ChemE alumna Sandra Odendahl (ChemE MASc 9T0) has been honoured by the Ontario Society of Professional Engineers (OSPE) and Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO) with the 2021 Professional Engineers Ontario Citizenship Award, given to an engineer who has made significant volunteer contributions to the community.
Throughout her career, Odendahl has championed sustainability and innovation in industry and finance, leveraging her knowledge of environmental engineering to enable sustainable and socially responsible innovation in the financial sector. Currently, as Vice-President, Social Impact & Sustainability for Scotiabank, she leads teams that facilitate strategies for addressing climate change, economic resilience, and diversity and inclusion. Previously, as CEO of CMC Research Institutes, she helped secure partnerships to scale up carbon-reducing technology for industry.
Earlier in her career, she held several pioneering sustainability and social innovation roles at the Royal Bank of Canada. Odendahl’s volunteer contributions are wide-ranging and exceptional. She presently serves as Board Director for the Ontario Clean Water Agency, the Canadian Institute for Climate Choices, and NEXT Canada. She previously served as Board Director and Chair of the Toronto Atmospheric Fund. Odendahl volunteers regularly on committees and advisory panels related to the environment and sustainable finance. She has also been an active volunteer for U of T, Ryerson University and the University of Ottawa. Odendahl has been included in the Canada’s Clean50 list for her efforts to promote sustainability, and she has received awards for volunteerism from Ryerson and U of T.