The program highlights contributions that position 91亚色 as an instutition for research excellence and transformative innovations. 

Research contributed by more than 60 faculty members reflect the breadth of the University's research strengths, spanning sustainability, law, AI, chemistry and the social sciences.

"I am exceedingly proud to be part of an institution that contains the kind of excellence we are celebrating," says Lisa Philipps, interim president and vice-chancellor. "91亚色 is an institution that offers educational experiences to our students that are informed by this deep research, scholarly and creative excellence; and a place where we also make it part of our mission to reach outside the metaphorical walls of the University to share and collaborate with communities, industry, policy-makers, the media and the wider public."

The recipients demonstrate the purposeful research that is fundamental to real-world change, says Amir Asif, vice-president, research and innovation

The annual awards program serves as an opportunity to recognize the excellence, creativity and ingenuity of 91亚色' research community.

Awards

President鈥檚 Emerging Research Leadership Award (PERLA)
Christopher Caputo, associate professor in the Faculty of Science, received this award for his contributions to sustainable chemistry and materials science. His research advances the use of Earth鈥慳bundant elements as alternatives to rare and precious metals, addressing key environmental and sustainability challenges while influencing catalytic and materials science.

A Tier II Canada Research Chair and recipient of the John Charles Polanyi Prize in Chemistry, Caputo has secured more than $4 million in research funding. His work has resulted in 21 patents and strong industry engagement, demonstrating the translation of discovery into application.  

The President鈥檚 Emerging Research Leadership Award was also awarded to Emily Kidd White, associate professor at , for her pioneering scholarship at the intersection of law, emotion and constitutional theory. Her work applies the philosophy of emotion to legal analysis, examining the gap between formal legal reasoning and the lived realities of legal practice, particularly in international law. 

Her research has shaped scholarly conversations across disciplines and established her as a thinker of global influence, strengthening 91亚色鈥檚 research profile and academic mission. 

President鈥檚 Research Excellence Award
Presented to Jimmy Huang, professor in the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies, this award recognizes his contributions to information retrieval, data mining, AI and natural language processing. A Tier 1 91亚色 Research Chair and founding director of the Information Retrieval and Knowledge Management Research Lab, Huang has played a leading role in shaping the future of AI research, including some of the earliest systematic evaluations of large language models.

Huang has secured more than $7 million in external research funding and his work has influenced practice across industry and health care. His mentorship record includes supervising 16 postdoctoral fellows, 23 doctoral students and 32 master鈥檚 students, many of whom have gone on to academic careers.  

President鈥檚 Research Impact Award
Kerry Kawakami, professor in the , received this award聽for the influence and reach of her scholarship on unconscious bias. Her research has reshaped how systemic inequality is understood across academic,聽legal聽and institutional contexts, extending well beyond the聽post-secondary聽sector.

Kawakami鈥檚 work has informed legal practice and judicial decision鈥憁aking, including professional development programs for the Law Society of Ontario, expert testimony and keynote addresses. Her research has been cited in multiple U.S. Supreme Court decisions, demonstrating its impact on public understanding, policy and the pursuit of justice. 

The awards ceremony also highlighted faculty in other categories. 

Book Awards, Literary and Artistic Achievements
Six honourees received this award for their books, creative works and exhibitions that received national or international recognition from peers and leading cultural institutions. 

Major Grants
Recognition for researchers leading significant, externally funded research initiatives that advance knowledge and address complex societal challenges was awarded to seven honourees. 

Other Learned Societies, Fellowships and Awards
91亚色 awarded 12 honourees with this award for their leadership and contributions that have been recognized through election to learned societies, prestigious medals, professional fellowships and national or international honours. 

Outstanding Early Career Awards
Four honourees earned this award to recognize the notable achievements of 91亚色鈥檚 early-career researchers whose work shows strong promise and leadership within their fields. 

Significant Knowledge Mobilization &Impact Awards
For knowledge mobilization and impact outside of academia, 14 honourees were recognized with this award. 

91亚色 Research Chairs, Canada Research Chairs and Distinguished Research Professors
Fifteen honourees were celebrated for these appointments that support research excellence and scholarly leadership at the highest level in their respective fields. 

Royal Society of Canada & Governor General Awards
Two honourees earned this distinction, recognizing faculty who have made remarkable contributions in their research pursuits related to science, humanities and the arts. 

