure’.

Speaker: Casey Vander Ploeg, Canada West Foundation
Presentation - Infrastructure Funding, Financing and Delivery Options 

Casey Vander Ploeg has a BA in Political Science from the University of Lethbridge. Prior to joining the Foundation, Casey worked as a journalist. Casey has been with the Canada West Foundation since 1991 and has authored or co-authored over 60 published research reports for the Foundation. His work on urban finance and infrastructure has established him as one of Canada’s foremost experts in the area and he is a sought-after speaker at national conferences. Casey has worked on a range of public policy topics including federal and provincial government finances, economic development, parliamentary reform, deliberative democracy, Senate reform, and national unity.

Speaker: Chris Champion, CEO, Institute of Public Works Engineering Australia
Theme - Defining the Need

Chris Champion has 30 years experience in local government and 10 years in Association Management. He took up the position of National Chief Executive Officer of the Institute of Public Works Engineering Australia in the year 2000. For the 12 years prior to this, he was Director of Engineering Services with the City of Holroyd in the west of Sydney. Chris holds formal tertiary qualifications in Engineering and Management. He is Immediate Past President of the International Federation of Municipal Engineering (2006-2009). Chris is a regular inclusion in Engineers Australia list of Top 100 Most Influential Engineers in Australia.

Speaker: Dr. Wade Nutter, Nutter Assoc., Georgia, USA
Theme - Innovation

 Dr. Nutter is Professor Emeritus of Hydrology and Soils at the University of Georgia and has over 50 years experience in assessment of water resources projects related to land management activities. Experience includes research, assessment and development of solutions for soil, water, and waste management issues; design and operation of land treatment systems; preparation and supervision of environmental assessments and impact statements; contaminant remediation; and wetlands delineation and function. He is the author of numerous articles on land management impacts of sedimentation, and pesticides. Dr. Nutter is a highly sought expert witness in assessment of hydrologic, water quality and wetland issues including implementing field monitoring programs and data interpretation.

Speaker: Philippe Leclerc, Interactive Communications Manager, City of Regina
Theme - Citizen Engagement

For the past 13 years Philippe has helped lead organizations re-assess their use of interactive technologies to improve business and customer engagement. Working for one of the original Internet consulting agencies (Modem Media) he was the lead consultant to HSBC Hong Kong and Citibank (Korea and Australia). While there he led the creation of Citibank Korea’s iCard credit card site, a fully online managed credit card and a first for Citibank Korea, as well as HSBC’s pension fund management site. Working with the City’s communications group, he launched an award-winning social media citizen engagement campaign for the 2009 municipal elections. A certified usability analyst with a background in information design, Philippe is also the president of Saskinteractive, the interactive industry representative body for Saskatchewan.

Speaker: Steve W. Wyton, City of Calgary
Theme - Defining the Need

Steve has been employed with the City of Calgary, both as a project manager and operations engineer, since 1994. He has managed construction projects worth upwards of $150 Million, including expansions of Calgary’s water and wastewater treatment plants and the extraction of landfill gas to produce electricity to Calgary’s grid. Steve has also published many papers in the fields of structural, geotechnical and environmental engineering. Currently, Steve is the Manager of Corporate Asset Management. His responsibilities include the implementation of a corporate-wide asset management program and the provision of strategic advice to Calgary’s City Council regarding Calgary’s infrastructure investment needs.

Speaker: Jennifer Keesmaat, Principal: DIALOG
Theme - Citizen Engagement

Jennifer Keesmaat is one of Canada’s leading voices in urban planning and design. As a principal in the Toronto studio of national multi-disciplinary design firm DIALOG, and previously co-founder of Office for Urbanism, Jennifer has a distinct interest in the political processes that shape cities, communities and places. Her planning approach recognizes the strategic importance of consensus building to successful plan implementation. Jennifer combines strong project management skills with a collaborative approach to plan development, and is a strong advocate for multi-disciplinary planning and stakeholder engagement.

