Women in Environmental Leadership: Shaping the Future Workforce

Speaker: Janelle Hutchinson
Chief Sustainability Officer - University of Saskatchewan

Janelle Hutchinson is the first Chief Sustainability Officer at the University of Saskatchewan, where she leads the implementation of the university’s Sustainability Strategy 2021–2030. In this role, she works across academic, operational, research, and external-engagement portfolios to embed sustainability practices into campus planning, policy, operations, and community outreach. Her efforts include climate action coordination, sustainability reporting, governance of advisory bodies, and collaboration with external partners to advance environmental goals across the institution.

Speaker: Rhonda Smith
Co-Founder, Chief Operating Officer - Trace Associates Inc.

Ms. Rhonda Smith is Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer at Trace Associates Inc. (Trace), a mid-sized environmental science, engineering, and management consulting firm servicing a diverse market across Canada. Ms. Smith completed her Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Victoria, in British Columbia, and completed the Institute of Corporate Directors, ICD-Rotman Directors Education Program and earned her ICD.D designation. Since co-founding Trace in 2006, Rhonda has been responsible for the operations of the company, focusing on business management, strategy development, and corporate governance. As a transformational leader, Rhonda has built a company based on respect and inclusion.

Speaker: Lenore Newman
Director, Food and Agriculture Institute - University of the Fraser Valley

Lenore Newman is the Director of the Food and Agriculture Institute at the University of the Fraser Valley where she holds a Research Chair in Food and Agriculture Innovation. She is a professor in the Faculty of Science at UFV, and is an emeritus member of the Royal Society of Canada's New College. Lenore researches agricultural land use policy, agricultural technology, regenerative grazing, and bioengineering in the food system. Lenore was a member of the Premier’s Food Security Task Force, sat on the BC Minister of Agriculture’s Advisory Committee on Revitalizing the Agricultural Land Reserve, and regularly speaks to government and community groups. She has published over fifty academic journal articles and book chapters, and her opinion pieces on the future of farmland use and other food-related issues have been published in the Globe and Mail, the Vancouver Sun, and the Georgia Straight.

Speaker: Amanda (Lane) Smits
Associate Dean - School of Climate Action Mohawk College

Amanda Smits is the Associate Dean of Mohawk College’s School of Climate Action, bringing expertise in leadership, sustainability, and project management. She holds a Master of Education from Brock University, where her research work focused on post-secondary sustainability policies, alongside scholarly contributions to the area of sustainability-focused community partnerships in higher education. Previously, Amanda served as Centre Administrator for Brock’s Environmental Sustainability Research Centre, managing innovative partnerships and earning awards for community engagement and student experience. She also holds a Certificate in Knowledge Mobilization from the University of Guelph and is a certified Project Management Professional. Amanda is dedicated to fostering partnerships and developing programs that create climate-ready graduates and advance sustainability and inclusion.