Meet the Speakers
Sustainable Labs Canada (SLCan) will co-host the fourth annual virtual, international educational event, in conjunction with International Institute for Sustainable Laboratories (I2SL), the Australia and UK I2SL chapters, and the EGNATON sustainable lab organization of Europe.
Meet the speakers below.
February 19, 2026
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Accessible and Human-Centric Labs: User and Designer Perspectives
10:00 - 11:30 am EST
Andrea Haenlin-Mott
Cornell University
Andrea is the ADA Coordinator for Facilities at Cornell University, serving as the leader for ADA compliance. She advocates for accessibility, addressing barriers and integrating universal design in construction and renovation projects. A former Project Director for the Northeast ADA Center, she has led disability education programs for 35 years.
Christopher Jahn
CannonDesign
Chris is committed to designing research and higher education spaces that enhance health, performance, and innovation. With 25+ years of experience, he embraces each institution's mission, delivering high-performance lab solutions designed to evolve with changing research, foster partnerships and promote well-being, working to inspire discovery.
Matthew Zic
Accessibility Standards Canada
Matthew Zic is the Manager of Standards Development with Accessibility Standards Canada. His work includes the development of ASC‑1.1 Employment and ASC‑2.8 Accessible‑Ready Housing, contributing to improved accessibility across the country.
Innovative Design Breathes New Life Into Vancouver Bio Innovation Building
1:00 - 2:00 pm EST
Russell Chernoff
Chernoff Thompson Architects
Russell is one of the founding partners of Chernoff Thompson Architects and has been working on science facilities for decades. He brings this extensive knowledge for laboratory planning into every project that he does.
Kevin Shea
Introba
Kevin is a principal and S&T lead for Introba in Canada. He has 18 years of experience in the industry, much of that within the laboratory design sector. He has a passion for supporting the development of the life sciences sector in Canada.
Naomi Gross
Chernoff Thompson Architects
Naomi, an Architect AIBC, AAA, OAA, MRAIC, and LEED AP, has over 30 years of experience, including 16 years as Principal-in-Charge. Her portfolio specializes in programming and design of sophisticated science facilities. Naomi’s experience includes labs with intricate technology and infrastructure needed to support their specialized functions.
Marcin Kucharski
Canadian Turner Construction Company
Marcin is a senior leader with Canadian Turner Construction and brings over 18 years of experience in the construction industry. He specializes in healthcare, life sciences, and complex new builds, with a strong track record of delivering technically demanding projects across North America.
Sustainability in Labs at Canadian Nuclear Laboratories
2:00 - 2:30 pm EST
Dilhari Fernando
Canadian Nuclear Laboratories
Dilhari Fernando heads up CNL’s Sustainability Office and oversees the development and execution of sustainability strategy, reporting and ESG integration into our policies, processes, programs and projects.
Steven Bemis
Canadian Nuclear Laboratories
Steve works with the Integrated Project Delivery team, including CNL’s project, operation, S&T and compliance program staff as well as the Contractor and Consultant teams that were onboarded to deliver the design, procurement, fabrication, construction, and commissioning of the ANMRC.
February 26, 2026
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Award-Winning Decarbonization Strategies Part 1: Heat Recovery
10:00 - 11:30 am EST
Dave Swanson
DLR Group
Bio coming soon.
Adam Acree
Cator Ruma
Bio coming soon.
Chirag Mistry
HOK
Chirag is a senior principal and regional leader of HOK's Science + Technology practice in Atlanta. He oversees the programming and design of new and renovated science, research and education facilities across the Southeast. He has expertise in the design of engineering labs, bioscience and biomedical research labs, and BSL-3 facilities.
Award-Winning Decarbonization Strategies Part 2: Existing and New Construction
1:30 - 3:00 pm EST
Punit Jain
CannonDesign
Punit is leader in the science and sustainability practices at CannonDesign who brings extensive experience in the integration of systems, spaces, and experiences to his clients. He generates innovative, sustainable solutions for complex scientific facilities at all scales. Punit is the current president of the I2SL St. Louis chapter.
