My name is Damian Vuceljic, and I’m a student with a deep passion for sustainability. Many of my formative experiences were on hiking, biking, or skiing trips. These trips exposed me to diverse landscapes and fostered a deep appreciation for all the beauty Earth has to offer. There is nothing more important to me than making sure my children and grandchildren get to see Earth in the same glory I was so privileged to see. I’ve always consciously tried integrating a sustainability lens into my daily decision-making. I look forward to building a career that empowers me to do this on a more impactful scale.

What is your personal definition of sustainability? 

Sustainability is an integrated focus on environmental stewardship. The “Dish with One Spoon” Wampum Covenant profoundly resonates with me and encapsulates my approach to sustainability. Sustainability means developing a cogent awareness of our context as visitors on this Earth and engaging with each other to make concessions that preserve our Earth for future generations of visitors. Sustainability extends beyond planting trees – it involves democratizing natural resources and inviting diverse perspectives to rooms where decisions about our Earth are made.

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

Most modern leaders are failing to bridge the gap between sustainable ideals and daily activities, and my generation entering the workforce will mark a significant point of inflection in this respect. I want to help organizations make necessary process changes to realize their sustainability goals. More specifically, I’m interested in a career that empowers me to support Canada’s transition to clean energy. Our clean energy infrastructure is reaching the end of its useful life, and we will need significant innovation and capital coordination to develop new sources of renewable power. HBA1’s many sustainability-focused reports and exams have genuinely changed how I view the world around me, adding a central sustainability lens. I feel compelled to build a career focused on sustainability. I believe that instrumentalizing my skills in this context is the best way for me to stay passionate about the work I do every day.

What sustainability projects have you been engaged in?

I’ve participated in numerous sustainability projects my whole life. Prior to university, I spent my summers as a specialty camp counsellor with the City of Toronto, where I developed and delivered an “Outdoor Education” program to over 200 campers. I used this opportunity to help my campers recognize how their decisions have a lasting impact on our Earth, as campers explored minimizing waste and finding alternative uses for goods they no longer need.

I previously worked at Starbucks as a Community Involvement Leader, where I developed partnerships between Starbucks stores and community non-profits catering to the food insecure. The locations I worked at no longer dispose of unsold food but instead donate it to shelters and churches that can get it to people in need.

I work with the Ivey Community Engagement Club as a Case Instructor. I’m part of the ICEC’s inaugural high school instruction program, where we teach Ivey’s case method to underserved youth in London public schools to promote diversity in business leadership. This club’s mission is very close to my heart and a great example of the grassroots D&I initiatives necessary for the successful transition to a sustainable economy.

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

I want to learn more about the transition to clean energy and connect with people who can direct me in my self-learning. I want to develop the skills I need to get my foot in the door and make an impact. The future of energy is small nuclear reactors, so I would appreciate any opportunity to connect with individuals working on innovation in this space (OPG, Global First Power, etc.).

I’m also interested in connecting with people working to integrate ESG metrics into executive pay. I would be interested in learning more about the correlation between organizational incentives for ESG and corporate goal achievement.

If these are too specific and out of reach, I really am very curious about sustainability. I would appreciate the opportunity to connect with anyone who is innovating to make renewable technologies more accessible and scalable.