Mat Thijssen

Mat Thijssen champions the University of Waterloo's sustainability activities and efforts, in partnership with a broad range of stakeholders on and off campus. He has helped develop Waterloo's Environmental Sustainability Strategy, annual Environmental Sustainability Reports, and the Shift: Neutral climate action plan. He also provides support to the President's Advisory Committee on Environmental Sustainability, and collaborates with numerous teams and departments for project and program implementation related to operational sustainability, integration in academics, and awareness building and behaviour change.

Prior to joining the University of Waterloo, Mat worked for three years with Sustainable Waterloo Region, a local environmental non-profit that helps convert organizational interest in sustainability into tangible action.

Mat remains active in community networks related to sustainability, including:

• Chair of the Sustainability Advisory Committee for the City of Waterloo
• Former member and chair of the ClimateActionWR Transportation Sector Committee
• Member and former Director of Communications for the Ontario College and University Sustainability Professionals
• Member of the Inter Municipal Parntership for Active Transportation (IMPAcT)

He has previously served on the Board of Directors for Community CarShare, and is an alumnus of the Kitchener-Waterloo Community Foundation's Engage!KW program.

Credentials

ISSP - SEA - International Society of Sustainability Professionals, Sustainability Excellence Associate

MA - University of Waterloo Balsillie School of International Affairs, Global Governance

BA - University of Waterloo, Arts & Business, Joint History and Religious Studies, International Studies Option

Contact

You can contact Mat for questions about sustainability at the University of Waterloo.