Local Guest Instructors
ALBERTA
Dr. Brian Sinclair
Professor of Architecture|Environmental Design, University of Calgary
Click link to view/download Bio (PDF). Dr. Brian Sinclair Bio
Mark W. Chambers
Principal, Mark W. Chambers Architect LTD.
As an intern architect since 1990 and a registered architect since 1995, Mark Chambers has designed a wide range of projects in Alberta and British Columbia focusing on minimal environmental impact while emphasizing quality design and contextual development solutions. Mark believes there is an absolute need to not merely realize a paradigm shift relative to the way we inhabit our world but to change paradigms completely from one of infinite growth to one of net-zero growth or negative growth. Re-localization and population and resource management are critical to the success of this new paradigm.
Justin D. Pockar
Energy & Environmental Coordinator, City of Calgary
Prior to joining the City of Calgary, Justin worked for several notable architecture firms in the Calgary area. Specializing in the sustainable and technical design aspects of architecture, he has completed several projects certified to a LEED Gold standard or better, both within and outside the province of Alberta. In his current position as the Energy and Environment Coordinator for Development and Building Approvals, he is responsible for both policy and technical review as it applies to sustainable design planning and implementation in the built form.
Jokingly referring to himself as ‘a physicist by choice and an architect by training’, he espouses a holistic approach to sustainable design based on scientific fundamentals; encouraging innovation through the expression of the intrinsic interconnection of building systems and the sound integration of theory and practical application that good sustainable design embodies.
Tyler Hermanson
Principal, 4 Elements Integrated Design Ltd.
Tyler Hermanson has been involved in the construction industry since playing under his father’s drafting table as a child. A Designer, consultant and Certified Energy Advisor, Tyler has been designing, testing and consulting with Alberta builders since 2005. He teaches the R2000 / Built Green Builder Training course, EnerGuide Plan Evaluator Courses and is LEED Canada for Homes Faculty. Starting 4 Elements Integrated Design in 2008, he’s taken his family’s design firm portfolio into a fully environmental direction. 4 Elemants is working with design, consulting and certification projects across Alberta and is based in Calgary.
David Richardson
Principal, Designworks Architecture Inc.
Click link to view/download Bio (PDF). David Richardson Bio
Joanne Perdue
Director, University of Calgary Office of Sustainability
Click link to view/download Bio (PDF).Joanne Perdue Bio
Ken Hogg, M.Eng., P.Eng.
President, Renewable Energy Solutions Inc.
Click link to view/download Bio (PDF).Ken Hogg bio
Chris Roberts
Partner, Simpson Roberts Architecture Interior Design Inc.
Click link to view/download Bio (PDF).Chris Roberts Bio
Chris Saunders
Senior Vice President, HIDI RAE
Click link to view/download Bio (PDF).Chris Saunders Bio
Randy Smith
Partner, Williams Engineering Canada Inc.
Mr. Smith is a senior building scientist and civil engineer with over 25 years of experience in the fields of building science and materials engineering. Mr. Smith has a broad detailed knowledge of building envelope performance and design and has conducted numerous building inspections, evaluations, and restorations. Mr. Smith is a partner in the firm and currently manages the Calgary building science group. He is a past president of the Alberta Building Envelope Council and is a past member of the CSA A440 Window Standard committee. Mr. Smith is a LEED® AP and has worked on numerous LEED® projects. Mr. Smith has published numerous technical building science articles in Canadian construction and trade journals and has provided numerous technical presentations for construction industry conferences and symposiums.
Trina Larsen, MSc., P.Eng., LEED AP (BD+C)
Associate, Dialog; Chair of the Alberta Chapter of the Canadian Green Building Council
Trina Larsen is an associate in electrical engineering with Dialog™, a multidisciplinary architecture, engineering, interior design, and planning firm. With over 15 years of electrical engineering experience Trina’s work has focused almost exclusively on sustainable buildings and building energy conservation. Her work encompasses energy efficient renovations and low energy usage new construction projects, and she has worked on all shades of LEEDÒ from certified through to platinum.
Trina holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering Physics and a Masters Degree in Electrical Engineering, both from the University of Saskatchewan. She became a LEEDÒ accredited professional in 2002. Trina is the 2010/2011 Chair of the Alberta Chapter of the Green Building Council, and is a volunteer ambassador for the International Living Building Institute.
In her spare time, Trina enjoys the outdoors. Be it mountain biking, cycle commuting, cross country skiing, hiking, canoeing or trail running, when not involved in project work – Trina can be found outside. Committed to her community, Trina volunteers as a tutor of literacy and math for recent immigrants.
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.
Grant Kidd, B.Sc., P.Eng., LEED AP
Associate, Senior Mechanical Engineer, Dialog
Click link to view/download Bio (PDF). Grant Kidd Bio
Kerry Ross
Consultant, IBI Group
Click link to view/download Bio (PDF).Kerry Ross Bio
Dr. Tang Lee
Professor, University of Calgary
Tang Lee is an architect who designs healthy and sustainable buildings beginning with his first solar heating building in 1975. He teaches building science, indoor air quality, sustainable design, mechanical and civil engineering at several universities in Canada and abroad. He is on several committees of Health Canada, National Research Council of Canada and Canadian Standards Association. He is qualified as an expert witness in civil and criminal cases due to his reputation as an academic, architect and builder. Tang Lee is also fish farmer raising tropical fish for consumption and where the waste water is used in a hydroponics greenhouse.
Stephani Carter, I.D.T., LEED AP
Principal, EcoAmmo
Click link to view/download Bio (PDF).Stephani Carter Bio
BRITISH COLUMBIA
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
Principal Stantec (HVAC Specialist) – Buildings Engineering
Jennifer is one of Stantec’s 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 first joined Stantec in 1994.
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.
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.
