Current Ambassadors

Olivia Moore (she/her): Climate Outreach Cohort Lead
Bachelor of Arts in International Relations

Olivia is a fourth-year student completing her Bachelor of Arts in International Relations. Growing up in North Vancouver, on the unceded land of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish) Nation, Olivia developed a love of nature and a desire to work in sustainability. Throughout her degree, Olivia has been interested in social movements and climate justice, aiming to understand how systemic forces intersect to disproportionately impact vulnerable communities. Olivia is looking forward to building upon her previous experience in communications and project assistance in a space dedicated to sustainability. In her spare time, Olivia enjoys baking, watching documentaries, and spending time outdoors.

Anna Beech (she/her): Ambassador
Bachelor of Arts in Environment and Sustainability

Anna is in her second year at UBC pursuing a major in Conservation. She is interested in the sustainable management of our natural resources and how ecosystems are affected by anthropogenic and climate-related disturbances. Through this program, she hopes to develop her interpersonal and leadership skills, as well as gain some perspective on how climate change can be tackled at a local scale. In her free time, she enjoys watching movies and running through Pacific Spirit Park.

Caelin Estrabillo (she/her): Ambassador
Bachelor of Applied Science in Environmental Engineering

Caelin is a third-year Environmental Engineering student who loves connecting with people and nature. She is passionate about providing access to clean drinking water and promoting a circular economy. Caelin is excited to begin her journey with and learn from the Climate Outreach cohort and UBC Sustainability!

Charisse Wang (she/her): Ambassador
Bachelor of Science in Natural Resources Conservation + Bachelor of Education

Charisse is a third year student at UBC taking a dual degree in Natural Resources Conservation and teaching biological sciences at a secondary level. She enjoys participating in informative conversations on socio-political issues and looks forward to sharing knowledge on climate change to residents in Vancouver. In her free time she enjoys going back-country camping, reading thrillers and listening to podcasts.

Ella Shi (she/her): Ambassador
Bachelor of Science in Environmental Sciences + Master of Management

Ella is a third-year student completing her Bachelor of Science in Environmental Sciences and a Master of Management. She has an unwavering passion for sustainability that drives her to pursue opportunities as the Science Undergraduate Society’s sustainability commissioner and a global climate simulator ambassador to make a meaningful environmental and social impact in her community. Ella is thrilled and honoured to have the opportunity to conduct climate outreach in the city of Vancouver with her cohort!

Joan Chen (she/her): Ambassador
Master of Engineering & Leadership

Joan is a Master of Engineering & Leadership graduate specializing in Clean Energy, grew up in fossil fuel-dependent regions. Committed to an equitable and affordable energy transition, she wish to leverage her expertise as a sustainability ambassador to educate the public on adopting tangible sustainable practices, like using public transit and installing heat pumps.

Ruby Lieu-Ashthorn (she/her): Ambassador
Bachelor of Commerce in Finance

Ruby is a fourth-year student completing a degree in finance and concentrating on sustainability and social impact. Growing up exploring the Yukon's backcountry, on the extraordinary traditional territory of the Kwanlin Dün First Nation and Taan Kwachan Council, her profound connection to nature was established very young. She is deeply inspired by Indigenous land stewardship and leadership in environmental conservation and preservation and believes they present a significant opportunity in combatting the climate crisis. Ruby aims to combine her passion for environmental protection, Indigenous inclusion and consultation, connecting with people, and her business background to inspire genuine action and advance the decolonization of the climate crisis.

Saisha Arora (she/her): Ambassador
Bachelor of International Economics (BIE)

Saisha is a second-year Bachelor of International Economics (BIE) student, passionate about sustainability and addressing economic issues such as inequality and food insecurity. She has researched on millet farming to enhance agricultural resilience. Through the Sustainability Ambassadors Program, she is eager to conduct outreach, educate communities, and inspire tangible change.

Shambhavi Arora (she/her): Ambassador
Bachelor of Arts in Political Science

Shambhavi is a fourth-year Political Science major with a minor in Law and Society, deeply passionate about pursuing environmental law in the future. Her research has focused on waste governance and land rights in the Arctic, and she is committed to advocating for sustainable solutions to pressing environmental challenges. Shambhavi is excited to continue her academic journey and learn from UBC sustainability!

