Debate Event - Adiabatic vs Isothermal Humidification

Agenda :  

5:15 PM - 6:15 PM: Networking

6:15 PM - 7:00 PM: Dinner and Housekeeping

7:00 PM - 8:15 PM: Debate + Q&A

EVENT SUMMARY

Over a career that spans more than 20 years, Kurt Monteiro has established a reputation that carefully balances innovation with client satisfaction. Kurt first started at Smith + Andersen as a co-op student, before graduating from the University of Toronto with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. Since then, Kurt has spent the majority of his career with Smith + Andersen and, over the last decade, has focused on healthcare and laboratory projects – particularly large P3 projects and renovations to existing healthcare facilities.

Kurt has been an active member of the ASHRAE Toronto Chapter for many years, and is currently serving on the Board of Governors. He has also served on the Executive Board of Governors and was President for the 2022-2023 term. He is a voting member of the ASHRAE Publications Committee, as well as a corresponding member for several healthcare and laboratory technical committees. Kurt is a member of the CSA Medical Gas technical sub-committee that published CSA-Z7396.1 Medical Gas Pipeline Systems. In recognition of his outstanding contributions to ASHRAE, he received a Distinguished Service Award in June 2024.

Nicolas Lea 

Nicholas Lea is the Head of Product and Sales Support for North America at Condair Ltd. based in Ottawa, Ontario. He is a graduate of Carleton University and holds a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Mechanical Engineering. As well, he is a licensed Professional Engineer in the province of Ontario and a LEED-accredited professional, with a specialization in building design and construction (LEED AP BD+C).

Nick’s dedication to the HVAC industry is evident through his participation on ASHRAE Technical Committees 5.11 (Humidifiers), where he previously served as Chair, and TC 5.7 (Evaporative Cooling). Additionally, Nick is active within the HVAC Manufacturers Industry Association, AHRI, where he is Chair of the Humidifiers Educational Working Group. He is a contributing author for ASHRAE Method of Test 164.3 and 164.4, AHRI Standard 620, and AHRI Standard 640.

Doug Harris-Lowe 

Doug graduated from Queen’s Engineering with a Mechanical Engineering degree in 2017, and began working at Kilmer Environmental that same year. Kilmer Environmental represents industry leading HVAC products for air handling, humidity control, energy recovery, and more. In his technical sales role, Doug works closely with mechanical consultants in the GTA to select customizable equipment for various building sectors, and supports contractors during installation and commissioning. Doug also completed the AAON Masters of HVAC program in 2019.

Duncan Curd 

Duncan Curd is a graduate of the University of Toronto. His career has been focussed around Industrial and Process automation as well as HVAC solutions. He has held a variety of management roles with Siemens including multiple business unit responsibilities.  He has been active in the field of humidification as General Manager for Nortec (Condair) and currently as Global Business Development leader for DriSteem Corporation of Eden Prairie, Mn. He has held a range of advisory roles to technical colleges and universities and is active with AHRI’s Educational committee and ASHRAE’s TC5.11 (humidification) and TC9.6/Standard 170 (health Care facilities) committee’s. He has also been a frequent guest speaker in the field of Clean Rooms and Pharmaceutical processes. In addition to Military service, he has been a proud volunteer with his local volunteer fire department.

Matthew Reid

Matthew is the Technical Director of the heating department for eastern Canada at newly formed E.H. Price Solutions. Joining the industry is 2002 he has taken on many roles in the HVAC and Hydronic world. From managing wholesale heating departments to running his own design firm from 2016 - 2020. After exiting the design world, he joined the manufacturer's representative industry as a design assist consultant and technical trainer. Matthew works closely with union halls and schools to share his knowledge with the next generation of installers and engineers and to date has trained well over a thousand people on everything to do with boilers and heating. Matthew was a member of the Canadian Hydronic Council from 2021 to 2023 and assisted in the review and development of training programs as well as having input on the CSA B214 hydronic installation code. Recently his role as technical director with E.H. Price solutions has taken him all over eastern Canada to train and design assist on heating and domestic hot water plants in the commercial and industrial realm.

Reza Soltani 

Reza Soltani holds both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and is a licensed Professional Engineer with Professional Engineers Ontario. He has authored several peer-reviewed research publications in international journals including International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, Applied Thermal Engineering, and Energy Conversion and Management. Since 2016, he has worked closely with consulting engineers and contractors across Ontario as a sales engineer. He joined Spirax Sarco in 2021 and currently serves as the National Channel Manager for Consultants & Contractors. In this role, he collaborates with teams across multiple sectors  including district energy, pharmaceutical, food & beverage, and healthcare to help advance safe, efficient, and reliable steam and thermal energy solutions.

Moderator

Doug Waterston

Doug currently works at HTS Engineering as part of their logistics and operations team. His previous role was as a technical Sales Representative at Kilmer Environmental where he specialized in indoor air quality solutions for commercial and industrial applications. He is actively involved in ASHRAE and currently serves as the CTTC Chair for ASHRAE Toronto. His ongoing commitment to the industry and ASHRAE community reflects his passion for advancing HVACR best practices.

Walk-in registrations will not be permitted.

ASHRAE Toronto Chapter | 4936 Yonge Street. #2748 Toronto, M2N 6S3