How does it feel to be a Sustainability Ambassador? Hear from current Sustainability Ambassadors – what’s important to them, what they hope to achieve from their experience, and what they’ve gained from taking part.

Ambassador bios

Biodiversity Cohort


Ben Scheufler

Ben Scheufler - Lead
Natural Resource Conservation, Faculty of Forestry

Ben is a fifth-year undergraduate student in the BSc. Natural Resources Conservation program at UBC’s Faculty of Forestry. He is passionate about urban ecology and strives to foster connections between UBC's community and the diverse ecosystems on campus. Ben is a former Urban Biodiversity Coordinator with the SEEDS Sustainability program, where he facilitated interdisciplinary, applied, student-led research on urban biodiversity. Having worked extensively with the Campus Biodiversity Initiative: Research and Demonstration (CBIRD) initiative, he is looking forward to joining the Sustainability Hub team and building new ways to support and enhance biodiversity on campus. Ben’s past work includes a summer spent in Chetwynd, B.C., where he supported the Boreal Centre for Sustainability in engaging with local permaculture and agroforestry initiatives to support community food security. In his free time, Ben enjoys hiking and photography — and you can often find him out for a walk at the UBC Botanical Garden! 


Clare

Clare Price
Geography: Environment and Sustainability Major, Faculty of Arts

Clare is a fourth-year Environment and Sustainability Major, minoring in Environmental Science. Hailing from Kansas, she has a deep appreciation for the landscape and ecosystems of British Columbia, and can be found rummaging around the beaches, reading, and going for swims in her free time. Currently Clare is most passionate about bioacoustics, community building, and accessible scientific communication.  

 

 


Ramit

Ramit Seth
Psychology Major, Faculty of Arts

A fourth year Psychology major, Ramit comes from Amritsar, Punjab, India. He is an extremely passionate young leader who has wide ranging interests, and loves to learn. Currently he is working on learning more about Sustainability, Basketball, and Investing. 

 

 

 


Soyoung

Soyoung Jeong
Major in Cognitive Systems, Faculty of Arts

Soyoung is a second-year student currently pursuing a degree in Cognitive Systems. She grew up in Whistler, and loves skiing, biking, hiking, and the arts! She is striving to promote a more sustainable mindset on campus and is elated to be a part of the biodiversity cohort this year alongside her passionate peers. Soyoung is eager to learn about biodiversity, as well as take part in projects and initiatives related to sustainability.  Soyoung is a second-year student currently pursuing a degree in Cognitive Systems. She grew up in Whistler, and loves skiing, biking, hiking, and the arts! She is striving to promote a more sustainable mindset on campus and is elated to be a part of the biodiversity cohort this year alongside her passionate peers. Soyoung is eager to learn about biodiversity, as well as take part in projects and initiatives related to sustainability.


Summer

Summer Sharma
Geography: Environment and Sustainability Major, Faculty of Arts

Summer is a fourth-year Geography student in the Environment and Sustainability program. She has grown up in many places around the world which have helped develop her interest in environmental studies, systems thinking and activism. She is looking forward to spending time with her peers in the biodiversity cohort this year and is excited for the chance to work on projects that will foster and protect biodiversity at UBC.  

 

 


Sophy

Fei (Sophy) Wu
Natural Resource Conversion Major, Faculty of Forestry

Sophy is a second year BSc. in Natural Resources Conservation student at the Faculty of Forestry. She is an optimistic, compassionate, and resilient global citizen with Chinese and Canadian cultural experiences. Growing up exclusively in urban neighbourhoods, she has always been interested in learning about and advocating for the environment; bringing urban residents, especially underprivileged ones, close to nature; and interacting with the public, especially children, youth and families. Working in the biodiversity cohort this year, she hopes to share her passions for environmental conservation and urban sustainability with the UBC community and beyond.
 

 


Kylie

Kylie Meredith
Forest Resources Management Major, Faculty of Forestry

 Originally from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Kylie is a second year student studying Forest Resources Management in the Faculty of Forestry. Her interests include hiking, running and anything else that involves being outdoors. She is looking forward to working as a sustainability ambassador in the biodiversity cohort and sharing her passion for climate activism. Some projects Kylie will be working on this year include getting the public “Stoked on Soils!” and creating a pollinator-friendly campus.  

