Uploaded May 2020 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
Alexandra Tavasoli | 29 | Toronto | CEO, The Solistra Corporation; Chemical Engineer | SDGs: 7
Alexandra Tavasoli was one of Corporate Knights' 2019 30 Under 30 Sustainability Leaders. As an environmentalist chemical engineer, Tavasoli told Corporate Knights she had always felt an internal tension about the pace at which chemical engineering is implementing change and the urgency of the climate crisis. Now, as the CEO of Toronto-based cleantech start-up Solistra, she and her team are developing a revolutionary chemical conversion technology that uses solar energy to convert greenhouse gases into sustainable fuels and products like plastic – using solar-activated nanocatalysts Alexandra developed during her PhD in materials engineering at the University of Toronto. “I believe that technologies that are able to facilitate the transition of large industry into a cleaner future will be vital to…building a pluralistic climate-fighting strategy,” says the MaRS Women in Cleantech finalist, who also hopes to inspire the next generation of female engineers.
We had the chance to interview Alexandra about her work, as well as her overall experience in leadership and change-making. We hope you enjoy our conversation!
Know a sustainability leader that's under 30 years old? Be sure to nominate them to Corporate Knights' 2020 30 Under 30 list: corporateknights.com/channels/leadership/corporate-knights-30-30-nominations-now-open-15857497 "
Alexandra Tavasoli | 29 | Toronto | CEO, The Solistra Corporation; Chemical Engineer | SDGs: 7
Alexandra Tavasoli was one of Corporate Knights' 2019 30 Under 30 Sustainability Leaders. As an environmentalist chemical engineer, Tavasoli told Corporate Knights she had always felt an internal tension about the pace at which chemical engineering is implementing change and the urgency of the climate crisis. Now, as the CEO of Toronto-based cleantech start-up Solistra, she and her team are developing a revolutionary chemical conversion technology that uses solar energy to convert greenhouse gases into sustainable fuels and products like plastic – using solar-activated nanocatalysts Alexandra developed during her PhD in materials engineering at the University of Toronto. “I believe that technologies that are able to facilitate the transition of large industry into a cleaner future will be vital to…building a pluralistic climate-fighting strategy,” says the MaRS Women in Cleantech finalist, who also hopes to inspire the next generation of female engineers.
We had the chance to interview Alexandra about her work, as well as her overall experience in leadership and change-making. We hope you enjoy our conversation!
Know a sustainability leader that's under 30 years old? Be sure to nominate them to Corporate Knights' 2020 30 Under 30 list: corporateknights.com/channels/leadership/corporate-knights-30-30-nominations-now-open-15857497 "
