Hi, I’m Mackenzie! During my first two years at Western, I studied Accounting and Economics, and I’m pursuing my CPA designation as well. I love to be involved in activities both on and off-campus. I currently work with Western Off-Campus Housing, and I’m part of the Social Impact Club at Ivey and the Western Accounting Association. I also volunteer at a tax clinic in London. All of my experiences have been extremely rewarding and I can’t wait to have more of an impact in the future as I learn about sustainability and become more involved in the area.

What is your personal definition of sustainability? 

When I think of sustainability, I automatically think of the future and what it will look like based on our current practices. For instance, how are we using certain resources right now and will there be enough of these resources to support future generations. In my mind, sustainability does not only include the environment but also people and the economy. The overall question of sustainability to me is about how we can continue to innovate and allow equal access to jobs and education, while simultaneously protecting the environment and all the living organisms within it.

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

I see sustainability playing a major role in my career, especially due to my accounting focus. Right now, there is a lot of discussion around ESG measurements for corporations – what needs to be disclosed, how to audit this information, and so on. Corporations are increasingly reporting on ESG targets but there is no common framework to compare this information, plus the information is not usually audited. I am very excited to see what sustainability accounting will look like and how we can create measurements to evaluate the impact a company has on the environment and social issues.

More generally, I think sustainability will impact my career in terms of what values the firms I work at will have. I no longer think decisions will be made to only benefit the bottom line of the company. Shareholder vs stakeholder theory is a very real discussion that I see playing out more towards making decisions to benefit all stakeholders, thus the work that I do will likely have a broader impact than just increasing profits.

What sustainability projects have you been engaged in?

In August 2023 I went on a week-long trip to Costa Rica with Western and Global Learning Programs to learn about sustainability. Each day we embarked on a variety of activities – discovering new ways to compost, walking through nature, learning about insects at the university, visiting pineapple and coffee farms, and listening to the stories of people who live there. We learned about the sustainable practices of both business and individuals within Costa Rica, and at the end of each day took time to reflect on what we could bring back to Canada and incorporate within our own lives.

While this may not be a typical project in the sense that I didn’t create a tangible output, it was a crucial step in developing my knowledge around what sustainability means to me. My biggest takeaway, and what I would call a central theme of the trip, was to always think of things in the context of these 3 pillars: people, planet, and profit. As I embark on future projects, I know I will always come back to these 3 pillars to make decisions and have a better understanding of the impact of the various decisions.

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

• ESG reporting/measuring
• Environmental sustainability, especially biodiversity protection
• Regenerative agriculture and farming practices
• Social responsibility, especially healthcare and education related.
• Corporate greenwashing and ethical business practices related to sustainability.