 

 


Lucila

Lucila Gonzalez Frias
Urban Forestry Major, Faculty of Forestry

Lucila is an international student from Mexico City, currently completing her third year in the Bachelor’s of Urban Forestry. She loves the outdoors, biking, film photography, baking and a good book about trees or nature. Lucila is thrilled to be part of the Biodiversity cohort within the Sustainability hub, especially being  able to work with such amazing people from diverse disciplines.  

 

 


Bita

Bita Mojtahedzadeh
Biology Major, Faculty of Science

Bita is a fourth-year Biology major student, originally from Iran. Her hobbies include reading, painting, and going on nature walks. She is excited to learn more about sustainability and climate action as a sustainability ambassador in the biodiversity cohort and to work alongside a group of passionate people.  

 

 

Climate Cohort


Jack Suchodolski

Jack Suchodolski - Lead
Geography: Environment and Sustainability Major, International Relations Minor, Faculty of Arts

Originally from the ancestral territory of the Coast Miwok People, more widely-known today as part of the San Francisco Bay Area, Jack is a fourth-year undergraduate within the Department of Geography’s Environment and Sustainability program and minors in International Relations. As the Climate Lead for UBC’s Sustainability Ambassadors Program, Jack develops and facilitates programming that allows Ambassadors to explore the connections between human activity, perception, and the climate emergency, as well as supports the Ambassadors’ community-facing projects. He is also a current Climate and Nature Emergency Undergraduate Fellow through the Peter Wall Institute for Advanced Studies and Editor-in-Chief for UBC’s Journal for Climate Justice. Apart from studying and working, Jack enjoys spending time with family and friends, making music, and admiring Vancouver’s sunsets when weather permits. 
 


Hazel Barthel

Hazel Barthel
Environmental Sciences Major, Geographic Information Science and Geographical Computation Minor, Faculty of Science

Hazel is in the final year of her degree in Environmental Sciences with a focus on ecology and conservation. She is also working towards a minor in Geographic Information Science and Geographical Computation. Hazel’s academic interests include our interactions with the world around us and the interconnected nature of anthropogenic impacts. Through the Sustainability Ambassadors program, she hopes to learn about and be involved in climate action initiatives with tangible impacts. 

 

 


Joaquín Diaz

Joaquín Diaz
Integrated Sciences Major, German Language Minor, Faculty of Science

Joaquín is a 4th-year student originally from Toluca, Mexico. He is an Integrated Sciences Major and a German language Minor. The focus of his Integrated Sciences curriculum is understanding climate change through a scientific and sustainability lens. He is passionate about systems thinking and using interdisciplinarity to create innovative solutions to climate change. His interests range from running, hiking, coding, and reading, to cooking and learning about other languages and cultures. Through his role as an Ambassador, he hopes to contribute to sustainability and climate-action awareness on campus, while building his network of sustainability-oriented folks at UBC and beyond. 

 


Lillian Hempel

Lillian Hempel
Geography: Environment and Sustainability Major, Psychology Minor, Faculty of Arts

Lillian is from Boston, Massachusetts and is currently a third-year student majoring in Geography with a minor in Psychology. She is inspired by topics pertaining to climate justice, equal rights and the development of walkable communities. She hopes to blend her studies in sustainability with her knowledge of human behaviour to aid her in her time as a Sustainability Ambassador. Lillian also aspires to, with the help of her team members, play a role in developing a future where we take climate change as an opportunity to build a better, more equitable world.

 

 


Rachel Peressini

Rachel Peressini
Geography: Environment and Sustainability Major, Faculty of Arts

Rachel is a Geography student with a passion for issues of environmental justice and social equity. She is from Victoria, British Columbia and has always loved exploring the natural beauty of her hometown. She loves reading, hiking, and creating films with her camera. Rachel is excited to become a sustainability ambassador and to learn more about leadership within the realm of climate justice.

