Hats off to the MPPGA Class of 2025
As the academic year comes to a close, we celebrate the remarkable achievements of the graduating students in the Master of Public Policy and Global Affairs program. Congratulations to the Class of 2025!
MPPGA Job Search Skills for the Policy Professions Conference and Reception 2025
Our students enjoyed a lively afternoon of interactive career skills training, where they had the opportunity to network with alumni and other policy professionals and speak to them about their career aspirations and goals.
A partner in food security: MPPGA alumni present their agri-food trade project to policymakers
MPPGA Graduates make waves with with their GP2 project on Canada’s ASEAN agriculture trade.
MPPGA Featured Alumni Series: Meet Beatrice Zano
Discover Beatrice Zano, MPPGA Class of 2020! Her journey from Zimbabwe to shaping policies at PHSA is a captivating story of impact and inspiration.
MPPGA Featured Alumni: Meet Sanmini Koffi
Meet Sanmini Koffi, MPPGA Class of 2020, now at Service Canada, bridging language gaps and fostering collaboration.
MPPGA Alumni Remy Hellstern and Daniel Park: Leveraging Blockchain-Based Archival Solutions for Sensitive Documentation
MPPGA Alumni Remy Hellstern and Daniel C. Park publish a paper about how Blockchain-based archival solutions can be used to document human rights violations.
MPPGA Alumna Esther Ocheni: Unpacking Infrastructure-For-Resources Deals in Africa’s Mining Sector and Best Practices for Future Investments
MPPGA Alumna Esther Ocheni publishes a paper with Africa Policy Journal
SPPGA Affiliates Appointed to Indo-Pacific Advisory Committee
Three members of the SPPGA community were appointed by the Government of Canada to the newly established Indo-Pacific Advisory Committee.
MPPGA Alumnus Darren Touch: Dominic Barton Tapped to Advise Canada on Indo-Pacific Strategy
MPPGA Alumnus Darren Touch was recently appointed to the Government of Canada’s Indo-Pacific Advisory Committee along with former Ambassador Dominic Barton.
UBC MPPGA Students Graduate Ready to Tackle Urgent Challenges
Master of Public Policy and Global Affairs students are graduating from the UBC School of Public Policy and Global Affairs ready to shape a better world. Learn more from four of our graduates about their experiences in the program, what issues they’re passionate about, and their career aspirations.
MPPGA Alumnus Darren Touch: It’s Time for French Museums to Return Cambodian Artifacts
MPPGA Alumnus Darren Touch: writes about why France should return stolen artifacts to its historical colony, Cambodia.
MPPGA Alumnus Isabella Pepe: Very Bad People: The Inside Story of the Fight Against the World’s Network of Corruption
MPPGA alumnus Isabella Pepe supported the publication of Bad People: The Inside Story of the Fight Against the World’s Network of Corruption, authored by Patrick Alley, co-founder of Global Witness.
An Hourly Wage Policy Can Help Resolve Ghana’s Graduate Unemployment Challenges, According to MPPGA Alumnus Solomon Atta
In a published article, MPPGA Alumnus Solomon Atta explains how an hourly wage policy can help resolve Ghana’s rising graduate unemployment challenges.
MPPGA Alumni and Prof. Nadja Kunz Discuss Policy Reform in Ethiopia’s Mining Sector, with Research Based on the 2019 MPPGA GP²
MPPGA alumni Melisha Charles, Josh Tafel, Denby McDonnell, Chris Stoicheff and Prof. Nadja Kunz (SPPGA; Norman B Keevil Institute of Mining Engineering) co-author an article about policy reform in Ethiopia’s mining sector, with research based on their 2019 MPPGA Global Policy Project (GP²).
MPPGA Alum Chiamaka Mọgọ Elected as Board Vice-Chairperson, Canadian Race Relations Foundation
Congratulations to MPPGA alum Chiamaka Mọgọ, who was recently elected as the Board Vice-Chairperson of the Canadian Race Relations Foundation.
Spotlight on MPPGA Alumni Careers – Series Compilation
Our alumni careers series showcased MPPGA alumni who are committed to addressing urgent and complex public policy challenges. This particular series highlighted alumni careers focused on the environment as well as careers focused on the advancement of education, rights, and health for Indigenous people.
Spotlight on MPPGA Alumni Careers – Denby McDonnell
During our Spotlight on MPPGA Alumni Careers series, meet Denby McDonnell who works as a Program Manager, Climate Innovation at Ecotrust Canada.
Spotlight on MPPGA Alumni Careers – Claudia Kobetitch
During our Spotlight on MPPGA Alumni Careers series, meet Claudia Kobetitch who works as an Advisor for the First Nations Health Council / First Nations Health Directors Association Shared Secretariat.
Spotlight on MPPGA Alumni Careers – Kingsley Eze
During our Spotlight on MPPGA Alumni Careers series, meet Kingsley Eze who is a Senior Consultant in the Climate Change and Sustainability Practice at Ernst & Young.
Spotlight on MPPGA Alumni Careers – Eseohe Ojo
During our Spotlight on MPPGA Alumni Careers series, meet Eseohe Ojo who works as a Program Manager at GreenPAC.
Spotlight on MPPGA Alumni Careers – Alfonso Hernandez
During our Spotlight on MPPGA Alumni Careers series, meet Alfonso Hernandez who is a Project Manager at the Office of Indigenous Strategic Initiatives (OISI) at UBC.
