Dr. Joe Ackerman (University of Manitoba)

Bio: Coming to university after a career in food service and another one in construction, Joe has found a niche as manager of the Sustainability in Action Facility at the University of Manitoba. Here his research interests in nutrients, compost optimization, plastic recycling and low carbon construction materials can all be pursued. The best part of the day, however, is showing students a new way to look at a problem.

Dr. David Levin (University of Manitoba)

Bio: David B. Levin is a Professor in the Department of Biosystems Engineering, at the University of Manitoba. Dr. Levin received a Bachelor degree in Environmental Studies (BEs) at the University of Waterloo in 1977, a Master of Science (MSc) from the University of Guelph (in Entomology) in 1979, and a Doctorate (PhD) from McGill University (Virology) in 1987. His research is focused on biotechnologies for sustainability including biofuels, biodegradable polymers, bioremediation, microbial and enzymatic degradation of synthetic polymers, and microbial production of antioxidants. His research is multidisciplinary and integrates microbiology, biotechnology, and genome sciences with bioprocess and biosystems engineering. 

Dr. Bryan Cassone (Brandon University)

Bryan Cassone is a Professor and Chair of the Department of Biology at Brandon University. He earned a B.Sc. at Western University (2002), M.Sc. at University of Guelph (2005), and Ph.D. at University of Notre Dame (2011). His research program uses multidisciplinary approaches to investigate issues pertaining to pest and insect vector biology. This includes research related to plastic biodegradation by insects, most notably Galleria mellonella.

Session Context: We are on the Horns of a Dilemma with the problem of plastic. We are fully dependent on this miraculous substance that also poses a mountain of problems regarding microplastic and solid waste pollution. Carefully engineered over the last century to meet goals of strength, flexibility, solvent and UV resistance, selective gas exclusion and many other traits, plastic is ubiquitous in our material world. Yet, it is so inexpensive that of the 785 million tonnes produced this year, we will throw away 580 million tonnes. Efforts to “simply recycle” have been exposed as largely wishful thinking. Recycling mainly targets packaging – and achieves only a small portion of that, at significant carbon cost. The chemistry of recycling reveals very limited re-melt cycles and unsolved problems with producing safe food-grade recyclate. The newly heralded “advanced recycling” (pyrolysis) requires catalytic cracking and condensers to produce a monomer with a heavy economic and carbon footprint also resulting in PAH byproducts and halogen contaminated residues. Manufacturing economics favours virgin polymer selection: more expensive and less versatile recycled plastic is competing with virgin polymers (which have never been cheaper). This Plenary session will delve into the wicked problem posed by plastic dependance and pose possible solutions. It will explain why the current “Blue Box” system does not work for plastic materials, and explore how synthetic biology, process engineering, composting and entomology can be combined to develop new strategies for plastic degradation.

Dr. Jacquie Ripat, Professor (Occcupational Therapy) & Vice-Dean (Academic Affairs), U of M

Ms. Sarah Kelso, Clinical Engineer, Shared Health

Mr. Trever Gascoyne, CEO, Orthopaedic Innovation Centre

Dr. Song Liu, Professor, Department of Biosystems Engineering, U of M

Dr. Hunter Loewen, Medical Doctor

Mr. Erron Leafloor, Manager, Advanced Engineering, Buhler Versatile

Bio: Erron Leafloor obtained a degree in Biosystems Engineering and has worked in several roles in the agricultural machinery sector including Product Validation Engineer with CNH Industrial, Design Engineer for seeding and tillage tools with CNH Industrial, Product Manager for production innovation with AGI, Product Manager for tillage with Buhler Versatile, Product Manager for telematics with Buhler Versatile, and his current role of Manager of Advanced Engineering with Buhler Versatile.

Mr. Perry Klassen, MacDon Industries 

Bio: Perry Klassen serves as the Product Manager at MacDon Industries, where he oversees the goals and expectations of the electronic and software features for the company's products. Hailing from a family farm in southern Manitoba, Perry holds a degree in Biosystems Engineering from the University of Manitoba. Leveraging his deep-rooted passion for agriculture and engineering, he actively contributes to shaping product strategies and crafting innovative solutions to address the evolving needs of customers.

Mr. Darcy Cook, PTx Trimble 

Bio:  Darcy Cook is the General Manager at PTx Trimble (formerly JCA Technologies), where he leads the team of about 200 people in the development and deployment of autonomous agricultural machine control systems. JCA was purchased by AGCO Corporation in May of 2022, enabling the expansion of JCA’s OEM business towards retrofit autonomous solutions that can deliver value directly to farmers. Most recently a joint venture between AGCO and Trimble was announced where JCA will join with Trimble Ag group to further accelerate the deployment of agricultural autonomous systems. Darcy has more than 20 years experience in the development of electronics and software systems across various industries, including space systems (satellites), medical equipment (MRI), and off-highway mobile machines. Darcy holds a B.Sc. and M.Sc. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Manitoba, and an MBA from the Asper School of Business.

