Conference Speakers

Kristina Adler
Transportation Policy and Program Officer
Chemistry Industry Association of Canada

Kristina Adler is the Transportation Policy and Program Officer for the Chemistry Industry Association of Canada (CIAC). She supports CIAC's Transportation of Dangerous Goods and transportation safety policy issues and leads the industry's TRANSCAER® outreach initiative. Kristina also plays an important role in bringing together and strengthening collaboration between chemical manufacturers, carriers, and emergency responders through the Transportation Emergency Assistance Program (TEAP® III). Additionally, she manages the interface of industry and government interests as the coordinator of the Multi-Association Committee on the Transportation of Dangerous Goods and contributes to a wide range of processes related to the transportation of dangerous goods policy in Canada.

Sylvain Guimond D.O., Ph.D.
President and Founder
Biotonix

Sylvain Guimond graduated from San Diego University with a Doctorate in Sport Psychology, is a physical educator (McGill University graduate) and biomechanics specialist (CBP Institute) and holds a certificate in Leadership and Management from Harvard University.

Thanks to his posture evaluation system, millions of people around the world have been helped. He has collaborated on numerous research projects with McGill University, Baylor University and Stanford University. He is a recipient of the American Medical Review, the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award, and was a finalist in the OCTAS for artificial intelligence.

Sylvain works with elite athletes and well-known personalities such as Mario Lemieux, Tiger Woods, Céline Dion, Gerard Butler, Arnold Schwarzenegger and former US President Bill Clinton. He has consulted for the NBA, NFL, MLB and NHL, including the Montreal Canadiens, and is the author of several bestsellers.

Yves Hamel
Operations Director
Emergency Response Assistance Canada 

Yves Hamel has extensive experience in fire prevention, emergency response and dealing with hazardous materials incidents.

Yves began his career in the fire service, where he took on progressively responsible roles as a professional firefighter, lieutenant, and later Chief of the Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu fire service in Quebec. Yves was recognized for his long (20 years) and outstanding service in 2011, when he was awarded the Exemplary Service Medal from the Governor General of Canada.

More recently, Yves was a Dangerous Goods Officer with Canadian National Railway, where he was responsible for overseeing emergency response operations to dangerous goods incidents, training response teams, participating in outreach programs, and conducting compliance audits.

Yves joined ERAC in early 2023. As ERAC’s Operations Director, Yves oversees the Operations staff and activities, works with ERAC’s response team network to ensure they meet or exceed ERAC’s training requirements, and oversees and coordinates ERAC’s robust emergency preparedness and response-related activities for all types of dangerous goods incidents.

Yves possesses two Certificates in Information Technology Management and Industrial Relations from the Université du Québec à Hull.   

Matt Henrie
Policy Analyst
Fund for Railway Accidents Involving Designated Goods

Matt Henrie has been the Policy Analyst with the Fund for Railway Accidents Involving Designated Goods (Rail Fund) since 2020. He has been actively involved in developing the Rail Fund’s readiness plan.

Prior to his role at the Rail Fund, Matt developed an expertise in research and policy. He worked as a Research Assistant with the Specific Claims Branch at Crown–Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada. He also worked as a Policy Officer with the Address Management and Delivery Planning Policy team at Canada Post.

Matt holds a Bachelor of Arts with specialization in History from the University of Ottawa.

Mark Jasper, CRSP
Technical Director - Emergency Management
GHD

Mark Jasper is a Registered Safety Professional with over 23 years of experience in all phases of emergency management. Mark leads a group of highly skilled professionals across North America, supporting incident management and preparedness programs within the GHD Fast Incident Response Services Team. Mark is a former Technical Advisor with Emergency Response Assistance Canada and has created core response programs for some of Canada’s foremost chemical/petroleum producers, distributers and transporters (road, rail, pipeline and marine). Over the past two decades, Mark has developed and managed two of the largest Canadian emergency response contractor networks and has made contributions to numerous committees, task forces, and regulatory, industry specific and government associations. 

Tim Johnson
Director of Health, Safety and Environment
Northwest Tank Lines

Tim Johnson is a seasoned professional with over 35 years of industry experience, currently serving as the Director of Health, Safety and Environment at Northwest Tank Lines, headquartered in Langley, British Columbia. With a career marked by dedication to excellence and a commitment to fostering a culture of safety, Tim has become a trusted leader in the industry.

Tim’s extensive background in operations spans more than two decades, providing him with a deep understanding of the intricacies involved in the transportation and logistics sector. His hands-on experience has equipped him with valuable insights into the day-to-day challenges faced by the industry, enabling him to implement effective strategies that enhance operational and safety efficiency.

In addition to his operational proficiency, Tim has managed the development and implementation of a safety management system at Northwest for the past 12 years. Tim has consistently demonstrated his ability to develop and implement robust safety protocols, ensuring compliance with industry regulations and fostering a workplace environment that places a premium on health and safety.

As the Director of Health, Safety and Environment at Northwest Tank Lines, Tim plays a pivotal role in shaping the company’s approach to risk mitigation and environmental stewardship. His leadership is characterized by a proactive and holistic approach to safety, incorporating innovative technologies and best practices to continuously improve the company’s safety performance. 

