Our Instructors | Equip Training | Leading Professionals

Meet our instructors

We have assembled a team of industry leading professionals and practitioners to deliver instruction for specific modules. Flip the Instructor bios boxes below for details regarding the experience and qualifications of our instructors.

Jim Andersen

AScT, ROWP

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Jim is the owner and lead instructor of Equip Training with 45 years experience as a sewerage system contractor.

He has 20 years experience as a professional educator and curriculum developer and over 10 years on the ASTTBC team, first as Certification Board member and Chair, then as Compliance Officer, and recently as the Manager - Onsite Wastewater Registrations Program.

Jim completed a contract for the Ministry of Health for development of an unpublished version of the SPM, and participated as a member of the team for development of the current Ministry of Health's Sewerage System Standard Practice Manual. He developed and instructed the mandatory orientation course for Version 3 of the Sewerage System Standard Practice Manual, to over 300 participants in 14 locations in BC.

While at ASTTBC, he led the development of the ASTTBC ROWP Certification Policy and Practice Guidelines, and served as the main provider of ASTTBC application support and mentoring for ROWP applicants.

He has delivered ROWP certification instruction to over 500 participants. He also developed curriculum and delivered training for post secondary institutions including The Industry Training Association courses for Heavy Equipment Operator Certificate of Qualification to over 500 participants.

Jim has assembled a team of leading subject matter experts to participate as instructors and curriculum developers.

Brent Dennis

P.Eng.

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After 20 years designing Pulp and Paper Mills, since 2008 Brent has been working full time in the onsite wastewater industry throughout all areas of BC. He has extensive knowledge of the Ministry of Health Sewerage System Regulation and has collaborated as a subject matter expert on many initiatives including the current Version 3 of the BC Standard Practice Manual, ASTTBC & EGBC Policies and Guidelines.

Brent also has a working knowledge of onsite regulations in Alberta, Saskatchewan the Yukon and several US States. While serving as the Founding President of the Western Canada Onsite Wastewater Management Association of BC (WCOWMA-BC) Brent participated in technical and regulatory initiatives at all levels of government, universities and technical committees. He has served on Liquid Waste Management Committees and contributed to public education programs such as the CSRD Septic Smart program.

As well as designing onsite systems, Brent has consulted to developers with respect to property investment, subdivision development and as an expert witness, particularly where additional bylaws such as official community plans and riparian regulations are in place.

As Principle of BWD Engineering Inc., since 2008 Brent has focused exclusively on projects under the Ministry of Health, BC Sewerage System Regulation.

Brad Fossen

P.Eng.

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Brad is a mechanical engineer and originally started working in energy 20 years ago and construction 15 years ago with PCL and has been a P.Eng. for 12 years. Brad quickly transitioned to consulting, working with large project owners offering project advisory, technical advisory, and asset integrity engineering.

Brad has consulted to the legal services sector for construction claim litigation support and also to the private equity sector for both technical and project advisory, centering on innovation and water treatment.

When Brad and his family moved to Salt Spring Island in 2018, he expanded into local service offerings – potable rainwater systems, site development planning, and onsite wastewater systems. - Brad offers commercial and public services via Aurora Professional Group and markets to the residential market via OwnerPro.

Michael Payne

P.Eng., P.Geo.

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Michael is a professional groundwater engineer and hydrogeologist. He is a provincially-recognized expert on soil infiltration, soil-based treatment of sewage, and standards for onsite sewage systems.

Michael graduated from UBC Geological Engineering in 1982, and Water Resources Engineering in 1985. After a decade of project engineering in BC, Alberta, and Africa, Michael formed Payne Engineering Geology in 1992.

During his 37-year career, Michael has evaluated site hydrogeology and completed system designs for more than 200 wastewater systems, and more than 200 water supply wells, serving a total of more than 6,000 homes. Michael was co-author of BC's first, second, and third version of the Standard Practice Manual (SPM) for onsite sewage systems.

Michael pioneered the use of the borehole permeameter for wastewater systems in BC.

He is also one of the three primary authors of the new EGBC practice guideline for onsite sewage systems, and has been appointed as an expert witness for disciplinary enquiries relating to engineering onsite sewage systems.

Ian Ralston

P.L.Eng.

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Ian is the owner and operator of TRAX Developments Ltd., a company that has provided design, installation, and maintenance services for sewerage systems for over 20 years. Ian specializes in the custom design of systems for challenging sites with severe constraints, high-strength or commercial wastewater, and the integration of advanced technologies. He offers design and consulting services to engineering professionals and practitioners across the industry.

He is the co-author and editor of the BC Ministry of Health's current Sewerage System Standard Practice Manual and the principal author and editor of the Ministry of Health’s draft Manual of Composting Toilet and Greywater Practice. Ian also co-authored the Professional Practice Guidelines for Onsite Sewerage Systems published by Engineers and Geoscientists BC.

Ian has worked extensively with the Capital Regional District (CRD) to develop and revise the CRD sewerage maintenance bylaw. As part of this collaboration, he conducted in-depth research into maintenance regulations across North America and authored a 2010 report for the CRD, providing recommendations to enhance the maintenance bylaw program.

He has also conducted research on centrally-managed decentralized wastewater systems, including work on the Colwood wastewater system project.

With a strong background in education, Ian has developed curricula and instructed courses on onsite sewerage systems. He is highly familiar with current standard practices in the onsite wastewater industry in North America, Australia, and other international jurisdictions.

Ian is a regular presenter at onsite wastewater conferences, where he shares insights on standard practices and emerging technologies in the field.

His previous experience includes work with South West Water, where he was responsible for the maintenance of medium-scale wastewater treatment and discharge systems.

Bryer Manwell

M.Sc., P.Eng.

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Bryer is a hydrogeological engineer holding a master’s degree in environmental engineering. She prides herself on pragmatic approaches to engineering/geoscience. She has completed technical reviews of onsite wastewater systems for provincial and regional regulators.

Bryer has presented on nutrient loading and nitrate/pathogen attenuation from wastewater streams at provincial and international water and wastewater conferences. She is a Past President of Western Canada Onsite Wastewater Management Association -BC and is a professional registered with Engineers and Geoscientists British Columbia (EGBC).

She is a consultant with CaulWell Engineering and Geoscience Ltd. based in Salmon Arm, BC, where she provides technical support related to groundwater supply and wastewater disposal.

Jackson Twa

ROWP

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Born and raised on Saltspring Island, Jackson has lived in Victoria for over 10 years. He has over 20 years experience in the onsite sewerage industry.

He owns and operates Western Wastewater Systems providing services for installation, planning, maintenance and inspection.

He has been a long-standing contributor to ASTTBC including service on the Certification Board, investigator, file reviewer and development of policies and practice guidelines.

Jeff Hay