Roland Balogh, Human Resources Coordinator

Roland Balogh

In my first year of university, I got my first part-time job as an assistant manager for a small, family run, water treatment company. In the beginning I didn’t know much about water, about pollution or about sustainability. Slowly, I started to understand how humans interact with the environment and see the effects of this. I immediately understood why there is a need to change. One of the projects that was close to my heart was promoting sustainable ways of serving water in restaurants and bars while improving quality, reducing logistics, costs and most importantly pollution.

After finishing university, I decided that it is the right time to take my studies one step further and become an international student at George Brown College, pursuing my post-graduate diploma in Human Resources Management. This course gave me the chance to join a co-op and apply what I’ve learned. One of my classmates, who I befriended during this course, knew my story and told me about this opportunity at Iron and Earth. After a short chat with Andrea and discovering more about the company, I knew that this is what I have to do.

During my adventure I had many people helping me and I think that it is my duty to pay it forward by helping others. I want to give and apply the best of my knowledge into my “day-to-day” activities, no matter if it is recruiting, compensation or creating/reviewing HR policies. I think that through hard and honest work, great results can be achieved.

 

Iron & Earth was founded and operates on Indigenous land within Treaty Six Territory and Métis Region 4 in amiskwaciy-wâskahikan (in Nehiyawewin/Cree), so-called Edmonton. The home of many Indigenous Peoples including the Nehiyawak/Cree, Tsuut’ina, Niitsitapi/Blackfoot, Métis, Nakota Sioux, Haudenosaunee/Iroquois, Dene Suliné, Anishinaabe/Ojibway/Saulteaux, and the Inuk/Inuit.

We pay our respects to all Indigenous Peoples of this land. Through their spiritual and practical relationships with the land, a rich heritage for our learning and our life as a community has been created and maintained. We recognize that the transition to a low-carbon future must be led by Indigenous Peoples and that there will be no justice unless we acknowledge and repair our relationship with the land.

We are committed to responding to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls to Action and upholding the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and acknowledge that we are always learning and unlearning practices that minimize harm and lead to the development of trust between us and Indigenous Peoples across Nations and urban centers.