I’ve always enjoyed being outdoors, spending the last fourteen summers in Muskoka, participating in and eventually leading Canoe trips through the provincial parks of Algonquin and Killarney. Over time I’ve grown too old for my position as a trip leader and have turned to academics to maintain my relationship with the environment. Before Ivey, I studied economics, where I learned about the difficulties related to sustainable business. I particularly enjoyed my environmental economics class, where I learned about the ESG incentives used to promote sustainability. At Ivey, I’ve learned the role I can play in creating a more sustainable future. 

What is your personal definition of sustainability?

Sustainability means satisfying the needs of all people in current or future generations. Sustainability is a complex topic with multiple influences that must be considered in the long-term to minimize harm to the planet and support future generations. When I consider sustainability, I think about future generations who will be in my position 20 years from now. Keeping this in mind, I’m motivated to find sustainable practices that maintain current resources for everyone now and in the future. 

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

I see sustainability playing a leading role in my professional career. As a result, I’m very intrigued by start-ups working in the renewable energy space. Interestingly, for my Ivey Design Project, my group researched how business schools can make clean energy alternatives more readily accessible in apartment buildings and other mass residencies. During this process, I had the opportunity to pick the brains of multiple CEOs and learn what start-ups in the clean energy space need. It was this process that cemented my interest in renewable energy. 

While I don’t know what path my professional career will take me on, I believe sustainability will become increasingly crucial for businesses to focus on. The company I’m working at this summer, General Dynamics, has made a considerable commitment to environmental sustainability, which has become a trend for businesses in general. However, I disagree that businesses can either be sustainable or for profit. In future, I believe consumers will put an increasing emphasis on sustainability and will be willing to pay premiums for more sustainable products, especially as the fight against climate change becomes increasingly urgent. I look forward to supporting or introducing sustainability initiatives with any company I work with. 

What sustainability projects have you been engaged in? 

I've always loved participating in sustainability projects. Beginning in elementary school, my brother and I started collecting pop tabs which then could be recycled into wheelchairs. We collected pop tabs from events, social gatherings, and family events, eventually contributing enough to enable the school to build a wheelchair. Our family was the biggest pop tab donor.  

I stepped back from sustainability projects in high school, adjusting to new social circles and school norms. Then, in grade 11, I joined my high school's environmental club. Our most notable project was hosting tree planting days for elementary schools and local parks in London. 

My favourite sustainability project was when I worked with ASHMuskoka; a company focused on restoring calcium levels in the Muskoka Area. Muskoka experienced heavy acid rain, which as a result, stripped the environment of calcium, which is essential for wildlife. Calcium-rich wood ash collected from home stoves can be scattered in forests to restore calcium levels. When working with ASHMuskoka I ran tests on various types of trees to see the impact wood ash had on tree health over four months.