Norway Means Business: PFAS Challenges Facing Communities Across the Globe

Master of Ceremonies: Idar Voldnes

Idar G. Voldnes is a dynamic and results-driven international business leader with a distinguished career spanning both the U.S. and Norway, holding senior leadership roles as Chairman, CEO, and President across high-growth startups and Fortune 500 enterprises. 

He is renowned as a ‘doer’ with a proven ability to scale and transform enterprise software companies, delivering exceptional growth and market leadership. With deep expertise in securing equity and debt financing, executing acquisitions, and orchestrating successful exits, Idar has consistently driven innovation and value in the enterprise software and SaaS sectors. A strategic visionary and skilled negotiator, specializing in forging high-impact partnerships, driving solution-oriented sales, and developing and executing business strategies that propel organizations to new heights. He is also known for building and nurturing senior client relationships, optimizing business development, and leading high-performing teams to achieve ambitious goals.

He earned a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Cleveland State University, and earned Business Administration, BI Norwegian Business School

Keynote:  Dennis Calvert, CEO and Chairman BioLargo, Inc.

Dennis Calvert has served as President and Chief Executive Officer since June 2002.  His significant roles include being appointed a Director in June 2002, Corporate Secretary from September 2002 until March 2003, and as Chief Financial Officer from March 2003 through January 2008. He also serves on the board and in executive positions for BioLargo subsidiaries. 

Mr. Calvert holds a B.A. degree in Economics from Wake Forest University, where he was a varsity basketball player. Mr. Calvert also studied at Columbia University and Harding University. Mr. Calvert was appointed by the Secretary of Commerce of the United States to serve on the Environmental Technology Trade Advisory Committee (ETTAC) for a two-year commission starting January 2025. He was also appointed as the Chairman of the Enabling Innovative Technology Subcommittee reporting to ETTAC. 

Mr. Calvert also serves on the board of directors at The Maximum Impact Foundation, a 501(c)(3), committed to bridging the gap for lifesaving work around the globe for the good of man and in the name of Christ. He serves as a Director and as Co-Chair of the Energy Committee and the Water Committee of Sustain SoCal, a trade association that seeks to promote economic growth in the Southern California clean technology industry. He also serves on the Board of Directors at TMA Bluetech, a leading regional water cluster promoting science-based ocean water industries. He serves on the leadership board at Water UCI, which is an interdisciplinary center in the School of Social Ecology at the University of California- Irvine, that facilitates seamless collaboration across schools, departments, and existing research centers around questions of fundamental and applied water science, technology, management, and policy. He is also an Eagle Scout. He is married and has two grown children. Mr. Calvert has an extensive entrepreneurial background as an operator, investor and consultant. 

Prior to his work with BioLargo, he had participated in more than 300 consulting projects and more than 50 acquisitions as well as various financing transactions and companies that ranged from industrial chemicals, healthcare management, finance, telecommunications and consumer products. 

Moderator:  John Parker Esq,  Partner at Sahn Ward Braff Coschignano,  Second Vice Chair, Environmental and Energy Law Section, New York State Bar Association

LinkedIn 

John has served as an environmental regulator, advocate, legislative advisor, not for profit legal director, and is a private attorney.  He advises public and private interests on environmental and energy law issues.  He has focused on economic redevelopment of contaminated sites, and on clean water issues – ranging from waterways like the Hudson River to addressing PFAS and emerging contaminant issues in impacted communities. His work included a review of the Hudson River Superfund cleanup, and drafting and negotiating the first comprehensive brownfields legislation in New York State.   

He is a prolific commentator on environmental policy and legal issues.  John has authored numerous articles for The New York Environmental Lawyer, professional journals, law reviews and professional practice series on hazardous substances focusing on emerging contaminants, clean water, climate change challenges, and energy law – including solar, wind power and battery storage, among others. 

Panel 1: 

State and Local Perspectives

Senator Heidi Campbell – State Senator Tennessee 

Heidi Campbell was born in Nashville, Tennessee.  Senator Campbell earned a B.A. from Sarah Lawrence College and an M.B.A. from Vanderbilt University. Her career experience includes working as an executive in the music industry and owning a business.