Abdo Boukhalil
Gilead Sciences
Abdo is a Facilities Operations Manager at Gilead Sciences, specializing in mechanical systems optimization for reliability and utility efficiency across a four million sq. ft. campus. He is a Certified Energy Manager and drives programs to achieve multimillion dollar savings and support campus growth while meeting sustainability targets.
January 29, 2026
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Education Month Partner Updates and Preview
2026 Sustainable Lab Priorities in Canada, the UK, and Europe
10:00 - 11:00 am EST
Kevin Humeniuk
President, Sustainable Labs Canada
Kevin is Architecture49's National Sector Leader for Science & Technology who has been involved in research laboratory projects as a project manager, project architect and laboratory planner. He is a member of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada and a Board member and President of Sustainable Labs Canada.
Phil Macdonald
President, I2SL UK Chapter
As Managing Partner, Phil leads growth and direction and is Partner lead for Science and Technology and Education sectors. He has extensive experience leading wide-ranging multidisciplinary design teams on complex projects from small laboratory refurbishments to large scale masterplans and new state-of-the-art research facilities.
Miguel Pinto
President, EGNATON
An architect since 1998, Miguel has been a laboratory designer since 2003, completing more than 75 specialized projects in scientific buildings, laboratories, pharmaceutical production units, animal facilities, cleanrooms, and healthcare. He is a Board member of EGNATON, European Association for Sustainable Laboratories.
Education Month Partner Updates and Preview
I2SL Program Updates
12:00 - 1:30 pm EST
Alison Farmer
Vice President, I2SL
Alison is a former research astrophysicist who is dedicated to bringing energy efficiency to lab buildings. She is Vice President of the I2SL Board of Directors and received the I2SL Go Beyond Award in 2018. Alison holds bachelor's and master's degrees in physics from the University of Cambridge (England) and a Ph.D. in astrophysics from Caltech.
Gordon Sharp
President, I2SL
Gordon is the President of I2SL and the inventor of many important, widely applied technologies that have had a significant impact on lab sustainability and energy efficiency such as sash-sensing VAV fume hood and laboratory airflow controls, the electronic venturi airflow valve, and demand-based control of lab ventilation.
Kathy Ramirez-Aguilar
University of Colorado Boulder
Kathy has a Ph.D. in chemistry and 15 years of lab experience. She created and manages the University of Colorado Boulder Green Labs Program, is an I2SL Board member, and chairs the I2SL University Alliance Group, which partners on green lab efforts and drives change in systems to benefit environmental sustainability at research institutions.
Lindsey Yazbek
University of Texas at Austin
Lindsey is the Green Labs Coordinator at the University of Texas at Austin where she has overseen the Green Labs program since 2019. She has a background in Geosciences and Environmental Studies. Working under the Environmental Health and Safety group, she has also gained experience as a lab safety specialist.
Ryan Weeks-Rutan
John Hopkins University
Ryan is a Ph.D. and the Senior Sustainability Specialist for Green Labs/Zero Waste at Johns Hopkins University. He leads the JHU Green Labs Program and uses his research background to support JHU's campuses in fostering a culture of sustainability in research and teaching labs and promoting JHU's commitment to zero waste.
February 5, 2026
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Using BIM, Digital Twins, and AI for Lab Design, Modeling, and Performance
10:00 - 11:00 am EST
Xia Yuanquian
Dynaflow
Xia is a senior architect and
lab design manager at Beijing Dynaflow Lab Solutions Co., Ltd.
Krigh Bachmann
H.H. Angus & Associates
Krigh is the Design Technology Leader for H.H. Angus & Associates, responsible for developing the firm's Digital Delivery Strategy and managing the design technology standards, resources and tools across the firm. His work includes generative artificial intelligence, BIM, smart buildings, prefab construction, and digital twins.
Bernd Gmeiner
EGNATON
Bernd is the Managing Director of EGNATON with over 25 years of experience as a consultant for industrial goods marketing, communication and sales at an international level. He specializes in plant engineering, energy technology, building technology, automation, and accompanying digitization solutions.
Best Practices for Improving Energy Performance in Lab Systems and Equipment
1:00 - 3:00 pm EST
Tim Shinnick
Grumman/Butkus Associates
Tim specializes in retro-commissioning and commissioning work and building analysis for healthcare and higher education clients, including critical facilities that require precise temperature and relative humidity control. He has 16 years of experience and is a co-developer of Grumman/Butkus Associates’ Trend Sumo℠ and Energy Sumo™ software.
