Andrea Sedgwick named Ledcor Applied Research Chair in Oil Sands Sustainability

Andrea Sedgwick named Ledcor Applied Research Chair in Oil Sands Sustainability

Published on December 09, 2015

Andrea Sedgwick has been named Ledcor Applied Research Chair in Oil Sands Sustainability at NAIT’s Centre for Oil Sands Sustainability.

Sedgwick is leading applied research within the Centre for Oil Sands Sustainability – a 6,000-square-foot, state-of-the art research lab in south Edmonton staffed by an expert team of scientists, engineers and technicians. Staff at the centre work with business and industry to develop technologies to improve the economic and environmental performance of the oil sands industry, with a focus on:

  • Tailings pond management - assisting industry in remediating tailings ponds and slowing their growth.
  • Water technology - reducing industry use of freshwater and improving water treatment, management and disposal.
  • Measuring and monitoring - improving technologies to reduce the cost and environmental impact of oil sands operations.

Sedgwick has more than 20 years of experience in all aspects of upstream surface oil sands development, including mining, extraction, tailings and water management. Prior to coming to NAIT, she was the research and development mining manager at Total E&P Canada where she directed research nationally and internationally. As a key member of the innovation team, she was responsible for the company’s only research and development project outside of France. Prior to Total E&P Canada, Sedgwick also led the design of several large projects, including the Suncor Millennium oil sands extraction plant, which was successfully constructed and commissioned.

Sedgwick has a Masters of Engineering Management and a Bachelor of Science in Mining Engineering from the University of Alberta. She is a member of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta.

QUICK FACTS

  • The Centre for Oil Sands Sustainability was founded in 2011 through a $1.5 million endowment from Ledcor Group, matched by the Alberta government, to lead NAIT’s first applied research initiative and establish the Ledcor Applied Research Chair in Oil Sands Environment Sustainability.
  • With additional funding from key industry partners like Suncor, as well as federal and provincial funding, the centre carries out applied research, pilot testing and technology development designed to meet the needs of Alberta’s oil sands industry.

QUOTES

Dr. Neil Fassina, NAIT provost and vice-president academic
“We are thrilled to have a scientist of Andrea’s calibre leading applied research at our Centre for Oil Sands Sustainability. She will be a great asset to our team as we continue to build and expand our applied research capabilities to find real-world solutions for Alberta industries.”

Dr. Chris Dambrowitz, NAIT associate vice-president research and innovation
“Research at NAIT is industry driven. As a leading polytechnic, we focus on applied research with industry as our customer and our client. Oil sands sustainability is at the forefront of this work. Andrea brings with her a high degree of connectivity to industry and exemplifies the quality of research capacity NAIT attracts. I’m happy to welcome her to the team.”

Andrea Sedgwick, Ledcor Chair in Oil Sands Sustainability
“This is the perfect fit for me. I love innovation and I look forward to using my previous experience in oil sands upstream development to help move technology forward here at NAIT. We have an opportunity to grow and develop the centre and I’m excited to be part of it.”

LEARN MORE
NAIT Centre for Oil Sands Sustainability

About NAIT
The Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) is a leading Canadian polytechnic, delivering education in science, technology and the environment; business; health and trades. With nearly 60,000 credit and non-credit students and a 95 per cent employer satisfaction rate, NAIT grads are essential to Alberta’s prosperity. Known for hands-on, technology-based learning, NAIT engages with business and industry in applied research and innovation and provides corporate training around the world. Recognized as one of Alberta’s top employers, NAIT provides outstanding returns on investment for its graduates, partners, the provincial government and the people of Alberta.