View the slide deck below to see a full list of recipients. 

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Tracking Earth鈥檚 ecological limits over more than six decades, the latest figures shared by the University鈥檚 Ecological Footprint Initiative show human activity now requires the equivalent of 1.7 Earths each year to sustain current levels of consumption.

Eric Miller is director of 91亚色鈥檚 Ecological Footprint Initiative 鈥� a multidisciplinary group of scholars, students and organizations working to advance understanding of the world鈥檚 ecological footprint and biocapacity. He warns that data reflects a 70 per cent overshoot of the planet鈥檚 renewable capacity. 

The figures, released on Earth Day, include what researchers describe as the most comprehensive open-access dataset to date that measures human impact on the planet. Produced in partnership with the University of Iceland, the ecological footprint dataset spans 1961- 2025 and measures the land and sea area needed to produce food, fibres and resources people use, and to absorb associated waste, including carbon emissions.

The dataset was developed through an innovative sustainability training program at the International Ecological Footprint Learning Lab, a multi-partner research initiative that brings together faculty and graduate students from 91亚色 and the University of Iceland. The program trains students to work with large environmental datasets while advancing research into ecological footprint and biocapacity. 

Along with Miller, 91亚色-based co-authors include master of environmental studies (MES) alums Kiona Lo and Neha Basnet as well as MES students Bumika Srikanthalingam, Beatrice Foley and Anna Hao Long. Co-authors from the University of Iceland include Johanna Louise Van Berkum, Petra Toneva, Marina Ermina and Clara Klinkenberg. 

Anchor funding for this work was provided by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) through a $2.5-million Talent-Stream Partnership Grant.

While the data suggest the rapid rise in global ecological pressure seen in recent decades may be slowing, there is still no clear evidence of a sustained decline.

鈥淔or the world to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, humanity must reduce its total ecological footprint by at least 59 per cent over the next 25 years,鈥� says Miller, who teaches in the . 鈥淭his metric goes beyond carbon 鈥� it reflects a broader scale of human demand on nature.鈥�

Looking closer to home, researchers note that Canada is rich in natural resources compared with other countries. Although Canadians only make up about 0.5 per cent of the global population, the country holds about four per cent of the planet鈥檚 biocapacity 鈥� the ability of Earth鈥檚 ecosystems to renew resources such as wood, food and clean water. 

Despite this advantage, Canada ranks eighth globally for per-capita consumption. In 2025, each Canadian used an average of 6.6 global hectares, roughly four times what would be sustainable at a planetary scale, and about double the per-person footprint of countries such as China or the U.K., notes Lo. Only the U.S. recorded a higher level.

鈥淐anada has a biocapacity advantage, but it is under pressure because of our large ecological footprint,鈥� says Lo. 鈥淐anada鈥檚 footprint is limiting opportunities for people elsewhere in the world to live well.鈥� 

Trade is also central to Canada鈥檚 ecological impact. In 2025, Canada drew on 3.1 per cent of the planet鈥檚 renewable capacity to produce and export resource-intensive food and forest products. Each dollar of Canadian exports required roughly twice the natural resources of each dollar of imports. 

About 60 per cent of Canada鈥檚 domestic ecological footprint was tied to goods produced for consumption in other countries. Globally, more than 30 per cent of what the world produced in 2025 was traded internationally 鈥� more than double the share recorded in 1961. 

鈥淐anadians consume a lot, but the footprint associated with what we produce and export is even larger,鈥� says Miller. 鈥淯nlike countries whose ecological footprints are driven mainly by imports, Canada is a net exporter and ranks 10th globally on that basis.鈥� 

He adds the national datasets can be used to examine biocapacity and ecological footprint at regional and municipal levels, and the initiative is expanding access to local data to support decision-making. 

鈥淲e are working to create more local, open-access data that leaders and policymakers can use,鈥� says Peri Dworatzek, partnership coordinator at the International Ecological Footprint Learning Lab. 鈥淭he goal is to empower countries, cities and individuals to better understand their impacts and identify where to go next.鈥� 

The initiative has launched the first open-access ecological footprint dataset for all Ontario municipalities. 

The ecological footprint and biocapacity framework is widely used by governments and organizations worldwide, including World Wildlife Fund, which has incorporated the metrics into public tools and awareness campaigns. 

