Elaine Ho

I have had an affinity for water habitats, organisms and resource preservation since early childhood. Through life-long learning and transdisciplinary approaches I have collaborated with people and teams from diverse disciplines in a variety of industries to engage multiple levels of stakeholders, educate and build teams for the purpose of social and environmental sustainability. Industries I have worked in include construction, engineering, education, tourism, natural resource management, and renewable energy.

Included in my portfolio are a number of presentations, workshops and events designed and delivered by me in settings that range from local organizations to international conferences. I have been directly involved in the growth and development of several initiatives and economic ventures. I frequently participate in training and personal development opportunities, such as nationwide leadership summits, subject matter workshops, in situ exercises, and international research symposia - with the goal of expanding my network at each one.

In addition, I continue to be involved in various initiatives which I previously began in a remote Maasai community in Kenya, including a women's bead cooperative, school projects, microtourism and sustainability education. This led to my current position on the Board of Directors at Osim Le Maa (Maa People's Initiative), also in Kenya.

Currently, I am a PhD student in the University of Waterloo's Social and Ecological Sustainability program in Integrated Water Management (an institution-wide collaborative program/specialization), based in the School of Environment, Resources and Sustainability. Past research projects include geoexchange commercialization, corporate sustainability programming, and watershed management.

September 2016