Building a better world | Waterloo News

Waterloo’s global network of 205,000 alumni is a force to be reckoned with.

The annual Alumni Awards recognize exceptional members in the Waterloo network, and the impact they’ve made during their careers. Here are just some of the ways these alumni go beyond to make positive change in the world.

Advocating for victims

When Susheel Gupta (BA ’93) was 12 years old, his mother was killed in the Air India Flight 182 terrorist bombing. This tragedy led him to a career in public service. In his career, he’s taken a number of influential roles, including federal prosecutor with the Department of Justice and vice-chairperson of the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal.

Susheel uses this valuable career experience to give back. He volunteers extensively with organizations dedicated to educating young people about Canada’s justice system. He also provides his time to organizations that support and advocate for victims of crime in Canada and internationally.

Susheel received the Faculty of Arts Alumni Achievement Award in 2018.

Inspiring youth for environmental change

Dominique Souris (BES ’16) dedicates her career and spare time to making positive change. She is the co-founder and executive director of Youth Climate Lab (YCL), a global non-profit that supports youth-driven ideas and projects for climate action.

Dominique’s passion was sparked when she attended the 2013 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change as a Waterloo student. Since then she has returned to the convention many times, forging relationships with world leaders and student delegators.

She also volunteers on a number of boards and councils, including the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network Canada Advisory Council.

Dominique received the Faculty of Environment Young Alumni Award in 2018.

Fighting for an inclusive government

Graeme Reid (BES ’14) is of mixed Anishinaabe and European descent. He is a senior advisor with the Assembly of First Nations, where he advocates for the inclusion of First Nations in climate change and energy policy dialogues at the federal, provincial, and territorial level.

In his spare time, Graeme advocates for people living with Ankylosing Spondylitis and Crohn’s Disease, and recently collaborated with others to create the Ottawa Branch of the Canadian Spondylitis Association.

Graeme received the 2018 St. Paul’s University College Young Alumni Award in 2018.

Providing for patients across the globe

Nitish Sharma (BMath ’14) is an investment professional with a passion for helping others. In his spare time, he volunteers for the World Parkinson’s Program (WPP), which provides assistive devices and aids to more than 100 patients in developing countries. As director and chair of the organization’s international affairs committee, he has expanded WPP’s chapter footprint to more than 25 sites around the world.

Nitish received the School of Accounting and Finance Young Alumni Award in 2018.