Peter’s path to leading innovation in urban sustainability

Tell us about your academic and professional background leading up to your decision to pursue the MEL.

After completing a bachelor of architectural science from BCIT, I realized I was more drawn to the business side of things and wasn’t excited about the idea of working on architectural details for the next decade. While I considered doing a master’s to become a registered architect, I thought that real estate developers were the drivers for innovative living, which led me to working as a project manager in the real estate development industry.

That then grew my interest in the broader context of urban systems and municipal planning. Cities are responsible for putting in place policies and parameters that shape the urban environment – and I decided I wanted to learn more about urban planning and finding ways that I could contribute to improving the quality of life in our region.

Why did you choose the MEL over other master’s degrees?

The MEL program appealed to me because it combined urban planning, urban systems and business courses, and I appreciated the technical focus of the program over a more policy-based degree in urban planning. 

It was a perfect blend that allowed me to explore urban planning and systems while improving my business literacy.

UBC Sustainability Scholars is a paid internship program that matches UBC graduate students with sustainability partners. You were one of a few students selected to participate. What project did you work on?

I worked as a sustainability analyst for Scius Advisory, a boutique advisory firm focused on real estate and construction innovation research. I completed an industry scan and prepared a market intelligence report on BC’s building construction cleantech industry. I learned a lot about the real-world aspects of defining sustainability and identifying relevant opportunities for a specific sector. Construction is a major industry in BC, so finding ways to make it more sustainable offers significant potential for positive impact.

I think I can safely attribute much of my career path to my participation in the Sustainability Scholars program. It’s a great way for students to gain practical experience in sustainability and grow their professional network.

You were also part of Creative Destruction Lab. This startup accelerator pairs early-stage technology-based companies with MEL, MHLP and MBA students who provide a range of consulting and advisory services. Tell us about your experience at CDL!

CDL immersed me in the start-up space and over the semester I provided market analysis to two companies. The director of the program, Darrel Kopke, then referred me to a different startup company that was looking for someone with real estate experience who could provide business consultancy services. I met with Hamid, the founder of Offerland, a company developing AI-powered solutions for the real estate industry. I’ve been consulting with Offerland part-time ever since. This includes everything from business strategy and product development to social media content.

Tell us about your career progression after you completed the MEL.

Soon after graduating, I was hired by the Vancouver Economic Commission as the green buildings sector lead. I actually was referred to this opportunity through a classmate in one of my urban planning courses.

My role at the organization involved promoting regional building decarbonization and electrification efforts by developing initiatives through market trends analysis and sector needs assessments. The role enabled me to bring together my past professional background and the new knowledge I’d acquired in the MEL.

When the City of Vancouver decommissioned the Vancouver Economic Commission in 2023, I transitioned to the Zero Emissions Innovation Centre, a charity and non-profit that works to accelerate urban decarbonization in Metro Vancouver and beyond. I am currently working in the economic development team as project manager of market transformation.

What are some highlights of your work at the Zero Emissions Innovation Centre?

I am proud of what I am doing and being part of an organization that’s making a difference. I enjoy being hands-on and engaging with businesses, industry partners, stakeholders, and policymakers to identify ways we can make our region more sustainable and resilient.

I also manage an innovation fund supporting building electrification projects. It’s been great to redesign the intake and evaluation process, and we are now completing a second round of the fund, providing $300,000 in support since the redesign. I’m looking forward to seeing these projects come to life.

Anything else you want to share about the MEL?

The focus on systems thinking – both in the sector-specific courses and Sauder courses – is very helpful and applies across many contexts. 

Being able to understand different perspectives and how and why organizations make decisions enables you to provide information and support to decision-makers or make better decisions yourself.

The one-year duration for the full-time program is intense and effective. There are many opportunities to build connections with local industry – BC is a small market and the MEL has a strong reputation!