Join us for an informative webinar to learn about how per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are being managed in Canada in the context of our water resources. Experts from academia, industry and government will be exploring questions such as: What are PFAS? What are the best practices for sampling, quantifying and remediating these compounds? What does the future regulatory landscape look like across Canada for managing PFAS? In their presentations, speakers will showcase the latest research advances and highlight how research is informing the risk assessment and management of PFAS in Canada and beyond. Speakers will also showcase industry standards and practical applications.

About the Speakers

Dr. Shira Joudan is an environmental chemist who has been studying the environmental reactions and transport of PFAS for eight years. Her research interests focus on how environmental reactions alter the environmental fate of organic contaminants, and how they ultimately impact what potentially toxic chemicals humans and ecosystems are exposed to. Shira holds a PhD from the University of Toronto and is currently a postdoctoral researcher at York University. She is also an active member of the SETAC community. Starting in January 2023, Shira will be working as an assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Alberta.

Dr. Krista Barfoot is recognized as a contaminated sites specialist with 25 years of industry experience. Her expertise spans from the technical elements of project delivery to program management, risk management, policy development and stakeholder communication. As Stantec’s emerging contaminants program lead, Krista is experienced in investigative and analytical approaches, risk assessment considerations and remediation techniques for PFAS. Her PFAS project experience includes brownfield sites, aqueous film-forming form (AFFF) release sites and landfills. Krista has an established industry presence via engagement in numerous industry and regulator associations, including the Ontario Environmental Industry Association (ONEIA), Canadian Brownfields Network (CBN) and the Interstate Technology and Regulatory Council (ITRC). She currently serves as the chair ONEIA’s PFAS Committee, vice president of CBN and member of ITRC’s PFAS Regs, Tox, and Risk Sub-group and Training Sub-group.

Dr. Robert Letcher is a senior research scientist with Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC). He is also an adjunct professor in the Departments of Biology and Chemistry at Carleton University and a fellow (Academy of Science) of the Royal Society of Canada. Since 2005, Robert has published more than 65 research papers and reviews on topics related to PFAS, including analytical methods, identification, bioaccumulation, fate and spatiotemporal trends in the context of various wildlife species and their ecosystems. Robert’s innovative research has influenced the risk assessment and management of chemicals (including PFAS) in Canada and around the world. In 2014 and 2015, he was recognized in Thomson-Reuters’ list of the top one per cent most cited scientists globally in the field of Environment/Ecology.