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Thienpont teaches , a first-year course focused on Earth鈥檚 weather systems and the drivers of past and current climatic change. Through the course's learning lab activities, students conduct climate modelling to assess how human influence may contribute to different climate scenarios 鈥� and how those scenarios could impact biodiversity.

鈥淚 think it鈥檚 critical to understand the nuances of how the planet is going to change in the not-too-distant future as a result of anthropogenic activities, so I try to expose them to what is under the hood of computer models,鈥� says Thienpont, noting each course iteration operates about five lab sections for a total of about 200 students.

To forecast how global warming will manifest by 2100, Thienpont鈥檚 students use the same sophisticated computer modelling as climate scientists, which draws on the laws of physics (conservation of mass, energy, momentum), fluid dynamics and chemistry and considers variables such as temperature, wind and humidity.

Using five CO₂ emissions scenarios from the United Nations鈥� Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, students examine outcomes for each scenario, ranging from aggressive emissions cuts to high fossil fuel use. This data is used to analyze resulting risks, such as heatwaves, sea-level rise and species extinction.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a good way of taking things that are fairly theoretical and putting them into a real-world perspective,鈥� Thienpont says. 鈥淪tudents see just how variable the climate really is 鈥� if we can manage our emission activities to the point where we鈥檙e getting closer to more conservative scenarios, then the outcomes are much less drastic.鈥�

In another lab assignment, Thienpont asks students to consider how climate change might impact them directly by examining how a warming planet may affect one of the world鈥檚 most popular agricultural products: arabica coffee.

The bean grows best in a cool, stable tropical climate at a moderate to high altitude and needs plenty of rain and light shade. Global warming is causing dry spells and irregular rainfall, which diminishes the yield and quality of Arabica crops. Farmers must keep planting further upslope 鈥� but mountains only go so high.

Thienpont鈥檚 students map how the land suitable for growing the beans could shift under diverse climate scenarios in countries such as Brazil, Costa Rica, Hawaii, Honduras and Nicaragua.

鈥淭hey learn how some of these countries, where coffee is one of their main domestic exports, have quite small land areas for cultivation, and that land size is expected to keep shrinking 鈥� in some cases significantly,鈥� Thienpont says. 鈥淚t demonstrates that the impacts of climate change are global. Everyone who enjoys a cup of coffee in the morning may feel this outcome.鈥�

Thienpont says a nuanced understanding of climate change processes, outcomes and human influence helps prepare students for a range of science-related careers.

鈥淭he goal is to give them information that they鈥檒l be able to use, whether they go on to do further scientific exploration or work in environmental policy or city planning,鈥� he says. 鈥淭hey have a foundational understanding of the broad-scale environmental processes that impact us.鈥�

With files from Sharon Aschaiek

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The annual Canada鈥檚 Greenest Employers list recognizes organizations across Canada that demonstrate a strong culture of environmental awareness, embedding sustainability efforts throughout their institutional DNA.

For 14 consecutive years, adjudicators have selected 91亚色 for its successful and proactive leadership in reducing environmental impact across teaching, research and campus operations.

鈥�91亚色 is proud to be recognized once again as one of Canada鈥檚 Greenest Employers,鈥� says Narin Kishinchandani, vice-president, finance and administration. 鈥淭his continued designation reflects the work taking place across the University and our deep institutional focus on climate action initiatives.鈥�

The reasons 91亚色 was again named one of Canada鈥檚 Greenest Employers this year were: campus projects that have been supported by the鈥疭ustainability Innovation Fund to advance climate action; the Faculty of Science鈥檚 ongoing development of a Sustainable Labs certification program that will ensure eco-friendly practices amongst lab teams; and reduction of infrastructure footprints through solar air heating, green roofs, solar panels, rainwater collection and more.

Adjudicators also highlighted the鈥�Office of Sustainability鈥痑nd Human Resources鈥� sustainability orientation module for employees, the鈥�檚 sustainable campus walking tours and the University鈥檚 support of the鈥�Sustainability Champions Network, a peer mentoring program that fosters environmental action on campus.

