What is your personal definition of sustainability? 

My personal definition of sustainability is human society living in harmony/balance with the Earth, its resources, and other living beings. This means we have to take care to limit our negative impacts on our environments. Living in harmony/balance goes beyond just taking care of our natural environment but also tackling injustices in our society. We cannot be “sustainable” if significant social issues plague us.

What role do you see sustainability playing in your professional career?

I can see sustainability playing a large role in my professional career. Already, my first office job at a conservation authority was sustainability focused. Right now, I am looking to work at a startup related to sustainability in some form. To me, sustainability involves working to have a positive impact on society; which is my goal for my professional career. Even if my plans change, and I find myself working with an organization not directly related to sustainability, I can see myself taking the lead in ensuring sustainable practices. I am originally from the Middle East and quite frankly we are lacking in sustainability back home. A dream of mine is to grow myself as much as I can and return home to try and make a positive difference. The beauty of sustainability is that it can take me through so many different paths in my professional career. 

What sustainability projects have you been engaged in?

Firstly, in my internship last summer with the Upper Thames Conservation Authority (UTRCA) I created a plan to build a climate change education village. That was my main project, but I was also involved in several others. Namely, the GREEN Leaders Project. UTRCA staff met with middle school students and completed a process that took them from identifying local environmental issues to taking civic action in their community. Furthermore, I volunteer with the Antler River Rally Cleanup. During the summer and early fall we meet once a month to clean different parks by the Thames River. Furthermore, I was a part of the Ivey Community Consulting project where I was paired with an organization. The organization helped tackle different social issues in the London community, and I helped advise them on an issue they were facing. Finally, I was involved with the RBC Innovation Bootcamp which required me to come up with a solution that a sustainability related organization in London was facing. 

Please list any sustainability-related interests you want to explore during the certificate. 

• Climate racism
• Combating climate anxiety
• Sustainable architecture / city planning
• Sustainability in developing nations
• Sustainability in the energy sector