Gord Helm, CD, MPA - Strategic, Innovative, Leader

Experience

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  Royal Canadian Navy

  Aug 1983 - Jul 2004

  Naval Officer

  Various operational positions at sea and on operational staff. Tours in supportive roles at NDHQ and Recruiting. Final position was Queen's Harbour Master in Halifax.

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  HMCS CHARLOTTETOWN

  Dec 1996 - Jun 1999

  Director - Warship at Sea Operations

  • Planned, coordinated, and executed the ship’s operational program, which included several major international operations and exercises with multi-national fleets in North and South America, the Caribbean and Europe.

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  MARLANT _ Royal Canadian Navy

  Jun 2000 - Jan 2003

  Director - Naval Group Operations

  • Planned, programmed and coordinated operations for six Kingston Class Coastal Patrol Vessels in operations which included: mine-warfare, route-survey, sovereignty and fisheries patrols and officer training operations.• Undertook advanced mine warfare officer training with the Royal Navy, and as a senior staff officer, participated in several international mine warfare operations and exercises.

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  Dalhousie University

  Jan 2001 - Jan 2005

  MPA Student

  Completed the regular full-time 20 credit MPA course program while serving with Maritime Command Atlantic and the Halifax Port Authority.

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  MARITIME COMMAND ATLANTIC

  Jun 2003 - Aug 2004

  Queen's Harbour Master

  • Commanding Officer and Queen's Harbour Master at Maritime Command Atlantic (MARLANT). Responsible for:. Coordinating port operations for MARLANT, including harbour tug and pilot support to the fleet, jetty support services, harbour fuelling and crane operations, and the marine environmental pollution prevention and spill response organization.• Led the preparations for and managed the operations to secure and protect naval ships and assets prior to and during the Hurricane Juan event receiving the Maritime Command Commendation for exemplary leadership. • Implemented performance measurement processes to the organization to track fleet maintenance, system performance, human resource training and succession planning. Show less

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  Tall Ship Events Halifax

  Jan 2004 - Jan 2009

  Chair - Harbour Operations Committee (2007 + 2009)

  Working with a committee of volunteers and multi-levels of government departments and agencies, developed and executed the Tall Ships Harbour Operations and Security plan for three major Tall Ship events.

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  Halifax Port Authority

  Jan 2004 - Jan 2009

  Manager Port Security & Marine Operations

  Marine Operations•Managed the port marine transportation operations & on-water emergency response activities with a collaborative approach with public and private sector stakeholders, container terminals and logistics companies.•Implemented and led a participatory policy development process on the federally-regulated port operations practices resulting in updates to:o Port Practices and Procedures;o Port Contingency Plan;o Port Disaster Recovery Plans, ando Business Resumption Plans.•In conjunction with APA pilots, collaboratively conceived and managed the implementation a unique real-time multi-sensor system to measure the air-gap space below the two the Halifax Narrows Bridges to facilitate Post-Panamax ship transits.Port Security•Developed and implemented the Port Security Master Plan and the Marine Facility Security Plans for Ocean Terminal, Seaport Cruise Vessel Facility and Richmond Terminals.Cruise Vessel Operations•Managed customer service relationships with cruise lines and tourist industry stakeholders for Cruise Operations including regulatory compliance in health, safety, environmental stewardship and ship security.•Managed cruise terminal renovations and operations for security and passenger safety and regulatory compliance•Managed cruise line vessel scheduling, service support requirements, itinerary development, customer service standards and tour operator coordination. Show less

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  Chair, Port Security Committee

  Jan 2005 - Aug 2009

  Port Security Officer

  As Port Security Officer, chair the intergovernmental and private sector liaison and coordination committee overseeing Port Security operations and implemention of the Marine Transportation Security Act {MTSA} measures and regulations.Develop and implement the annual intergovernmental and private sector major port security training exercise in accordance with the MTSA• As chair of the Port Security Committee, established and implemented the overall Port Security Regime with multi-level government agencies, departments and private sector industry stakeholders, incorporating several advanced technology and infrastructure projects to support the regime, including:• Envisioned, developed the concept and collaboratively led the implementation of a fully integrated unique port-wide Security Command and Control Network System developed by Ultra Electronics integrating private sector facilities and public sector security & intelligence agencies, securing ~ $20 million in partnership Federal funding.• Managed the development and implementation of a port-wide biometric Port Credential ID system and access control program integrated into the Port Security Regime, the first of its kind in the country in a port operations environment.• Managed a port-wide infrastructure enhancement project to meet Federal MTSA security regulations and requirements. Show less

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  Sacred Heart School of Halifax

  Sept 2005 - Sept 2011

  Board Member, Chair Planning Committee

  During six years on the Board at Sacred Heart, implemented and developed a measurement framework for the strategic plan. Subsequently developed and executed a revision to the strategic planning process, including stakeholder engagement, on evolving the strategic plan to a more responsive and measurable framework.