These initiatives are part of a broader suite of institutional efforts. Among them is the ongoing commitment to the鈥�Sustainability Strategy 2030: Positive Change: Connecting People, Planet and Purpose鈥�which includes a focus on reducing direct and indirect emissions by 45 per cent by 2030. That work has supported 91亚色鈥檚 accelerated goal of鈥�achieving net-zero emissions by 2040鈥�� a full decade ahead of its original target.

Across its campuses, 91亚色 also continues to lead in environmental responsibility through efforts such as the upcoming annual鈥�痑苍诲鈥�.

The University鈥檚 inclusion on Canada鈥檚 Greenest Employers adds to a growing list of accolades for 91亚色.

Last year, 91亚色 was designated a鈥�Living Campus by the World Wildlife Fund Canada (WWF-Canada) for the second year in a row. The designation recognizes colleges and universities that demonstrate leadership in engaging their communities in conservation action and education.

The Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2025 placed 91亚色 second in Canada for its contributions to Sustainable Development Goal 12: Responsible consumption and production. 91亚色 was also recognized in the鈥� among the top academic institutions in the world for its impact with environmental leadership, education and research.

Nicole Arsenault, program director in the Office of Sustainability, says 91亚色鈥檚 continued recognition reflects a collective effort across the University.

鈥淪tudents, faculty, instructors and staff all play a critical role in advancing 91亚色鈥檚 sustainability goals,鈥� she says. 鈥淭hrough their engagement in teaching, research and campus operations, they help strengthen the University鈥檚 impact and support long-term progress on new and existing initiatives aimed at accelerating climate action.鈥�

As 91亚色 continues to advance its sustainability priorities through both new and ongoing programs, the University remains focused on building a more sustainable institution. That work spans infrastructure, academic leadership and community partnerships, with a shared goal of strengthening impact across its campuses, local communities and beyond.

鈥�Building a more sustainable institution 鈥� across our buildings, research, teaching and community partnerships 鈥� strengthens 91亚色鈥檚 leadership and delivers lasting benefits locally, nationally and globally,鈥� says Kishinchandani.

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91亚色 will play an integral role in a national initiative supporting long-term energy and climate decision-making.

The (EMH) is designed to strengthen Canada鈥檚 analytical capacity around energy systems transitions.

Mark Winfield, a professor at 91亚色鈥檚 (EUC), will help guide Canada鈥檚 future in energy as one of five academics serving on the hub鈥檚 executive committee.

The investment of nearly $5 million was awarded to a consortium of 91亚色, the University of Calgary, Carleton University, the University of Victoria and 脡cole Polytechnique to establish a national energy modelling network to support evidence-based decision-making around the sustainable decarbonization of Canada鈥檚 energy systems.

Funding is provided through the Natural Resources Canada鈥檚 Smart Renewables and Electrification Pathways Program. Additional funding for EMH is provided through the Trottier and Ivey Foundations.

Working together over the next four years, academics and industry experts will improve access to energy models, data and analytical tools so governments and stakeholders can better understand the implications of different pathways to decarbonization and energy sustainability.

鈥淭he Energy Modelling Hub serves as an independent enabler and capacity builder in Canada,鈥� says Winfield, who also co-chairs EUC鈥檚 Sustainable Energy Initiative. 鈥淚ts work focuses on connecting researchers and decision-makers, supporting open-source tools, improving access to data and providing opportunities for training and knowledge sharing.鈥�

Long-term planning, he says, will look at how to decarbonize energy systems while ensuring affordability and advancing sustainability.

EMH鈥檚 current work includes exploring the potential roles of connections between provincial electricity grids.

Contributing as 91亚色鈥檚 representative on the EMH executive committee, Winfield will help guide the strategic direction of the hub. Drawing on his extensive research on climate change, energy sustainability, and environment and energy law and policy, he will be part of a national effort to 鈥渁dvance the transition in the direction of sustainable energy systems.鈥�

In 2023, Winfield co-edited Sustainable Energy Transitions in Canada (UBC Press) exploring the technical, economic, political and policy dimensions of decarbonization and energy transitions. Winfield鈥檚 work with EMH builds on his participation research networks around energy storage, smart grids, distributed energy resources and community energy planning, He is currently co-editing Carbon Federalism: Canadian Climate Governance in a Disrupted World for the University of Toronto Press.

The December 2025 funding announcement builds on previous $5 million federal support for EMH and strengthen Canada鈥檚 momentum towards net-zero and decarbonizing its energy systems.

