"Nothing existed in terms of engineering student governance . . . we had to create it!" Koch (BASc '63, MASc '64) says. "While I didn't realize it at the time, this opportunity gave me the early experiences that have encouraged and allowed me to contribute in a volunteer governance and fundraising role to many organizations throughout my entire adult life."
His experience in student government, and as a member of the University of Waterloo Senate in the mid-1960s, led him to further involvement with alumni activities and to service as a member of the Board of Governors. During his time on the board in the mid 1990s, Koch had a major hand in the development of the Campus Master Plan.
Koch spent most of his professional career working for IBM. He retired in 1992, devoting himself to the environment and sustainable development. His interest in the environment was sparked by his attendance as a YMCA of Canada delegate at the UN Conference on the Human Environment in Stockholm in 1972.
His volunteer activities expanded when he moved to Ottawa, where he now lives. Koch has been involved in diverse groups - everything from the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra to the Ottawa OutCare Foundation, to the City of Ottawa Environmental Advisory Committee, which he chaired from 2001-2006. Among his many continuing roles related to the environment, he serves on the Dean's Advisory Council for the Faculty of Environmental Studies.
Koch says, "When I think of my connection to the University of Waterloo, I am intensely proud to have been a small part of the development of Canada's leading university from the very beginning."
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