Industry & Services >> CEO Interviews >> January 24, 2000
ANDREW BENEDEK is the founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of
ZENON Environmental Inc. He received his Engineering degree (Chemical)
from McGill University, Montreal, Canada, in 1966. During a brief period
in the petrochemical industry, he came to see the effect of pollution on
the environment and decided to specialize in environmental engineering
for his post-graduate work. By 1970, Dr. Benedek obtained a PhD in
Chemical Engineering from the University of Washington, Seattle with a
focus on wastewater treatment. He then accepted a professorship at
McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada, where he taught and conducted
research to find ways of improving water quality. In 1978, Dr. Benedek
coordinated the internationally recognized Wastewater Research Group, an
organization known for its excellence in research in the field of water
treatment technologies. Recognizing that overuse and contamination
seriously threatened the world's water sources, he founded ZENON
Environmental Inc., a company dedicated to solving water quality
problems through the use of advanced membrane technologies. In 2003, Dr.
Benedek received the distinction of Honorary Doctor of Science from
McMaster University. ZENON Environmental Inc. was formed in 1980 on his
vision of a world where cost effective membrane technology could ensure
humanity's survival, with safe and superior quality water. Under his
leadership, ZENON has grown steadily and become a global leader in
membrane technology for water and wastewater treatment. Dr. Benedek was
among the first to believe that membrane technology would one day become
a practical way to treat water; many did not hold his view. Today, with
an ever-increasing array of microbial parasites not treatable by
conventional means, increasing numbers of people are convinced that
membranes are the critical technology to safeguard the world's water
supply. A growing number now subscribe to the belief that cost effective
and simple membrane technology is also the key to reusing water, thereby
alleviating water shortages. Dr. Benedek is a Director on the Board of
the Clean Water Legacy Trust which, along with the Clean Water Centre of
Excellence, supports clean water research and development projects,
coordination of training in the drinking water field and public
education on water quality. Dr. Benedek is a member of the inaugural
Faculty of Engineering Dean's Advisory Board at McMaster University.
Previously, he served on many public Boards such as the National
Research Council of Canada, the Canadian Advanced Technology Association
and the Biotechnology Research Institute. Noted as a leading authority
on global water related issues, he has written over 100 scientific
papers on different water and wastewater treatment technologies and
lectured extensively as keynote speaker to learned societies around the
world. In 2001, the American Water Works Association presented Dr.
Benedek with their prestigious George Warren Fuller Award, for
recognition of engineering skill, diplomatic talent and leadership. Profile
to set the stage for the readers?
Dr. Benedek: ZENON was founded in 1980 with the mission of solving the
world's water
