Laura Cardenas
AMPP Board of Directors
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Topic
Infrastructure Resilience During the Energy Transition
Affiliation
AMPP Board of Directors 2026 Vice-Chair
Professional Engineer (P.Eng.), Engineers and Geoscientists of British Columbia (EGBC)
P.Eng., Association of Professional Engineers
and Geoscientists of Alberta (APEGA)
Abstract
As the world advances toward a low-carbon future, maintaining the integrity of both existing and emerging energy infrastructure is critical to achieving reliable and sustainable decarbonization goals. This plenary talk explores the concept of resilience through two interconnected perspectives: human resilience and technical resilience.
Drawing on a personal journey, the plenary talk highlights how adaptability, curiosity, and courage shape both professional growth and engineering practice. These themes are connected to the evolution of carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS), including pioneering projects that generated the operational experience needed to advance large-scale CCUS and inform future infrastructure development.
The plenary talk examines how lessons learned from these projects have been translated into industry standards through AMPP's collaborative, volunteer-driven standards development process.
By illustrating how personal adaptability and technical innovation reinforce one another, this plenary presentation demonstrates the essential role corrosion, and materials professionals play in enabling resilient infrastructure, supporting informed standards development, and accelerating the energy transition.
Biography
Laura Cardenas is a registered Professional Engineer with extensive expertise in corrosion control and materials technologies across diverse sectors, including infrastructure, transportation, municipal systems, and the oil and gas industry. As Lead Materials Engineer at WSP she contributes to projects involving materials selection, durability design, failure analysis, protective coatings, and more. Laura gained invaluable experience during her studies in Germany, specializing in metallurgy, metal refining, and alloy development. She has served as a volunteer leader with AMPP for nearly two decades and currently holds the position of Vice Chair on the AMPP Board of Directors. Born in Venezuela and proud to call Canada home, she is multilingual, a passionate globetrotter, and an outdoor enthusiast.
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Ernst Toussaint
Associates
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Topic
Preservation Before Replacement: Making Infrastructure Investment Last
Affiliation
Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP)
Abstract
Throughout the world, and particularly in rapidly developing economies such as India, significant investments are being made in bridges, transportation networks, water systems, ports, energy facilities, and other critical infrastructure. While considerable attention is placed on designing and constructing these assets, an equally important question must be considered: How do we ensure that the infrastructure being built today continues to perform for generations to come?
Infrastructure preservation must begin long before visible deterioration or failure occurs. Effective corrosion management, protective coatings, cathodic protection, inspection, and planned maintenance are essential to extending asset service life. However, technical solutions alone are not enough. Long-term performance also depends on qualified professionals, capable contractors, effective standards, quality assurance, and lifecycle-based decision-making.
This plenary will explore the need to move from a reactive “repair and replace” approach toward a proactive culture of preservation. With particular attention to India’s continued infrastructure growth, the presentation will examine how early intervention, workforce competency, standards, and effective asset management can protect infrastructure investment and improve long-term performance.
Ultimately, the challenge is not simply to build more, but to preserve what we build.
Biography
Ernst Toussaint, PE, PCS is Vice President of Civil Infrastructure at the Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP), where he leads initiatives to help Departments of Transportation (DOTs), water and wastewater utilities, and other public infrastructure agencies integrate AMPP standards, certifications, and accreditation programs into specifications, procurement, workforce development, and asset preservation strategies.
Ernst brings more than 25 years of diverse experience in corrosion control, protective coatings, insulation, fireproofing, pipelines, chemical plants, and industrial infrastructure. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from the University of Florida and a Master of Business Administration from West Texas A&M University. He is a Licensed Professional Engineer in Texas and an AMPP CIP Level 3, Concrete Coatings Level II and Bridge Coating Inspector Level II.
Ernst is a Certified Lead Instructor for several AMPP courses and has extensive experience in coatings inspection, corrosion mitigation, infrastructure preservation, and workforce development. He is a past recipient of the AMPP Coatings Education and National Fireproofing Contractors Association Award. He has been actively involved with AMPP and its predecessor organizations for more than 20 years.
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Nilaksh Kothari
CEO
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Topic
Mitigation of Corrosion Issues in Water Utilities -International Practices
Affiliation
CEO, Preferred Consulting LLC, USA
Abstract
The largest capital investment in a water system is the water distribution system. The aging infrastructure in USA will require major investment in the next two decades. The presentation will discuss the external pipe corrosion and how Utilities in USA mitigate corrosion issues during design, construction and post installation.
Biography
Nilaksh Kothari, P.E. is the CEO of Preferred Consulting LLC that provides leadership, management and technical services to Utilities. Nilaksh has served as CEO & General Manager of Manitowoc Public Utilities (MPU) and Managing Director of Great Lakes Utilities (GLU) since August 2000 until he retired from MPU in June 2020. He has more than 40 years of leadership experience in the electric and water sector. MPU is the largest municipally-owned electric utility and the sixth largest water utility in Wisconsin. Mr. Kothari reported to a seven-member Board of Directors (Commission members). GLU is the second largest municipal electric company in Wisconsin with focus on providing reliable and low cost power supply to its 12 member communities.
Nilaksh is the Past President of American Water Works Association (2007-2008). He holds a Master’s degree in Sanitary Engineering from South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from M.S. University, Baroda, India. He has served on Board of American Public Power Association, Water Research Foundation and currently serves on AWWA’s International Council. Nilaksh is a registered Professional Engineer in Wisconsin.
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