Nolan Ryan is the Regional Director for Aquatech Canadian Water Services Inc. (Ontario Division). His passion for the Environment, Water and Wastewater has led his career through multiple different roles within the Water/Wastewater industry over the last 10 years. Nolan was part of the first graduating class of the Advanced Water Systems Operations and Management program through Fleming College.

Following his time at Fleming, he spent the following 4.5 years managing/operating numerous Water/Wastewater treatment facilities across Ontario. This period was critical in his career growth, providing valuable insights and technical skills on how to successfully manage and maintain various Treatment Technologies including 24/7 emergency response.

Following his time as lead operator, Nolan moved North where he managed domestic Water and Wastewater at Detour Lake Mine, Canada’s largest gold producing mine in Canada. His responsibilities included the Management, maintenance, and compliance of 9 separate Membrane Bioreactor systems and two small drinking water systems utilizing reverse osmosis. Nolan played a critical role in driving down Operational Capital costs by building a team of experienced/passionate operators, optimizing system performance, implementing progressive preventative maintenance strategies, and leading numerous capital projects to extend the life of the facilities.

Prior to starting with Aquatech Canadian Water Services Inc. earlier this year, Nolan held the role of Manager – Water, Wastewater & Environment for Canada’s leading developer/owner-operator of land lease communities across Canada. His roles and responsibilities included management of capital/operational budgets, capital projects, as well as the direct oversight of operations, maintenance, and technical services related to water, wastewater and environment across Canada. He worked directly with 3^rd party operating authorities, Ministry of Environment and consultants to ensure regulatory compliance, and a direct focus on extending the life of water and wastewater infrastructure across Canada. 

Most recently, Nolan joined Aquatech Canadian Water Services Inc. as Regional Director. Centrally located in Peterborough Ontario, Aquatech offers high quality Operation and Maintenance Services within the private, municipal, and industrial water & wastewater sectors. With a diverse team of professionals across Ontario, Aquatech has also developed technical services specializing in 1) Zoom Camera Inspections for Manhole, pipeline, and tank assessments, 2) Fire Hydrant Services for annual inspections, leak detection, flushing and flow testing, 3) Distribution and Collection Services including emergency repair, 4) System Commissioning, start-up, and training, and 5) Spill Response, assessment and clean-up. 

James W. Hotchkies, M.Eng., P.Eng. 

Jim Hotchkies is CEO of Enereau Systems Group Inc. Based in the Niagara region, Enereau specializes in advanced water purification, wastewater treatment and water reuse solutions for clients in the land development and light industrial sectors in Canada, the USA and the Caribbean.  Before returning to Canada from Europe in 2015, Jim was Chairman of Aquarion AG, Managing Director of Ostara Europe, Senior Vice President for Europe, the Middle East & Africa for ZENON Environmental (later part of GE Water), Managing Director of ZENON Australia and Chairman of several water sector start-ups in France & New Zealand.  Since 2008, Jim has been a member of the Advisory Board for the Swiss-based Pictet Water Fund, the world’s largest water sector investment fund with over USD10 billion under management. 

Prior to his career in the water sector, Jim was a professor in the Civil Engineering faculty at Sheridan College, where he founded and managed the Sheridan Environmental Technology Institute, and while in the steel industry, he was Chairman of the CSA Steering Committee on Frontier and Offshore structures. 

A graduate of McMaster University in the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Engineering Mechanics, Jim & his wife live in Ridgeway Ontario.

Lindsay Wolfenberg, C.E.T. is a dedicated water and wastewater professional specializing in the operations, maintenance, and management of decentralized systems. With over a decade of experience, Lindsay is driven by her passion for decentralized systems’ potential to promote responsible community growth, particularly in rural areas where traditional municipal infrastructure may not be feasible. As a key member of the Clearford team, she has cultivated strong relationships with regulatory agencies, developers, and contractors, facilitating open dialogues about alternative servicing solutions. Her primary responsibilities include business development, account management and co-ordination with Clearford’s in-house team of engineers, technologists, compliance specialists, and licensed operators.  

A member of the Ontario Onsite Wastewater Association (OOWA) and a regular attendee at industry conferences, Lindsay actively contributes to ongoing discussions about sustainable water management. Looking ahead, Ms. Wolfenberg envisions a hybridized approach that integrates innovative technologies with a focus on environmental stewardship and community resilience. 

With a degree in Science and Business and a post-graduate certificate in Environmental Management and Assessment, Ms. Wolfenberg plays a pivotal role at Clearford, the largest operator of privately owned systems. She has successfully managed several large-scale projects, where she applied a holistic approach by incorporating early input during the design phase to optimize system longevity and efficiency. Under her guidance, Clearford, continues to deliver effective service to commercial, residential, and industrial clients.

Brad Gaffney, P.Eng is a dedicated professional in the water treatment industry, specializing in decentralized water and wastewater solutions. With over two decades at Newterra, he has played a key role in advancing water technology through strategic territory development and the implementation of advanced treatment systems. His work includes the design and deployment of Membrane Bioreactor (MBR) systems, known for their efficiency in sewage treatment, sustainable reuse, and safe discharge solutions. 

Brad has a diverse engineering background, having designed critical systems in various industries early in his career as an Embedded Controls Engineer and Product Design Engineer. At Newterra, he has held several leadership positions, including Electrical Engineering Manager, Director of Project Management, and Vice President of Technical Operations.

 He focuses on delivering high-quality, modular, cost-effective, and compact water treatment systems that support high-density developments and protect water resources. His experience has helped uphold Newterra's reputation for providing innovative water treatment solutions globally.