Speaker: Gareth Lifton, Vice-President & Senior Principle Management Consultant
Theme - Defining the Need

Gareth has over 24 years experience in the water industry and is Head of Asset Management for CH2M HILL’s Canadian Region, responsible for business development and technical input to projects. He is currently working with a number of municipal clients across Canada, not only with their water and wastewater departments, but also looking at implementing asset management best practice and risk based techniques across all municipal asset types. His experience includes construction supervision, engineering design, project management and operational management. Gareth is currently a Director of the Canadian Network of Asset Managers and is a member of the Standards Council of Canada Advisory Committee for the new Asset Management ISO Standard.

 Speaker: John Lee
Presentation - Communities of Tomorrow

John has over 25 years experience working in diverse industries. He is results-oriented and a big believer in the enormous potential of the CT partnership. John believes the next five years will be about maximizing growth and capitalizing on the tremendous opportunity that exists in the field of sustainable infrastructure innovation. John is currently on many committees and boards including Mayor’s Community Advisory Committee; Sask Chamber of Commerce Investment and Growth Committee; Regina Regional Opportunities Commission Events Committee; and the Wascana Centre Authority Strategic Planning Committee.

Speaker: Kevin Bainbridge, City of Hamilton
Theme - Defining the Need

Kevin is a Civil Engineering Technologist with over 14 years experience in infrastructure management and has been formally trained on all three International Infrastructure Manuals published by the National Asset Management Steering Group (NAMS) in New Zealand. Since 2001, he has held the position of Senior Project Manager of Infrastructure for the City of Hamilton’s Asset Management Group. His responsibilities include Infrastructure Management Policy Development and Development of the Annual Capital Improvement Budget. He has been the project co-director of all three of the City’s State of the Infrastructure reports and the project director for the City’s first Critical Infrastructure Management Plan for water distribution.

Speaker: Patrick Lucey, founder of Aqua-Tex Scientific of BC, Canada
Theme - Innovation

Mr. Lucey, President of Aqua-Tex Scientific Consulting Ltd., is a senior aquatic ecologist with a background in freshwater and marine ecology, resource management and political science. His specialties are managing water resources so that they add value to development projects, and demonstrating how maintenance and enhancement of ecological function can provide cost savings on infrastructure and result in a healthier environment. He has established a personal reputation as a specialist in design and construction of quality rainwater management systems, streams and wetlands and is respected by both clients and regulators for his ecologically sound, yet innovative approaches to protecting water resources within urban environments.

Speaker: Stephen Lidington
Session - Public-Private Partnerships

Stephen Lidington is an acting Principal with PPP Canada where he leads the development of P3 business cases for investment recommendations on major projects. He is currently engaged on several projects throughout Canada totaling over $1 Billion in capital investment. Prior to joining PPP Canada, Stephen worked with the Bank of New York Mellon as a Vice-President in investment consulting and advisory services. He has over seven years experience in public and private equity, and in the infrastructure sector. Stephen has an undergraduate degree in Economics and an MBA from the Richard Ivey School of Business.

Speaker: Kees Nelissen, Public Works, City of the Hague
Theme - Innovation 

Educated in environmental engineering at Wageningen University, Kees worked for more than a decade in private sector civil engineering. In 1991 he joined the Public Works department of the City of the Hague and has worked on city renewal, inner city public space reconstruction, safety projects, road and tramway reconstruction, and implementation of ICT technologies.

Speaker: Ross Homeniuk, Technical Director, Asset Management, AECOM

Theme - Defining the Need

Ross Homeniuk is a Technical Director with AECOM’s Global Asset Management practice. Based in Winnipeg, Ross works with municipal and utility organizations on asset management planning, process improvement, and funding analysis initiatives. Ross leads AECOM’s infrastructure asset management business in North America and serves on its Global Asset Management Steering Group that shapes business focus and approach to municipal and utility management service delivery around the world. Along with other Asset Management practice members, Ross is currently working with the Institute of Public Works Engineers of Australia (IPWEA), and the New Zealand National Asset Management Steering (NAMS) Group on the 2011 update of the International Infrastructure Management Manual.

