For the last 20 years Dr. Weber has been developing practical solutions to emerging contaminant issues and supporting the management and remediation of contaminated sites in Canada as both a leader of research teams and as a practising Professional Engineer. Through his work designing and implementing contaminated site assessment and remediation programs, he has accumulated in-depth knowledge of groundwater contaminant transport and remediation, and extensive field experience, including work at remote sites.

As the ESG Director, Kela provides strategic leadership, keeping ESG at the forefront of emerging environmental issues by continually reinforcing and developing ESG’s expertise. He has also been leading ESG’s fundamental research program since 2014.

Early-career applied research focused on innovative biotechnology, nanotechnology, and water treatment technologies. More recently, Kela has been leading innovative fundamental and applied research on PFAS: advancing analytical techniques for detecting PFAS, determining the fate and effects of PFAS in environmental systems, and pioneering PFAS remediation approaches. As a globally recognized PFAS expert, he has given invited talks and keynotes worldwide.

Kela has published hundreds of peer-reviewed government reports and journal articles and has had the pleasure and responsibility of supervising and training over 300 graduate students, technicians, postdocs, and ESG staff so far in his career.

He also enjoys building with his hands and spending time in nature with his family, friends, and colleagues.