 

 


Tabitha Kennedy

Tabitha Kennedy
Masters in Forestry and Conservation, Faculty of Forestry

Tabitha is a second-year MSc student in the Faculty of Forestry. She completed her BSc Honours degree at Carleton University in Ottawa, Ontario, majoring in Environmental Science. Tabitha has always been passionate about issues relating to climate change and its impact on the natural and built environment. In her time at UBC she has become interested in furthering her knowledge of sustainability in relation to biodiversity, conservation, urban ecological design & planning, and fostering climate-resilient communities. In her free time, Tabitha loves to read, play volleyball, sketch, take nature walks, and plan international trips.

 


Alix Borton

Alix Borton
Natural Resource Conservation Major, Masters in Management Dual-Degree, Faculty of Forestry and Sauder School Business

Alix is a Forestry student interested in sustainable business management. She is from San Francisco, California. Alix is an avid trail runner and loves to knit and sew in her free time. She hopes to raise awareness towards climate action among students and faculty through the Sustainability Ambassador program.

 

 


Christina Salo

Christina Salo
Chemical and Biological Engineering Major, Faculty of Applied Science

Christina is a 2nd-year student in the department of Chemical and Biological engineering. From a very young age, she has had a love for the natural world and a passion for finding innovative solutions to climate change. Christina is planning to use her chemical engineering degree to pursue a career in clean energy or carbon capture technologies. She is thrilled to work with the sustainability ambassadors to diversify her undergraduate experience and encourage climate action within the UBC community and beyond.

 


Kevin Krenz

Kevin Krenz
Global Resource Systems Major, Commerce Minor, Faculty of Land and Food Systems

Kevin is a 4th-year student from Portland, Oregon in the Faculty of Land and Food Systems. His academic interests focus on renewable energy and bioenergy technologies and developments. Kevin hopes to utilize his experience in bioenergy research, biogas upgrading and volunteering to make an impact in bioenergy developments and systems around the world. Through the Sustainability Ambassadors program, Kevin is excited to meet more like-minded people with an active interest in sustainability and learn more about sustainability on the UBC campus. In his free time, Kevin likes to play soccer and go on adventures!

 

 


Emiko Wijeysundera

Emiko Wijeysundera
Dual-Degree in Engineering Physics Major, Faculty of Applied Science
Human Geography Major, Indigenous Studies Minor, Faculty of Arts

Emiko is a second-year student from Toronto, ON, currently pursuing dual Applied Science and Arts degrees in Engineering Physics and Human Geography with a minor in Indigenous Studies. Emiko is inspired by resilient, community-based, and environmentally mindful city planning, and is curious about work in this field. She hopes that her academic interdisciplinary focus will allow her to understand the scientific background and cultural traditions of the people and places around her, allowing meaningful and impactful community-focused work in the future. A former Climate Action Catalyst with Youth Challenge International, Emiko is excited to work within the Sustainability Ambassador team to further sustainability progress on campus and contribute to UBC’s sustainability efforts. Emiko loves long walks and listening to people’s stories!

Climate Resilient Communities


Michelle Xie

Michelle Xie - Lead
Sociology Major, Faculty of Arts
 

Michelle (she/her) is a community organizer, sociology undergraduate, and artist, who was born and raised on the stolen homelands of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh peoples. She is passionate about creating anti-oppressive spaces that are deeply grounded in care and abundant in creativity. In addition to being the Climate Resilient Communities Lead for the Sustainability Ambassadors Program, Michelle is a coordinator with Climate Justice UBC, creator of the Water Damaged Paper Anthology, and facilitator at The Climate Justice Organizing HUB. Through her work, she strives to build cross-movement solidarity and people power by equipping marginalized youth with the knowledge and skills needed to create transformative social change in their communities. 
 


Saumya Gupta

Saumya Gupta
Forest Bioeconomy Sciences Major, Commerce Minor, Faculty of Forestry

Saumya (she/her) is a second-year student at UBC from India. She studies Forest Bioeconomy Sciences and Technology and is minoring in Commerce. She is keen about the combination of technology and commerce with sustainability and is excited to help create campus-wide change in the Climate Resilient Communities cohort. 