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  Halifax Regional Municipality

  Sept 2009 - Aug 2014

  Manager, Solid Waste Resources

  • Managed Halifax’s $40m annual budget Integrated Solid Waste Management System (ISWMS) customer service program.• Led a three-year comprehensive system review of the ISWMS program to evolve the system to enhance environmental stewardship and fiscal performance. • Executive Member of the NS Managers and Directors of Municipal Solid Waste Management Committee working collaboratively with multiple provincial departments to evolve the solid waste regime into a more fiscally sustainable program across the Province.• Actively explored and supported development of alternative technology proposals to reduce landfill dependency and increase both capture and use of waste resource materials for revenue generating and environmentally sound recycling and reuse opportunities.• A certified ISWMS manager, provided instructional training for Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) ISWMS manager certification.• Developed and delivered educational/information presentations on ISWM systems.• Active in mentoring and coaching young professionals in their professional development. Show less

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  Source Security & Investigations, Inc

  Jan 2011 - Dec 2015

  Security Advisory Board Member

  Working with other subject matter experts from across industry security fields, provide insight, ideas and support to the Source Security Executive Team on strategic business development and operational plans.

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  Dalhousie University

  Jan 2012 - now

  Guest Presenter/MPA Program Supporter Dalhousie University

  Guest Lecturer on environmental solutions in waste management for mitigating climate change impacts of landfilling and the transformational evolution of integrated waste management through advanced thermal conversion waste resource to clean renewable energy technologies.MPA Program mentor and leadership certification program supporter.

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  SWANA - Atlantic Chapter

  Oct 2012 - Mar 2015

  Director

  Active Nova Scotia committee member and board executive supporting provincial programs and advancement of professional development in integrated solid waste management initiatives and the exploration of advanced waste conversion technology as an alternative to landfill programs.

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  PureTech Systems (Software Security Surveillance Video Analytics and Monitoring Interface Systems)

  Apr 2013 - now

  Advisory Board Member

  Supporting the President and CEO in the development of the strategic planEvaluating new markets and making connectionsEvaluating and developing growth opportunities

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  Fourth State Energy

  Oct 2014 - Mar 2021

  Senior Vice President & Chief Technical Officer

  Fourth State Energy (FSE) is an environmentally sustainable waste management solutions company with roots in Nova Scotia, Canada. FSE is develops climate impacting and emission reducing Advanced Thermal Conversion (ATC) Waste Resources Processing and Recycling facilities and Hazardous Waste and Incineration Ash remediation facilities. FSE takes mixed municipal and commercial waste and following innovative processing, thermally converts the residual derived fuel from waste into a syngas that powers generators to push clean renewable energy to the grid. FSE’s hazardous waste processing facilities use a unique multi-phased process to remediate hazardous and toxic sludge, ash, asbestos, pharma and medical waste into safe inert aggregate that can be recycled into civil engineering projects like road and rail base. These innovative technology solutions for waste management enable cities, municipalities and island nations to end active landfill dependency, and significantly reduce the harmful GHG emissions and climate impacting outcomes from landfills. FSE is developing projects across through North and South America, the Caribbean, and the Asian market. Nova Waste Solutions Inc. is an associate company of FSE developing similar projects for Nova Scotia. NWSI programs have an immediate impact on emissions and climate change; create renewable energy, increase diversion over 95%, and reduce landfill and collection vehicle GHG emissions. These projects will help the province meet environmental targets, lower municipal waste service costs and generate new jobs and millions in new business for the Nova Scotia economy. For more information, explore: www.fourthstateenergy.com & www.novawastesolutions.com Show less

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  Nova Waste Solutions

  Nov 2014 - now

  • Special Advisor to the President

    Mar 2021 - now

  • Senior Vice President & Chief Technical Officer

    Nov 2014 - Mar 2021
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  MacDonnell Group

  Dec 2015 - Feb 2017

  Marine Security Instructor

  Marine Transportation Security training and instruction for Ports, Facilities and Vessel personnel and consulting support on projects.

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  ISS / IAT / MSS Inc. ( A physical Security and Armoured Car Company)

  Jan 2016 - Oct 2021

  Corporate Strategy Officer

  • Work alongside Director/Owner to effectively develop and communicate business’ strategic objectives, including direction, marketing and customer solutions.• Finalize RFP and tender narratives for technical and cost submissions. • Review current business strategy with managers to identify opportunities for business improvements and efficiencies. • Meet regularly with the Director/Owner to evaluate business performance and explore business development and marketing opportunities to grow the company. • Provide mentoring and coaching to senior staff to strengthen corporate leadership. Show less

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  Halifax Harbour Bridges

  Aug 2016 - Jun 2017

  Operations Manager

  Reporting to the CEO, • Direct public safety and critical infrastructure security operations,• Manage Commissionaires Nova Scotia service contract for bridge patrol, traffic management, toll plaza and emergency response operations.• Liaise and coordinate with national, regional and local public safety, intelligence, security and policing agencies for public safety, site security and Critical Infrastructure (CI) protection,• Develop security realm systems, plans, and capabilities to support site safety and security operations and plans,• Liaise and coordinate with Port stakeholders for the security of the bridges in relation to port operations and commercial shipping traffic,• Provide project assessment, development, procurement and management support, and• Develop public safety, security and business continuity policy and plans. Show less