Current McGill students, staff and faculty are invited to apply for funding for projects big and small. The application process and timeline for funding differ depending on the size of the proposed project.
Sustainability Projects Fund Governance Council (GC)
The Sustainability Projects Fund (SPF) Governance Council ensures the fulfilment of the SPF’s mandate to build a culture of Sustainability on McGill campuses. In addition to being responsible for the governance and administration of the SPF, they are also the body that determines which projects receive funding.
The GC is composed of eight voting members and two non-voting members. Its voting members reflect the same parity as the fund itself, composed of half students and half staff.
The composition of the fund is:
- Two (2) Students' Society of McGill University (SSMU) representatives
- One (1) Post-Graduate Students' Society representative
- One (1) Macdonald Campus Students' Society representative
- Two (2) academic staff
- Two (2) administrative staff
- SPF Steward (co-facilitator, non-voting)
- SPF Administrator (co-facilitator, non-voting)
The Governance Council members are selected based on their level of engagement within the McGill community, their understanding of sustainability, and their expertise. The group meets approximately once a month during the academic year.
For more information, please see the SPF Governance Council Terms of Reference
Learn the latest about the SPF with the Sustainability Projects Fund Annual Reports
Governance Council Members 2022-2023
Makena Kristen, SSMU
Makena is fascinated by interdisciplinary societal and economic issues and has a great interest in determining how we can integrate sustainable practices into society. Since starting her studies in 2019, she has been published in the McGill Policy Association, is President of the McGill Energy Association, and has gone on to win a debate tournament with the McGill Debating Union. Also, Makena currently works for a software platform company that integrates and visualizes data to generate fast and powerful insights for governments to break data silos to help create sustainable and smart cities.
Erica Lin, SSMU
Erica is a BA&Sc. student majoring in Sustainability, Science & Society. While volunteering as a Zero-Waste Ambassador, she became curious about how long-term sustainability projects are developed. Topics that interest her include climate justice, urban design, and Indigenous stewardship. As an artist, she is particularly drawn to the use of creative/digital mediums to inspire social change. She is excited to oversee a variety of initiatives while collaborating with people from different backgrounds on the GC.
Liam Buckley, MCSS
Liam is a BSc. student majoring in Environmental Biology. Having worked on farms and nature preserves in Ireland and New York state, he developed an interest in the environment and its stewardship. As a floor fellow in a Macdonald Campus Residence, he became interested in sustainable living. Liam continues to advocate for these interests as a member of the SPF Governance Council. He spends his free time playing music with friends at the Macdonald Campus student bar, the Ceilidh.
Shivani Salunke, PGSS
Shivani is a Doctor of Civil Law candidate at McGill. As a lawyer, she is interested in studying the impact of technology on businesses, society and the law, as well as corporate responsibility and governance. She has also been enthused by sustainability and climate change awareness initiatives since a young age, and works with an Indian non-profit dedicated to the cause. At McGill, she is an SPF Ambassador and Environment Committee member, and looks forward to supporting more sustainability projects through her role on the SPF Governance Council.
Dr. Patrick Cortbaoui, Academic Staff
Managing Director, Margaret A. Gillam Institute for Global Food Security, Academic Associate, School of Human Nutrition
Patrick Courbaoui is a renowned director sought-after for his ability to provide expert academic and strategic counsel and deliver bespoke advisory solutions to global food security and sustainability challenges. He has significant field experience enabling an understanding of the nuance and intricacies of sustainable food systems, with an over 12-year track record in providing solutions to alleviate food insecurity in different regions of the world including North America, Latin America & the Caribbean, Africa, Middle East and Asia.
Dr. Cynthia Kallenbach, Academic Staff
Assistant Professor, Department of Natural Resource Sciences
Cynthia Kallenbach joined McGill’s Department of Natural Resource Sciences as an Assistant Professor in 2018. She has two MSc from University of California-Davis in International Agriculture Development and in Soil Biogeochemistry and completed her PhD from the University of New Hampshire in Earth and Environmental Science. Her research integrates soil ecology and biogeochemistry to understand soil organic matter turnover and accumulation and microbial-plant interactions affecting carbon and nutrient cycling under land use and global change.
Sarah Heiberg, Administrative Staff
Associate Director of Change Management, New Vic Project
Sarah is leading the people side of change for McGill’s New Vic Project that will create a new interdisciplinary academic complex dedicated to sustainability systems and public policy. She also leads the project’s Indigenous engagement efforts to make the New Vic a more welcoming and culturally safe space. Sarah has spent most of her career managing sustainable development projects in the not-for-profit, intergovernmental and higher education sectors. She is a certified change practitioner with a Master of Environment and Business degree from the University of Waterloo.
Joan O'Malley, Administrative Staff
Administrative Coordinator, Maude Abbott Medical Museum
Joan holds an MA in Regional Studies and Intervention from the University of Quebec at Chicoutimi. Since 2015, she has worked in the research and management of the collections as well as the development and outreach activities at the Museum. Her practices at the Museum are based on a strategic use of resources and seek an alignment with sustainable development understood in the broadest terms.
