Dean Debassige is a member of the Chippewas of the Thames First Nation and has recently completed the Operator in Training (OIT) program for water operators. Dean initially joined OFNTSC as a summer student in 2019 and has since been trained in the fuel and water operator fields. Prior to joining OFNTSC, Dean graduated from Cambrian College in the Mining Engineering Technology program with honours. He also completed the underground common core training and is fully licensed.
As the Asset Management Adviser Dean works under the direct supervision of the Director of Engineering & Infrastructure with the guidance of the Senior O&M Advisor to support the Operation & Maintenance program activities for First Nations infrastructure assets. This includes developing methods that help improve First Nations O&M funding and processes that ensure effective operation & maintenance and planning procedures are applied, in a cost-effective manner, over the full life cycle of community infrastructure.