2024 Board of Directors Nominees | waste-mgmt-assoc-bc

Meet Our 2024 Board of Directors Nominees

Grant Hankins

Grant currently sits as President of the WMABC Board and has put his name forward for re-election.

BIO

I have been in the environmental services business for over 35 years and have been an active member and board member and past president of the WMABC for over 20 years. I have worked with privately held companies such as BFI (Browning Ferris Industries) which sold its business to Allied Waste/Republic Services, ETL (Environmental Technologies Ltd.) which sold its business to Metro Materials/Cascade Recovery, Waste Management of Canada as Director of Operations for Western Canada, and Waste Management of Northern California as Director of Operations, BFI Canada, and Progressive Waste Services. During this time, I obtained a Business Diploma with Capilano University, an Under Grad in Business with SFU (Simon Fraser University) and an MBA with Bellevue University of Nebraska. I am currently the Chair of the Waste Management Association of BC, a member of IAC (Industry Advisory Committee) for Metro Vancouver, an Environmental Consultant and investor in the Environmental Services Industry.

Nominee Questions

WMABC Mission Statement

WMABC provides a forum and unified voice for our member haulers, recycling processors & marketers operating in the waste industry in BC. The WMABC supports free market competition and our members are dedicated to providing efficient and effective, private sector waste management solutions.

What does this Mission Statement mean to you?

The Waste and Recycling advances, accomplishments, investments, and diversion achievements in BC has been the results of the hard work, investment, and dedication by the private sector to meet and achieve the governments and its customers goals and expectations. The WMABC is a platform for this private industry to work with Government and other key stakeholders to ensure that the open free market is maintained to continue to provide further cost effective and efficient diversion and waste and recycling solutions in the BC Market, without having heavy handed and ill-conceived government polices pushed down to the private sector that will not achieve a cost effective and efficient industry and increase taxes and costs to its customer base.

Describe why you want to be actively involved as a member of the WMABC Board of Directors?

I have been invested and engaged in the industry and the WMABC mission during this past 20 years, and as Chair and President I have a lot more to finish and get done with our great Board of Directors and Executive Director and I wish to continue to provide my time and services to continue this effort to ensure our Mission continues to be executed to the best of the WMABC abilities. I feel that my involvement will continue to provide consistency in our mission, stakeholder engagement and relationships the WMABC has established over the past number of years, and this continuity will help support our Mission.

Steve Bryan

Steve currently sits as an Associate director on the WMABC Board and has put his name forward for re-election.

BIO

I started in the waste industry in 1985, back when everything was garbage. Since then, I've taken an active role in helping to shape where our industry is today, starting with the Burnaby Incinerator that opened in 1988 and most recently with the current consultations going on between industry, the Ministry of Environment & Climate Change and Metro Vancouver. I've held a multitude of positions from swamping on a rear loader, driving rear and side loaders, front end loaders to Sales Manager, Operations Manager, General Manager and Owner of my own waste company for 9 years. I advocate for free open and competitive markets at every opportunity and believe that if any government body wants to attain a set target, they need to consult with industry to ensure it is a viable target, set the goal posts based on those consultations and then get out of the way and let industry innovate the way need to, to make the targets a reality.
Since joining the WMABC in 1989, I have held the position of General Director, President, Past President and have served as an Associate Director since 2018. I currently own and operate First Class Marketing.

Nominee Questions

WMABC Mission Statement

What does this Mission Statement mean to you?

It embodies exactly what a Trade Association MUST stand for. As industry players, we may not always agree on a course of action, but by referring to the Mission Statement, we can ensure the course of action we take is best for the industry as a whole.

Describe why you want to be actively involved as a member of the WMABC Board of Directors?

I am proud to have been a part of WMABC's accomplishments more so over the last 10 years. The relationships we've built, have only been strengthened and I want to continue to be actively involved in the discussions about where our industry is going.

Shauna-Rae Swanson

Shauna is a new nominee and has put her name forward for the position of 2nd Vice Chair on the WMABC Board.

BIO

Hi, I am Shauna-Rae Swanson, Regional EHS Manager of BC for GFL Environmental Inc. Solid Waste Division. I graduated from the University of Alberta in 2016, Occupational Health and Safety. I then
successfully worked toward and obtained my CRSP in 2019. I am passionate about the protection of life and the environment which has aligned with my career. I am a safety professional that did not choose a health and safety career but rather, health and safety chose me. I started my career as a Mental Health and Addictions Support Worker, graduating Valedictorian. Months after starting my social work career I was approached to enter the health and safety industry, and I was surprised at my transferable skills and
excelled in the health and safety industry quickly. I have now worked in Health and Safety for over 15 years. I volunteered for many years with World Vision and had the opportunity to travel to South America to work with children, and organized 5km walks to raise awareness and clean water for two consecutive years to over 200 children in parts of Africa.

Nominee Questions

WMABC Mission Statement

What does this Mission Statement mean to you?

This mission statement to me highlights the associations’ role in facilitating cooperation and collaboration amongst industry players while promoting innovation and excellence in waste management services in British Columbia. This includes the mission that WMABC serves as a
platform for the various private sector stakeholders, to have a unified voice to ensure the delivery of effective and safe waste management solutions.

Describe why you want to be actively involved as a member of the WMABC Board of Directors?

I would like to be an active member of the WMABC Board of Directors as it aligns with my passion for health and safety, environmental sustainability, and industry best practices. I am driven by the opportunity to be able to contribute to making a positive impact on communities
by promoting efficiency, healthy and safe waste management practices including the reduction of environmental impacts. As a board member, I aim to leverage my expertise, foster collaboration, drive innovation, and advocate for industry standards that prioritize the conservation of the environment, health, and safety. I aspire to make a tangible difference by raising awareness, and working with the association towards a cleaner, healthier future for all in any capacity that I am able