Speaker: Harry Kitchen, Professor Emeritus in the Economics Department at Trent University

Harry Kitchen is Professor Emeritus in the Economics Department at Trent University. Over the past 30 years, he has completed more than 80 articles, reports, studies, and books on a range of issues relating to local government expenditures, finance and governance in Canada and abroad. In addition, he has served as a commissioner, advisor, and consultant for a number of municipal and provincial governments in Canada, the federal government in Canada, and has worked on projects in Russia and China.

Speaker: H.R. (HERB) KUEHNE, M.B.A., P.Eng. Vice President, Civil Infrastructure Associated Engineering

Herb Kuehne is Vice President of Civil Infrastructure for Associated Engineering and a Director on the parent Board of Associated Engineering.  He graduated from the University of Alberta with a B.Sc., Civil Engineering in 1976 and received a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Alberta in 1988. Herb’s 34 years’ experience in the consulting engineering industry covers a diverse range of projects including water supply and distribution systems, sanitary sewerage systems, water resources, land development, roadways, asset management, infrastructure renewal, trenchless technologies and marinas. As Vice President of Civil Infrastructure, Herb has Corporate Responsibilities, in addition to project responsibilities, which include developing corporate strategies to expand the company’s Civil Infrastructure sector across Canada, technical development of human resources within the company, developing engineering capabilities through research and development, and reviewing partnerships, strategic alliances and acquisitions. He also provides leadership and guidance to the staff of Associated Engineering across Canada in civil/municipal infrastructure and asset management. Herb is currently Vice Chair of the Association of Consulting Engineering Companies of Canada (ACEC) and is a past President of the Consulting Engineers of Alberta (CEA), organizations that represent consulting engineering firms nationally.  

Speaker: Robert Hilton is an Adjunct Professor in the School of Public Policy and Administration at Carleton University
Theme - Program Models/Governance

Robert Hilton is an Adjunct Professor in the School of Public Policy and Administration at Carleton University. He teaches and carries out research in the field of urban affairs. He is a member of the Centre for Urban Research and Education (CURE), a research team which recently studied the impact of the federal government’s Gas Tax Fund. Robert has over 35 years experience in the federal government including extensive experience in the design and administration of the municipal infrastructure programs. Among his current research, he is the principal investigator in a research project to develop a model process that will allow a municipality to use the outputs of their Integrated Asset Management systems to support the development and  implementation of corporate level objectives, strategies and decision-making.

Speaker: Greg Chartier, Msc., P. Eng.
Theme - Defining the Need

Greg Chartier recently entered the field of infrastructure management consulting after a 27 year career with the City of Saskatoon. In his capacity with the City, Greg was involved in all aspects of surface and underground infrastructure management, from planning, design, and construction to operations, maintenance and rehabilitation. Most recently, Greg led the development of a 10 year, 200 million dollar integrated capital and operating infrastructure plan for the City of Saskatoon’s water distribution system. With a strong focus on service performance, the plan included a service level consultation instrument to obtain community input within a triple bottom line forecasting and reporting framework. Greg’s career and professional development has focused on improving infrastructure investment and decisionmaking, including the assessment and evaluation of many classes of public works infrastructure.

Speaker: Honourable Darryl Hickie, Minister of Municipal Affairs

Darryl Hickie was born in Winnipeg, MB into a military family and moved to Prince Albert in 1975. Mr. Hickie has lived and worked in Prince Albert for the past 35 years. Up until his election as the MLA for Prince Albert Carlton in November of 2007, Mr. Hickie served as a Constable assigned to the Forensic Identification Unit of the Prince Albert Police Service. He is also Past President of the Prince Albert Police Association. Prior to joining the Police Service in Prince Albert, Mr. Hickie was employed with the Correctional Service of Canada as a Correctional Officer and a Parole Officer for 14 years at the Saskatchewan Penitentiary. During his employment with Federal Corrections, he obtained his B.A. degree in Sociology. Following the 2007 election, Minister Hickie was invited by Premier Wall to serve in the first Saskatchewan Party Cabinet as the Minister of Corrections, Public Safety and Policing.