Yanfu Dong (he/him): Ambassador
Bachelor of Arts in Sociology

Yanfu is a second-year Sociology student at UBC, with a keen interest in exploring the connections between social systems and sustainability. He’s curious about how social dynamics shape environmental issues and how communities can unite to tackle these challenges—preferably before the polar bears start sending us angry emails. Through the Sustainability Ambassador program, Yanfu aims to sharpen his skills in advocacy and collaboration while gaining hands-on experience in creating impactful change on a local scale. In his spare time, he enjoys getting lost on hiking trails around Vancouver and playing basketball.

Yoshiki Tanaka (he/him): Ambassador
Bachelor of International Economics (BIE)

Yoshiki is a second-year student pursuing a Bachelor of International Economics, with a strong passion for developmental economics, particularly in the area of circular economy. Before joining UBC, he led an environmental club at his high school, and he now seeks to further his understanding of sustainability and public policy.

Zoey Yang (she/her): Ambassador
Bachelor of Applied Science in Chemical Engineering

Zoey is a third year Chemical Engineering student who is passionate about clean energy and her previous research focused on decarbonization in the cement industry. Zoey is one of the VPs at UBC Student Energy, where she was introduced to the Sustainability Ambassador program. She is part of the Climate Outreach cohort and is excited to learn more about climate change and promote public sustainability awareness in the city of Vancouver.

Naomi Leung (they/them): Climate Wellbeing Cohort Lead
Bachelor of Science in Global Resource Systems

Naomi is a Han Chinese settler and guest on stolen Musqueam and Tsawwassen territories in colonially named “Richmond, BC.” They have a background organizing for climate justice education, harm reduction, and policy change with Climate Education Reform BC, Sustainabiliteens, and The Climate Justice Organizing HUB. Naomi is majoring in BSc Global Resource Systems where they are integrating environmental science and global health, and minoring in psychology. As a visual artist, Naomi believes IBPOC art, ideas, joy, and futures deserve to be centered and made space for in the climate movement and dominant culture.

Alessia Montecalvo (she/her): Ambassador
Bachelor of Arts in International Relations

Alessia is a fourth-year International Relations student with interests in global health policy and Indigenous rights advocacy. As a Sustainability Ambassador, she hopes to broaden her understanding of transnational solidarities and community-engaged responses to climate grief.

Diana Bratu (she/her): Ambassador
Bachelor of Science in Food, Nutrition and Health

Diana is a third-year Dietetics student, interested in learning more about the interplay of human health and climate wellbeing. As a future dietitian, she hopes to contribute to policies that prioritize the health of both people and the planet. Diana also enjoys travelling, meditating, and electronic music!

Emma Brooks (she/her): Ambassador
Bachelor of Science in Natural Resources Conservation

Emma is a fourth-year Natural Resources Conservation student in the Faculty of Forestry. She became part of the Sustainability Ambassadors program to get more involved with sustainability initiatives and to articulate shared emotions about the climate crisis. In her free time she enjoys kayaking and coaching volleyball.

Helen Liu (she/her): Ambassador
Bachelor of Arts in Political Science + Philosophy

Helen is a fifth-year student majoring in Philosophy and Political Science. Her motivation to become a sustainability ambassador stems from her strong passion for exploring critical theories, particularly investigating the correlations between environmental degradation and its impact on social justice. In her free time, she enjoys creative writing.

Lar Cora (she/her): Ambassador
Bachelor of Arts in International Relations

Lal is a fourth-year BA in International Relations with a minor in Economics candidate from Istanbul, Türkiye. She joined the Sustainability Ambassadors program to learn more about the interplay between climate change and mental health, and to contribute to life on campus. During her free time, you can find Lal biking around or DJing somewhere!

Ren Akagi (she/her): Ambassador
Bachelor of Arts in Environment & Sustainability

Ren is a third-year Environment and Sustainability major passionate about urban sustainability and nature conservation. Raised in Tokyo, she became interested in how cities can balance sustainable practices, resident well-being, and economic development—an area she hopes to explore further through the Climate Wellbeing Cohort. Vancouver’s unique mix of natural beauty and urban life offers the perfect backdrop for her to pursue these interests.