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For 91亚色 student Sadia Tasnim, that moment came while completing her second co-op work term at Food Banks Mississauga as a data administrator. During a shift, Tasnim encountered a client asking for menstrual products. The food bank, however, didn鈥檛 have any available.

鈥淚 felt terrible that I could not help her in that moment,鈥� says Tasnim, an international student from Bangladesh who struggled with the idea of women who do not have access to essential products.

Tasnim knew her expertise in data science could help the organization respond to this need. Through her studies at the Faculty of Science, she has become adept at gathering, interpreting and presenting data 鈥� including using statistical methods, computational skills and data analysis techniques 鈥� and wants to apply that knowledge to create positive change.

鈥淎t 91亚色, I鈥檝e learned a variety of unconventional ways to extract and organize data,鈥� says Tasnim, a fourth-year student. 鈥淚t鈥檚 important to me to use this skill for a meaningful purpose.鈥�

During her Fall 2025 placement at Food Banks Mississauga, Tasnim worked on the agency relations team, helping to coordinate organizations that distribute food and essential items to roughly half a million visitors per year. When she was asked to analyze the organization鈥檚 historical data on female clients between the ages of 18 to 55 in response to the gap in feminine hygiene products available, she was thrilled.

She drafted a report of her findings, which was shared with Food Banks Canada 鈥� the parent organization that provides supplies to community sites. Tasnim says it was rewarding to see her data analysis shared with decision makers and help make a meaningful impact.

鈥淭hat is what pushed me to take on this project 鈥� making sure this need gets met,鈥� says Tasnim.

Addressing real-world challenges has long been a priority for Tasnim. As a teen, she co-founded her own environmental non-profit to plant trees in her home city of Dhaka, Bangladesh, to improve its air quality. She also volunteered for a social enterprise that delivers clean drinking water to underserved rural communities.

Thinking about her future, Tasnim is considering career roles in social finance 鈥� an investing approach that centres societal and environmental impact.

鈥淚 believe we have to use our talents for humanitarian causes,鈥� Tasnim says. 鈥淒ata can help drive smart decision-making in these important matters.鈥�

For Daisy Dang, a fourth-year environmental studies student, housing access is the issue that drives her commitment to work for change. She is completing a full-time paid co-op placement at the Toronto Region Real Estate Board (TRREB), a non-profit organization serving 70,000 realtors in the Greater Toronto Area.

In her role as a policy analyst in TRREB鈥檚 government relations unit, she contributed to the organization鈥檚 2026 Market Outlook and Year in Review event. As part of that work, she conducted extensive research on the efficacy of the current private and rental housing supply in the city. She also gathered data on trends and metrics related to housing affordability, residential zoning practices and homelessness.

鈥淭here鈥檚 a need for a greater variety of the right types of housing and more density,鈥� Dang says. 鈥淲e should be building more up than outwards and building more units with two and three bedrooms.鈥�

As a student at 91亚色鈥檚 in the Cities, Regions, Planning (CRP) program, Dang is well-positioned to understand and address Toronto鈥檚 diverse urban planning challenges. This interdisciplinary program teaches sustainable, inclusive practices to manage growth, adapt infrastructure, welcome newcomers and mitigate environmental impacts. She has critically examined urban planning through courses exploring sustainable design, regional governance, migration patterns and political ecology.

Dang is also applying her growing knowledge at TRREB in other ways. A core part of her job involves researching housing-related programs offered by the municipal, provincial and federal governments to include as resources on the organization鈥檚 website. Her research also helps shape TRREB鈥檚 advocacy responses in its interactions with government representatives.

Through her combined co-op and academic experiences, Dang has a deeper understanding of the complex dynamics driving urbanization in Toronto and is particularly interested in its impacts on residents who live at the margins of society.

After completing her degree in 2027, she hopes to support municipal government decision-making in addressing housing issues affecting the unhoused and low-income citizens.

鈥淚 think a city works when you put people first,鈥� Dang says.

With files from Sharon Aschaiek

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The research, led by Roger Keil at 91亚色鈥檚 , shows how community-driven networks are vital in helping municipal governments make better decisions and protect essential services during times of instability.

鈥淏oth studies show that even in times of crisis, local democratic action creates real opportunities for change,鈥� says Keil, who is a Distinguished Research Professor Emeritus and an associate member of the City Institute.