Atam Dwan, Chief Strategic Innovation Officer, New Jersey Institute of Technology

Atam Dawan is the Executive Director NJ PFAS – Partnership Initiative and Senior Vice Provost for Research.  He served as the Executive Director at the Center for Translational Research.

He is a distinguished Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Panel 2: 

Solutions to Meet PFAS Technical and Business Challenges

Tonya Chandler,  President 

BioLargo Environmental and Equipment Solutions

Tonya Chandler is President of BioLargo Environment and Equipment Solutions.  Tonya has substantial experience delivering solutions for water treatment and odor control in the water and wastewater treatment industries. With more than 20 years of experience, she is a seasoned executive with a special focus on marketing and sales, having worked with Shaw Environmental, Veolia Water, and as VP of Anue Water. 

Tonya is respected across the water industry for her ability to build lasting relationships, uncover business opportunities and develop cost effective solutions to serve customer needs. She is recognized as a PFAS expert and water innovation champion.  

Mark Dodd, Senior Business Development Manager

Aquatech Environmental Services

 Mark Dodd is part of Aquatech’s Environmental Services Division.  With over 17 years of experience in water and wastewater treatment, he leads the company’s PFAS partnerships, working closely with technology developers and prospective clients to build collaborative solutions.

Mark plays a key role in developing strategic agreements, including MOUs and joint development partnerships. He also brings more than 20 years of service in the U.S. Army, where he held roles in Battalion Command and as a Project Officer, supporting Aquatech’s federal contracting strategy.

Jeff Denholm, CEO & Founder 

Strongwater Technologies

Jeff Denholm
is an innovator, retired merchant marine, commercial diver and recently a USFS Engine Contractor. Jeff founded STRONG WATER out of an urgent need for innovation in the firefighting industry and to provide firefighters with better tools.

His experience battling catastrophic wildfires as a Region-6 USFS wildland Engine Contractor revealed to him critical failures of outdated toxic firefighting chemicals and the tactics that are tied to them. Witnessing the immense loss firsthand fueled his conviction: “We need to do better.”

Panel 3: 

Federal and Global Perspectives: Integrated Policy Approaches to Meet the Challenges at Every Scale

Introduction 

Audun Heggelund, Director

Norwegian Environment Agency

Audun Heggelund is Director of the Norwegian Environment Agency. He earned his PhD in organic chemistry in 2005.  He has about 12 years of experience with PFAS from the Norwegian Environment Agency.  Since 2020, Audun has coordinated the Norwegian efforts with the European Union restriction proposal for PFAS. Currently, he is about to switch his focus to regulation of industrial emissions, including PFAS.

Sally Gutierrez, Former EPA – National Risk Research Laboratory

Advisor to BioLargo, Inc. 

Sally Gutierrez has been a career senior executive for the EPA for over twenty years. She has held key positions within the EPA, primarily within its Office of Research and Development (ORD). She has held the title of Director for numerous offices within the EPA’s ORD, including the Environmental Technology Innovation Cluster Development and Support Program, the National Risk Management Research Laboratory (NRMRL), and the NRMRL Water Supply and Water Resources Division. She also served as a Senior Water Advisor for the ORD Center for Environmental Solutions and Emergency Response and the Acting Director of the Water Permits Division within the EPA’s Office of Wastewater Management in Washington, DC.

Devesh Mittal, Vice President and General Manager

Aquatech Environmental Services 

Devesh Mittal is a seasoned professional with extensive experience in the energy and industrial solutions sectors. Currently serving as Vice President & GM of Aquatech Energy Services and Vice President of Industrial Solutions (Americas) at Aquatech International Corporation since December 1995, Devesh has held several key roles including Director of Sales for North America and Regional Sales Manager.   Since November 2009, Devesh is a Business Partner at Chyten Education Services, Southhills, PA.  His prior experience includes serving as Regional Sales Manager at Thermax from 1988 to 1995. Devesh holds an MBA from Rice Business – Jones Graduate School of Business (2004-2006) and a Bachelor of Technology in Chemical Engineering from Banaras Hindu University (1984-1988), complemented by a high school diploma from St. Thomas College.

About the Sponsors