 

 


Sanjeev Johal

Sanjeev Johal
Biology Major, Faculty of Science

Sanjeev is in his fourth year of undergraduate studies in Biology. He is interested in hearing different perspectives and helping marginalized communities that are disproportionately affected by climate change. As an Ambassador, Sanjeev looks forward to working with a group of passionate individuals and learning from the team’s diverse and multidisciplinary perspectives. Outside of his studies, he likes going for walks and trying out new restaurants with friends.

 


Lauren Kasowski

Lauren Kasowski
Geography: Environment and Sustainability Major, Faculty of Arts

Lauren (she/her) is in her second year of studying Environment and Sustainability in the Geography department. She has always loved learning and appreciates that her program allows the exploration of large, interconnected ideas like consumerism culture, circular economies, and systems thinking. Growing up on the outskirts of suburban Alberta, Lauren was exposed to the value and beauty of nature from a young age. Yet, she didn’t see enough people in positions of authority caring about any kind of sustainability. She’s determined to change that! In the future, she would love to work with companies to analyze, create, and manage site-specific and efficient solutions to mitigate their emissions. Outside of sustainability and climate action, Lauren loves writing, puzzles, cooking, and being active. She spends a lot of her time outside, and you can often find her watching the sunset on the beach.
 


Lauren Kasowski

Muyang Li
Manufacturing Engineering Major, Commerce Minor, Faculty of Applied Science

Muyang is a fifth-year manufacturing engineering student with a minor study in commerce. She is passionate about bringing good impact to the world using engineering technologies, system thinking, and process optimization. She likes to listen to people from different fields share their stories of sustainability and deeply believes that interdisciplinary collaboration is one of the most important factors in tackling climate crisis. In her free time, Muyang likes playing racket sports, reading, painting, and photography.

 


 

Lisa Kariuki

Lisa Kariuki
International Relations Major, Faculty of Arts

Lisa is a third-year student majoring in International Relations from Nairobi, Kenya. She joined the Sustainability Ambassadors program because she is passionate about developing my leadership in sustainable community development. Lisa believes through intentional and engaging community-driven work, sustainable change can be realised within our local and global communities. Part-time she works as a Communications and Engagement Assistant at the UBC Community Engagement Office, where she works to connect community organisations, non-profit groups and individuals to access support and resources at UBC. Lisa also works in creating stories that centre around meaningful community engagement. This year she is also volunteering as a Peer Mentor for the International Relations Student Association where she helps guide and mentor lower-year students who are interested in majoring in International Relations. 

 


Sofya Babak

Sofya Babak
Natural Resource Conservation Major, Faculty of Forestry

Sofya is a 3rd-year student in Natural Resources Conservation, passionate about community and ecosystem resilience. She came to UBC specifically to engage with climate and environmental issues, because they were not known where she grew up. Sofya was one of the first people to start up the environmental conversation back home, by organizing educational lectures and festivals in Russian schools. She now hopes to engage in bigger and more tangible projects in conservation and sustainability in all of the environmental, social and economic domains. Apart from her studies and the Ambassadors program, she is currently working on a project with the  Center for Community Learning to improve UBC’s food security and also growing her portfolio as a photographer.
 

 


Yoshi Futai

Yoshi Futai
Geography: Environment and Sustainability Major, Faculty of Arts

Yoshi is a second-year student from Boston, Massachusetts studying Environment and Sustainability through the Department of Geography. At the moment, she is interested in promoting sustainability through the lens of community, education, culture, and lifestyle. This includes being a co-leader in a reforestation project in her hometown where she worked with university students and high school students to plant over 300 trees to both restore the local ecosystem and commemorate the lives lost from COVID-19. Through her time as a Sustainability Ambassador, she is very excited to work with high schools in the Vancouver area and hold sustainability-themed workshops and events! In her spare time, Yoshi enjoys cafe hopping, spending time with friends, and stargazing at Kitsilano beach! 

