The Geotechnical Society of Edmonton is pleased to present Allistair James
Date: October 24, 2024
Time: 5:30pm – 8:30pm
Location: Woodvale Facility and Clubhouse, 4540 – 50 Street NW, Edmonton, AB
Cost: GSE/CGS Members $30, Students $15, Non-members $40
Register on EventBrite by October 23 @ 5pm
Registration @ 5:30 PM; Dinner @ 6:00 PM; Presentation @ 7:00PM with networking to follow.
Abstract
This presentation has been compiled by members of the Dam Integrity Advisory Committees at the Alberta Chamber of Resources and will discuss the dam safety directive (Alberta legislation) and what it means for industry (and jobs of the future) from the perspective of some of the major dam owners in Alberta. Specifically, the presentation will cover:
• Regulatory Framework
• Alberta Dam and Canal Inventory
• Responsibilities of Dam Ownership
• Dam Safety Roles
• The Need for Technical Leadership
• Guides and References
• Case Histories and Examples
Bio
Alistair is a civil engineer who specialised in geotechnical engineering early in his career, even before he left college he was working on geotechnical investigations and in laboratories. In preparing this bio he realised that he has now worked more years post graduation than the age of many (most?) of the young professionals attending this event – almost 30 years.
He is originally from Wales and speaks bits of lots languages really badly – English is the one he is best at and it is not his national language. Alistair came to Canada in 2008 with his family, a happy family of Albertans but remains a loyal Bruins hockey fan, Welsh rugby and soccer supporter. Occasionally Portugal in solidarity with his wife.
He is particularly proud of the teams and people he has worked with and formed. Many of them have come to work at Hatch since he “hatched” here in January 2022 – some of them he has worked with for 15 years.
He has done a ridiculous number of different roles in a wide range of business sectors and in multiple countries. Worked for companies in Europe and North America which has allowed him to work from 300m below sea level to mountain tops (including a castle in the Scottish Highlands) and in almost every climate and almost all continents (not Antarctica yet).
Alistair has worked on tailings and water dams, deep foundations, offshore foundations, pipelines, slope stabilisation, forestry, highways, rail, ports, ground improvement and so on. Innovation, thinking differently and delivering solutions when others cannot have been the hallmarks of teams Alistair has formed and led.
Alistair is an active member of the Canadian Dam Association, United States Dam Society (USSD) and the Alberta Chamber of Resources Dam Integrity Advisory Committee. Alistair is Canadian representative joint chair of the CDA Mining Committee and USSD Tailings committee Working Group on the Risk Informed Design Method, producing guidance on the application for practitioners. Alistair is a board member of Engineers Yukon.