Speaker: Dana Vanier, Adjunct Professor, The University of British Columbia
Theme - Defining the Need

Dana Vanier, Ph.D. is an Adjunct Professor at the University of British Columbia. He lectures on topics including Sustainable Asset Management, Optimization and Decision-Making and Project and Infrastructure Management. He holds a Bachelor of civil engineering from the Royal Military College Kingston, a Masters in building engineering from Concordia University, and a Ph.D. in architecture from the Université de Montréal. He was a researcher at the National Research Council’s Institute for Research in Construction for 30 years, which included initiating and managing NRC’s Municipal Infrastructure Investment Planning (MIIP) Project. He retired recently from the federal government after a career of 38 years and continues to collaborate with NRC in the Vancouver region.

Speaker: Dr. John Bartle, University of Nebraska, Omaha                                  Theme - Financing the Opportunities

John R. Bartle is the David Scott Diamond Professor of Public Affairs and Director of the School of Public Administration at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, and was a part-time Research Fellow and Visiting Professor at the Center for Public  Administration, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou China. He is currently co-editing Management Policies in Local Government Finance (sixth edition, ICMA Press, 2011). His teaching and research interests are in the areas of public financial management, public budgeting, and sustainable development. Dr. Bartle has worked in city and state government in Minnesota, and for state and national non-profit research organizations on tax policy issues.

Speaker: Mira Shenker, ReNew
Theme : Program Models/Governance

Mira is the executive editor at Actual Media Inc. and has been the editor of ReNew Canada, the infrastructure industry’s only comprehensive news source, since 2007. Mira specializes in environmental journalism, and regularly writes on topics ranging from green building and sustainable development to public-private partnerships. She has been involved with a variety of national industry events and conferences, as chair, presenter and moderator. She is a member of several industry associations including the American Public Works Association and the Canada Green Building Council. She also sits on the editorial advisory panel for the Journal of Urban and Environmental Infrastructure Management. Mira has a B.A. in Creative Writing from Concordia University and a certificate of publishing from Centennial College. When she’s not working on Actual Media’s many projects, Mira is organizing events through Actual Media’s new charitable arm, Actual Karma.

Speaker: Murray Mandryk . Political Columnist, Session: Leadership Panel

Murray Mandryk is the political columnist for the Regina Leader-Post. A journalist since 1980, Mandryk has covered the Saskatchewan legislature since 1983 and has been writing a political column since 1990. The award-winning journalist’s career has spanned three Saskatchewan administrations, six Saskatchewan provincial elections and seven federal elections.

Speaker: David Marit
Presentation - Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM)

David is currently a Councillor for Division 3 in the RM of Willow Bunch No. 42. Upon completing his schooling in Rockglen in 1972 David bought his farm. From 1972 until 1975, he farmed with his father and since then he has been in partnership with his brother. He is married to Lois and he has two children: Jordan and Katelyn. David became involved in local government in 1993 when he was elected as Councillor for the RM. He was elected as Director for Division 2 of SARM in March of 1999 David worked with the SARM Board to address the many issues put before them including education tax, rail issues, and infrastructure funding. At the 2004 Annual Convention, Dave was elected as Vice-President of SARM, and at the 2006 Annual Convention, Dave was elected President.

Speaker: Wayne Morsky, Chair of the Board of Directors, Canadian Construction Association
Presentation- Canadian Construction Association

Wayne has previously served as the First and Second National Vice-Chair of the CCA, Honourary Secretary/Treasurer and is Past Chair of the CCA Environment Committee. He completed his primary and secondary education in Virden, Manitoba and received a Diploma in Business Admin from Red River College in Winnipeg, Manitoba in 1982. At the age of 13, Wayne began working part-time with the family in their heavy construction business. Upon completing his education, he joined the company full-time and now sits as the president/CEO of Morsky Industrial Services Ltd. (MISL) with offices in Saskatchewan and Alberta. He is a founding member of the Regina Chapter of the Canadian Association of Family Enterprise (CAFE) and has a great passion for families in business. He also sits on the Executive Committee of the Canadian Construction Association, the board of the Saskatchewan Construction Association and Saskatchewan Roadbuilders and Heavy Construction Association.