Dr. Afua Mante, Department of Soil Science, University of Manitoba

Bio: Dr. Afua Mante is an Assistant Professor of Soil Physical Processes in the Department of Soil Science at the University of Manitoba. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Engineering and a Master’s degree in Water Supply and Environmental Sanitation from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana. In 2011, Afua moved to Canada as a graduate student at the University of Manitoba where she attained a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering with a focus on Fluid Mechanics and a PhD in Biosystems Engineering with a focus on Soil and Water Management. She further developed her experience through her Postdoctoral Fellowship with the Centre for Engineering Education and Engineering Professional Practice at the Price Faculty of Engineering, University of Manitoba with focus on Engineering Education, Indigenization, and sustainable resource development, and with the Land Remediation Group in the Department of Soil Science, University of Manitoba with focus on soil health restoration of prime agricultural lands disturbed by oil and gas development in northeastern British Columbia. Her multi-disciplinary background and experiences inform her research program, which emphasizes interdisciplinary and integrated approaches to developing and managing the soil resource for a healthy society.

Dr. Nancy Nelson, P.Eng. Director - Teaching Innovation, Conestoga College  

Bio: Nancy Nelson is an award-winning educator with over 30 years in the Canadian post-secondary system. An engineer by profession, she is currently the Director of Teaching Innovation at Conestoga. Her current research areas include harnessing the potential of Artificial Intelligence in the classroom, the educational development of STEM educators, and the effective and efficient use of educational technologies in the classroom. Nancy is nationally recognized for her educational leadership both in and beyond the classroom. She’s been awarded Engineers Canada’s Medal for Distinction in Engineering Education, Colleges and Institutes Canada’s Leadership Excellence Award for Faculty, and most recently a 3M National Teaching Fellowship by the Society of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (STLHE).

Mr. Randy Herrmann, Director, Engineering Access Program, University of Manitoba

Bio:  Randy is the Director of the Engineering Access Program (ENGAP) at the University of Manitoba.  ENGAP is a support program designed to assist First Nation, Metis and Inuit students seeking an engineering degree. He graduated from the University of Manitoba in 1988 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Geological Engineering. For ten years he worked as a geotechnical engineer and a project manager before taking on his current role. Over the years Randy’s work with Canadian Indigenous communities and within the engineering field has shown him the lack of engineers of First Nation, Metis, and Inuit ancestry and the obstacles faced by these students to obtain a degree.  His desire to help change these factors and make it easier for Indigenous students to pursue an engineering degree led him to become Director of ENGAP, a position he has held since 1998. He is a Fellow of Engineers Canada, and a member of the Canadian Academy of Engineering. He is also a member of Engineers Geoscientists Manitoba.  

Dr. Jillian Seniuk Cicek, Assistant Professor, Price Faculty of Engineering, University of Manitoba

Bio:  Dr. Jillian Seniuk Cicek is a settler and Assistant Professor in the Centre for Engineering Professional Practice and Engineering Education in the Price Faculty of Engineering at the University of Manitoba, located on the original lands of Anishinaabeg, Cree, Ojibwe-Cree, Dakota and Dene peoples, and on the National Homeland of the Red River Métis. Her research in engineering education explores the integration of Indigenous knowledges and worldviews with engineering curricula and the impact on student learning; sociotechnical thinking; pedagogical practices; student engineering identity and competency development; and the development of engineering education research in Canada. She is motivated by the translation of research into practice to improve engineering curricula and advance engineering education research as a field. She teaches technical communication, decolonized engineering, career design, and engineering education and research courses. She has three wonderful adult kids, three fur babies, and one amazing husband. When she’s not working, she plays ringette with a group of neighbourhood moms on a team called, The Awesomes!

Ms. Ella Morris, Instructor, Department of Biosystems Engineering, University of Manitoba

Bio: Ella Morris is an Instructor and Métis Indigenous scholar in the Department of Biosystems Engineering (Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences) at the University of Manitoba. She holds a B.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering (University of Manitoba, 2017) and a M.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering (University of Manitoba, 2020). Ella is working toward a Ph.D. studying bluff bodies in the Turbulence and Hydraulic Engineering Laboratory under the supervision of Prof. Mark Tachie. She teaches fluid mechanics, engineering design, decolonizing engineering, and thesis. She is a lifelong learner who enjoys teaching and helping students succeed. Ella enjoys the challenge of finding ways to take complex ideas and turn them into simple concepts. Ella has a wonderful husband and four kids aged 3 to 14 years. When she isn’t working, she enjoys spending time outdoors in the garden.

Dr. Marcia Friesen, Dean, Price Faculty of Engineering, University of Manitoba

Dr. Valerie Orsat, Acting Dean, Macdonald Campus of McGill University & James McGill Professor, Bioresource Engineering

Mr. Eric Hawley, Program Management Specialist, AGCO