My name is Julia, and I love spending time outdoors with friends, family, and my pets. Before starting at Ivey, I was a Biodiversity and Conservation student at Western, and I am now completing a dual degree with that program. My Biodiversity and Conservation courses, involvement in my high school’s environmental council, and camp councillor position at Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada have fostered my passion for conservation. I think sustainability will become increasingly important in all professional careers and I’m excited to see future sustainable innovations. I want to be part of a bright, sustainable future! 

What is your personal definition of sustainability?

To me, sustainability means taking action to preserve the environment for future generations for all living things, giving the earth the respect that it deserves, and consciously making decisions to meet those objectives. In day-to-day life, that means making an effort to walk or carpool, using reusable packaging, supporting sustainable fashion brands and companies, etc., and encouraging others to do the same. In the workplace, this could look like educating co-workers and management about environmental issues and the benefits of becoming more sustainable, initiating conversations about what your team or even company can do to promote sustainability, and more.   

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

I see sustainability playing a significant role in my professional career. I have always been passionate about conservation and sustainability, so much so that I am working towards an Honours BSc in Biodiversity and Conservation. I plan to finish that degree alongside my HBA to bring a broader skillset to the world of conservation. I see myself in a workplace that highly values sustainability and aims to promote global sustainability. I see myself in a sustainable field, like green energy or environmental consultation, so sustainability will be the primary focus of my career. For as long as I can remember, I have felt called to conservation and to take action to preserve the environment. As the number of deaths from environmental disasters continues to grow worldwide, I feel that it is the duty of individuals and companies to prioritize sustainability, so I foresee sustainability playing a role in the professional careers of all my peers. 

What sustainability projects have you been engaged in?

I have engaged in multiple sustainability projects through high school and university. I was an active member of my high school’s environmental council for four years, where I had consistent involvement in ravine and neighbourhood clean-ups. Additionally, I assisted with garbage data collection, where we, as a council, analyzed if the recycling bins were being correctly used throughout the school. Also, I led a “no idling” campaign for two consecutive years that encouraged drivers to limit idling while on the campus driveway. At Western, I founded a “Wands for Wildlife” drive in my residence building. For the drive, I collected make-up wands, washed them, and sent them to a non-profit organization that uses the wands to clean small rescue animals. These wands would otherwise be thrown out and sent to a landfill, but this drive allows them to serve another purpose. I have also worked as a camp councillor at Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada, where I supported the education of campers on conservation and sustainability. Many of the activities and lessons I completed with campers gave them a foundation of conservation and an understanding of the importance of sustainability.