Published in , the first paper, in collaboration with 91亚色 alum Maryam Lashkari and University of Glasgow鈥檚 Ross Beveridge, offers a new framework for 鈥渃risis urbanism鈥� 鈥� a condition in which climate shocks, housing pressures, public health threats and political volatility overlap and persist. This idea, often referred to as poly- or permacrisis, explains how these problems do not happen in isolation and instead often overlap and continue for long periods of time.

Researchers outline four ways to understand these crises: how they grow over time; how they affect different places and people; how governments share or shift responsibility; and how people decide what defines a crisis.

Instead of responding to individual emergencies, the authors say cities need to shift toward 鈥渞eparative urbanism,鈥� an approach that focuses on long-term solutions, stronger services and more inclusive decision-making.

鈥淥ur research shows that cities benefit when they invest in repairing harm, supporting essential services and giving communities more say in decisions,鈥� notes Keil.

Building on this work, a second study in collaboration with colleagues at 91亚色 and University of Toronto 鈥� was published in looks at how community networks helped protect vital services in response to Ontario's proposal to dissolve Peel Region. It shows that Peel鈥檚 service network is already using this kind of care-focused work and how it helps.

When the provincial government tried to split up Peel Region (which includes Mississauga, Brampton and Caledon), it was challenged by the 鈥� an advocacy coalition representing more than 100 social service groups.

When the plan was announced, these groups shared data, stories and concerns from the community to ensure access to critical services 鈥� especially for racialized and low鈥慽ncome residents who faced the greatest risk of service disruption. The province later stepped back from its proposal, and researchers say this demonstrates the important role community groups play in regional decision-making.

鈥淲hether we look at community groups in Peel responding to sudden funding threats or at the broader idea of 鈥榗risis urbanism,鈥� the message is the same: when people come together, share knowledge and work across sectors, they can repair systems, protect essential services and strengthen how cities are governed,鈥� says Keil.

The researchers remain engaged with community dynamics and are currently involved in a follow-up study on multi-level crisis governance in Canada and the U.K., funded through the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada鈥檚 and the UK Research and Innovation-Arts and Humanities Research Council's Knowledge Synthesis program.

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Published in the journal Social Science & Medicine, explores how AMR surveillance systems can better reflect the needs of vulnerable communities and under-resourced countries. 聽

Led by Raphael Aguiar, postdoctoral research fellow at 91亚色鈥檚 Dahdaleh Institute for Global Health Research, the study draws on interviews with global experts from government, academia and international organizations. 

The researchers argues that聽current AMR surveillance systems overlook the social, environmental and political factors that drive resistance.聽

鈥淎ntimicrobial resistance is not just a biomedical issue 鈥� it鈥檚 a social and environmental one,鈥� says Aguiar. 鈥淲e need to understand how power, poverty and urban development influence who gets sick and who gets access to treatment.鈥� 

Using a framework informed by Urban Political Ecology theory, the research team 鈥� including scholars from Montreal, Norway and Switzerland 鈥� show how urbanization, inequality and global development patterns shape risk and response related to AMR. 

The study highlights that AMR disproportionately affects low- and middle-income countries, where limited resources and infrastructure make it harder to monitor and address this threat. It also points to ineffcient coordination between sectors 鈥� such as human health, animal health, agriculture and the environment 鈥� as a barrier to effective surveillance. 

The authors advocate for a more inclusive and locally informed One Health approach to AMR. They recommend that future global strategies 鈥� such as the next WHO Global Action Plan on AMR 鈥� prioritize equity, gender responsiveness, community engagement and long-term support for under-represented sectors. 

鈥淭o truly reduce antimicrobial resistance, we need to address deeper issues like unequal access to resources, gaps between rich and poor countries as well as the social and environmental factors that drive resistance,鈥� says Roger Keil, co-author and professor emeritus at 91亚色鈥檚 . 

Focusing only on medical solutions isn鈥檛 enough, adds Arne Ruckert, co-author and director of research at the AMR Policy Accelerator, who states that surveillance systems should be tailored to the realities of different countries. 

The study recommends policymakers and global health leaders embed equity into every stage of AMR surveillance 鈥� from data collection to policy development 鈥� and proposes a roadmap for more inclusive and effective governance. 

