Advocating for a More Sustainable Future at Covia

NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / July 18, 2023 / Covia

Foto: Accesswire

Michele Oxlade

From advising on Canadian legislation to creating organization-wide environmental initiatives, I am appreciative for the experiences and opportunities Covia has encouraged me to pursue throughout my eight years with the company. Looking back, I am so grateful I was given the chance to make real, impactful change in the lives of Covia Team Members and in communities across the globe.

A Catalyst for Change

Back in the 90s, I was a self-proclaimed "tree hugger." I wanted to change the world and build a sustainable future. If you told me back then that I would end up working for a company that mines, I would have called you crazy. I would never work for a company that would make me compromise on my beliefs. Thankfully, when I met the incredible Environmental Team at Covia, I found that I could work for a mining company that does right by the environment and cares about the communities in which it operates.

My journey to where I am today was slightly unconventional. My college experience started at the University of Guelph in Guelph, Ontario, Canada, and after completing my Bachelor of Science in Wildlife Biology, I became a stay-at-home mother to two amazing boys. After nine years, I decided to go back to college to gain some new skills and completed my Ecosystem Technologists diploma at Fleming College in Lindsay, Ontario. This experience was transformative, it gave me the opportunity to meet and communicate with a wide array of unique people - one of which I am now married to all these years later.

After graduation, I landed at a consulting firm that developed rules and regulations around for the protection of drinking water for the Great Lakes. It was at this firm that my passion for environmental protection developed. During that time, I was able to further hone the skills that I later brought to my position at Covia.

I made the transition to Covia in 2015 as an Environmental Specialist. Throughout the last eight years, I have been promoted to Senior Environmental Specialist and have had the privilege to be the Corporate Wildlife Habitat Council (WHC) Coordinator. My current role includes permitting and compliance for 10 Covia plants, located in the southern United States and the Province of Ontario in Canada. During my time at Covia, I have been able to develop great relationships with state regulators and plant managers - helping plants go beyond the basic level of compliance.