Get to know Asper School of Business Director of Sustainability, Minelle E. Silva
Supply chain scholar explains why it is time to centre sustainability
The Asper School of Business has appointed three new high-impact academic roles, bringing accomplished faculty members to lead as directors of sustainability, Indigenous business relations, and EDI. These directors will facilitate their specific areas by supporting teaching, curriculum development, research and engagement initiatives.
Associate professor of supply chain management and newly appointed director of sustainability, Minelle E. Silva pursues research that mainly concerns supply chain sustainability and inter-organizational relationships. He is passionate about social and environmental justice and develops academic work that sheds light on problems in supply chains.
Silva was appointed director of sustainability at the Asper School of Business effective July 1, 2024.
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Sustainability touches on so many important steps forward but also many complex, longstanding social and economic problems. What inspired your interest in sustainability, and what sustains your work?
“I started to think about sustainability during my undergrad, and for more than 15 years, I have been trying to understand different ways of pursuing sustainability in a world where capitalism is the main structure.
“When I first started studying, sustainability was a new issue; we were just starting to have these conversations. Today, it’s completely different. People are actively seeking out sustainability and looking for ways to implement sustainable practices in business.
“Much of my work focuses on complex, multifaceted problems, from environmental impacts to ethical (and unethical) labour in supply chains. I try not to focus only on the problem, but instead try to reflect on solutions. The reality is that supply chains can obscure problems, and if we don’t shed light on and face them with research, we won’t find answers.”
Silva joined the Asper School of Business in 2023 and immediately noticed how openly faculty and leadership discussed sustainability—an atmosphere that helped him say ‘yes,’ first to the associate professor role and again to the director of sustainability role.
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What do you hope to achieve as Asper’s director of sustainability? What is exciting for you about the role?
“I was very proud to be chosen for this role. I am excited about the challenge of taking research and theoretical work and turning my knowledge into real change for the School.
“I hope that I can contribute by making sustainability shine at the School and creating pathways for faculty and students to take this knowledge beyond our walls and engage with the community, all while collaborating with fellow directors Katherine [Davis] and Jieying [Chen] because all three portfolios—sustainability, Reconciliation, EDI—are interconnected.”
This collaborative spirit is something Silva brings to his work and life, explaining that he enjoys building networks between ideas, people, communities and disciplines and seeing what emerges from collaborations.
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How do you define yourself as a researcher? With so many questions to tackle, how do you decide what research questions to pursue?
“I think I am a pathfinder. I want to pursue work that we aren’t yet having conversations about or find a new element to discuss. If we don’t pursue new paths, those conversations will just go in circles. This approach pushes me to become a constant learner, and I try to bring this into the classroom as well.”
As the Asper School of Business’ first ever director of sustainability, Silva is certainly carving out a new path, though he is quick to acknowledge the work of colleagues, dedicated faculty and passionate staff members, who have been doing this work for years.
He looks forward to advancing the work of sustainability at Asper and seeing it flourish across departments and disciplines while reflecting on how much progress has been made so far.
As he explains, “There was a time when sustainability was just on the periphery and very distant from business, and I think it is time for it to be in the centre of the conversation.”
Learn more about the Asper School of Business’ commitment to sustainability in academic programs, research, community and more here.