lauren@kelman.ca

OPCEA PROFILE
BRIAN ALLEN:
MAKING THINGS BETTER
ontrary to
popular belief,
Brian Allen is not
‘officially’ retired.
“One gets so
much experience
that companies
don’t want to
let you go,” says
Allen, who is now engaged in consulting
after spending almost 30 years in sales
with Indachem Inc. “Besides, there is
water and wastewater in virtually every
process and industry.”
After graduating from the University
of Toronto with a master’s degree in
Chemical Engineering in 1970, he
spent several years with an industrial
laboratory funded by the National
Research Council, developing unique
technologies for metal recovery and
filtration. Then in 1987, he became
a founding member of Indachem,
a manufacturer and distributor of
environmental equipment related to the
dewatering process.
“That’s when I migrated to the
metal finishing industry and eventually
to municipal water and wastewater
treatment,” recalls Allen, adding that
he also worked with pulp and paper,
mining, and food production, among
other industries. At that time, Indachem’s
main area of activity was in the feeding
of polymers to precipitate suspended
solids from water and wastewater.
Charged with introducing this unique
equipment to industry, he travelled
across Canada conducting trials and
demonstrations at various facilities to
prove to clients that the product would
work. “In order to sell the product, I had
to learn the various applications,” he
explains, adding that his understanding
of wastewater processes continued
to increase over the years. “My work
also brought me into contact with the
consulting industry across Canada.”
In 1991, Indachem, and hence Allen,
joined OPCEA. His goal as a member
was not only to support the Association,
but also to learn everything he could
about the environmental business and
to make more contacts. “I think when
you join an industry, it’s important to
participate in the association that is
helping the industry grow,” he adds,
noting that he also became a member
of the Pollution Control Association of
Ontario (PCAO), which was renamed
the Water Environment Association
of Ontario in 1993. In 2004 he was
inducted into The Select Society Of
Sanitary Sludge Shovellers (5 S).
Allen made a point of attending
monthly PCAO seminars and
bi-monthly plant tours. At the same
time, he became increasingly involved
in OPCEA, devoting a lot of time to
helping organize the golf tournaments.
“Participating in the golf tournament is
a great way to interact with customers
and clients,” says Allen. “Sometimes,
in your work, you have to be able to
look at the bigger picture.”
“I fell in love with the Association
and the people in it,” he continues.
“It was a good learning experience and
an opportunity to meet virtually everyone
in the business.” After serving on the
board for several terms, Allen accepted
the position of president in 2008-2009.
Although, today, he is no longer
involved with the Association, he still
attends the golf tournament and the
annual conference. Meanwhile, he
continues to share his experience and
expertise in the industry through his
work as a consultant. “At this point
I’ve been involved with just about
every city and every engineering firm in
Canada,” he says.
Being semi-retired does afford
Allen some flexibility as well as some
leisure time to pursue golf, fly-fishing
and gardening. But it also allows him
to continue pursuing his passion. “If
you can go through your career, learn
something and contribute something,
there’s not much more you can ask for,”
he reflects. “It’s about making things
better – that’s the bottom line.”
68 INFLUENTS Fall 2015
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