A Collaborative Team with Deep Technical Expertise
BC Research Inc. has a strong multidisciplinary team that excels in new process development and scale-up, with a strong focus on fundamentals and safety. Our roster includes experienced research engineers and scientists, analytical chemists, chemical technicians, and chemical process engineers. Moreover, we can draw on resources from other areas of the NORAM Group as needed, and we have a wide network of collaborators in universities and research organizations across Canada and abroad.
Meet the Technical Team
Clive Brereton
President, Ph.D., F.C.A.Eng.
Clive Brereton is President of BC Research Inc. and a Senior Process Engineer. He has over 40 years of experience in development, design and commissioning of chemical and electrochemical plants in a variety of roles within Noram Engineering and Constructors Ltd., Noram Electrolysis Systems Inc. and BC Research Inc. His technical work has been in a number of areas including nitration technology, fluidized bed technology and electrochemical systems.
Chief Science Officer, Ph.D., P.Eng.
Mike Gattrell is focused on chemical engineering technology development involving improving existing processes and advancing new processes. Project experience includes: the production of carbon fibres from Alberta asphaltenes, black liquor pyrolysis for chemical production, bromine and nitrogen trichloride control in chlorine production, nitration reactor modelling, subcritical wet-ox for treatment of nitration wastewater, redox-flow batteries, and electrochemical wastewater treatment.
Evan Hobenshield
Senior Process Engineer, BASc, P.Eng.
With 29 years of professional experience, including 27 in research and development, Evan Hobenshield offers deep and versatile technical expertise, and practical insight into complex engineering challenges. His work covers nitration, sulphuric acid systems, corrosion, electrochemistry, pulp and paper, and wastewater treatment. Evan is highly skilled in designing, constructing, and operating laboratory- and pilot-scale experiments, with a strong emphasis on practical, real-world implementation.
Jian Li
Pilot Operations Technician
Jian Li is a Chemical Operations Technician focused on operating and monitoring Naphtha Recovery Unit pilot plants, supporting hydrocarbon recovery, separation efficiency, and process performance under simulated industrial conditions. He also assists with operations for a carbon fiber research and development initiative exploring process parameters to achieve lower-cost scale-up. His work combines hands-on operations with applied experimentation to bridge pilot studies and real-world applications.
James Lockhart
Vice President and CTO, BASc., P.Eng.
James Lockhart, P.Eng, Vice President & CTO, leads the New Ventures group at NORAM Engineering which executes novel technology commercialization projects which fall outside of NORAM’s traditional business areas or offerings and often involve pilot plants and testing at BC Research Inc. He has extensive experience with the development, scale-up and commercialization of new, chemical process technologies in variety of different industries including: bioproducts, pulp & paper, oil & gas and green chemicals.
Analytical Chemist, B.Sc.
Dingfei Lu is a chemist at BC Research Inc. with a B.Sc. from The University of British Columbia. Her work covers diverse projects from fundamental chemistry to designing experiments for applied research. She has strong experience in analytical chemistry, including quantification method development and equipment maintenance. Dingfei also supports general laboratory and pilot plant operations.
Analytical Chemist, M.Sc., P.Chem.
Sadaf Masud is an accomplished Analytical Chemist with extensive experience delivering analytical support across diverse research projects. Her expertise includes method development and validation, as well as advanced instrumental analysis. Sadaf holds a M.Sc. in Chemistry and is a professional chemist with a strong academic foundation spanning chemistry, botany, and zoology.
Research and Laboratory Manager, M.Sc.(tech), D.Sc.(tech)
As Research Manager at BC Research Inc., Elina "Elli" Niinivaara manages the research portfolio and leads technical project delivery. Elli is a research scientist specialising in bioproduct technology and surface science and holds a M.Sc.(tech.) in forest products chemistry and a D.Sc.(tech.) in bioproduct technology, focusing on the colloidal chemistry of nanocellulose systems. Her work bridges fundamental science and applied innovation.
Research Engineer, M.Sc., EIT
Tahmeed Tasnim has been a Research Engineer at BC Research Inc. since 2021, with an academic background in Materials Engineering (B.Sc., M.Sc.). He is the Lead Engineer of an Alberta Innovates funded Carbon Fiber Project at BC Research Inc., as well as a Process Engineering support for multiple chemical plant designs.
Hongying Zhao
Research and Development Engineer, Ph.D., P.Eng., PMP
Hongying Zhao is a Senior R&D Engineer with a PhD in Chemical Engineering. Hongying leads projects in micro/nanobubble generation, micro/nanoplastic removal and identification, tailings and wastewater treatment, CO₂ capture, tall oil separation, and mass-transfer intensification, advancing technologies from concept to pilot demonstration. Coordinates industry–academic collaborations through Mitacs projects. Prior experience spans bioengineering, oil sands, interfacial phenomena, reservoir fluid PVT, flow assurance, and microfluidics.