This announcement appeared in Solid Waste & Recycling Magazine – 2007-06-17
Well known and popular waste management and environmental protection consultant Maria Kelleher, P.Eng., was honored with an award at the recent annual conference of the Municipal Waste Integration Network (MWIN).
The event — “Managing Change: Perspectives for Waste Management Professionals” — was held June 13 and 14 at the Best Western Inn & Conference Centre, Cobourg, Ontario.
The award named Kelleher the 2007 “Waste Management Professional of the Year.” Affectionately known by its acronym “WIMPY” the award recognizes the distinguished service of a person over the course of their career in advancing progressive methods for managing waste and protecting the environment. The award also recognizes prominent individuals who help foster fellowship and a high standard of professionalism among their peers.
Previous winners include writer and trade magazine editor Guy Crittenden (2005) and Genivar (formerly MacViro)consultant David Merriman (2006).
Maria Kelleher, who hails from Ireland and is an engineer by training, is the principal of Toronto, Ontario-based Kelleher Environmental. She has been involved in environmental and waste management projects in Canada and internationally since the early 1980s.
Prior to forming Kelleher Environmental in 2002, Kelleher worked in MacLarens (now SCN Lavalin), CH2M Hill and notably RIS International, where her co-workers included, among others, Derek Stevenson — a well-known consultant who specializes in the economics of recycling.
Over time, her clients grew to include governments at all levels and industry associations, not-for-profit corporations, non-government organizations, law practices and consulting companies. Her recent projects have included a focus on climate change issues. She is also a contributing editor for Solid Waste & Recycling magazine.
Kelleher Environmental specializes in four areas: waste diversion policy development, planning, implementation and evaluation; climate change and green energy, environmental research and policy development, and facilitation, adult education and environmental training.