Luke Elliot Chan (he/him): Ambassador
Bachelor of International Economics

Luke is a second-year International Economics student excited to learn about sustainability and climate action. He hopes to expand his field of view and explore different fields of knowledge and action.

Rojini Kathiravel (she/her): Ambassador
Master of Applied Science in Forestry

Rojini is a final-year master's student in the Wood Science program at the University of British Columbia. Her research focuses on reducing the carbon footprint of wood buildings through performance-based design (PBD). Currently, her master's research aims to optimize carbon emissions in the construction industry, particularly in wood structures. Rojini previously completed her master’s degree in Civil Engineering at the University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka, where she focused on the hygrothermal performance of insulation materials. She has also contributed to projects on net-zero energy buildings and their environmental feasibility across Canadian climates. In her free time, she enjoys exploring the outdoors and engaging in environmental advocacy.

Saba Saberi (she/her): Ambassador
Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science

Saba joined this program to better understand how to manage climate change and help make a difference from a medical perspective by helping people with their overall health as changes occur. She loves going to the gym, hiking and reading. She also loves spending time with her friends and family!

Shubhreet Dadrao (they/them): Ambassador
Bachelor of Arts in English + History

Shubhreet is a third-year undergraduate studying English Literature and Language and History in the Faculty of Arts. They joined this program to learn more about climate justice and climate grief while broadening and incorporating their understanding in the field as a literary and historical scholar.

Yiwen Qiu (she/her): Ambassador
Bachelor of Commerce

Yiwen is a second-year Commerce student passionate about environmental and social enterprise. Her motivation to become a UBC Sustainability Ambassador comes from her involvement with clubs like Pickup UBC and Sprouts, where she learned about waste recycling and food waste while contributing to a more inclusive and sustainable UBC community. Through this program, she wants to expand her knowledge of climate justice and wellbeing and embrace leadership.

Aida Mohajeri (she/her): Campus + Community Planning (C+CP) Climate Action Cohort Lead
PhD candidate in Educational Studies + Master of Education

Aida is an Educational Studies PhD student, settler, and guest on the traditional, ancestral, unceded, and stolen territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) people. Her research explores the intersections of unsustainability, higher education, and systemic inequities. Her past experiences include research and policy in the non-profit, federal government, and education sectors. Aida holds an Ed.M. from Harvard University and a BA from Villanova University.

Emily Chan (she/her): Ambassador
Bachelor of Arts in Sociology

Emily is a fifth-year Arts student majoring in Sociology and minoring in Early Childhood Education. Over the course of her time at UBC, she has found joy and purpose in her studies and work centred around the social and sustainable development of intergenerational communities. She has joined the Sustainability Ambassadors Program because she strives to expand her learning, build leadership skills, and take collective climate action.

Eunice Kong (she/her): Ambassador
Bachelor of Science in Food Nutrition & Health

Eunice Kong is a fourth-year student majoring in Nutritional Sciences in the Food, Nutrition, and Health program under the Faculty of Land and Food Systems. Passionate about addressing food insecurity and systemic food issues, Eunice joined the program to explore sustainable approaches that promote healthier and more equitable food systems, contributing to a more sustainable society.

Grace McNamee (she/her): Ambassador
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology + Sociology

Grace joined the Sustainability Ambassadors program to promote sustainable habits and drive collective action. Passionate about integrating sustainability into daily life, she aims to address the disproportionate environmental impact of Western consumption. This program empowers her to work alongside like-minded individuals toward a more sustainable future.

Ivy Chiu (she/her): Ambassador
Bachelor of Science in Food, Nutrition & Health

Ivy is a fourth-year Bachelor of Science student in Food, Nutrition, and Health, passionate about promoting sustainability and addressing food insecurity among vulnerable populations. Through the Sustainability Ambassadors Program, she is eager to connect with UBC communities and contribute to UBC’s sustainability goals, fostering a resilient and inclusive future.

