The Azura Team
Azura uses an associate business model as our organizational structure. This approach allows us to focus expertise where you need it most and not burden our clients with the costs of a large fixed overhead. We focus on the knowledge and experience of our associates in helping our clients and their projects. Each associate brings their own experience and expertise to the areas where they are subject matter experts.
Azura staff have developed deep connections with industry leaders and key personnel. This network is an integral part of the Azura intellectual portfolio as these friends and colleagues help expand our idea-base. We often find solutions to industry problems by taking insights from other sectors and creatively adapting and applying them to our client concerns.
Our associates have worked on assignments for numerous clients across most industrial sectors. We have had the good fortune to work on more than 300 client engagements across not only Canada and the USA, but also Europe, Africa, and South America. Many of our private client projects are in the following sectors: waste-to-energy, food & beverage, agriculture, and agri-food. We also extend our core expertise to support other professionals such as private law firms, the insurance industry, asset management firms, and the financial services sector.
Michael Nelson, PhD, MEng
Process Analysis Lead
Michael joined the Azura team in 2021 having gained more than 5 years experience in the design of wastewater and anaerobic digestion treatment systems. His experience includes operating pilot-scale research studies, wastewater process modelling, and evaluating the biological treatment performance for various unit processes. As Process Analysis Lead for Azura, Michael’s focus is on all the details, he manages sample collection, data analysis, and interpretation for our clients.
Michael holds a Masters of Chemical Engineering from Western University and has recently completed his PhD in Chemical and Biochemical Engineering through a joint program with both Western University and Tianjin University. The focus of his thesis was, “Commercialization of the Circulating Fluidized Bed Bioreactor for Municipal Wastewater Treatment.”
Outside the office, Michael can be found rock climbing, cross-country skiing, fishing or hunting, and on more relaxing days, tending to his gardens.
James Arambarri, MASc
Optimization Lead
James joined the Azura team in 2021 with several years experience in industrial and decentralized wastewater treatment and R&D of environmental remediation technologies. As Optimization Lead, James uses his expertise to help our clients with optimization of anaerobic digesters and industrial wastewater systems, process debottlenecking, technical due diligence, and regulatory compliance.
Prior to joining Azura, James completed his Master’s in Applied Science at the University of Guelph. His graduate research investigated the electroflotation treatment of high-strength microbrewery wastewater
When he is not in the office, James can often be found on a soccer-field or squash court, and when he is lucky, scuba diving in warm tropical waters!
Facilities
Azura extends the associate business model to include facilities. In addition to Azura’s modest testing area, we are able to leverage long-standing relationships within and across the scientific and engineering communities. These relationships allow us to make appropriate facilities available to suit any client needs.
For sample integrity and data quality reasons we prefer to undertake treatability testing and pilot trials at client facilities—close to the processes generating the material being evaluated. If required, we use our broad network of facilities, at both private and university-based laboratories, to conduct short- and long-term evaluations. From one-day wastewater genetic testing trials to months-long anaerobic digestion treatability tests, Azura is able to tap into the right resource at the right time to drive our client’s business solutions.