 

 

Amit Sharma
 

Ethical Civic Engagement


Emma Loucks

Emma Loucks - Lead
Environmental Science Major, Faculty of Science

Emma (she/her) is a 5th-year student studying Environmental Science in the area of concentration of Land, Air, and Water. She is a settler, originally from Treaty 13, the traditional territory of the Mississaugas of the credit, Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat (sometimes called Toronto) and is currently a visitor on the stolen land of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Watuthland nations (otherwise known as Vancouver). As this year’s Ethical Civic Engagement Lead for the Sustainability Ambassadors program, Emma develops and facilitates programming that provides the Ambassadors with practical knowledge and skills to equitably engage with community members and organizations. As well as, providing workshops throughout the program that encourage the Ambassadors to consider sustainability issues holistically and with an interdisciplinary lens. Emma also currently serves on the board of Sprouts as the By-donation Produce Market Coordinator, is serving her third year as an executive on ESSA (Environmental Science Student Association), and has been involved in other student-led initiatives throughout her degree. In her free time, Emma likes to bike, hike or just generally spend time outdoors!


Kaysha Reeder
Urban Forestry Major, Faculty of Forestry

Kaysha is a third-year urban forestry student born in South Korea and has cultivated her passion for sustainability and equity as she has always found refuge in green spaces nestled in dense cities. She has come to realize that not all people have equal access to these magnificent areas. In particular, she is interested in creating a sustainable landscape for current and future generations, especially in urban areas. Before joining the Sustainability Ambassador team, she worked with cities by helping with tree protection by-laws, gained experience in conducting urban forest inventories and creating recommendations, and has volunteered to restore habitat by removing invasive species. Kaysha is excited to be part of the Ethical Civic Engagement team and to learn more about sustainability from diverse perspectives.


Nolan Babin

Nolan Babin
Natural Resource Conservation Major, Faculty of Forestry

Coming from Hamilton, Ontario, Nolan is currently in his second year in Natural Resources Conservation in the Faculty of Forestry. His interest in environmental issues and the natural world stem from growing up by a Great Lake and the issues surrounding its marsh and shorelines. While at UBC, Nolan wants to discover more specialized areas of study, including forestry, agriculture, geography, and, more recently, marine ecosystems. Nolan hopes this range of education in various environmental sectors and sciences will give him a better understanding of broader global issues while fulfilling his program's international travel requirements. In his spare time, Nolan has taken up running to get outdoors and explore the city more. 

 


Nur Sabrina Qistina Binti Mohd Yusoff

Nur (Sabrina) Qistina Binti Mohd Yusoff
Honours Human Geography Major, Faculty of Arts

Sabrina is currently a third-year undergraduate student pursuing her Honours in Human Geography. Growing up in Southeast Asia, she thinks a lot about the impact of human activities on land use, ecosystems, biodiversity, and species extinction in tropical rainforests. Her research interest is in utilizing remote sensing techniques to map forest degradation due to selective logging in Malaysia. In her spare time, you can find her crafting, climbing, cycling, and breaking patterns of alliteration. 

 

 


Vanessa Chan

Vanessa Chan
Geography: Environment and Sustainability Major, Faculty of Arts

Vanessa Chan is a final-year undergraduate student from Hong Kong, majoring in Geography, Environment and Sustainability at UBC. She is excited to join and participate in the UBC Sustainability Ambassadors Ethical Civic Engagement cohort this year. Throughout her secondary education, climate change has been a recurring topic learnt in school, which has gradually led her to develop an interest in learning about how sustainability is critical in reducing the speed and severity of climate change in the future. Through the Sustainability Ambassador program, Vanessa looks forward to expanding her knowledge of how we can incorporate sustainable practices into our daily lives to achieve positive environmental changes, learn how to interact with public audiences and convey ideas about the importance of sustainability through community engagement.
 


Aaliyah McKinney

Aaliyah McKinney
Food, Nutrition, and Health Major, Psychology Minor, Faculty of Land and Food Systems

Aaliyah (she/her) is a 3rd-year undergraduate student in the faculty of land and food systems. She is completing a major in food, nutrition, and health with a minor in psychology. Aaliyah has loved being able to explore sustainability and environmentalism since high school and has more recently taken a particular interest in sustainable food systems including agricultural practices and individual awareness of sustainable eating habits. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, reading, hiking, and listening to music.

