What we do | Who we are | Staff profiles

What We're doing
The Sustainability Office is here to promote, coordinate, and implement the most effective sustainability practices possible. By harnessing UBC's immense physical and intellectual resources, we're working to develop positive solutions for today's ecological challenges.
Annual report

Who we are
In 1997, UBC became Canada's first university to implement a sustainable development policy. A year later, the university opened Canada's first Sustainability Office (SO).

The office is committed to developing an environmentally responsible campus that is economically viable and reflects the values of campus community members. We're assisting UBC in assuming a leadership role through practicing sustainable development and instilling sustainable development values in its graduates and employees through research, teaching, and operations.

The SO is currently facilitating at least a dozen focused programs that aim to reduce energy and resource consumption on campus, encourage the construction of green buildings and involve all members of the campus in this ongoing goal to make the university a fully sustainable community.

The office is completely funded by savings from our energy reduction programs and is made up of four full-time and three part-time staff members; we'd like to introduce them to you.

Staff Profiles

Charlene Easton
Director, Sustainability
Charlene has a 25-year history in sustainability innovation and leadership in Canada and around the world. She has applied sustainabilty projects across a broad range of sectors including municipalities, corporations, communities, small businesses and educational institutions. Charlene graduated from York University's Masters in Environmental Studies Program, after completing a three-year CIDA scholarship.

Orion Henderson
Associate Director, Climate Change and Energy
Orion is responsible for implementing a sustainable management program for energy and water consumption at UBC, and for helping to develop strategies to achieve further reductions in GHG emissions. Orion received his BEng in Chemical Engineering from CIT, Ireland and his MSc in Environmental Technology from Imperial College, England.

Lorna Seppala
Associate Director, Social Sustainability
Lorna oversees social sustainability programs. She has over 20 years of experience in sustainability practice spanning the corporate and public sector, including past positions with the 2010 Bid Corporation, Terasen Gas and VANOC.  An UBC alumnus, Lorna has degrees in Geography and Social Planning and an MBA from Richard Ivey School of Business.

BRENDA SAWADA
Manager, UBC SEEDS Program
Brenda is the founder and coordinator of UBC SEEDS (Social, Ecological, Economic, Development Studies), Canada's only campus initiative bringing together students, staff and faculty to specifically address sustainability issues. Before joining UBC, Brenda co-founded the Sage Foundation in Vancouver to raise awareness about sustainability.

Liska Richer
Coordinator, UBC SEEDS Program
Liska co-manages the UBC SEEDS (Social, Ecological, Economic, Development Studies) Program. She is currently a PhD Candidate in UBC’s Faculty of Land & Food Systems, and has a BA in Sociology. Since 2004, Liska has worked on a jointly initiated SEEDS program, - the UBC Food System Project, which strives to create a more sustainable food system at UBC.  

Kara Bowen
Coordinator, Sustainability Coordinators Program
Kara manages the Sustainability Coordinator program. She has BA in International Studies and Community Sustainable Development from Simon Fraser University, as well as a diploma in Permaculture Design. Before joining the SO, Kara worked for the SFU Local Food Project and helped to start a pocket farmers market at SFU.

Alison Aloisio
Advisor, Green Buildings and Sustainable Community Planning
Alison encourages green building on campus and manages UBC's Residential Environmental Assessment Program (REAP). She earned her MSc from UBC's School of Community and Regional Planning and her LEED Accredited Professional status from the Canada Green Building Council. Before joining the SO, Alison researched municipal green building policies and helped write the REAP guidelines.

Liz Ferris
Coordinator, Climate Action
Liz coordinates UBC’s climate action portfolio. She manages the development of UBC’s Integrated Climate Management Framework and the implementation of the Go Beyond student climate action project. She has a BSc in Sustainable Community Development from UBC's Global Resource Systems program.

Amanda Fetterly
Manager, Communications & Marketing
Amanda manages communications and marketing for the SO. She also provides communications support for other sustainability initiatives on campus. A graduate of an electronic media and graphic design program, Amanda previously worked for local design firms and independently for national sustainability organizations.

Anke sieb
Project Assistant, Communications & Research
Anke is involved in communications, research and projects. Before joining UBC she worked in the communications department of a publishing house for sustainability. She earned her Master in Political Science at the University of Cologne in Germany and is currently working on a Master in Environmental Sciences through distance education.

Student Interns
Student interns provide green building tours, assist SO staff, and coordinate student engagement programs like Residence Sustainability Coordinators. Both undergraduate and graduate students from a wide range of faculties contribute their enthusiasm to the SO year round.

THE SUSTAINABILITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE (SAC)
Our direct link to the university is this select group of
faculty, staff, and student representatives. As well as providing overall guidance on SO activities, the committee:

• Identifies strategic opportunities for sustainability initiatives.
• Helps establish and maintain sustainability as a high-priority focus throughout UBC.
• Facilitates consultation with the university community.