The Policy & Advocacy Distributed Team
At EWB, we do mission-driven work that reaches vast corners of Canadian campuses - and beyond. The Advocacy DT keeps us all connected as active advocates for policy change that matters!
The Policy & Advocacy Distributed Team (DT) is a national volunteer initiative that was created with the intention of building on and enhancing the impact made by EWB’s Chapter Community. Supported by EWB Canada’s full-time Policy and Advocacy Team (PAT) staff, the DT strives to work alongside local Chapters to focus on the national advocacy campaign. Structured to provide region-specific check-ins and support, the Team’s members meet centrally to align their message and goals before implementing them within the Chapter network.
The Policy & Advocacy DT will be supporting the development, implementation, and monitoring of EWB’s annual national advocacy campaign. As a team, we look at Canada’s contributions to international issues and engage our community, the public, and decision-makers in conversations on inclusive, sustainable development through a series of coordinated national actions and events. The aim of the annual advocacy campaign is to build a grassroots movement that directly influences the development of better development policy.
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Interested in joining the Policy & Advocacy DT? See if there are any openings below!
INTERESTED IN JOINING THE ADVOCACY DISTRIBUTED TEAM?
While we are not currently recruiting for the Advocacy DT, you can contact us at advocacy@ewb.ca to learn more about the team or fill out our interest form to be informed as soon as a position opens up!
2024-2025 Advocacy DT Reps
Robyn Jadischke (she/her/hers)
[PLACEHOLDER]
Robyn has been part of EWB in various capacities since being an undergraduate student in 2018 at the University of Guelph, ranging from a strategy team member to a chapter president to a CAIF fellow. Since then, she has taken on the role of the Co-Lead on the Policy and Advocacy DT. Robyn works in agricultural engineering and is completing her master's. In her free time, she enjoys being in nature, reading, and baking.
Kelly Malish (she/her/hers)
Kelowna, BC
Kelly works in the construction industry with a heavy civil general contractor and is based out of B.C. She was involved with EWB in university as a member of the UBCO Chapter in Kelowna while completing her Civil Engineering undergraduate degree. Kelly has been part of the Advocacy DT since 2023 and volunteers her time as a mentor at both UBC and UBCO with the engineering department. Keeping a healthy work/life balance is important to her, and she spends her free time doing yoga, attending a book club or volunteering within her community.
Najma Nazar (she/her/hers)
Vancouver, BC
Elizabeth Yorke (she/her/hers)
Hamilton, ON
Elizabeth took inspiration from EWB when she chose to attend McMaster University for their Electrical Engineering & Society program. Now in her third year, Elizabeth has become a co-president of her school’s EWB Chapter. Working with EWB has been a longstanding goal for her and she continues to actively pursue all opportunities to work with the organization. She hopes that after graduation she can continue on her path with EWB and work towards a more equitable and sustainable future through the effects of technology!
Elena Sales (she/her/hers)
Montréal, QC
Elena Sales is a Mechanical Engineering student at McGill University with a strong passion for sustainability leadership. In the summer of 2024, she participated in the Canada-Africa Innovation Fellowship (CAIF), where she spent her summer in Mbarara, Uganda, developing a low-cost biogas digester to enhance access to clean cooking fuel. Elena has led a robotics hackathon centred on sustainability in technology and has helped create a composting system in the McGill dorms, engaging fellow students and her community in environmental initiatives. She is also dedicated to advancing the involvement of women and girls in engineering, serving as a global ambassador for the Society of Women Engineers. She also loves performing arts and sings with Effusion A Cappella at McGill. This year, she looks forward to joining EWB’s Policy and Advocacy Distributed Team to continue advocating for a greener future.
Simrah Zaman (she/her/hers)
Toronto, ON
Simrah is a second-year student at the University of Toronto, majoring in Human Biology and Immunology, with a minor in English. This year, she joined the Policy and Advocacy Distributed Team, combining her passion for youth education with a focus on driving change in stigmatized realms. Simrah is also involved in research on drug delivery systems for neurodegenerative diseases and is a dedicated advocate for women’s reproductive health. When she’s not working, she’s likely exploring hidden spots around Toronto or getting lost in a good book.
Martha King (she/her/hers)
Halifax, NS
Martha, originally from Brigus, Newfoundland, has been an active member of EWB MUN since 2019, holding executive positions in advocacy and communications, and attended her first 'Day on the Hill' in 2023. After earning her degree in Mechanical Engineering, Martha recently relocated to Halifax, where she now works in shipbuilding and enjoys exploring the Maritimes. A fun fact about Martha is that she fell in the Venice Canal when she was 16 (not recommended).
Sandeep Kumar Allenki (he/him/his)
Toronto, ON
Sandeep Kumar Allenki is a seasoned professional in the energy efficiency industry, possessing approximately 7 years of experience in implementing and overseeing energy conservation strategies within the commercial sector. His expertise spans from conducting energy audits to crafting proposals incorporating financial models, and ultimately managing projects from inception to completion. With a master's degree in Energy Systems Engineering and an MBA, Sandeep's background primarily revolves around being an electrical engineer project manager. His work involves various energy efficiency measures, including conducting ASHRAE Level II audits, analyzing and implementing lighting and lighting controls, overseeing HVAC replacements, integrating sub-metering systems, and implementing commercial refrigeration control systems, that are incentivized by utility programs to promote energy efficiency and sustainability. In his spare time, Sandeep enjoys obstacle course races and has completed 28 of them so far.
2024-2025 Advocacy DT Reps
More details coming soon!
Current Advocacy Campaign:
QUESTION THE SYSTEM
Focusing on Canada's Aid and hitting our SDG targets
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Change is possible by asking new questions, educating ourselves, and proposing new solutions to broken systems. That's why Engineers Without Borders raised questions last year from young Canadians who want to be initiators of real change.
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From climate change and the SDGs, we are asking passionate advocates across the country to think about new ways to improve Canada's effectiveness in eradicating global poverty and take actions to strengthen our contribution to the SDGs.
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Read more about how we want to change the status quo on the most important global issues impacting us today, and into the future, such as gender equality, climate, innovation, and partnerships at questionthesystem.ca