 

 


Tiya Tanaka

Tiya Tanaka
Commerce Major, Sauder School of Business

Tiya Tanaka (she/her) is a third-year undergraduate student majoring in Commerce at the UBC Sauder School of Business. She is specializing in Organizational Behavior and Human Resources with a concentration in Sustainability and Social Impact. As a business student, Tiya sees the government and the corporate world as an opportunity to make meaningful, lasting, and positive environmental and social change in the community. Through the Sustainability Ambassadors program, she hopes to expand her knowledge about intersecting environmental and social issues while educating others too. 

 


Abhiudai Mishra

Abhiudai Mishra
Marketing Major, Psychology Minor, Sauder School of Business

Abhi is a 4th Sauder student specializing in Marketing with a Concentration in Business Analytics and a Minor in Psychology. He loves pairing these programs to gain a quantitative and behavioural understanding of consumer trends to discover critical insights and make strategic recommendations that ultimately make a positive impact. Outside of school, Abhi is a co-founder of Rescued Glass- they collect used glass bottles at the end of their product cycles and upcycle them into innovative products. Through their consistent work, they have collected over 5,000 glass bottles from students like you, residents, and restaurants and upcycled them into hundreds of products for consumers around Vancouver, saving over 1,000,000 grams of CO2 in the process. He also enjoys going to the beach and exploring the city. In the summer, you can find him at Spanish Banks.
 


Martina Francisco

Martina Francisco
Neuroscience and Environmental Biology Major, Resource Economics Minor, Faculty of Science

Martina is a fourth-year student pursuing a BSc in Integrated Sciences: Neuroscience and Environmental Biology, with a minor in Resource Economics. She is particularly interested in environmental change and sustainability, and how it can be used to address global health problems. In the past, she has provided support and care to the youth by educating, empowering, and promoting healthy living in her hometown Brandon, Manitoba. She currently works as a research assistant for UBC Faculty of Medicine & Centre for Rural Health Research, focused on advocating the importance of environmental resilience in the study of medicine and healthcare in rural British Columbia. Outside of this, Martina likes to read, crochet, and spend as much time with her family as she can. 

 


Martina Francisco

Gideon Berry
Masters in Electrical & Computer Engineering, Faculty of Applied Science

Gideon (they/them) is an MEng student at UBC’s department of Electrical & Computer Engineering situated on the stolen territories of the xwməθkwəyə̓ m (Musqueam), Sḵwxw̱ ú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish), and səli̓lwətaɁɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) peoples. Gideon studies energy systems and the interdisciplinarity that surround them within the current energy transition. They are passionate about creating safe and accommodating spaces, particularly for those of the queer and disabled communities. At UBC, they are a past Sustainability Scholar and a Sustainability Ambassador within the ethical civic engagement cohort. Outdoors, Gideon loves a good hike, swimming in a lake, or bike ride. They are also an adequate chorister and dancer (especially when it’s like a ghoul). Moving forward, they are excited to use what power and opportunities they have to learn with others and empower youth to create the futures that they dream to see.

 

Justice


Divija Madhani

Divija Madhani - Lead
Masters in Public Policy & Global Affairs, Faculty of Arts

Originally from Mumbai, India, Divija has been fortunate to call the unceded, ancestral, and traditional Musqueam territories her home for the last several years. She earned her Bachelors in International Relations and Sociology at UBC in 2021 and specialized in sustainability and sustainable development frameworks. She is currently completing her Masters in Public Policy and Global Affairs at UBC to hone her expertise in the economic dimension of sustainability. Her experiences in the industry include self-directed projects, like designing and directing a seminar on interdisciplinary solutions for sustainability issues, as well as extensive partnerships with UBC’s Sustainability Hub in the capacity of a Sustainability Ambassador to develop local-level circular economy projects, a Project Manager to roadmap circular districts in Vancouver, and a Sustainability Engagement Lead to design and deliver just transitions and SDG-related programming to the campus community. Moving forward, Divija wants to actualize sustainability localization to support climate-resilient communities.


