Faculty of Environment Alumni Awards

Environment alumni are shaping our sustainable future

All across the world, Faculty of Environment alumni are making the world a better place. From Argentina to Zimbabwe and 80 countries in-between, alumni are working to improve their communities and the planet as urban planners, policymakers, scientists and educators. Some run businesses, others consult industry, and some start nonprofit organizations. Whether they are working for the public or private sector, and regardless of the program they graduate from, a common thread ties environment alumni together - they care and they want their work to matter.

The Faculty of Environment is proud of every one of its alumni and all the ways they contribute to a safer, more equitable, and more sustainable planet. Each year, we are honoured to recognize some of our most illustrious graduates through our annual awards program.

Congratulations to our 2022 award recipients:

Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award

Honours an alumnus 10 or more years post-graduation who has demonstrated outstanding professional achievement, proven community impact, and significant contribution to sustainability.

Chris Derksen

Chris Derksen

BES '97, Geography | MA '98, Geography | PhD '01, Geography

Research Scientist, Environment & Climate Change Canada

Chris is a world-leading expert on snow with expertise spanning conventional observations, remote sensing, and climate model analysis. His research activities focus on the role of snow cover in the climate system and the implications of climate change on snow, including freshwater availability, Arctic ecosystems, and the carbon cycle. [Read more]

Young Alumni Inspiration Award

Recognizes graduates of the last 10 years who inspire the next generation of Environment grads through their professional achievements, community impact, and contributions to sustainability.

professional woman smiling

Laura Maxwell

MDP '17, Development Practice

Manager, Sustainability & Social Impact at Deloitte

Laura co-leads Deloitte’s social impact offering, working with environmentally minded and impact-focused organizations and their leaders as they advance progress on pressing societal challenges. This includes leading sustainability initiatives for clients in a broad range of sectors to build and evaluate impact-driven programs and strategies that created shared economic and societal value. [Read more]

Friend of the Faculty Impact Award

Acknowledges an individual, company, organization, group, or foundation who has had a positive and substantial impact on the Faculty of Environment through volunteerism, promotion, financial assistance, collaboration, and/or participation.

Professional woman smiling

Intact Financial Corporation

Accepted by Carla Smith, Executive Vice President & Chief People, Strategy and Climate Officer

Intact Financial Corporation is Canada’s largest property and casualty insurer and one of the University of Waterloo and Faculty of Environment’s strongest and most impactful partners. Intact’s partnership with the university spans more than a decade. Their foundational donation in 2015 helped establish the Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation, a renowned applied research centre that helps homeowners, communities and businesses reduce risks associated with climate change and extreme weather events while working with government to advise on policy and action. [Read more]

Do you know an exceptional friend or alumnus?

We would love to consider them for one of our awards. Please click the link below to nominate them today. It only takes 5 minutes and you could be helping us discover our next award recipient!