2018 Young Alumni Award recipient:
Her passion for international climate policy was sparked while she was still a UW student. Souris attended the 2013 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Poland, where she volunteered to negotiate on behalf of the Island nation of Seychelles. Since then, she has returned to many UNFCCC proceedings; forging countless relationships with diplomats, politicians and non-profit leaders, and mentoring other student delegations.
As a graduate student at the Balsillie School of International Affairs and formerly as Graduate Research Fellow at the Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI), her research explores innovative finance for climate change impacts and refugee responsibility sharing. It has been recognized both by the World Refugee Council, who will be developing the work, and by the Government of Canada, who named her a finalist in the International Policy Innovation Challenge.
Souris was named one of Canada’s Top 30 under 30 Sustainability Leaders, one of six World Environment Day Youth Ambassadors by Minister McKenna and one of 25 Global Shapers to attend the World Economic Forum’s Sustainable Development Impact Summit. Most recently, she was recognized as one of the world’s top 100 visionary leaders by Real Leaders.
Souris sits on a number of boards and councils, including the Steering Committee of Eco Canada Environmental Training Development, the board of the Foundation for Environmental Stewardship and the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) Canada Advisory Council.