Environment alumni are shaping our sustainable future
Each year, we are honoured to recognize some of our most illustrious graduates through our annual awards program.
All across the world, Faculty of Environment alumni are making the world a better place. From Argentina to Zimbabwe and 80 countries in-between, alumni are working to improve their communities and the planet as urban planners, policymakers, scientists and educators. Some run businesses, others consult industry, and some start nonprofit organizations. Whether they are working for the public or private sector, and regardless of the program they graduate from, a common thread ties environment alumni together - they care and they want their work to matter.
The Faculty of Environment is proud of every one of its alumni and all the ways they contribute to a safer, more equitable, and more sustainable planet.
Congratulations to our 2022 award recipients
Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award
Honours an alumnus 10 or more years post-graduation who has demonstrated outstanding professional achievement, proven community impact, and significant contribution to sustainability.
BES '97, Geography | MA '98, Geography | PhD '01, Geography
Research Scientist, Environment & Climate Change Canada
Chris is a world-leading expert on snow with expertise spanning conventional observations, remote sensing, and climate model analysis. His research activities focus on the role of snow cover in the climate system and the implications of climate change on snow, including freshwater availability, Arctic ecosystems, and the carbon cycle. [Read more]
Young Alumni Inspiration Award
Recognizes graduates of the last 10 years who inspire the next generation of Environment grads through their professional achievements, community impact, and contributions to sustainability.
MDP '17, Development Practice
Manager, Sustainability & Social Impact at Deloitte
Laura co-leads Deloitte’s social impact offering, working with environmentally minded and impact-focused organizations and their leaders as they advance progress on pressing societal challenges. This includes leading sustainability initiatives for clients in a broad range of sectors to build and evaluate impact-driven programs and strategies that created shared economic and societal value. [Read more]
Acknowledges an individual, company, organization, group, or foundation who has had a positive and substantial impact on the Faculty of Environment through volunteerism, promotion, financial assistance, collaboration, and/or participation.
Accepted by Carla Smith, Executive Vice President & Chief People, Strategy and Climate Officer
Intact Financial Corporation is Canada’s largest property and casualty insurer and one of the University of Waterloo and Faculty of Environment’s strongest and most impactful partners. Intact’s partnership with the university spans more than a decade. Their foundational donation in 2015 helped establish the Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation, a renowned applied research centre that helps homeowners, communities and businesses reduce risks associated with climate change and extreme weather events while working with government to advise on policy and action. [Read more]
Do you know an exceptional friend or alumnus?
We would love to consider them for one of our awards. Please click the link below to nominate them today. It takes five minutes and you could be helping us discover our next award recipient!
Past recipients
Past Recipients Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award
Maureen Reed 2021
PhD '91, Geography
Assistant Director, School of Environment and Sustainability, University of Saskatchewan
Susan M. Cartwright 2008
MA 1981, Geography
Terry Fenge 2008
PhD 1982, Regional Planning & Resource Development
Don Fleming 2008
BES 1970, Urban & Regional Planning
Toshikazu Mito 2008
MAES 2003, Local Economic Development
Past Recipients Young Alumni Inspiration Award
Eric Kennedy 2021
BKI '12, Knowledge Integration
Assistant Professor, Disaster & Emergency Management, York University
Taarini Chopra 2016
MES ’13, Environment and Resources Studies