Climate Leaders Program

Student standing at wall with post it notes in a meeting setting

TheClimate Leaders Program helps students become leaders in climate action.

The program offers Waterloo students the opportunity to participate in climate leadership training and events, and network with climate researchers and professionals from the Waterloo community and beyond. The program is managed by the Climate Institute and supported by the Student Climate Council.

The Climate Leaders Program objectives include:

Community

Build and support a community of students across campus who are passionate about climate change, where they can learn from each other and share motivation and strength.

Capacity

Support students in their development of foundational leadership skills needed for climate-related careers by offering a range of uniquely-climate-focused training and workshops.

Network

Create opportunities for students to expand their professional networks through organized and facilitated connections with Climate Institute researchers, partners and collaborators representing diverse backgrounds and sectors.

We invite students to get involved in the Student Climate Leaders Program by subscribing to our mailing list, where you’ll learn about upcoming events, training opportunities and more.

Student Climate Council

The Student Climate Council supports the planning and organization of the Student Climate Leaders Program. The Council is composed of 12 student volunteers, including two students (one undergrad and one grad) from each university faculty.

Members of the Student Climate Council will:

Act as student ambassadors of the Climate Institute within their home faculties, promoting the Institute, its programs, and activities among students
Provide input on the Institute’s programs, activities and strategic planning.
Advise on the direction and activities of the Institute’s student climate leadership program
Provide support for the coordination and management of the Climate Institute’s student engagement activities on campus

Students must apply for these one-year volunteer positions and will join the council from September to August. Members of the Student Climate Council will gain organizational and leadership skills and knowledge while empowering like-minded student leaders across campus.

Please review the Terms of Reference to learn more about the council and the roles and expectations of the council members.

Applications for the 2023-2024 term are now closed. Please check back in summer/fall 2024 for the new application cycle.

Meet the Student Climate Leaders

Faculty of Engineering Leaders:

Undergraduate Representative: Nevedhaa Ayyappan

Nevedhaa is an undergraduate Systems Design Engineering student who works at the intersection of technology and society. Coming from a farming family, she has always been in touch with nature and human impact on the world we live in. As a member, Nevedhaa hopes to bring together different faucets of UWaterloo to inspire intersectional innovation in sustainability & climate justice!

Graduate Representative: Tola Titcombe

Tola is a graduate student majoring in Chemical Engineering. She is international student from Port-Harcourt, Nigeria. Her research centers on the techno-economic assessment of decarbonization solutions for the steel industry. Tola joined the Student Climate Council to cultivate public engagement, advocacy skills, contribute to the formation of the interdisciplinary and diverse community needed to address the climate crisis.

Faculty of Arts Leaders:

Undergraduate Representative: Serena Bal

Serena is a first-year undergraduate student majoring in Psychology and Business. She has always had a very keen interest in sustainable living, especially with components relating to climate and its impacts. She joined the Climate Institute as a Climate Institute Leader because she is passionate about what individual communities can achieve when they are educated. Serena hopes to incite action within the UWaterloo (and broader) community!

Graduate Representative: Amar Mahmoud

Amar is a second year Ph.D. student at the School of Accounting and Finance. He obtained his Bachelor of Business Administration and Master of Accounting from the Schulich School of Business. He received his CPA designation while working at EY's audit practice. Amar's has a research interest focus on sustainability issues. He joined the Student Climate Council to bring awareness of climate issues on campus. Amar hopes to play a role in preserving the planet for future generations.

Faculty of Science Leaders:

Undergraduate Representative: Jane Adele

Picture and bio coming soon!

Graduate Representative: Nyhenflore Delva

Nyhenflore is a master's student majoring in Chemistry. Her work mainly focuses on electrochemical treatment of contaminants of emerging concern and nitrogenous pollutants. She is excited about focusing on sustainability initiatives outside of the usual Science-coloured lens.

Faculty of Mathematics Leaders:

Undergraduate Representative: Justin Fluit

Justin is a second year student who is pursuing a dual degree in Math at the University of Waterloo and Business Administration at Wilfrid Laurier University. He is passionate about climate change, particularly mathematical and business concepts that can be used to analyze climate change.

Graduate Representative: Minh Chau Nguyen

Minh-Chau is a PhD student majoring in Actuarial Science at the University of Waterloo. As a researcher, she is interested in the intersection of climate change and insurance. As a food lover and beginner crafter, she is concerned with the problem of waste and waste management. By joining the Student Climate Council, Minh-Chau has had the chance to be involved in activities with real impacts, especially on students.

Faculty of Health Leaders:

Undergraduate Representative: Huda Nasir

Huda is a fourth year co-op student majoring in Kinesiology and English. She has always had a passion for climate activism and a newfound interest in health research. She loves making friends and talking to new people, which lead her to join the Climate Institute