Our Team

Dr. Karney is the Founding Principal of HydraTek which now has a track record that spans more than 30 years since its inception in 1988.  He is a Professor of Civil Engineering, and formerly held the posts of Chair of the Environmental Engineering and Energy Division, and Associate Dean responsible for Cross-Disciplinary Programs, in the Faculty of Applied Science at the University of Toronto.  He has led numerous transient and specialty hydraulics studies and is the senior technical advisor on most complex projects.  Furthermore, he also leads HydraTek’s research and training components.  Through his teaching, research and consulting, Dr. Karney has influenced many hydraulic engineers and decision makers around the world.

Djordje (George) is the Managing Director of HydraTek and is responsible for the planning, coordination, and the direct execution of the division’s projects.  He is a Licensed Professional Engineer in the Provinces of Ontario and Alberta, and holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in Civil Engineering from the University of Toronto where he also completed the Collaborative Program in Environmental Engineering.  His graduate work focused on the interrelationship between field measurements and numerical analysis of hydraulic transients, as well as the role of air release valves in the control of water hammer. He has led analytical and field investigation projects across Canada and internationally for a wide range of systems where the firms hydraulics expertise was required, and has become a recognized leader in the field of urban water system hydraulics.

Fabian is a Principal of the firm’s HydraTek division and is responsible for business practices and corporate development in addition to technical advisory and project execution.  A specialist in municipal infrastructure systems, he is widely published on the topics of water supply and distribution, sanitary sewerage conveyance, urban drainage and stormwater management as well as water/wastewater infrastructure finance and investment.  He is a Licensed Professional Engineer and Designated Consulting Engineer in the Province of Ontario and performs the role of Peer Reviewer of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ (FCM) Green Municipal Fund (GMF) and Municipalities for Climate Innovation Program (MCIP).  Fabian has also previously held the post of Adjunct Professor at the University of Toronto and is the founder of HydraTek’s sister division fabian papa & partners (fp&p).

Johnathan is a Hydraulic and Field Investigation Specialist Engineer at HydraTek. Johnathan obtained his bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering at the University of Waterloo and his Doctor of Philosophy degree in Civil Engineering at the University of Toronto. His doctoral research concerned the mathematical models used to simulate unsteady pipe network hydraulics, with a very clear focus on in hydraulic transients (water hammer). Johnathan has several years of consulting engineering experience, which includes hydraulic analyses, numerical transient modeling, pumping system energy optimization, and hydraulic field investigations. The latter includes transient pressure monitoring, secondary flow meter verification studies, and in-situ pump performance and efficiency testing, amongst other matters.

Bryon is a Hydraulic Specialist at HydraTek with more than 15 years of experience in the water and wastewater industry. Bryon received both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Civil Engineering at the University of Toronto and is a Licensed Professional Engineer in the Province of Ontario. Bryon has worked on hundreds of hydraulics-related projects in Ontario, across Canada, and internationally, with the projects types ranging from hydraulic and transient analyses to field monitoring studies as well as research and development. He is an expert with respect to numerical transient modeling, the design and optimization of surge protection, and hydraulic field investigations.

Steve is a Hydraulic Field Investigation and Water Loss Specialist that has 25+ years experience in designing, implementing, and reporting on projects to monitor water & wastewater systems to identify and resolve operational challenges.  He has successfully implemented district metered areas (DMAs), and employed various methods of leak detection to be able to quantify and reduce real losses through various small- and large-scale, short- and long-term projects, completed across Canada and internationally.  He has prepared numerous Water Audits and worked alongside many notable international experts in the field of water loss management.

Paul holds a Ph.D. from the University of Toronto where he studied under the supervision of the division’s founder, Dr. Bryan Karney.  Since then, his professional experience includes research and development activity in relation to various hydraulic modelling platforms during his tenure at MWH Soft (subsequently Innovyze and now part of AutoDesk) as well as stint with the international consultancy Tebodin (Abu Dhabi, UAE) where he held the role of Hydraulic Modelling Specialist.  As a Hydraulic Specialist with HydraTek, he has worked on the development and application of hydraulic and water quality models for water distribution systems in support of planning, design, operation and emergency response activities.

Kelvin is an Engineer-in-Training at HydraTek with almost 5 years of professional experience in the field of water and wastewater system hydraulics.  He obtained his Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Toronto and has worked on a multitude of projects relating to hydraulic and transient water systems modelling and is well versed in hydraulic field investigation. Prior to joining HydraTek, Kelvin obtained valuable experience in the Region of York’s Infrastructure Asset Management branch during a 16-month co-operative education term, working with hydraulic and hydrologic wastewater model calibration.

Nikola is a hydraulic and field investigation specialist engineer at HydraTek with 10 years of professional experience.  He obtained both a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and a master’s degree in hydropower engineering at the University of Belgrade. He is a Licenced Professional Engineer in the Province of Ontario and a Chartered Professional Engineer in the Republic of Serbia. He has worked on a multitude of different projects both locally and internationally including, but not limited to, hydraulic and transient analyses of water and wastewater systems, pump performance and efficiency testing, flow and pressure monitoring, and hydrant flow testing on water distribution systems.  He is also knowledgeable in the design of the mechanical and hydro-mechanical equipment and systems in hydropower plants and pumping stations.