鈥淲ithout equity," adds Mary Wiktorowicz, co-author and professor at 91亚色's , "AMR governance will continue to reproduce the same global inequalities that drive resistance in the first place.鈥�

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Established in 2003, the annual awards celebrate Canada鈥檚 most influential women for their leadership, advocacy and impact in their communities and industries. This year鈥檚 91亚色-affiliated recipients include alumni and faculty whose work advances innovation, equity and excellence in Canada and beyond.

Below are this year鈥檚 winners and the categories for which they were recognized.

Amex Emerging Leaders

This category recognizes women between the ages of 30 and 40 who have been targeted for successive leadership positions and demonstrate a passion for learning and innovation.

Meghan Hillstrom (JD '18) is an alum and now serves as senior director at CIBC, where she established and leads a global team responsible for employee relations, workplace investigations and Canadian health and safety. Since joining the bank, she has spearheaded strategic projects, strengthened compliance frameworks and navigated sensitive executive-level matters. Named a 2023 Peak Emerging Leader, Hillstrom is recognized for her ability to deliver clear, effective solutions that support a respectful, regulation-aligned workplace while fostering professional development within her team.

Zeina Ismail (MES '13), an alum of the Graduate Program in Environmental Studies, is an associate vice-president of everyday banking at TD Bank, where she leads acquisition strategies that drive growth through innovation and advice. She also serves on the board of ABC Life Literacy, a non-profit organization that provides programs and resources to help adults improve their financial, digital and health literacy skills.

CN Executive Leaders

This category recognizes women who exemplify strong leadership while building confidence and championing others.

Monique Allen (MBA '00), an alumnus of 91亚色's , is a seasoned technology executive responsible for shaping the tech strategy across Sun Life鈥檚 Canadian operations and leading global enterprise architecture initiatives. She is committed advocate for equity, diversity, inclusion and wellness, and contributes her expertise to several boards focused on these values. Her contributions to the industry have been recognised with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Women in IT Awards Canada.

Roberta Iannacito-Provenzano is former associate dean in the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies. She is currently the provost and vice-president academic and a full professor at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU). A scholar of Italian studies and southern Italian dialectology 鈥� which she taught as a professor at 91亚色 for over a decade 鈥� she has published her work in the field extensively. She also co-chairs TMU鈥檚 Presidential Implementation Committee to Confront Anti-Black Racism and the TRC Strategic Working Group, and has received multiple professional leadership awards.

Professionals

This category recognizes women who are professionals in practice and play a leadership role within their organizations.

Pamela Farrell (BEd '07), a Faculty of Education alum, is a professor of education at the University of Calgary and founder of the GROW Community Food Literacy Centre, Canada鈥檚 first food literacy centre that works to reduce hunger, combat food insecurity and promote healthy lifestyles. She also serves as honourary consul of Switzerland to Alberta and advocates for inclusive education and food justice. Farrell was recently also recognized with a 2025 91亚色 U Alumni Award.

Zohar Levy (LLB '08), a graduate of , is an experienced civil litigator with a focus on commercial disputes and alternative dispute resolution. She advises a range of clients 鈥� from global corporations to individual professionals 鈥搊n complex legal matters, particularly in the areas of health, technology and intellectual property. Deeply committed to access to justice, Zohar also dedicates time to pro bono work and community service, supporting advocacy groups, serving on boards and volunteering with legal associations.

RBC Future Leaders

This category recognizes young women between the ages of 15 and 29 who are transforming their communities through innovation, collaboration and courage.

Lauren Castelino (BA '22, MES '24) is an alum from the and Glendon College. She is an environmentalist and entrepreneur who founded the Green Career Centre to help under-represented youth access green jobs through training, resources and guidance. Her work has reached more than 500,000 young people and informed a $405-million national commitment to climate philanthropy. She was also recognized as one of 91亚色's 2025 Top 30 Alumni Under 30.

Rana Espiritu Nasrazadani (BA '20, MPPAL '22) was also recognized in this category. Espiritu Nasrazadani is an alum of 91亚色's Graduate Program in Public Policy, Administration and Law and a former president's ambassador. Known for her strength-based approach to disability rights advocacy, she is an educator, public speaker and policy adviser advancing accessibility, equity and human rights in Canada. She is also a senior policy advisor with the Ministry of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security, and was recognized as one of 91亚色's inaugural聽2021 Top 30 Alumni Under 30.