Speaker: Jacob Pope, Chairman of E.VO Global
Session - Leadership Panel

Jacob Pope is a powerful leader and organisational strategist. His ability to transform corporate thinking and bottom line results is recognized by all who associate with him. During his international career, Jacob has excelled in a range of industries. These include defense, energy, mining, power generation/retail, manufacturing, communications and health care. He has successfully launched start-up companies, led corporate turnarounds, chaired company boards and consulted for some of the largest corporations worldwide: Alstom Power, ABB, Questar Gas, Lyondell-Citgo Refining and Raytheon. Jacob has the ability to lead and inspire directors of multibillion dollar corporations and blue collar workers alike. His unique combination of creative flair and systems thinking constantly elicits the best in others.

Speaker: Dorian Wandzura, General Manager of Public Works, City of Regina
Presentation: Communities of Tomorrow

During his 17 year career, Dorian has served in increasingly responsible capacities in a number of Saskatchewan municipalities including Yorkton, Moose Jaw, Saskatoon and Regina. Dorian was educated in Saskatoon, graduating from the University of Saskatchewan with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. Aside from the professional responsibilities in Dorian’s career, he has assumed a number of leadership positions in both professional and community organizations. Over the course of 1998 to 2004 Dorian served in the capacity as President of the Saskatchewan Public Works Association and the Canadian Public Works Association. Dorian has also been actively involved in helping to shape Communities of Tomorrow (CT) since its inception, sitting on the CT Management Committee, as well as helping to define the potential behind the Municipal Innovation Network concept.

Speaker:  Walter Robinson, Tactix
Theme: Program Models / Governance

Walter Robinson has more than two decades of experience in strategic advocacy and communications, public policy analysis, government relations and political organization and campaigns. His experience spans three levels of government on issues that include health care and pharmaceutical policy, industrial policy, taxation, intergenerational equity, alternate service delivery, P3s and transportation issues. Walter has served as Federal Director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, Vice-President of Provincial Affairs for Canada’s Research-Based Pharmaceutical Companies and most recently, Chief of Staff to the Mayor of Ottawa and ran as the Conservative candidate in Ottawa-Orléans in the 2004 federal general election.

Speaker:  Sekhar Angepat, Vice President - Global Infrastructure Finance, RBC Capital Markets

Session - Public-Private Partnerships

Sekhar Angepat is a Vice-President with RBC’s Infrastructure Finance team in Toronto. He joined RBC Capital Markets in 2007 and has primarily specialized in both the project finance and infrastructure sectors. Sekhar has worked closely with some of the largest contractors and facility management providers in the world, having to date advised on transactions totaling over $4.5 billion in the Canadian infrastructure space and $7 billion overall. Prior to joining RBC, Sekhar worked in the Ottawa area as a successful entrepreneur and holds a Bachelors of Aerospace Engineering with Distinction from Carleton University and an MBA from Dalhousie University.

Speaker: Mayor Carl Zehr, Mayor of Kitchener
Topic - Federation of Canadian Municipalities: Big City Mayors’ Caucus

Carl Zehr became Mayor of the City of Kitchener in 1997, has been re-elected four times, and is Kitchener’s longest-serving mayor. Carl’s earlier service as a City Councillor for nine years, and his current, seventh term as Region of Waterloo Councillor, reflect his long-standing commitment to his community. Among the various boards and committees with which he actively serves as mayor, including Toronto Region Research Alliance, Kitchener-Wilmot Hydro and University of Waterloo, Carl currently chairs the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ Big City Mayors’ Caucus. In his professional life, Carl has a Fellow designation as a Certified General Accountant and in 2008 was recognized by CGA Canada as one of the country’s Top 100 CGAs.

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