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Professor & Tier 1 Canada Research Chair (CRC) in Sustainable Biocomposites, University of Guelph: The SustainabilityX® Magazine's Global 50 Women In Sustainability Awards™ 2024 Awardee
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"Bold leadership in sustainability means fearlessly innovating and challenging the status quo. Embracing boldness has driven my achievements and it’s my hope that this encourages my students, trainees and industry partners to also pursue a path of promoting sustainable change." - Manjusri Misra, Professor & Tier 1 Canada Research Chair (CRC) in Sustainable Biocomposites, University of Guelph, Canada & The SustainabilityX® Magazine's Global 50 Women In Sustainability Awards™ 2024 (#SustXGlobal50) Awardee
Dr. Manjusri Misra is an esteemed figure in sustainable materials science, holding the position of Tier 1 Canada Research Chair (CRC) in Sustainable Biocomposites at the University of Guelph, where she is also a Professor in the School of Engineering and holds a joint appointment in the Department of Plant Agriculture. Supported by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), Dr. Misra’s work at the intersection of agriculture, forestry, and material sciences has positioned her as a leader in biocomposite and nanocomposite innovations. Her research directly aligns with advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, focusing on innovative biobased products derived from renewable resources.
Throughout her career, Dr. Misra has made invaluable contributions to sustainability, amassing over 850 published works, including 485 peer-reviewed journal articles, 30 book chapters, and 60 patents. Her innovations include the development of the world’s first certified 100% compostable single-serve coffee pod, PurPod100™, as well as compostable cutlery made from coffee waste. Dr. Misra has secured more than CAD 15 million in research and infrastructure funding, underscoring the impact and significance of her pioneering research. Her leadership extends to her role as Research Program Director for the Bioeconomy Panel under the Ontario Agri-Food Innovation Alliance, a collaboration between the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) and the University of Guelph.
A recognized leader within the scientific community, Dr. Misra is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (UK), the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE), and the Society of Plastic Engineers (SPE). Her influence also reaches government policy; she has provided expert testimony on single-use plastics before the Government of Canada and contributed to waste management discussions with the City of Toronto. Named one of Canada’s Most Powerful Women by the Women’s Executive Network in 2020, her commitment to sustainability continues to inspire both industry and academia.
Dr. Misra’s efforts have transformed the University of Guelph’s Bioproducts Discovery and Development Centre into a global leader in green innovation, advocating for sustainability through inclusive mentorship and bold, science-driven solutions. By promoting a collaborative research environment, she empowers students, engages diverse stakeholders, and fosters partnerships across academic and industrial domains, exemplifying bold leadership in sustainability. Her guidance has shaped the careers of over 300 students, many of whom are now advancing the field with the same commitment to sustainable innovation.
As a recipient of The SustainabilityX® Magazine Global 50 Women In Sustainability Awards™ 2024, Dr. Misra’s dedication to groundbreaking biocomposite technologies exemplifies the transformative impact of bold leadership. This recognition is a testament to her commitment to fostering sustainable solutions, her influential role in academia and industry, and her advocacy for equity, diversity, and inclusion in STEM fields.
The SustainabilityX® Magazine Global 50 Women In Sustainability Awards™ 2024
The SustainabilityX® Magazine proudly presents its third edition of the Global 50 Women In Sustainability Awards™ for 2024. This annual recognition celebrates extraordinary female leaders who embrace boldness in their pursuit of groundbreaking sustainability initiatives, reshaping industries, and driving transformative change towards a more just, inclusive, and sustainable future.
This year also marks a broader strategic mission expansion for The SustainabilityX® Magazine, with a stronger focus on aligning with the Women's Empowerment Principles (WEPs) in addition to the original foundation of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This evolutionary expansion reflects the magazine’s ongoing commitment to advancing women's leadership in sustainability while championing social equity, environmental stewardship, and inclusive growth.
“Empowering women to lead in sustainability is at the heart of our mission,” says Supriya Verma, founder of The SustainabilityX® Magazine and one of Corporate Knights' Canada’s Top 30 Under 30 in Sustainability Leadership and one of The Peak's Emerging Leaders. “These trailblazers are breaking barriers and redefining what sustainable leadership looks like—showing that it’s about more than policies and practices, but also about social justice, economic resilience, and a regenerative future.”
Rooted in the magazine's guiding pillars of environmental protection, economic prosperity, social inclusion, and ethical governance, The SustainabilityX® Magazine's Global 50 Women In Sustainability Awards™ showcases women from all sectors, industries, and regions, igniting crucial conversations on the intersection of gender equality and sustainable development.
Amidst global challenges and uncertainties, this year’s awards highlight the critical role of women in steering the world towards a more resilient, equitable future. With a continued digital format, the awards amplify voices across borders, bridging the gap between global sustainability efforts and local impact.
As Verma states, “The future of sustainability hinges on bold, inclusive leadership, and these women exemplify the courage and vision needed to transform our world. The SustainabilityX® Magazine remains steadfast in our mission to celebrate and elevate those who are shaping a future where every voice counts and every effort contributes to a thriving, sustainable world.”
View the full list: The SustainabilityX® Magazine Global 50 Women In Sustainability Awards 2024
Read the full press release: The SustainabilityX® Magazine Announces 3rd Annual Global 50 Women In Sustainability Awards™ Under the Theme "Embrace Boldness"
About The SustainabilityX® Magazine
The SustainabilityX® Magazine is an award-winning, digital, female-founded, and female-led non-profit initiative bringing the environment and economy together for a sustainable future through dialogue, and now transforming the environment and economy for a sustainable future through the power of women's leadership. Founded on May 8, 2016, and inspired by the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals by Canada's Top 30 Under 30 in Sustainability Leadership awardee, Supriya Verma, the digital media initiative focuses on approaching the world's most pressing challenges with a holistic, integrated, systems-based perspective as opposed to the traditional and ineffective siloed approach with a single lens on interdisciplinary topics like climate and energy. This initiative ultimately seeks to explore how to effectively bring the environment and economy together through intellectual, insightful dialogue and thought-provoking discussion amongst individuals across sectors taking an interdisciplinary and integrated approach to untangling the intricate web of sustainability while championing women's leadership in sustainability.
The SustainabilityX® Magazine is built upon the four foundational pillars of sustainability: Environmental Stewardship, which emphasizes the importance of improving environmental health; Economic Prosperity, which promotes sustainable economic growth that transcends traditional capitalist models; Social Inclusion, which focuses on equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) for BIPOC, LGBTQ, and other marginalized or vulnerable communities; and Just Governance, which highlights responsible leadership, the equal application of the rule of law, and the creation of fair systems for all.
As we expand our mission to align with the Women's Empowerment Principles (WEPs), we continue to explore the diverse and interconnected factors that influence sustainability. By recognizing how these elements interact across local, national, and international levels, we aim to accelerate progress toward sustainability goals. In essence, this aligns with The SustainabilityX® Magazine's vision of integrating environmental and economic progress for a more just, inclusive, and sustainable future through thoughtful dialogue.
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The SustainabilityX® Magazine is a proud member of the Sustainable Journalism Partnership, serves as a cause-based media partner for various events such as WIRED Impact, and officially delivers remarks at international conferences such as UNESCO's annual World Press Freedom Day Conference.
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