2:15 pm — Meeting Room L
Sponsored by MEIA
What Are PFAS?
Per-and poly-fluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of over 4,000 man-made chemicals found in various industrial and consumer applications. These substances are raising significant concerns for food and beverage producers due to their pervasive nature and potential risks.
Join this workshop to explore the impact of PFAS contamination on food and beverage producers including:
Unseen Contaminants: How PFAS infiltrate processes, packaging, and supply chains.
Shifting Regulations: Navigating the evolving legal landscape.
Risk and Responsibility: Mitigating potential liabilities for your business.
Challenges and Solutions: Managing PFAS risks in development, supply chains, and waste management
Panelists
Krista Barfoot, Ph.D., C.Chem., QPRA, SLR Consulting – A Contaminated Sites Specialist, Dr. Barfoot has over 25 years of experience with expertise spanning from the technical elements of project delivery to program management, risk management, policy development, and stakeholder communication. A Qualified Person for Risk Assessment (per Ontario Regulation 153/04), her technical expertise includes strategic project planning, risk assessment, risk mitigation measures, and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Experienced in PFAS investigative and analytical approaches, risk assessment considerations, and remediation techniques, her PFAS project experience includes aqueous film forming foam (AFFF) release sites, landfills, and brownfield sites. Her work has included consideration of impacts to agricultural products, and food and water consumption exposure pathways. Recent efforts have also included supporting clients with meeting their PFAS reporting obligations under s.71 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA, 1999). Dr. Barfoot is engaged and holds leadership positions in a number of industry associations, including the Ontario Environmental Industry Association (ONEIA) and Canadian Brownfields Network (CBN). Dr. Barfoot is currently President of the CBN, and serves on the CBN Technical Advisory Committee, Conference Planning Committee, and Brownie Award Judging Panel. She also serves as the Co-Chair of ONEIA’s PFAS Committee, and is an active member of ONEIA’s Excess Soil and Brownfields Committees.
Raven Sharma is an experienced leader in the water and wastewater industry, currently serving as Manager of Utilities for the City of Selkirk. With over a decade of experience, she has managed water and wastewater facilities, focusing on infrastructure optimization and ammonia removal in treatment processes.
She holds a B.Sc. in Geological Science and a B.A. from the University of Manitoba, along with a Business Management diploma from Red River College Polytechnic. Passionate about education, Raven has instructed water and wastewater certification programs and environmental science courses through Red River College and the University of Manitoba.
Beyond her industry work, Raven has served as a volunteer firefighter, vice chair for the National American Society of Trenchless Technologies, and board member for the Manitoba Water and Wastewater Association. Her research background includes an NSERC-funded study in geotechnical and hydrogeology, as well as participation in NASA and Canadian Space Agency rover simulations exploring water on Mars.
A dedicated mentor, Raven is committed to guiding operators across Manitoba, helping them address challenges like climate change and aging infrastructure.
Moderated by Jack Winram, executive director, MEIA