Presentations will focus on the following areas:
- Water Sustainability
- Indigenous Climate Action Leadership
- Future proofing the Mining Sector
- Demand Side Management
- Climate Adaptation Leadership Training
The Engineers and Geoscientists BC’s Sustainability Advisory Group in partnership with the organization's Vancouver Branch has organized several panel discussions in the past few years around sustainability and climate change. This year’s event will feature presentations about Water Sustainability, Indigenous Climate Action Leadership, Future proofing the Mining Sector, Advanced Demand Side Management, and Climate Adaptation Leadership Training from Madjid Mohseni (Professor and Scientific Director of the RESEAU Centre for Mobilizing Innovation, University of British Columbia), Patrick Michel, (Chief, Kanaka Bar Band), Rachel Wyles, (Associate - Carbon Management/Climate Change Specialist, Golder Associates), Eric Mazzi, (Mazzi Consulting) and Robin Cox (Program Head - Climate Action Leadership, Professor, Humanitarian Studies at Royal Roads University), respectively. George Benson, Sector manager, Built Environment from the Vancouver Economic Commission will moderate the event.
To raise awareness on energy and environmental sustainability strategies, the panelists will focus on some of the initiatives they are currently involved in and share with us their approaches in creating a sustainable future through local action. Please join us on April 27, 2021, to gain a greater understanding on the various sustainability initiatives and discussions about sustainability trends to help expand awareness and engagement with these issues. The event will include content on the release of Engineers and Geoscientists BC’s Climate Change Action Plan (CCAP).
Professor and Scientific Director of the RESEAU Centre for Mobilizing Innovation, University of British Columbia
Dr. Madjid Mohseni is a Professor at the University of British Columbia, and an expert in drinking water quality and treatment. Mohseni’s research involves laboratory scale development and investigation, as well as field evaluation of the technologies under real operating conditions at partner community sites. Mohseni is the scientific director of the RESEAU Centre for Mobilizing Innovation, a multi-disciplinary Knowledge Mobilization program funded by the Networks of Centres of Excellence (NCE) and partners from industry, communities, government, and NGOs, focusing on achieving socioeconomically and technologically sustainable outcomes in water health and well-being for Indigenous and non-urban communities.
Program Head , Climate Action Leadership, Professor, Humanitarian Studies at Royal Roads University
Dr. Robin Cox advances leadership in climate and disaster resilience. Drawing on design thinking and open-learning approaches, Cox is cultivating climate action leadership through an innovative open-learning master program, the M.A. in Climate Action Leadership (Royal Roads University). As the Director of the ResilienceByDesign lab (RbD), Robin works with an interdisciplinary and multi-sectorial team of faculty, students, and external partners (government, business, academic) to conduct regional, national, and international climate action research and capacity-building projects. This includes, the $2 million Adaptation Learning Network project designed to increase leadership and capacity among professionals working on the front lines of climate change; and a recently awarded contract with Natural Resources Canada to undertake a national consultation process to inform the design of a national public knowledge and collaboration "portal" on climate change adaptation.
Chief, Kanaka Bar Indian Band
Patrick Michell is a member of the Nlaka’pamux Nation and has resided in BC’s Fraser Canyon all his life. Patrick has an Administrative Management diploma from Douglas College (New Westminster) and a Bachelor of Laws (UBC). After working in Vancouver with DFO and INAC, Patrick articled with the Ministry of Attorney General (Victoria) and Richards Buell Sutton (Vancouver) before being called to the Bar in 1997. In May of 2015, Patrick became Kanaka Bar’s Chief and is overseeing Kanaka land and resource uses to maintain a self-sufficient, sustainable and vibrant community. Kanaka has also created a Climate Change Adaptation Strategy and has invested heavily in key physiological foundation works that includes water security, infrastructure upgrades, high standard new construction, and multiple operating renewable energy projects. Resilience is not a concept at Kanaka – its is the driving force behind all current initiatives.
Associate, Carbon Management/Climate Change Specialist, Golder Associates
Rachel Wyles is an Associate and Carbon Management/Climate Change Specialist, with a focus on the natural resources sector. Rachel is a professional engineer leading the carbon and climate change discipline at Golder in Vancouver. Her skill set includes carbon management and low-carbon roadmaps, and climate risk assessment and environmental assessment. She also volunteers for the Engineers and Geoscientists BC Climate Change Advisory Group and provided support for the development of Engineers and Geoscientists BC's Climate Change Action Plan.
Mazzi Consulting, and Adjunct Professor, New York Institute of Technology Energy Management
Dr. Eric Mazzi is a Mechanical Engineer and Policy Consultant for energy systems performing independent analysis, measurement, and verification (M&V), and educational services. He advocates for reduced energy consumption, while advancing equity, as a key element of a sustainable society. His experience includes air quality, utility maintenance, and 5 years as faculty at UBC. He volunteers with the US Northwest Energy Coalition, and the International M&V Protocol committee. Eric teaches part-time, delivering professional certification and university courses. He has B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees in engineering, and a PhD in environmental policy. He is a registered engineer in California and BC.
Sector Manager, Built Environment, Vancouver Economic Commission
George Benson is a resilience practitioner and thinker working on climate change, urban planning, and inclusive economic development. He is the manager of decarbonization and resilience in the built environment with the City of Vancouver’s economic development agency. He is also a member of the World Economic Forum’s global youth steering committee on climate and environmental action, and is currently working to build a national network of youth climate leaders. He is also the co-founder of the Climate Displacement Planning Initiative, which works to develop solutions for vulnerable persons moving due to climate change. George is originally from Vancouver Island, but generally thinks of the Salish Sea as home.
