Young Alumni Council 2025

Young Alumni Council

Annabelle Liao, President

BSc GRS, 2024

Annabelle graduated from the Global Resource Systems program, specializing in sustainability and social impact. She has led capacity-building initiatives for students, staff, and faculty through UBC Campus and Community Planning, consulted for non-profit organizations and startups, and represented youth at the UN Climate Change Conferences. After an internship at Vancity on their Climate Strategy and Performance team, she joined Foresight Canada, the country’s largest cleantech accelerator, as a Research Analyst. In this role, she identifies market-ready innovations that align with industry climate targets. She also directs Project Arrowroot’s Youth Activator program, scaling climate education and professional development for high school and university students.

Aldona Czajewska, Vice President Professional Development

Applied Biology, 2017

Aldona graduated from the Applied Animal Biology program and has gained experience in various aspects of higher education, including research, student engagement, curriculum development, teaching, and sustainability education. At Langara College, she initiated her own research project titled “Project Pollinator Count” which provided student research assistants opportunities to gain real-world research skills. In her former UBC role in climate action, engagement and outreach, Aldona led student teams to deliver high-impact sustainability programming and workshops across campus.

Andrew Nguyen, Vice President Entrepreneurship

BSc FNH, 2020

Andrew graduated with a dual degree in Food, Nutrition, and Health and Master of Management. He navigated the challenges of graduating during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 by launching successful food businesses. Andrew’s entrepreneurial drive led him to NLPatent, an AI tech start-up, helping to shape business strategy and operations. Currently, he is expanding his expertise in business strategy and leadership through Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition while working at Riipen, an EdTech platform connecting students to experiential projects with small businesses.

Bisi Zhang, Vice President Community Engagement

BSc FNH, 2013

Bisi graduated from the Food, Nutrition and Health program and later pursued her Master in Global Entrepreneurial Management in San Francisco. She has a strong passion for wine and has worked in both frontline and analytical roles in the wine and spirits industry. Her previous positions include Business Analyst at Andrew Peller Imports and Authentic Wine Merchants. Currently, Bisi works as an Operations Analyst at the BC Liquor Distribution Branch, where she specializes in optimizing operations and identifying business opportunities through market and data analysis.

Parisa Kabir, Marketing & Communications Sub-Council

BSc GRS, 2023

Parisa graduated from UBC with a BSc in Global Resource Systems and has a Master’s in Nutrition for Global Health from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. She is currently a Research Analyst at Broadstreet HEOR, supporting a variety of research projects from systematic literature reviews to survey development.

David Liu, Partnerships

BSc Food Market Analysis, 2013

David graduated with a degree in Food, Nutrition, and Health. Over the past decade, he has built a successful career in Vancouver, developing strong relationships and driving strategic collaborations. Currently, David serves as the Director of Strategic Customer Development at Kuehne+Nagel, where he leads efforts to develop and maintain key customer partnerships. His previous roles include Supply Chain Manager at XL Flooring Co Ltd and Procurement Strategy Manager at International Herbs Ltd, where he made significant improvements in inventory management and supply chain resilience.

Leonard Zhang, Partnerships

BSc FNH, 2025

Leonard graduated from the Food, Nutrition and Health program. During his time as a student, he worked across various fields — from UBC Library to LFS Student Services to the UBC Sustainability Hub — and also served as VP Finance for the LFS Undergraduate Society (LFSUS). Through those experiences, he discovered the importance of relationship-building and community-building, values that have stayed with him well beyond graduation. Back in his student days, some of his favourite memories were hanging out with friends in Agora Space and enjoying the delicious Wednesday Night Dinners. Leonard is now working with the UBC Computer Science Department, where he supports undergraduate program operations.

Alireza Khodavandi, Professional Development Sub-Council

BSc APBI, 2017

Alireza graduated from the Faculty of Land and Food Systems at UBC with a degree in Applied Biology, focusing on animal science and physiology. He is currently working as a Research Assistant on enhancing post-operative monitoring of transplanted kidneys by utilizing Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) as a non-invasive diagnostic tool. Additionally, through his undergrad in LFS, he had the opportunity to conduct multiple research projects on post-consumer food waste behaviour among students in UBC’s all-access dining halls through the SEEDS program. This involved utilizing surveys and data analysis to identify key factors contributing to food waste. 

