Microplastics Policies & Research Around the Globe

ITRC is excited to continue our training partnership with the Australasian Land & Groundwater Association (ALGA) in 2023! ITRC & ALGA will be holding an expert panel on Microplastics Policies & Research Around the Globe. The expert panel will be held at ITRC's 2023 Annual Meeting on March 22, 2023, from 5:00 - 6:30 pm EST! The workshop will be in-person/hybrid for U.S. participants and via Zoom for Australia (8:00 am - 9:30 am AEDT on 3/23/23).

The panel will include two U.S. and two Australian speakers and will focus on the latest microplastic policies, regulations, and research from the U.S., Australia, and other countries. The panel will compare and contrast the different responses and discuss the next steps for microplastics. Time will be allotted for audience questions at the end!

Expert Panelists

Valerie Hanley

Senior Toxicologist

California Department of Toxic Substances and Control

Dr. Valerie Hanley is a Senior Toxicologist in the Human and Ecological Risk Office at the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) in Sacramento, CA, and the co-leader of the ITRC Microplastics Team. Valerie has been with DTSC since 2008 and an active participant of ITRC since 2015. 

Julia Jaeger

Environmental Analyst and Techincal Program Lead

Eurofins Environment Testing Australia & New Zealand

Dr. Julia Jaeger is a Technical Specialist at Eurofins Environment Testing Australia & New Zealand. In the past 10 years, she has worked in different sectors, ranging from atmospheric chemistry to food and forensics strengthening her knowledge of Analytical Chemistry. In 2019, she has set up a laboratory for commercial microplastic testing utilizing the Laser Direct Infrared (LDIR) Chemical Imaging System.

Kim Nimmer

Environmental Program Consultant

North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality

Kim is an environmental program consultant with over 25 years of professional experience in a variety of sectors and programs. She is a co-leader for ITRC’s Microplastics Team and is also co-leading a group on ITRC’s Contaminants of Emerging Concern Team.

Kevin Thomas

Director of the Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS)

The University of Queensland, Australia

Professor Kevin Thomas is the Director of the Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS) at The University of Queensland, Australia. Kevin is an environmental health scientist with a particular interest in understanding the environmental exposures associated with contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) with the goal of protecting environmental and human health.

Moderators

Matthew Potter

Chief Executive Officer

Australasian Land & Groundwater Association

Matthew Potter has been the Chief Executive Officer of ALGA since June 2022. Matthew has 23 years of experience in the environmental services industry. Over his career, he has worked across many facets of the industry, including as a Consultant, Victorian Government employee, and contractor. 

Patricia Catherwood Reyes

Director

The Interstate Technology and Regulatory Council

Patricia Catherwood Reyes has been the Director of the ITRC since October 2015. Patty is a recognized leader in environmental sustainability and energy with experience at the federal, state, and congressional levels targeting technology transfer, stakeholder outreach, and policy development.