Andrew Lewry
Safety Manager
Northwest Tank Lines

Andrew Lewry is a dedicated safety professional with an impressive 22-year career in the transportation industry. Having started his journey at the age of eighteen, Andrew's passion for ensuring the safety of others has been the driving force behind his successful career.  

Andrew began his career as a young and enthusiastic individual, eager to contribute to the field of transportation. Over the years, he has held various roles within the industry, each contributing to his wealth of knowledge and expertise. From his early days as a safety coordinator to his current position as the HSE Manager for a major oil and gas transportation company, Andrew's commitment to promoting a culture of safety has remained unwavering.

With his intuitive understanding of safety protocols and regulations, Andrew has played a crucial role in implementing and improving safety measures across different facets of the transportation sector. His experience spans roles in coordination, fleet management, and even customer safety education, highlighting his versatility and dedication to ensuring a secure environment for all stakeholders.

Dr. Danielle "Dani"  Murphy
Principal Mechanical and Forensic Engineer
WHA International

Dr. Danielle “Dani” Murphy leads WHA International’s hydrogen service group and is a member of the US Department of Energy Hydrogen Safety Panel. Dani specializes in hazardous fluids safety and combustion science. She received her PhD in Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Chemical Engineering from Colorado School of Mines.

Prior to working for WHA, Dani performed research on hydrogen infrastructure and production technologies and also worked as a forensic engineer investigating the cause and origin of fires and explosions. She is a Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator (CFEI).

At WHA, Dani conducts failure analysis investigations, provides technical training, and performs and participates in hazards analysis and design reviews. She also provides consulting and custom testing services for hydrogen and hydrogen blended gas systems in a variety of applications including chemical processes, transportation, electrolyzers, fuel cells, and novel hydrogen systems and applications. Dani also pursues and leads research projects to understand and fill gaps in the current hydrogen technology safe handling practices.

Shannon Watt
President and CEO
Canadian Propane Association

Shannon Watt is the President and CEO of the Canadian Propane Association, where she spearheads the implementation of corporate strategies and oversees operational management. With a wealth of experience in sustainability, advocacy, and public policy, Watt is dedicated to steering the propane industry toward meeting policy and regulatory challenges while exploring new opportunities for growth.

Prior to her current role, Watt served as the Vice President of Sustainability at the Chemistry Industry Association of Canada for over seven years. During her tenure, she was responsible for overseeing the chemistry sector's Responsible Care commitments, as well as the association's environmental and health policy advocacy, and internal corporate sustainability initiatives.

Watt's educational background includes a Master of Science in Meteorology from the University of Guelph and a Bachelor of Environmental Life Sciences from Queen's University. Her expertise in environmental science and policy has been instrumental in helping her lead the association and shape the direction of the Canadian propane industry.

Chris Whitman
Regional Manager/Technical Advisor – AB
Emergency Response Assistance Canada 

After completing his Bachelor of Commerce, Chris initially began his career as an accountant, developing business reviews, working with auditors, and compiling financial statements. Chris, however, always had a passion for emergency response, and in 1997, decided to become a volunteer firefighter with the City of Beaumont (Alberta).

For almost two decades, Chris continued to progress in the emergency services field and became a full-time professional firefighter. During that time, he completed his Primary Care Paramedic and 1021 Professional Fire Officer designations level I & II. His professional career also saw him lead teams as an Incident Commander in a variety of industrial and municipal settings, including structure and process fires, technical and confined space rescues, hazmat incidents and medical responses.

Chris joined Emergency Response Assistance Canada in 2017 and is the Regional Manager/Technical Advisor – BC & Alberta. At ERAC, Chris supports and conducts training with ERAC’s emergency response teams throughout Canada, so that Plan members can be confident that competent, well-trained teams are responding to their incidents. As an NFPA 1041 certified Level II Fire Instructor, Chris is also involved in organizing and holding several liquefied petroleum gas Level 1 Operations firefighting training courses for first responders across Canada each year.

Vince Zafra
Geographic Information System (GIS) Specialist
Emergency Response Assistance Canada

After attaining a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Science with a specialization in Geography, Vince began his professional career in the geomatics and environmental consulting industries before joining Emergency Response Assistance Canada (ERAC).

At ERAC, Vince is responsible for managing, maintaining and improving on existing systems related to emergency incidents involving dangerous goods, including flammable gases and liquids. Additionally, Vince supports the creation of ERAC’s environmental emergency plans, supports tabletop and full-scale facility exercises and develops new tools to support the training and assessing of ERAC response teams.  

Vince has also helped design numerous processes to ensure data integrity and consistency, visualize data, increase efficiencies, reduce administrative burden, and support overall organizational and quality management goals.

Away from work, many of Vince’s passions can be found outdoors. He’s an active rock climber, hiker, backpacker, cyclist, cross-country skier, and occasional downhill skier. One of his favourite outdoor memories was climbing and standing on top of the Grand Sentinel – an impressive quartzite tower nestled by Sentinel Pass and Paradise Valley in Banff National Park.  

When he’s not outside, you can find him cooking, spending time with friends and family, furthering development through courses, or decompressing with video games.