Keiran Hoang (they/Them): Ambassador
Bachelor of Arts in Environment & Sustainability + Master of Management

Keiran is a second-year student completing a Bachelor of Arts in Environment and Sustainability and a Master of Management. Passionate about practical sustainability, they aim to drive meaningful change in institutions, businesses, and communities. With a focus on actionable change, Keiran looks forward to inspiring climate awareness and fostering a culture of sustainability.

Kotone Sakamizu (she/her): Ambassador
Bachelor of Arts in Environment & Sustainability

Kotone is passionate about taking action towards maintaining a sustainable environment in UBC with the amazing C+CP cohort! By being part of this Sustainability Ambassador program, she is looking forward to gaining more experience, knowledge, and connections between people with similar interests by working towards the same goal.

Poongping Suthumpun (she/her): Ambassador
Bachelor of Arts in Economics

Poongping is an Economics major with a Commerce minor, having lived and studied in Thailand, Singapore, the United States, and now Canada. She joined the program to gain hands-on experience in tackling real-world sustainability challenges. Passionate about sustainability, ESG strategy, and data analysis, she is eager to contribute to CAP 2030 by leading finance planning, social media campaigns, and engagement strategies. She aims to reduce emissions through sustainable community engagement.

Sagar Kataria (he/him): Ambassador
Bachelor of Arts in Political Science(BIE)

Sagar is a fourth year Arts student majoring in political science and minoring in German studies. As an aspiring pre-Law student, Sagar is committed to pursuing environmental space law, as space represents the future frontier of exploration. Through the Sustainability Ambassador program, Sagar seeks to gain a deeper understanding of informing people, as people are key to persuade lawmakers into adopting sustainable practices.

Simeng Li (she/her): Ambassador
Bachelor of Applied Science in Chemical and Biological Engineering

Simeng Li is a fourth-year student in Chemical and Biological Engineering. As a Sustainability Ambassador, she hopes to drive impactful change on climate issues by developing inclusive and sustainable solutions to pressing local and global challenges, while raising public awareness on critical environmental topics.

Devyani Anand: Ambassador
Bachelor of Arts in Geography

Tess Anderson: Ambassador
Bachelor of Science in Natural Resources Conservation

Mutuma (he/him): Environmental Justice Cohort Lead
Bachelor of Arts in International Relations & Human Geography

Mutuma is a Pan-Africanist from Nairobi, Kenya, who is in his third year pursuing a double major in International Relations and Human Geography. He is fervent about the intersectionality between culture, the creative arts, and socio-economic development in Sub-Saharan Africa, and across black diaspora communities. Mutuma is passionate about using media, education, dialogue, and the arts to legitimize “non-Western” traditional systems of knowledge; applying them in contemporary efforts against climate injustice and the continued oppression of marginalized communities.

Ashley Smyth (she/her): Ambassador
Bachelor of Arts in Political Science

Ashley finds nature and people’s relationships with it so beautiful and is interested in exploring ways to protect these through policy. She saw the Sustainability Ambassadors Program as the perfect place to learn from peers and communities and work together to better understand how the environment impacts daily lives and vice versa. She is passionate about supporting others however she can, making bad jokes she labels as “funny in the context,” trying new things, reading books that capture feelings, conservation efforts, wearing shoes until they fall apart, listening to what people have to say, and continuous improvement.

Cassidy Pereira (she/her): Ambassador
Bachelor of Science in Environmental Sciences

Cassidy joined the Sustainability Ambassadors Program to deepen her understanding of environmental policy and work collaboratively with others who are passionate about driving sustainable change. This program provides the opportunity to create real impact in communities while learning valuable leadership and advocacy skills. Cassidy is passionate about creating lasting environmental change through actionable solutions. Whether it’s advancing policies to reduce pollution or engaging communities in sustainability efforts, she believes in the power of collective action to protect ecosystems and preserve the natural world for future generations.

