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I have worked for NOVA Chemicals Corporation, Alberta’s largest resin producer, for over 20 years in a variety of leadership roles. In my current role as Strategic Ventures Manager- Circular Solutions, I focus on leading Circular Economy initiatives across NOVA. This work recognizes the value in post-use plastics and works to extend the lifecycle of plastics products and packaging through innovative practices and initiatives. This includes mechanical and advanced (chemical) recycling.

During my tenure at NOVA, I have worked in multiple areas of the company including Finance, Operations, Commercial and Sustainability. I previously served on the Board of Directors of the Joffre Cogen Joint Venture for over 10 years, representing NOVA in overseeing the operations of Canada’s largest cogeneration power plant.

My education includes Bachelor of Commerce and Master of Business Administration degrees from the University of Calgary. I am also a Chartered Accountant and a Project Management Professional.

I joined the APRA Board in August 2021 and became President in January 2022. Under my leadership along with my fellow Board members, APRA has increased its membership, completed multiple submissions to Government on plastics recycling policies, created strong relationships with the Alberta Government as well as other national trade associations and successfully hosted multiple industry networking events along with the highly successful first annual Alberta Circular Plastics Day. I look forward to continuing my work with APRA to help APRA and its members to continue to thrive and grow as together we advance the circular economy in Alberta.

As Environment, Health, Safety & Sustainability (EHS&S) Regional Delivery Manager, Courtenay has responsibility for several key environmental regulatory portfolios for Dow Chemical Canada ULC’s (Dow’s) Alberta Operations and multiple sustainability initiatives advancing Dow’s ambitious Sustainability Goals right here in Alberta. Courtenay utilizes her strengths as a relationship builder to develop strong well-established relationships with provincial and federal environmental regulatory agencies, as well as a broad network of industry, vendor, community, and stakeholder relationships. As a sustainability leader in the province of Alberta, Courtenay plays a critical role supporting Dow’s existing assets, while also supporting Dow’s proposed Fort Saskatchewan Path2Zero expansion project, which will create the world’s first net-zero carbon emissions integrated ethylene cracker and derivatives site with respect to scope 1 and 2 carbon dioxide emissions.

Courtenay joined Dow in 2007, where she spent the first eight years of her career in various manufacturing roles supporting production, projects, and major turnarounds. She joined EHS&S in 2015. Prior to working at Dow, Courtenay brings a broad range of international work experience in a variety of areas, such as Human Resources, Non-profits, and Consulting. Courtenay holds a Bachelors of Applied Science in Chemical Engineering and is a Professional Engineer (P. Eng.) in the province of Alberta. Courtenay is an active volunteer both at Dow and in her community, with a focus on sustainability and environmental programs, as well as inclusion, diversity & equity (ID&E) initiatives. She is currently undergoing BoardSource Certification.

Dow has been a member of APRA since the beginning, and Courtenay is proud to have served on the Board of Directors and the Executive of APRA since April 2022. During this short time, Courtenay has taken an active role in APRA’s operations serving on the Executive as Vice-President, acting as Executive Lead for the Communications committee, promoting APRA in government and academia, and co-leading negotiations for new program implementation at APRA. Courtenay states, “APRA has worked to create such influential change in the province of Alberta in the past year, and I am happy to be a part of the execution of this strategy. It would be an honour and a privilege to continue to advance the Plastics Circular Economy in Alberta with another term on the Board of Directors.” Courtenay is based in the Greater Edmonton area.

Darryl Wolski has been on the APRA Board for 9 years and was successfully elected to the APRA Executive as Secretary in 2022. Since 2022, Darryl has been an integral member of the Executive and active Board Director through initiatives including, but not limited to, the following: the budget management sub-team producing a balanced budget for the past 2 years, the Alberta Circular Plastics Day (ACPD) planning committee successfully initiating APRA’s first-ever conference, the Membership Committee whose goal was to increase APRA membership, and, several in-depth reviews of the new proposed APRA By-laws. Earlier this year, APRA experienced a significant staffing transition, and Darryl, with the rest of the Executive, stepped up to the task to manage APRA’s operations for 5 months until APRA’s previous Executive Director returned.

For his day-to-day, Darryl is the Director of Sustainability for Merlin Plastics and has been with the company for 10 years. Merlin Plastics is a recycler and processor of post-consumer and post-industrial plastic container packaging. Its high value, quality recycled plastic products are being integrated into various commercial and industrial industries as an alternative to virgin resin for manufacturers to produce similar or alternative consumer goods. Merlin Plastics continuously works with brand owners, retailers, and industry associations to improve packaging design for recyclability as well as develop alternatives for ongoing sustainable solutions. In lieu of ‘cradle-to-grave’ end-of-life cycle for plastic products, our objective is for a seamless, continuous Circular Economy. This includes our FDA HDPE and PET that is used in bottle-to-bottle recycling.  Merlin Plastics is an active member of the Canada Plastic Pact (CPP), Chemistry Industry Associations of Canada, (CIAC) and Association of Plastics Recyclers (APR), and the Circularity in Action conference during the Fourth Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-4) in Ottawa this year. Darryl has been an integral part of all of these committees and conferences, and continually works to further the Plastics Circular Economy here in Alberta. Prior to Merlin Plastics, he started his career with the City of Airdrie, in Waste and Recycling, President of the Recycling Council of Alberta and was part owner and founder of Ecycle Solutions an Electronic Recycling company. With my 28 years in the industry and various boards that I have sat upon. Darryl believes his experience and relationships will benefit the APRA board.