Henock Kidanu
University of Chicago
Henock is the Campus Energy Manager at the University of Chicago, with responsibilities including energy and project management, strategy and planning, and student engagement. He supported the development of the UChicago Smart Labs program and manages laboratory energy projects to advance the university's greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals.
Patrick Kelly
Thrive Buildings
Patrick currently serves as the Director of Life Science Solutions at Thrive Buildings. Prior to joining Thrive, Pat has held leadership roles across a number of SaaS, Cleantech and Cybersecurity technology companies. Pat holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Villanova and an MBA from Saint Joseph’s University.
Mario Don Porto Carero
Johnson & Johnson
Mario's experience includes HVAC system design, commissioning, lifecycle cost and energy analysis for labs and pharmaceutical production. He is also a LEED AP, a member of the technical committee of the Belgian Cleanroom Workgroup, and board member of EGNATON.
February 12, 2026
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Sustainable Action by UK and European Research Funders
11:00 am - 1:00 pm EST
Anne Marie Beaufort
Dutch Research Council (NWO)
Anne Marie has been the
Sustainability Officer at NWO, the Dutch Research Council, since 2023, where her role is the alignment between strategic objectives, operational practices, and sector‑wide sustainability standards. She has been engaged with Science Europe’s Working Group on Greening Research since 2024 and is co-chair of the working group.
Jo Allatt
UKRI
Jo is Head of UKRI Sustainability (Engagement and Policy) and a chartered environmentalist. She has worked in sustainability for 20 years in environmental, energy, fuel poverty, and community development roles. Jo has been instrumental in bringing stakeholders together for the concordat on environmental sustainability of research practice in the UK.
Ina Matt
Austrian Science Foundation
Ina is responsible for sustainability
issues at the Austrian Science Foundation. She has degrees in economics and gender studies and training in sustainability. At the Foundation, she is primarily involved in implementing and evaluating the sustainability strategy and is active in the Science Europe Greening Research Working Group.
Tom Ivison
CRUK
Tom is a Senior Governance and Finance Manager specializing in environmental sustainability policy. He works to ensure robust frameworks that drive accountability and transparency in the grant funding process. His role focuses supporting policy development and fostering collaboration across stakeholders to achieve long-term environmental goals.
Martin Farley
UKRI
Martin is the Associate Director of Environmental Sustainability at UKRI. He developed the LEAF programme and is currently leading UKRI’s SPARKHub. He initiated sustainable science and laboratory programmes at Edinburgh, King’s College London, and UCL, and co-founded the GreenED programme as well as the UK’s Network for Sustainable Research.
Gauging the Impact of Scientific Products and Processes
1:30 - 3:15 pm EST
Anna Lentz
.
Bio coming soon.
Jan-Hendrik Bebermeier
Eppendorf SE
Jan studied Molecular Biology in Hamburg, Germany. He received his PhD at the Medical University of Luebeck in Germany based on genome-wide gene expression profiling. He has worked at Eppendorf HQ in Hamburg since 2005 and is currently working as a Global Marketing Manager for Cold Storage and sustainability.
Star Scott
University of Georgia
Star founded the University of Georgia Sustainable Science and Green Labs program. She is an I2SL board member, HEASC fellow, certified human rights consultant, founding member of SPLC's Lab Guidance Action Team, and recipient of the Phil Wirdzek Emerging Leaders Award and the 2023 I2SL Outstanding Green Labs Program Award.
Alexis Trecourt
Lyon Sud Hospital
Alexis is a gynecological pathologist and infectious disease pathologist in the Lyon Sud Hospital (France) department of surgical pathology. His current research is focused on estimating the carbon footprint of techniques used in the pathology department and implementing eco-responsive approaches in the surgical pathology department.
Lindsey Yazbek
University of Texas at Austin
Lindsey is the Green Labs Coordinator at the University of Texas at Austin where she has overseen the Green Labs program since 2019. She has a background in Geosciences and Environmental Studies. Working under the Environmental Health and Safety group, she has also gained experience as a lab safety specialist.