Local Guest Instructors
Albert Bicol
Partner, Cobalt Engineering
“Sustainability is not an option. Our actions today affect the lives of tomorrow.” Albert champions the use of sustainable solutions in his projects. He has extensive expertise in Sustainable Master Planning (SMP), passive building design, modeling building energy usage, thermal comfort and indoor air quality conditions. Albert has a wide range of experience in Canada, USA, and Asia. This experience includes the SMP for several university campuses, mixed used developments in the Philippines, and a ‘heritage’ retrofit for the Edgewater Casino (the largest application of displacement delivery ventilation in North America).
Jennifer Sanguinetti
Director, Smart Buildings and Energy Management, B.C. Housing
Jennifer was previously with Stantec Consulting and was one of their original environmental design leaders. Her interest in sustainable design began when she first started with Stantec and resulted in the success of a number of energy efficient projects. She knows the importance of having buildings and communities work with the environment, as opposed to being selfcontained and working against the surroundings. Jennifer seeks lowtech solutions for her sustainable designs, and prefers to keep the design simpler, with more natural systems. Jennifer joined B.C. Housing in 2009.
Andrea Frisque, RWDI
The Sustainable Design team at RWDI offers a wide range of in-depth experience relating to greenbuildings, sustainable community developments, and renewable energy systems. Ourextensive experience and accumulated knowledge allow us to provide fast, early advice as well as detailed analysis and simulations as a project progresses. We look forward tosupporting you in achieving your sustainability and high performance building goals.
Robert Baxter
Co-founder and Director, Vancouver Renewable Energy Cooperative
Robert has managed dozens of renewable energy projects in the lower mainland. In addition he is an active member of the BC Sustainable Energy Association and is on the board of the Society Promoting Environmental Conservation. He teaches a course in renewable energy for Langara College Continuing Studies. He has over 15 years of experience giving workshops pn a wide variety of topics and has been interviewed by CBC radio, CBC TV and Global TV on sistainability issues. He has also published articles and photographs on environmental subjects. Rob has a MBA from the University of Western Ontario.
Kathy Wardle
Associate and Director of Research of Busby Perkins + Will
Kathy has amassed considerable experience with the LEED rating system, high performance green buildings and the Integrated Design Process, managing certification for a number of the firm’s buildings including the successful LEED Gold White Rock Operations Center, and overseeing product research and feasibility studies for the firm. Kathy is active in the local green building community and often disburses her green knowledge through courses and lectures to diverse groups and through her involvement on project integrated design teams.
Marsha Gentile
Operations Coordinator, Ledcor
Throughout Marsha’s 15 years with Ledcor she has held increasingly responsible positions as Project Administrator, Project Coordinator and Operations Coordinator. As Operations Coordinator Marsha trains and mentors site teams on Sustainability and Ledcor’s Project Management Systems. Marsha was the LEED® Coordinator on UBC Life Sciences Centre (the largest LEED® gold lab in North America) from 2002 to 2005 where she realized her passion for all things sustainable. She is a cSBA and LEED® AP. Marsha is the co-developer and co-presenter of Ledcor’s in-house LEED® for Contractor’s course and co-creator of Ledcor’s standard LEED® documentation. Marsha has worked hands-on with project teams on over 12 LEED® projects (CaGBC and USGBC) in various stages of submission.
Guido Wimmers, Dipl.Ing., LEED® A.P.
Equilibrium Consulting Inc.
Dr. Guido Wimmers completed his dissertation, “Implementation of energy saving technologies at the renovation of old buildings with a historical value”, at the University of Innsbruck in 2007. Prior to moving to Canada, Guido worked as a consultant designing and building low energy and passive houses in Austria, Germany and Italy. He currently works at Equilibrium consulting, implementing passive house technology in Canada. Guido has presented over 80 lectures at national and international conventions concerning the issue of low energy and passive housing.
Tom McConkey
Stream Organics
Mr. McConkey brings over 15 years experience in the composting, residuals and landscaping industries.While previously employed with a large composting firm, Tom developed many products and successful marketing programs based around organic materials. Understanding the tremendous opportunities in the organic waste management sector, he has the knowledge, experience and creativity to develop new products that will benefit the waste generators, customers and environment.Tom has provided significant input on the B.C. Landscape & Nursary Association (BCLNA) Lanscape Standards, worked with all types of industry professionals including soil scientists, landscape architects, contractors, equipment operators, engineers and sales staff, gaining a well recognized and respected name in the horticultural and landscaping industries.
Joanne Sawatzky, B.TECH., M.SC., LEED® A.P.
Senior Green Building Project Manager
Joanne Sawatzky runs the technical services department at Light House. She is not only experienced in the coordination and management of workshops and design charrettes but also brings technical robustness in green building consulting. She holds an undergraduate degree in Architectural Science and Building Science from Ryerson University and a Master of Science degree in Energy Efficient Building from Oxford Brookes University. She has over eight years of work experience in green building design and consulting working on various projects; from single-family homes to large urban redevelopments, retrofits to new designs, and teaching and mentoring future design professionals and contractors. Most recently she provided contractor training on green building projects and will explain more about this program in her presentation.
Michael Driedger
Michael’s diverse work experience as a trades person, archaeologist, technologist, and researcher has helped develop his talents in contract administration, project management, LEED coordination, and report preparation on a range of projects. Together with work done with the USGBC, Michael recently prepared a handbook of the Most Sustainable City Policies in North America for 2008. The survey included 23 questions pertaining to sustainable site development, materials, energy, indoor air quality, water and operating policies, and city programs to act as catalysts for those cities that need to develop progressive policies or programs. The survey preempted a cross-Canada tour by Peter Busby on behalf of the CaGBC.
Diana Klein
Diana consults on sustainable building design for developments and education. Current project examples are: Millennium Water; South East False Creek, Olympic Village in Vancouver and development of Green Bricks, a program outreaching to youth on green building design. UK educated as a structural engineer, Diana worked for 18 years with Read Jones Christoffersen Ltd. and became their sustainable specialist and researcher. Diana is a Vancouver Steering Committee member with Cascadia GBC and past board member Cascadia USGBC / CaGBC. She was on the APEGBC (Association of Professional Engineers of BC) task force to advise on the BC Green Building Code proposed by the Provincial Government.
Randy Sharp, BCSLA, FCSLA, ASLA, LEED® A.P.
Sharp and Diamond Landscape Architects
Randy has a passion for transforming urban environments and making sustainable methods visible. He has a deep knowledge of high performance building ands landscape systems including permeable paving, ecosystem restoration, living walls and green roof.
Murray Frank
Constructive Home Solutions Inc.
Murray Frank is also an instructor in building science at colleges in Vancouver and Victoria. Mr. Frank’s combined technical expertise and practical experience help advance the understanding of construction and design issues in the various climates across British Columbia.