Darryl also sits on the Extend Producer Responsibility Program (EPR) Policy Advisory Council, and the EPR Service Provider and Community Advisory Council, for the new program being launched in Alberta. He also represents Merlin Plastics through the participation in the Agricultural Plastics Recycling Group (APRG) Committee Meeting Plot for Grain Bags, Alberta Recycling Management Authority (ARMA) for the used Oil container program, and Residential plastics for Recycle BC and SK Recycles, where Merlin not only participates but actively recycles these materials.

Davin Johnson is the Alberta Program Advisor of Cleanfarms Inc., a non-profit industry stewardship organization committed to environmental responsibility through properly managing agricultural plastic packaging and product waste. He has worked with Cleanfarms since 2013 as a consultant in the unwanted pesticide and animal health medication collection program and now coordinates all of Cleanfarms’ stewardship programs in Alberta.

Davin was an APRA board member for the past two years and helped to update the association bylaws and policies, increase membership, and grow the Alberta Circular Plastics Day. He hopes to continue this work as a board member to improve and grow APRA as an organization and advance circularity across the plastics value chain.

Jerry Bechtold is a seasoned executive with over 25 years of experience in various executive positions across Electronic Manufacturing, Pharmaceutical and Nutraceutical Manufacturing, and Industrial Manufacturing. Currently serving as the President and CEO of Industrial Container Recycling and Reconditioning, I am a passionate advocate for innovative approaches that promote Circular Economy solutions and contribute to a better environment. Born and raised in Alberta, with a residence in Calgary, rural Alberta, and Leduc Alberta.

Experience:
President and CEO – Industrial Container Recycling and Reconditioning (Current)

• Leading the organization in recycling and reconditioning industrial containers, with a focus on sustainable practices and Circular Economy solutions.

Core Competencies:
• Circular Economy Expertise: Pioneering innovative approaches to promote Circular Economy solutions, driving sustainable practices within the industries I’ve served.
• Environmental Impact: Motivated by a genuine desire to improve the environment and contribute to a better world through sustainable and responsible business practices.
• Strategic Leadership: Proven ability to lead organizations, make informed strategic decisions, and drive teams towards achieving common goals.
• Entrepreneurial Spirit: A serial entrepreneur, always seeking better solutions and opportunities to enhance operations and positively impact the industry and society at large.

Recycling efforts should be a collaborative approach, through win win solutions we can build a network of companies and individuals whom recycle plastics with a creative solutions to making a positive impact and reduce the environmental impact and reduce the waste to landfill.

With over a decade of experience in waste management, Samir has worked with leading waste haulers and is the founder of a waste consulting firm and brokerage. He currently serves as the Waste Manager for Varme Energy, a waste-to-energy project developer, where he leads sustainable solutions for converting waste into renewable energy.

Samir’s expertise spans material management, recycling systems, and waste diversion strategies, with a strong focus on navigating the complexities of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) legislation coming to Alberta in 2025. His experience in project development, waste logistics, and finding markets for recyclable materials equips him to contribute strategically to APRA’s goals of enhancing recycling and diversion programs across the province.

Jarrett Rydall is new to the plastics recycling industry. He started his career in plastics recycling, February of 2020 when he took on the roll as Plant Manager for PolyAg Recycling Ltd., an agricultural film recycler based out of Bashaw, AB. Over a short period of time Jarrett gained a vast knowledge of PCR manufacturing and the mechanics of the equipment.

Jarrett continues to manage the Bashaw facility under the new ownership, Revolution Sustainable Solutions (Canada) Inc. as of January 2024. He just recently took a seat on APRA’s Board of Directors in July of 2024. He is actively learning APRA’s role in plastic recycling.

As Associate General Counsel and Director of Sustainability for the Heartland Business Unit at Inter
Pipeline, Ms. Garratt is responsible for legal oversight for all matters relating to the Heartland Business
Unit and building and implementing a sustainability strategy relating to emissions and plastics circularity for the Heartland Business Unit. Prior to joining Inter Pipeline in 2018, Ms. Garratt worked in-house with two other mid-stream companies, with significant experience in commercial work and project development. She holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of British Columbia and a Bachelor of Laws/Juris Doctorate Degree from Queen’s University and is a member of the Law Society of Alberta.
Ms. Garratt was a board member for four years and co-chair for two years with the Women’s Centre of
Calgary and was a board member of the Association of Corporate Counsel Alberta Chapter as well.