“In the water industry, we can affect the lives of so many people”

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Operators Without Borders makes a
lasting difference in the developing nations

Operators Without Borders is a registered non-profit organization of certified Operators who help their counterparts . At present we are offering services to Caribbean counties but are open to expanding to other areas of the world that need our help.

More junior certified Operators will be called upon when we are asked to assist post-disaster. Senior certified Operators will be assigned according to the needs of the requesting utility. In future we see a need for certified Operators who have experience training or who speak other languages such as French or Spanish.

There is no cost to volunteering. Airfares, accommodation, and meals costs are covered. All we need is your time, a clean bill of health, and adequate travel insurance. The assignments generally consist of two weeks on the ground in the assigned country.

Once we receive your information we will add your name to the database and confirm receipt.

OWB – Volunteer Registry Application

This application does not discriminate in securing volunteers on the basis of race, color, religious creed, national origin, sex, or ancestry; or on the basis of age against persons whose age is over 40, or on the basis of handicap, or disability and any other characteristic required by law. No question on this form is intended to secure information to be used for such discrimination.

All information is confidential and used solely to access a suitable fit for assignments. Please provide us with your full name as shown on your passport.

Last Name	First Name	Middle Name
Job Title (if applicable):	Street Address:	City:
State/Province:	Postal/Zip Code:	Country:

Home Phone:

Personal Email Address:

Work Email Address:

Skype Name:

Birth Date (Day/Month/Year)

Work Phone:

QUALIFICATIONS

Range includes: Disaster relief/training & mentoring Water and Wastewater. Operational assessment; lab; management and safety.

CERTIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

Certification Level (I-IV) | Experience including years, system size & geography

Small Water System:

Small Waste Water System:

Water Treatment:

Water Distribution:

Wastewater Collection:

Wastewater Treatment:

Describe any training experience or any other applicable experience you may have:

Current Status

Are you employed?
YesNo

Are you retired?
YesNo

Other:

Mission Specific

Current passport valid for minimum 6 months
YesNo

Do you have any travel restrictions including any criminal convictions (Other than parking violations and juvenile offenses?)
YesNo

If yes, please describe:

Valid driver license, level:
YesNo

Driver license Level

Certifications in First Aid:
YesNo

CPR:
YesNo

Other:

Languages: 1=Intro; 2=Intermediate; 3=Fluent

English:

French:

Spanish:

Other:

Physical Condition 1=Good 2=Fair 3=Challenges

Physical Condition:

Brief description of any challenges:

Volunteer Experiences

Skills and qualifications are also acquired through previous volunteer work, or other activities like hobbies or sports. What skills or qualifications do you have as a volunteer?

1. Organization: Role: Years:	2. Organization: Role: Years:
3. Organization: Role: Years:	4. Organization: Role: Years:

Work References

Please provide names of 2 references, their titles and work with you along with their contact information.

Name: Title & work with you: Contact Information:	Name: Title & work with you: Contact Information:

Person to Notify in Case of Emergency

First Name: Relationship: Home Phone:	Last Name: Work Phone: Email Address:	Physician Name:	Phone Number:

Agreement and Submission

By submitting this application, I affirm that the facts set forth in it are true and complete. I understand that if I am accepted as a volunteer, any false statements, omissions, or other misrepresentations made by me on this application may result in refusal or dismissal as a volunteer. I will also complete a criminal check if
requested.

The Madeleine Butschler Volunteer of the Year Award

2024, Greg Solecki

Greg was chosen based on his unfailing commitment to OWB over the last three years. He has given his time to train over 500 operators in Incident Command System workshop in the Caribbean, Latin America and Poland and Ukraine. He also developed and co- delivered a two day virtual CBRN workshop for Ukraine.

Greg Solecki is one of Canada’s leading experts in disaster and crisis management. He is an internationally Certified Emergency Manager (CEM) and Business Continuity Professional (CBCP) who has been instrumental in the development of international crisis management standards (ISO 22301, ISO 24518, CSA1600), as well as contributing to the development of Canada’s Critical Infrastructure Pandemic Plan as the Water Sector Chair. He has been a guest lecturer at multiple universities on crisis management.

With practical experience during SARS, H1N1, H5N1 and President of the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM) Canada, he was sought out as a contributing member for the United Nations office of Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) Global Education & Training Institute (GETI).

Greg is also an experienced facilitator and Incident Command System (ICS) 400 instructor for both ICS Canada and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) that has worked with every level of response managing Emergency Operation Centre’s during 6 States of Local Emergency, leading to his attendance at Harvard’s National Preparedness Leadership Initiative (NPLI).

2023, Ian Mcilwham

One of OWB’s most active volunteers, Ian has visited Belize twice once to assist in an Operational Assessment and to provide level 1 Wastewater Treatment training, was part of the Operational assessment team in Barbados, Developed and delivered a weekly workshop 10 weeks providing laboratory training for DOWASCO, the water utility in Dominica. Delivered both Level 1 wastewater collection and treatment workshops in Nakuru, Kenya, co-delivered the CBRN workshop in Ukraine and was a OWB representative on the Ukraine Water Quality Techical Advisory Committee for which he wrote a paper on decentralized treatment systems.

Ian Mcilwham is class 4 Wastewater Operator who has worked in the water/wastewater sector for 30 years and is currently the Compliance Manager for Durham Region.

He is the current water/wastewater sector rep for Canada’s National Critical Infrastructure Committee and the Canadian Mirror Committee Chair for ISO TC 224, which developed the International Standard on Crisis Management of Water Utilities (ISO 24518).

Ian is an active member of Operators without Borders and has participated in utility resilience building in Belize and Barbados.

He is currently leading the response to COVID-19 for Durham Region water and wastewater since an Emergency declaration on March 17, 2020.

He is the current chair of the Security and Emergency Management Committee for the Canadian Water and Wastewater Association which cooperates with Public Safety Canada and other federal departments concerned with emergency preparedness and national security to actively contribute to the knowledge base and federal programs related to critical infrastructure.

2022, Marcel Miscraca

Marcel was one of our first volunteers and on the first OWB team to be deployed travelling to Dominica after the Hurricane destroyed much of the Island in 2027. He then co-led the initial team to be deployed to the Bahamas after Hurricane Dorian. Marcel is now a team lead for disaster deployment. In addition Marcel has Chaired the SOP Committee since its inception and has overseen the development of over 225 SOPs that we provide free of charge to utilities. He is always one of the first to step up to the plate when help is needed.

2023-4 Certificates of Appreciation

Greg Archibald

Dendra Best

Mike Hewitt

Sheena and Tom Mathews

Skylar Lipson

Mike Gosselin

Ian Mcilwham

Greg Solecki

Alberto Burrero

Trudy Gillis

Paul Bishop

Mike Taylor

Pat Miller

Nicole Austin

Ian Mcilwham

Jainil Didaraly

Janine de Boer

Cindy Barnard

Piers Clark

Patricia Aquing

Steve Harriman

David La France

Ignatius Jean

Lesley Desjardin

Ton Vlugman

Mario Bento

Steve Harriman

Cindy Barand

Canadian Water and Wastewater Association

Caribbean Water and Sewerage Association

Clearflow

WEF

WWETT

EOCP

Kerr Wood Leidal

AWWA