Real world exposure: MScSM alumni and industry partners welcome the Class of 2026

The excitement was palpable on September 5, 2024 in the UTM Room as incoming graduate students in the Master of Science in Sustainability Management Program (MScSM) gathered for the annual State of Sustainability Conference.   

Consisting of students from across Canada and around the globe, MScSM's new cohort is primed to tackle some of the world’s most challenging issues in sustainability—from human rights and equity, to packaging waste and overconsumption, to sustainable investments and governance—they will go on to push the boundaries of what is possible when it comes to discovering creative solutions to systemic and complex interdisciplinary issues. 

The program opens each new academic year with its State of Sustainability Conference by design; introducing students to leading experts in the field as learning about real-world examples of sustainability in action sets the tone from day one for what will be two years of deep exploration on climate change, communities, and solutions to global sustainable challenges.  

The MScSM program’s new director, Prof. Brett Caraway welcomed the incoming students and gave a brief overview of the history of thought that gave rise to the concept of sustainability. While acknowledging the diverse backgrounds and interests of MScSM students, he commented that, “what unites all practitioners of sustainability is an abiding interest in understanding the complex relationships between the physical world, social institutions, and the economy.” 

On that note, the 2024 conference began with keynote lectures from two of Canada’s most experienced sustainability leaders: Michael Zabaneh, Vice-President Sustainability of the Retail Council of Canada, and Christine Tu, Director of the Office of Climate Change and Energy Management at the Region of Peel.   

The conference then shifted to peer-to-peer training, including a panel of experienced MScSM alumni discussing trends and emerging priorities in the field. From governance approaches to carbon capture technologies, alumni Ragu Bhaskar, Becca Francolini, Jesse Hudecki, Lindsay Francis, and Mackenzie Taylor provided mentorship, advice, and valuable insight to the Class of 2026. 

“Anything is possible”, says Francolini.  "Now is the time to step out of [their] comfort zone and to not limit themselves.”  Students, she says, will wind up in sustainability careers they never expected to be in, and will gain tremendous value from the program’s deep connection to industry and professional networks.  “Real world exposure shows you how to think about things in different contexts and challenges you in ways you never expected to be challenged.” 

Second year MScSM students closed out the conference with a panel of their own, stepping up to the mics to share an inside look at graduate student life and offering guidance on how to make the most of their courses, case competitions, internships, exchange options, and more. 

Incoming students Jason Pang and Anna Bazangeya found the Conference to be an inspiring start to their studies in sustainability in the U of T community.  “I am now part of a vibrant and supportive community of like-minded peers and professionals, a network I can lean on as I continue this journey”, says Pang.  “As a first-generation student, I’ve often experienced imposter syndrome since the moment I applied”, he continues, and “the speakers offered reassurance.... I realized I am not alone in these feelings.  I left feeling inspired, knowing I’m part of a supportive community of peers, alumni, and industry professionals from diverse backgrounds and perspectives”.   

Bazangeya agrees; “being surrounded by intelligence and passionate individuals... was incredibly inspiring”.  She shared the value of the Conference in fostering hope for the future; “there are leaders driving real change”, she said, “and sustainability is not confined to a single approach or perspective”.  She’s delighted to begin her studies at UTM; “what excite[s] me most about starting my MScSM degree”, she says, “is gaining the tools to tackle the complex challenges in the field of sustainability”. 

As the University of Toronto continues to bolster sustainability as a key pillar of focus, the MScSM students, faculty, alumni and network of professionals will continue to work together to educate, conduct research, bring together brilliant minds, and foster inspiration to tackle the roots of climate change, sustainable communities, governance, social impact, and beyond.   

The sparks of curiosity and enthusiasm in the eyes of the incoming MScSM students at the State of Sustainability Conference give rise to optimism; it’s easy, watching connections being formed and learning starting to happen, to see why the University of Toronto is one of the global leaders in sustainability, emboldening the next generation of students to make real, tangible impact.