WMRR
Program correct as at 22 August 2025, please check back for updates.
WORSKHOP AND CONFERENCE Sydney Cricket Ground Noble Dining Room + Brewers Pavilion Gate A, Driver Ave, Moore Park
WORKSHOP: THE ART OF LANDFILL FIRE CONTROL
9:00am - 5:30pm
The management of landfill fires is a critical component of effective landfill operations. With increasing risks from materials like batteries and changing landfill conditions, it is essential that operators and regulators are equipped with the knowledge and skills to prevent, detect, and manage fires effectively.
WMRR’s pre-conference workshop, The Art of Landfill Fire Control, has been developed to provide practical and technical guidance on landfill fire risks, detection methods, control strategies, and safety protocols. Delivered by Dr. Tony Sperling, an international expert with over 35 years’ experience in landfill management, this workshop combines theory with practical case studies to support informed and safe landfill operations.
WELCOME FUNCTION 5:30-7:30pm Sydney Cricket Ground Members Long Bar Gate A, Driver Ave, Moore Park Dress: Business / smart casual
OPENING PLENARY
8:55am
Welcome and introduction Karl Baltpurvins - WMRR National President
Welcome to country
Sponsors welcome Daniel Gibbs - General Manager, Technical, Research and Innovation, Geofabrics
Keynote | Advancing Landfill Methane Mitigation in Australia: Insights from controlled release studies and source attribution research Dr David Risk - Brian Mulroney Institute of Government Research Chair In Climate Science And Policy, St. Francis Xavier University (StFX)
Keynote | The Five Step Protocol for Landfill Fire Extinguishment - A summary of 25 years of fire control experience Dr Tony Sperling - President, Sperling Hansen Associates Inc. / Landfill Fire Control Inc.
Morning tea
SESSION 1: LANDFILL DESIGN + CONSTRUCTION
Less In, Smarter Out: Rethinking landfill engineering for a circular future Alison Horlyck + Adrian Roberts, GHD
Quantifying and calculating the sustainability benefit of geosynthetics in landfill design and construction Amir Shahkolahi, Global Synthetics
Risk-based design of lining systems using advanced geohydrological modelling Hossein Ghiasinejad, WSP
$5.8M in waste levy savings for cell works - A toolkit for all states to secure operational material exemption! Lacey Webb, Resource Hub
Installing high wall landfill lining from the bottom up! Mark Winser, Kimbriki
Optimising landfill gas generation and capture: Performance comparison of flood-and-drain biocells and bioreactors Kevin Xie, Veolia
Performance-based assessments in landfill applications: Elevated temperature, chemical concentration and product degradation effects Bowei Yu, Geofabrics
From Trucks to Satellites: Making Sense of Landfill Methane Measurement Variability David Risk, St. Francis Xavier University (StFX)
SESSION 3: ENVIRONMENTAL + OPERATIONAL CHALLENGES
Tropical Cyclone Alfred bringing record breaking rainfall to Southeast Queensland Georgia Mignone, WSP
Making more out of less: Constrained transfer station design solutions David Gamble, GHD
Beat the heat of landfill fires Anthony Dixon + Laura Yum, GHD
Optimising transfer station operations through strategic hard waste collection models: Evidence-based approaches Samuel Lawson, RMCG
Increasing landfill hotspots, fires and hydrogen sulphide - what's going on? (and how to fix it) Nick Simmons, Australian Environmental Auditors
Panel discussion All speakers
SESSION 5: LANDFILL OPERATIONS
SESSION 6: LFG MANAGEMENT IN SMALL-MEDIUM LANDFILLS
3:30pm
Wasted space Rob McGahey, Optimal Site Performance
Workshop-style session featuring presentations by:
Facilitated by Dr Stuart Dever, Blacktown Waste Services
3:50pm
From reactive to proactive: Turn compliance into an operational advantage with integrated monitoring systems Richard Campbell, HydroTerra
4:10pm
Leachate water balance assessments - understanding the limitations Sven Waurich, Senversa
4:30pm
Give all the waste staff pay rises! Giles Perryman, ASK Waste Management
CONFERENCE DINNER 6:30-10:30pm Doltone House Hyde Park 3/181 Elizabeth St, Sydney
Dress: Cocktail
Keynote | Current challenges and research programs affecting landfill operations in the US Bryan Staley, PhD, PE - President & CEO, Environmental Research & Education Foundation (EREF) (virtual)
Keynote | Lessons from the Field: 35 years of mistakes in the landfill industry and counting Daniel Fyfe - National Land and Mineral Reserves Manager, Heidelberg Materials
Keynote | Beyond the Tip Face: Driving operational and cultural shifts in modern landfill management Meldina Klehic - State Manager, Cleanaway
Regulator Discussion | Around the Grounds
Facilitated by WMRR CEO, Gayle Sloan.
SESSION 7: CLOSURE + POST-CLOSURE
Planning complexities of legacy landfill sites in NSW Eleanor Parry, WSP
How are evolving regulations redefining leachate treatment requirements? Andrew Mitchell, ADE Consulting Group
A quick start guide to embed sustainable landfill rehabilitation as our new norm Chris Nivison-Smith, GHD
Regional landfill leachate treatment challenges Samuel Swain, Hawkesbury City Council
Managing Slippery Slopes: Design of landfill caps for slopes steeper than 3H:1V – Case studies from South Australia Don Richardson, WSP
Operational challenges for MBR and RO treatment facilities Callum Simpson, Veolia
Provisioning for landfill closure & post-closure costs Jeremy Dawes, Veolia
SESSION 9: INNOVATION + INSIGHTS
2:00pm
Phytocapping: Lessons learned from a decade of work Melissa Salt, ATC Williams
Moving towards comprehensive and integrated leachate treatment solutions Justin Doyle, Wastewater Futures
2:20pm
A toolbox for landfill construction and design in remote Aboriginal communities Bella Hughes, Talis Consultants
RO treatment for leachate in landfills Mark Mullett, The Water and Carbon Group
2:40pm
Novel techniques for landfill fugitive methane quantification Jane Barnett, Zephyr Environmental
Landfill leachate and PFAS management - case studies Nikita Sharma, BeneTerra
3:00pm
Probabilistic assessment of global slope stability in Australian landfills using waste and interface variability Roger Britto, Senversa
Conference wrap-up
Conference close