Ready, Set, Network!

With over four decades of leadership across five continents, Valerie Jenkinson has made an extraordinary global impact on the water sector. As Founder and Chair of Operators Without Borders, she leads emergency deployments and technical training programs that support disaster recovery and capacity building in vulnerable regions. Valerie is also the CEO of World Water and Wastewater Solutions Ltd., one of Canada’s largest water-sector training firms, providing over 70 accredited courses and certification preparation to professionals across the country. Her earlier work as President of Nova Quality Research influenced provincial training standards, and her 25-year tenure as an instructor at BCIT cemented her expertise in adult education. Her dedication extends to numerous advisory and governance roles, including with Wastewater Education and the UN’s Global Wastewater Initiative. Valerie’s career is defined by her commitment to knowledge-sharing, international collaboration, and building operational resilience in water systems worldwide.

Thomas is a practiced people leader with extensive experience in strategic planning facilitation and developing high performance team cultures. His aim is to facilitate the development of authentic personal and organizational character, as this character is what underpins the success of people-oriented organizations and communities. Thomas has taken the knowledge gained through researching leadership and organizational performance and applied it through coaching and mentoring leaders who are seeking innovative ways to navigate career opportunities.

Thomas continues to lead municipal infrastructure revitalization and improvement programs, with a drive towards improved infrastructure investment planning. Thomas makes data driven decisions using spatial analytics and collaborative engagement to ensure organizational performance metrics are met responsibly and sustainably. He has led and facilitated many advancement projects ranging from climate change action planning to community education to 100-year infrastructure investment modelling.

Thomas is the past Industry Chair of the Seneca Polytechnic Civil Engineering Technology Program Advisory Committee and past Chair of the Municipal Alliance for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles in Ontario. Thomas holds diplomas and degrees from Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Thomas is known for his raw energy, light-hearted personality, and work ethic.

Jeff O’Driscoll, P.Eng., is the Infrastructure Division Manager at Associated Engineering’s Winnipeg office, bringing over 30 years of experience in civil engineering. He specializes in assessing climate change resilience for infrastructure and holds the Infrastructure Resiliency Professional (IRP) designation from Engineers Canada. Jeff has been involved in climate risk assessments across Canada and internationally, including the first application of the PIEVC Protocol for the City of Portage la Prairie’s waterworks infrastructure in 2007. He actively contributes to professional organizations, serving on the Engineers and Geoscientists of Manitoba Sustainable Development Task Group, the Association of Consulting Engineers of Manitoba Board, the American Waterworks Association Board, and the Canadian Water and Wastewater Association Climate Change Committee. Additionally, he chairs Associated Engineering’s Climate Change Advisory Group.

David Unrau is currently the Director of Public Works for the Town of Petawawa. He brings with him more than 20 years of municipal experience, having held similar roles in other municipalities including the City of Pembroke. David also brings similar expertise from employment in the private sector (CNL) as well as federally through positions held with Defence Construction Canada. His skillset includes those in management, leadership, communications and critical thinking. He has proven to be an excellent resource on the Board and has voluntarily participated in and attended many other meetings and functions in order to gain more knowledge about the Hospital and the Board. He also sits on the Ottawa River Energy Solution Board and national/provincial committees on Asset Management, Active Transportation and Vision Zero.

Kiersten Runte is a marine researcher and science communicator, working with the Blue Futures Pathways (BFP) Program led by the Students On Ice Foundation as a BFP Communications Coordinator. With passion for science communication and storytelling, and over 5 years experience working in Canada’s ocean innovation and research space, they’ve fostered skills in project management, graphic design, photography, videography, technical writing, workshop development, science education and outreach. Kiersten’s background in marine mammal acoustics led them to investigate a mystery beaked whale signal, where a passion for creating marine educational programming for youth and communicating science to non-science audiences was kindled. They completed the Dalhousie University’s Indigenous studies certificate program, located on the unceded territory of Mi’kma’ki people. They are also an alum of BFP’s first cohort of interns and hopped aboard the first dedicated BFP expedition back in 2023.