Sustainability Working Group

Sustainable Queen's Logo

The work of the Sustainability Working Group is now part of Queen鈥檚 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)-focused work led by the Principal鈥檚 Advisory Council on SDGs.

I. Mandate

To provide strategic direction and recommendations for the evaluation, planning, development, communication and implementation of initiatives aligned with the university鈥檚 sustainability goals and the carbon reductions targeted by the Queen鈥檚 University Climate Action Plan (PDF, 4.8 MB).

  1. To provide advice on strategy and actions for the university to achieve its sustainability goals and create a culture of sustainability, including advancing research and pedagogy on sustainability.
  2. To provide advice on specific sustainability projects or actions regarding sustainability and the reduction of the university鈥檚 carbon output.
  3. To review and endorse specific projects funded by the sustainability reserve.  
  4. To establish sub-working groups or committees to advance specific sustainability goals (eg: sustainability in the curriculum). 

II. Roles & Responsibilities

The working group shall fulfill an advisory role and as such will review and provide advice to the administration regarding projects, initiatives and policies that relate to sustainability and achieving the carbon reductions targeted by the Queen鈥檚 University Climate Action Plan, and to create a sustainability culture at Queen鈥檚.

The co-chairs, the Vice-Principal (Finance and Administration) and the Deputy Provost (Academic Operations and Inclusion), will provide updates to the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) on the work of the Sustainability Working Group.

III. Duration of Membership Term

The membership term is one year for students and three years for all other members.

IV. Subject Matter Experts

The committee may call in subject matter experts to help inform discussions.

V. Sustainability Working Group Membership

Co-Chairs: Vice-Principal (Finance and Administration) and Deputy Provost (Academic Operations and Inclusion)
AVP (Facilities)
University Planner
3 faculty
3 staff
1 undergraduate student
1 graduate student
1 Alma Mater Society (AMS) representative
1 Society of Graduate and Professional Students (SGPS) representative

2022/23 Group Composition

Co-Chair: Donna Janiec, Vice-Principal (Finance and Administration)

Co-Chair: Nicholas Mosey, Deputy Provost (Academic Operations and Inclusion)

  Name   Title
  J. Corlett   Director, Bader International Study Centre (BISC) Initiatives 
  T. Couto   Registered Dietitian & Wellness and Sustainability Manager, Queen鈥檚 University Hospitality   Services
  T. Gkotsis   Director, Campus Planning and Real Estate
  S. Hunt   Senior Director, IT and Facilities
  N. Kaloudas   Academic Assistant, Global Development Studies
  W. Mabee   Professor and Head of Department, Department of Geography and Planning
  M. Meads   Executive Director, University Wide Development, Office of Advancement
  J. Pierce   Associate Vice-Principal (Teaching and Learning)
  N. Splinter   Manager, Energy and Sustainability
  A. St. Pierre   Director, Four Directions Indigenous Student Centre
  J. Smol   Professor, Department of Biology 
  M. Taylor   Associate Professor & Graduate Chair, Department of Global Development Studies
  L. Wales   Executive Director, Housing and Ancillary Services
  J. Witjes   AVP (Facilities)

VI. Meeting Schedule

Meetings are held approximately three times annually.

Members of the Queen's and Kingston communities are welcome to join the meetings as guests or observers. Please  to RSVP at least one week prior to the scheduled date if you are interested in attending a meeting. 


Sustainable Queen's strives to ensure diverse and equitable participation in its initiatives. The working group welcomes nominations from all interested members of the Queen鈥檚 community and particularly invites nominations of women, people with disabilities, Indigenous community members, racialized community members, and members of the LGBTQ+ community. For more information or to submit a nomination, please . 

Co-Chair: Donna Janiec, Vice-Principal (Finance and Administration)

Co-Chair: Teri Shearer, Deputy Provost (Academic Operations and Inclusion)

Name   Title
  J. Corlett   Director, Bader International Study Centre (BISC) Initiatives 
  T. Couto   Registered Dietitian & Wellness and Sustainability Manager, Queen鈥檚 University Hospitality Services
  T. Gkotsis   Director, Campus Planning and Real Estate
  S. Hunt   Senior Director, IT and Facilities
  N. Kaloudas   Academic Assistant, Global Development Studies
  K. Kolomitro   Associate Vice-Principal (Teaching and Learning)
  W. Mabee   Professor and Head of Department, Department of Geography and Planning
  M. Meads   Executive Director, University Wide Development, Office of Advancement
  A. St. Pierre   Associate Director, Office of Indigenous Initiatives
  J. Smol   Professor, Department of Biology 
  M. Taylor   Associate Professor & Graduate Chair, Department of Global Development Studies
  J. Wile   Student Representative, Alma Mater Society
  L. Wales   Executive Director, Housing and Ancillary Services
  J. Witjes   AVP (Facilities)

Co-Chair: Donna Janiec, Vice-Principal (Finance and Administration)

Co-Chair: Teri Shearer, Deputy Provost (Academic Operations and Inclusion)

  Name   Title
  J. Boland   Manager, Career Education and Experience, Corporate Relations
  Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science
  S. Clarke   Associate Director, Office of Indigenous Initiatives
  M. Fuko   Associate Vice-Principal (Development), Office of Advancement
  T. Gkotsis   University Planner
  S. Hunt   Senior Director, IT and Facilities
  N. Kaloudas   Academic Assistant, Global Development Studies
  A. Lomax   Student Representative, Society of Graduate and Professional Students
  N. Lorraway   Student Representative, Undergraduate
  W. Mabee   Professor and Head of Department, Department of Geography and Planning
  N. H. Nguyen   Student Representative, Graduate
  J. Smol   Professor, Department of Biology 
  M. Taylor   Associate Professor & Graduate Chair, Department of Global Development Studies
  M. Urquhart   Student Representative, Alma Mater Society
  L. Wales   Executive Director, Housing and Ancillary Services
  J. Witjes   AVP (Facilities)