Grace Feng (she/her): Ambassador
Bachelor of Applied Science in Biomedical Engineering

Grace hopes to contribute to creating visible, lasting impacts. She joined the Sustainability Ambassadors Program because simply hearing about the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) was not enough; she wanted to take action and directly participate in implementing sustainable practices within her community. As someone who loves travelling the world, Grace is deeply passionate about sustaining it. She hopes to preserve the Earth in all its glory, ensuring that everyone can enjoy and benefit from it for generations to come.

Iman Adanijo (she/her): Ambassador
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology + Master of Management

Iman joined the Sustainability Ambassadors Program to contribute to a community dedicated to sustainable practices and to take an active role in promoting environmental and climate action. She is excited to support initiatives that deliver impactful, lasting results for both the university and the broader community. Passionate about environmental sustainability and making a positive impact, Iman believes that innovative collective action is essential for addressing climate issues and fostering responsible practices. She is motivated by collaborating with others to build a more sustainable future for all.

Lynn Yin (she/they): Ambassador
Bachelor of Commerce

Lynn is an advocate for equitable access to water resources for marginalized communities in False Creek, working in partnership with the False Creek Friends organization. Lynn is passionate about music production and street dance and enjoys staying informed by listening to market-related podcasts.

Mya Talan (she/her): Ambassador
Bachelor of Science in Natural Resources Conservation

Mya considers sustainability a social practice built on diverse perspectives and knowledge, and the coming together of people with land and each other. She joined this program to build this community and empower her own action by learning from leaders and developing the skills to use her academic experiences in the sustainability space. She is passionate about understanding the ecologies of global systems and reimagining dominant paradigms in ways that are environmentally and socially just. Mya is very interested in the intersection of people and their environments and believes redistributing voice beyond Western structures is necessary to addressing global environmental and social challenges.

Samiksha Mukherjee (she/her): Ambassador
Bachelor of Science in Natural Resources Conservation

Samiksha joined this program to get more involved in actionable and tangible sustainability projects and to create an impact on the broader community through their work. She seeks to explore the interconnectedness between societal change and sustainability and to make lasting change through projects that move towards a better future. Samiksha is passionate about Indigenous epistemologies, environmental, ecological, and social justice, as well as biodiversity conservation. She hopes to conduct more research in these fields and learn how to integrate natural systems into academia as an effort to decolonize ways of learning and distributing knowledge.

Saumya Kamra (she/her): Ambassador
Bachelor of Arts in International Relations

Saumya Kamra, a third-year International Relations and Law and Society student, was born in India, where she witnessed firsthand the lack of focus on sustainable practices in her community. This inspired her to take action, organizing street clean-up drives to help preserve her home. Her passion for environmental resilience led her to join the Sustainability Ambassadors Program, where she continues her fight against climate change and advocates for sustainable urban living. She is an avid photographer and writer, blending her creativity with her drive for positive change. She describes herself as curious, thoughtful, and deeply committed to building a more sustainable future.

Stephanie Yan (she/her): Ambassador
Bachelor of Applied Science

Stephanie is passionate about environmental activism and amplifying youth voices in climate conversations. To deepen her impact on the community, she seeks to explore the intersection of social justice and climate change, understand its deep-rooted causes, drive change from the ground up, and connect with a community of like-minded ambassadors. Stephanie is driven by curiosity and is passionate about exploring the intersection of engineering and environmental activism. In her spare time, she channels her creativity through music—both playing and singing—and stays active with hiking, running, and swimming. She also enjoys learning new knowledge and perspectives through reading.

Subin Lee (she/her): Ambassador
Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science

Subin joined the program to actively promote and support environmental justice while gaining firsthand insight into sustainability initiatives at UBC and within other communities. Subin is passionate about exploring various aspects of environmental justice and advocating for broader public engagement in advancing it.

Tejas Sathiyanarayanan (he/him): Ambassador
Master of Applied Science in Material Engineering

Tejas joined the Sustainability Ambassadors Program because he wanted to be involved in sustainability-related projects to make a difference in the world and contribute to making it a better place. He has always been interested in green technology and materials, believing that sustainability is a key concept that must form part of the foundation for development with future generations in mind.