STEM Trailblazers

This category recognizes women in STEM roles who are challenging the status quo for knowledge and female empowerment.

Farzia Khan, a graduate from the , is senior manager of information security at TD Bank and founder of Ellehacks, an organization that hosts hackathons and programs to empower women and non-binary individuals in technology and innovation. Khan leads enterprise-wide cyber resiliency initiatives and is the visionary behind TD鈥檚 Cyber Academy, a program that provides students and early-career professionals with training and hands-on experience in cybersecurity skills. She also serves on several cyber and technology advisory boards. She recently received a 2025 91亚色 U Alumni Award.

Ruth Uy (EMBA '22) is a graduate of the . She is a veteran board member, safety expert and executive with deep experience in non-profit, social justice and public infrastructure sectors. A licensed professional engineer with more than 25 years in the field, she actively promotes diversity in underrepresented industries through mentorship and public speaking. Drawing on her background in energy, circular economy and technology, she has forged cross-sector partnerships that drive lasting process improvements. She has been honoured among Canada鈥檚 Top Women in Safety (2025) and BMO Women on Boards (2024), and continues to champion women in STEM through leadership and mentorship.

For the full list of this year鈥檚 winners, visit the .

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Each year, the Clean50 Awards celebrate 50 individuals from across Canada whose work over the previous two years has created measurable progress toward a cleaner, more sustainable future. Honourees represent diverse sectors, including business, academia, government and advocacy, and are selected for accomplishments that drive meaningful environmental change. The awards also include Lifetime Achievement and Emerging Leader categories, recognizing individuals for career-long or early-stage impact in sustainability.

This year, two 91亚色 alumni have earned recognition, reflecting the University鈥檚 continued leadership in preparing graduates who create lasting environmental impact across industries and communities.

From zero-waste brewing to sustainability education, 91亚色 alumni are shaping Canada鈥檚 green future.

Alexis Esseltine, MES '11

Esseltine was named to Canada鈥檚 Clean50 for 2025 in the Retail & Consumer Products category for her impact as president of British Columbia鈥檚 Tin Whistle Brewing Co., which has seen her turn the operation into a carbon-neutral, zero-waste brewery.

Since taking ownership in 2020, she has reduced total emissions by 25 per cent while quadrupling beer production, achieving an 81 per cent emissions reduction per litre of beer brewed. Under her leadership, the brewery eliminated more than 11,800 kilograms of landfill waste, reused more than 13,700 plastic can carriers and found creative uses for beverage by-products 鈥� such as sake kasu and winery waste 鈥� by incorporating them into new beers. Tin Whistle also collaborates with Okanagan College on sustainability projects focused on spent-grain recycling, water reuse and algae-based carbon offsetting.

The awards committee commended Esseltine for transforming the beer company into 鈥渁 nimble, sustainability-led market leader," spotlighting her commitment as a small business to lead on climate action and demonstrate that sustainability and growth can thrive together.

Kathryn Cooper, MEd '10

The Clean50 committee honoured Cooper with a Lifetime Achievement Award for 鈥渂lending practical skill-building with ethical leadership, preparing graduates to shape organizations, communities and the broader field of sustainability.鈥�

An educator and advocate for sustainability, Cooper has dedicated her career to developing the next generation of environmental leaders. As program manager of social responsibility and sustainability at the University of Toronto鈥檚 St. Michael鈥檚 College, she leads the post-graduate Diploma in Sustainability and Social Responsibility and the Social Impact Measurement Professional Certificate. The award committee noted that under her guidance, enrolment has nearly tripled since 2016, while the number of expert mentors has grown by more than 300 per cent.

Beyond her academic leadership, Cooper serves as president and chief learning officer of the Sustainability Learning Centre, a national hub for training and knowledge sharing that helps organizations implement sustainable practices and develop 鈥渨hole employee engagement鈥� in eco-efficiency and restorative design.

Together, Esseltine and Cooper exemplify the leadership in sustainability that 91亚色 fosters in its students and alumni 鈥� turning education, innovation and collaboration into meaningful action for a cleaner, more sustainable future.

To learn more about the Clean50 Awards and this year鈥檚 honourees, visit .

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