Biography

Dr. Sims is EBA, a Tetra Tech Company’s Principal Scientist, with a responsibility to encourage overall technical excellence within EBA’s Environment Practice in all offices.  In this role he undertakes senior reviews and client-focused assessments of a wide range of environmental and other EBA projects, and works closely with EBA’s Senior Management.  As a Senior Environmental Scientist, he undertakes critical project assignments, in particular Environmental Impact Assessments, but also other regulatory approval and permitting, environmental management, and applied ecological projects.

Dr. Sims has 33 years of experience conducting complex assessments and studies for industrial and other clients including ecological and wildlife studies, cumulative effects analyses, and the coordination of multi-faceted and multi-disciplinary projects and assignments.  For many assignments, he has worked closely with industrial clients, government (federal, provincial, regional/local, First Nations) regulators, scientists, engineers, and other professionals to develop unique mitigation approaches and innovative solutions.  Examples of recent (within three years) assignments include:

§      Senior Environmental Scientist consulting to the BC Ministry of Transportation’s Gateway Program with particular emphasis on addressing the environmental interface between Burns Bog and the proposed alignment for the South Fraser Perimeter Road.  Activities include public and agency consultations, preparation of briefings and presentations for Senior Gateway Staff, and working closely with other specialists and consultants on the project’s design development.

§      Environmental Manager for the design, construction, and commissioning of the $880M Vancouver Convention Centre Expansion Project including coordination of the overall Environmental Assessment, securing permits/approvals for construction, overseeing contaminated site management plans, coordination with DFO and other regulators, and continuing management/troubleshooting of environmental issues.

§      Oversaw completion of high profile Environmental Assessments (EA) including the ($130M) Whistler Sliding Centre and ($115M) Whistler Nordic Centre venues for the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Winter Olympics.  These EAs included extensive stakeholder, First Nations, and public consultations.  Coordinated environmental monitoring during construction of the Whistler Sliding Centre.  

Dr. Sims is:

§      Recognized across Canada and internationally as an Environmental Specialist in terrestrial and wetlands ecology, ecological land classification, environmental assessment (including regulatory issues and permitting), environmental issues associated with linear constructions, Earths Observations market development, and GIS/remote sensing applications.

Recipient of an Association of British Columbia Professional Engineers and Geoscientists’ Environmental Award, a National Science and Technology Achievement Award (Natural Resources Canada) and a National Scientific Merit Award (Canadian Forestry Service) for scientific and environmental management contributions.