Sandy was raised on a farm near Blyth, Ontario before graduating with Bachelor of Applied Science Degree (BASc) and Masters of Applied Science Degree (MASc) in Chemical Engineering from the University of Waterloo. He started his professional career in 1984 with Polysar Inc., a Canadian rubber manufacturer. Over his 30 year career in the chemical and polymers industry, he worked in research and process, product development and market development before moving into Operations and General Management.  Sandy had two international assignments; one in Germany with Bayer AG and a second in Cincinnati USA with LANXESS Corporation and INEOS.  Sandy finished his corporate career as President and Managing Director responsible for Canadian Operations of LANXESS Canada.

He is an innovative thinker, recognized for strong leadership, negotiation and relationship building skills. Experience includes P&L responsibility, R&D scale-up to commercialization, operations, market development and interaction with government at the federal, provincial and local level.  Sandy has been recognized as a leader committed to Corporate Social Responsibility and environmental sustainability in Canada with the 2012 Canada Medal for Chemistry from SCI (society of Chemical Industry Canada Section) and as a 2013 Clean50 Honouree for Outstanding Contributions to Clean Capitalism.

Sandy is an Advisor and Project Manager (previously Executive Director) with Bioindustrial Innovation Canada (BIC), President and CEO of Sustainable Chemistry Alliance, Chairman of the External Advisory Board for the Biorefinery Research Institute (BRI) at Lakehead University, Chairman of the Industry Advisory Board for the NSERC Industrial Research Chair (IRC) for “Thermochemical Conversion of Biomass and Waste to Bioindustrial Resources” at Western University, Member of the Aquatic and Crop Resource Development (ACRD) Research Centre Advisory Board of National Research Council Canada (NRC) and member of the Boards of BIOTECanada and Bluewater Power Corporation.