Dean MacKenzie is a recognized expert in land reclamation and environmental restoration, with over 26 years of experience leading innovative reclamation strategies. Over his 26+ year career, he has developed and led innovative reclamation strategies across a wide range of ecosystems throughout Canada and the United States. His experience spans diverse industries, including oil sands, coal mining, conventional oil and gas, pipelines, peat harvesting, and aggregate operations.  He holds a Ph.D. in Land Reclamation and Remediation from the University of Alberta. As Vice President at Vertex Resource Group, Dean has led numerous large-scale projects focused on restoring boreal ecosystems. He has collaborated extensively with governments, industry leaders, Indigenous communities and organizations, and multi-stakeholder groups such as Pathways Alliance and the Petroleum Technology Alliance of Canada. Dean has authored several industry guidelines and published research on topsoil and boreal forest reclamation. His thought leadership is demonstrated through his contributions to advancing industry standards, particularly in land reclamation . Registered as a Professional Agrologist in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and British Columbia, Dean’s approach integrates scientific rigor with practical, field-based solutions tailored to complex environmental challenges..