Annabelle Liao

Annabelle Liao
Global Resource Systems Major, Faculty of Land and Food Systems

Annabelle is currently an undergraduate student at the University of British Columbia (UBC) working towards her Bachelor of Science in Global Resource Systems specializing in sustainability communications. Her passion for sustainability stems from leading marine conservation youth camps at the Vancouver Aquarium in high school, and her diversified experience has led her to develop and manage various projects relating to capacity-building, waste reduction, and greenhouse gas management on campus. In the future, Annabelle hopes to continue working in spheres of climate action and resiliency, in order to catalyze a sustainable future for the global community.


Diane Huang

Diane Huang
Anthropology Major, Urban Studies Minor, Faculty of Arts

Diane (she/her/hers) is a third-year arts student majoring in Anthropology and minoring in Urban Studies. She hails from Coquitlam, on the stolen, traditional, and ancestral territories of the kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem) First Nation, which lies within the shared traditional and stolen territories of the Tsleil-Wautut, Katzie, xʷməθkʷəy̓əm  (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish), and  Quay Quayt First Nations. She is interested in the intersections of disability justice with climate justice, which arose after working with neurodivergent youth on urban schoolyard farms. In addition, she is a member of UBC Common Energy Green Infrastructure team and works in the UBC Collegia program as a Collegia Advisor.

 


Mark Peralta

Mark Peralta
Environmental Engineering Major, Faculty of Applied Science

Mark is a third-year Environmental Engineering student in the Faculty of Applied Science. A lifelong resident of the City of Vancouver, Mark was inspired to become an environmentalist after marching in the Vancouver version of the Global Climate Strike in September 2019. Determined to use engineering as a tool to combat climate change and reduce inequalities, Mark has worked for local governments promoting Zero Waste practices. Mark also completed the Tech Stewardship program which gave him the tools to create technologies which are beneficial for society as a whole. During Mark's (limited) free time, you can find him in the gym, in one of East Vancouver's many great restaurants, or listening to music.

 


Molly Nicholls

Molly Nicholls
Marketing Major, Sauder School of Business

Molly is a third-year student specializing in Marketing with a concentration in Sustainability and Social Impact. She grew up in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario and has always had a passion for incorporating and prioritizing sustainability in business spaces. Appreciation for and time in nature has been an important part of her life from living part-time in Costa Rica as a kid. From a young age she fundraised and volunteered for Costa Rican wildlife conservation foundations. Through the sustainability ambassador program, she is looking forward to working with people from different disciplines towards making tangible change and raising awareness on campus. Molly enjoys hiking, biking, photography, and going to any concert around Vancouver.

 


Selena Yang

Selena Yang
International Economics Major, Faculty of Arts

Selena is a third-year student pursuing a Bachelor of International Economics at UBC. Selena has served in various non-profit and student-led organizations, particularly in the realm of youth empowerment. Most recently, Selena has served to promote financial literacy across high schools in Metro Vancouver and is currently supporting social purpose organizations through pro-bono consulting at Propel Impact. Within sustainability, her interests lie in climate justice, food systems, sustainable development, and systems thinking. She aspires to combine her background within nonprofits and the public sector to help address pressing issues, notably those related to inequality, education, and sustainability. As a Sustainability Ambassador, she is looking forward to learning more about intersectionality within sustainability and being able to connect with peers from various academic backgrounds. Outside of work, she enjoys cooking and sharing food, taking photos, exploring the outdoors, and discovering more about the world around her.


Sreeya Iyer

Sreeya Iyer
Commerica Major, Sauder School of Business

Sreeya is a third-year student completing her Bachelor of Commerce at UBC Sauder with a specialization in marketing and a sustainability and social impact concentration. She grew up in Mumbai, India, and came to interact with different themes of sustainability when she started her own social enterprise and a non-profit organization during the pandemic. She aspires to bring together concepts from business and sustainability to drive change and create impact. As a Sustainability Ambassador, she wishes to learn more about environmental and economic justice themes, along with sustainability consulting.  Outside of work, she enjoys reading, cooking, painting and nature photography.

 


Pauline Kraut

Rhea Dinesh

Sam Albert