
Instruction and Leadership Team
Instruction Team
The instructors for the Master of Engineering Leadership (MEL) in Integrated Water Management are renowned experts who have built strong connections and research partnerships with leading industry players.
Dr. Madjid Mohseni
Dr. Madjid Mohseni focuses on water quality and the application of advanced water treatment processes to improve the quality of drinking water. In particular, he works on the development, evaluation, and implementation of advanced oxidation processes (AOPs), particularly UV-based AOPs, ion exchange, and electrochemical processes. His research involves laboratory scale development and investigation, as well as pilot scale and field evaluation of the technologies under real operating conditions at several partner community sites. Mohseni aims to not only advance the science behind the water treatment technologies, but also offer communities and industries more efficient and cost-effective technologies to reduce pollution and protect human health and the environment.
Dr. Ziad Shawwash
Dr. Ziad Shawwash is assistant professor in the Department of Civil Engineering in the Faculty of Applied Science. He holds the BC Hydro Assistant Professorship in Hydropower Engineering and his research involves the mathematical programming of water resources and energy systems. Dr. Shawwash’s research interests include: modelling and optimization of large-scale civil engineering systems; planning, design and operation of hydroelectric generating facilities; use of decision, policy and risk-informed decision-making and analysis techniques in water resource planning and management; and use of artificial intelligence systems in water resource and hydroelectric systems.
Dr. Steven Weijs
Dr. Steven Weijs is currently a Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of British Columbia. His research interests are water resources management and hydrology, with a special focus on the dynamics of uncertainty and information within that context. The larger research question that he tries to address is how to optimally channel information flows from our observations of complex water systems and knowledge of underlying physics, to enable informed decisions about water resources. Dr. Weijs hold a Ph.D. (2011) and M. Sc. (2004) in Water Resources Management and Civil Engineering from TU Delft (Delft University of Technology) in the Netherlands.
Dr. Greg Lawrence
Dr. Greg Lawrence has been a faculty member at UBC since 1987. He was elected Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering in 2011 and the Canadian Society for Civil Engineering in 2012, and is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Camille Dagenais Award for his contributions to the development and practice of hydrotechnical engineering in Canada (2011), the BC Premier’s Award (2010) and the Journal of Environmental Engineering Editor’s Award (2001). Dr. Lawrence also served as an elected faculty member on the Board of Governors of UBC from 2001-2008.
Dr. Cheryl Nelms
Dr. Cheryl Nelms is a professional engineer with more than 20 years of experience leading project teams to deliver multi-billion dollar infrastructure projects, public private partnerships and utility operations. In her current role as General Manager of Project Delivery at Metro Vancouver, she is overseeing a five-year design and construction program of water and wastewater infrastructure projects valued at over $4 billion. These projects include treatment plant infrastructure and a major tunnel program for water crossings and outfalls. As an adjunct professor at UBC, she is passionate about instructing the next generation of professionals in project leadership, project management and construction finance so they are equipped to successfully deliver major infrastructure projects.
The UBC Sauder Robert H. Lee Graduate School business instructors for the MEL in Integrated Water Management Engineering are renowned experts who lead the way in Canada and internationally in business and management research and knowledge dissemination.
Perry Atawal
Perry Atwal is a lecturer at UBC Sauder’s Robert H. Lee Graduate School who has also worked as an assistant dean and executive director of Executive Education and executive director for the Centre for Healthcare Management. Perry has led several successful projects with extremely diverse participants from around the world and spanning industries that include health care, transportation and education. He is one of the most highly rated and award-winning teachers at UBC.
Justin Bull
Justin is the academic director for the MEL and MHLP programs and a lecturer at the UBC Sauder’s Robert H. Lee Graduate School and Chair of the Sustainability and Ethics Group. He teaches extensively on sustainability, innovation and strategy, with a focus on graduate and executive learners. He has worked with big companies – like IKEA, Lyft, and Rolling Stone – to implement climate innovations. Justin serves as an advisor and board member to several technology starts-ups and First Nations in Canada. He graduated with a BA in International Relations and a PhD in Wood Science from the University of British Columbia.
Leadership Team
Get to know the Integrated Water Management Directors who are leading the program.
Dr. Barbara Lence
Dr. Lence joined UBC in January 1997 from the University of Manitoba, where she was an Assistant and Associate Professor in the Department of Civil and Geological Engineering. She received her doctorate from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign for research on evaluating the engineering, environmental and economic impacts of water pollution control policies, in particular emissions trading programs. She teaches undergraduate courses in water resources engineering and decision-making techniques in Civil Engineering, and graduate courses in advanced decision-making techniques and pollution modelling.
Application Deadlines
2023 Application Deadlines
The online application portal for 2024 admission opens on January 1, 2023.
Round 1: March 30, 2023
Round 2: June 30, 2023
Round 3 (Canadian Citizens, Permanent Residents of Canada, and US citizens only): August 30, 2023
See how to apply section for full details.
How to Apply