Akuzike Limbanga (she/her): Youth Climate Ambassador Project (YCAP) Cohort Lead
Bachelor of Arts in Environment & Sustainability

Akuzike or Aku is a fourth-year student completing an environment and sustainability major and a minor in African studies. Her dedication to social and environmental justice, with an emphasis on centering marginalized and Indigenous voices has led her to the Sustainability hub. Having lived in Malawi, Ethiopia, Malaysia and now Vancouver, she has been inspired by the resilience of different communities in the face of climate change. She has taken up the role of YCAP lead and hopes to build new connections across Vancouver and young children while addressing the current despair surrounding climate change discourse.

Andie Bartolome (she/her): Ambassador
Bachelor of International Economics

Andie is in her fifth-year of the International Economics program. Growing up in the Philippines, a country at the frontlines of climate change, she's been exposed to the intersections between climate, social and economic justice. She aims to engage in transformative climate education within the Vancouver community through the program.

Anshu Saroha (she/her): Ambassador
Bachelor of Arts in International Relations

Anshu is a third-year Bachelor of Arts student pursuing her International Relations degree, with a strong commitment to sustainable choices. Her passion for sustainability extends across various aspects of her life, from advocating for eco-friendly policies to encouraging her peers to adopt greener habits. She joined the Youth Climate Action Program (YCAP) to contribute to actionable, community-focused climate solutions. The decision to join YCAP stemmed from both my academic interest in the intersection of development, gender, and politics and a personal commitment to sustainability. She hopes to learn from her peers in her cohort and strive to bring positive change.

Ava Steiginga (she/her): Ambassador
Bachelor of Applied Science

Ava is passionate about working with youth and promoting education in sustainability, which drew her to the YCAP cohort with UBC Sustainability. She is in her second year of chemical and biological engineering and is interested in working with renewable energy. In her free time, Ava enjoys hiking and scrapbooking.

Himanshi Wadhwani (she/her): Ambassador
Bachelor of International Econimics

Himanshi Wadhwani is a second-year International Economics student at UBC with a keen interest in sustainability. Passionate about promoting environmental awareness, she joined the Sustainability Ambassador program to engage with the community and drive positive change. She also hosts the podcast Unibeans where she talks about personal and professional development.

Jasnoor Kaur (she/her): Ambassador
Bachelor of Commerce in Finance & Accounting

Jasnoor Kaur is pursuing a Bachelor of Commerce at UBC Sauder, specializing in Finance and Accounting. Passionate about integrating sustainability into business practices, she joined the Sustainability Ambassadors to raise awareness about sustainable development in commerce and promote an impactful change within the business community.

Kamryn Russell (they/them): Ambassador
Bachelor of Science in Global Resource Systems

Kam is a third year B.Sc. student in Global Resource Systems specializing in Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems. They joined the Sustainability Ambassadors to learn more about the intersectionalities of climate change and climate justice, and how to apply these to their scientific passions. Kam is excited to be a part of the YCAP team and deliver workshops to address youths’ climate anxieties and injustices.

Li Yen Cheng (she/her): Ambassador
Bachelor of Applied Science in Chemical Engineering

Li Yen is a fourth-year Chemical Engineering student. She led the UBC WasteNauts' Tailings-to-Concrete project, developing sustainable concrete that utilizes mine tailing waste. Passionate about carbon reduction efforts, she aims to engage in environmental advocacy to drive impactful change beyond traditional engineering approaches and inspire youth climate action leadership.

Vanessa Leibel (she/her): Ambassador
Bachelor of Science in Global Resource Systems

Vanessa is a fourth-year student pursuing a major in B.Sc. Global Resource Systems with a minor in B.A. Spanish Studies. She is passionate about food security, community-based resource management, and environmental stewardship, and joined the YCAP program to share stories of climate resilience and increase climate literacy in Vancouver.

Yanni Dai (she/her): Ambassador
Bachelor of Arts in International Relations

Yanni is a third-year International Relations student with a keen interest in sustainability, particularly in how global policies can drive environmental change. She joined the YCAP program to explore innovative solutions for sustainable development and to connect with like-minded peers passionate about creating a greener, more equitable future.

Leili Hamidi: Ambassador
Bachelor of Science in Food Nutrition & Health