Sandra Ausma, PhD, P.Eng.

Sandra Ausma holds a BASc in chemical engineering from the University of Waterloo, and an MASc in biological engineering and PhD in land resource science (atmospheric science) from the University of Guelph. Ausma has over 30 years’ experience working in a variety of sectors including academic research in Canada at the University of Guelph and in Germany at the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, consulting engineering and government. In 2018, she retired from the Ontario Public Service, after serving in both the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Resources and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry. Ausma held progressive positions that included technical expert, project manager in a policy shop and a supervisor who led both compliance, inspection and permit-issuing teams. Ausma was an OPS Amethyst Team Award recipient in 2013 for her work and leadership on the development of a national air quality system. In 2016, her volunteer activities were recognized with an Ontario Women’s Directorate Leading Women Building Communities Award. She was first elected to PEO Council as a Northern Region councillor in 2012 and was appointed vice president in 2013. She is a member of the Ontario Society of Professional Engineers (OSPE) and is a past OSPE director and past chair of the Women in Engineering Advisory Committee.