Ann Yang, Professional Development Sub-Council

BSc (Food Nutr) 2022

Ann is an enthusiastic UBC alumna with a passion for making positive impacts within the community. She obtained her Bachelor of Science in Food, Nutrition and Health at the start of 2022. Her dedication to improving the lives of others is shown in her past and present commitments in various fields. From being a strong advocate of mental health wellness to helping students achieve academic success, she seeks every chance to support those around her. Ann also enjoys tackling new challenges, sharpening her skills, and broadening her horizons. Her openness and curiosity have continuously led her to diverse experiences and fresh perspectives. Although she is the most passionate about health and wellbeing, she values all opportunities for personal and professional development. From being the Project Manager at Campus Lightbox to the Training Program Assistant at Kids Brain Health Network, she believes every experience presents unique learning opportunities.​​

Audrey Valerio, Community Engagement Sub-Council

BSc GRS, 2020

Audrey graduated from UBC in 2020 with a Bachelor of Science in Global Resource Systems specializing in Sustainable Agriculture. With a diverse background spanning sustainable land management, carbon project development, agriculture, and horticulture, she has worked across several sectors to explore climate resilience in agriculture and forestry. Her professional experiences includes roles in carbon modeling, policy research, and biodiversity assessments as well as hands-on horticultural and farm management positions. A passionate advocate for sustainable food systems and nature-based climate solutions, she has led educational workshops at the UBC Orchard Garden, conducted harvest analysis for a Delta blueberry farm, and contributed to research on biochar application in agriculture. She is excited to continue her LFS education through the Master of Land and Water Systems program in 2025. She loves plants and getting her hands dirty as much as she is dedicated to fostering connections between students, professionals, and researchers in the fields of sustainability, agriculture, and environmental stewardship. 

Ebod Shojaei, Community Engagement Sub-Council

BSc APBI, 2019

Ebod Shojaei is a researcher and developer with a Bachelor of Science in Applied Biology from UBC. After graduation in 2019, he worked in Health Economics and Outcomes Research (HEOR) before expanding his expertise into computer science, completing a Diploma in Computer Systems Technology in 2025. His interdisciplinary background combines analytical research with technical problem-solving, enabling him to contribute to impactful projects in both fields. Recognizing the value of technology and the power of machine learning, he is committed to leveraging these advancements to bridge sustainability and technology, creating new community engagement opportunities as an LFS Young Alumni Council member.

Eddie Lin, Community Engagement Sub-Council

BSc APBI, 2023

Eddie Graduated UBC in 2023 with a degree in Sustainable Agriculture and Environment. He adores the study of natural history specifically where it intersects with human anthropology. As such he cares deeply about supporting local farmers and local food systems. Motivated by a personal philosophy of reintegrating humans with the natural world he believes the first step is to raise awareness about where people’s food comes from. As such he has worked in local farms that are serving his community. In his free time Eddie is an avid vegetable gardener focusing on permaculture techniques to create abundance that can be shared with others. He is always eager to learn more about agroecosystems around the world and the various components that make them tick.

Mingyan Xu, Community Engagement Sub-Council

MFS, 2024

Mingyan holds a Master of Food Science from UBC and brings hands-on experience in food safety, quality assurance, and nutrition research. She has contributed to QA, regulatory compliance, and R&D projects in the food manufacturing industry, while also supporting community food system initiatives and volunteering for senior outreach. Mingyan is committed to advancing safe, nutritious, and accessible food for all and is an active member of the UBC Young Alumni Council.

Nisa Luise Chavez Molina, Community Engagement Sub-Council

BSc APBI, 2022

After earning a B.Sc. in Applied Biology in 2023, Nisa worked as a research technician in an entomology lab, where she witnessed the gap between research and application in local farms across the Lower Mainland. Wanting to impact communities more directly through hands-on engagement, she volunteered with California Breakfast Burritos, a non-profit organization that domesticates wild donkeys for sport and educates the public on habitat conservation initiatives. Through community events and training programs, she demonstrated proper animal handling and highlighted the ecological impact of donkeys on the Mojave Desert in the United States. Driven by her passion for community engagement, Nisa is excited to join the LFS Young Alumni Council.

Camilla Lam, Entrepreneurship Sub-Council

BSc FNH, 2024

Camilla graduated in 2024 with a BSc in Food, Nutrition, and Health from the Faculty of Land and Food Systems at UBC. During her time at UBC, Camilla participated in the LFS Tri-Mentoring program and LFS Mentorship programs. She is very excited to be one of the members at LFS Young Alumni Council; and is ready to utilize her knowledge and skills to contribute to the Entrepreneurship Sub-Council.

Clarice Zhou, Entrepreneurship Sub-Council

BSc FNH, 2022

Clarice graduated from the FNH program at UBC in 2022. As an advocate for health and wellness, she has collaborated with nonprofit organizations and health authorities to deliver workshops and programs aimed at enhancing community well-being. In her spare time, Clarice volunteers for a crisis line, reflecting her deep commitment to mental health and holistic well-being. Clarice has always been passionate about entrepreneurship and is thrilled to contribute her knowledge and skills to the Entrepreneurship Sub-Council. During her time at UBC, she gained valuable insights as a mentee in the LFS Tri-Mentorship program and is eager to give back to the LFS student community.