Mr. Shamess has been a waste management professional for over 30 years. He has worked on the design, development and operation of waste management systems across Canada, throughout North America and in over a dozen countries worldwide. He is currently the Director of Waste Management and Resource Recovery for the City of Vancouver, BC, Canada. In that role he is responsible for all aspects of the solid waste management system in the City of Vancouver. This includes strategic planning, operation of collection programs for residential materials, operation of the City's transfer station and 750,000 tonne per year landfill as well as street cleaning and public realm cleanliness programs.. He has extensive experience in developing systems and adapting new technologies to enhance waste diversion. Currently he is responsible for the development of the City’s Zero Waste Strategy, which is focused on Vancouver becoming a Zero Waste Community by 2040. Mr. Shamess was the first and is currently the only Canadian to achieve the designation of International Waste Manager from the International Solid Waste Associate, based in Vienna.