Spotlight on MPPGA Alumni Careers – Lilian Shams-Amiri
During our Spotlight on MPPGA Alumni Careers series, meet Lilian Shams-Amiri who works as the Coordinator of Learning and Development at the College of Indigenous Health Leadership housed in the First Nations Health Directors Association.
Spotlight on MPPGA Alumni Careers – Esther Ocheni
During our Spotlight on MPPGA Alumni Careers series, meet Esther Ocheni who works as a Senior Researcher and Policy Analyst at the First Nations Education Steering Committee.
Spotlight on MPPGA Alumni Careers – Joshua Diemert
During our Spotlight on MPPGA Alumni Careers series, meet Joshua Diemert who works as a Policy Analyst for Métis Nation of BC’s Ministry of Postsecondary Education.
Why I Attended COP26 – MPPGA Alum Denby McDonnell
Denby McDonnell, a Master of Public Policy and Global Affairs alumni, participated in the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) on behalf of her employer, Ecotrust Canada. Learn about her key takeaways in this interview.
SPPGA Engages with COP26
Several members of the SPPGA community and faculty speak on their participation or share their expertise on the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26).
The 2022 Budget Reading Is Coming Up: Three New Things I Want to See in the Budget
MPPGA alumnus Solomon Atta points out three things he would like to see from Ghana’s upcoming Budget Statement and Economic Policy reading.
COP26: Strong Carbon-trading Rules Could Help the World Avoid Dangerous Levels of Global Warming
Despite recent government decisions to shutter coal-fired power plants in wealthier nations, coal remains the source of almost 40% of the world’s electricity. MPPGA alumna Citlali Cruz Cruz discusses a way that COP26 could lay the groundwork for an international emissions-trading system that could bring an end to the production of coal-fired electricity.
MPPGA Alumni Daniel Park Featured in Arts Amplifier
MPPGA alumni ’21 Daniel Park discusses his experiences interning at the Starling Labs at Stanford where he worked on building and deploying prototype designs to help document attacks against civilian infrastructure. Read more about Daniels’s accomplishments, and what lies in his future.
‘Our Place Under the Sun’: Survivor-Centred Approaches to Children Born of Wartime Sexual Violence
Professor Erin Baines and MPPGA alumna Alessia Rodríguez’s work on a survivor-centered approach for children ‘born of war’ has been published in Human Rights Review. Learn how this approach can empower children in processes of social reconstruction and reconciliation.
Community Design and Hypertension: Walkability and Park Access Relationships with Cardiovascular Health
A new study co-authored by Jorge Andrés Delgado-Ron (MPPGA alumni; School of Population and Public Health student) quantitatively analyzes specific pathways through which urban form affects blood pressure levels.
Disputa China-Canadá: el juego político detrás de la condena a muerte de Robert Schellenberg
Professor Paul Evans and MPPGA Alumni Darren Touch were quoted on China’s “hostage diplomacy” following Canadian businessman Michael Spavor’s sentencing for alleged espionage. (Article in Spanish).
Atieh Yekta Awarded WorkSafeBC Research Training Award
Congratulations to our MPPGA program alumna Atieh Yekta! As a recipient of this award, Atieh is supported to foster the development of occupational health and safety research expertise in B.C.
From Local to Global – Advocating for Human Rights in Nigeria
Listen to the latest episode of ‘Audio Alumni’ featuring MPPGA alumni Eseohe Ojo, where she talks about her work in advocating for human rights, as well as the importance of access to information in Covid-19 and Black Lives Matter.
Youth Unemployment in Ghana: What Isn’t Gov’ts Doing Right?
Read MPPGA alumni Solomon Atta’s op-ed where he analyzes the mechanisms behind Ghana’s high unemployment rate. A shift in government expenditure and bridging the wage gap in hourly wage rates is the key to solving this problem, he adds.
Shelve Nuclear Power, Go for Cleaner Alternatives
Read MPPGA alumni Edwin Edou’s (Simons Award 2020 Recipient) op-ed on the future potential of nuclear energy in Kenya, and why he believes that investing in utility-scale solar and wind energy is more sustainable and cost-effective.
UBC Today 30-second Bio Featuring Adedoyin Luwaji
See MPPGA alumni Adedoyin Luwaji’s feature in UBC Today’s 30-second bio, where she talks about her current position as a Planning and Evaluation Strategist in the Research and Innovation unit under the Office of the Vice-President.
MPPGA Students Graduating as Global Changemakers
We are thrilled to celebrate our MPPGA Class of 2021 and feature four recent graduates, Muhialdin Bakini, Paige Rumelt, Sumaiyyah Adam, and Boyd Hayes. Learn about their most memorable experiences in the 20-month MPPGA program, what issues they are most passionate about, and their career aspirations now that they have achieved their degree.
MPPGA Alumni Feature: John Ede on Graduate and Postdoctoral
Read MPPGA Alumni (’19) John Ede’s interview with UBC Grad School on his experience with the MPPGA program and his career journey that resulted in him becoming a procurement partner at the University of British Columbia.
MPPGA Alumni Participate in BCCIC UN Delegation
MPPGA alumni Christiana O. Onabola and Bashar Alsaeedi have been selected to be part of the BCCIC’s delegation to attend the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW65) happening from March 15-26, 2021. Learn more.
MPPGA Alum Ravina Anand Named Top 50 Canadian Business Changemaker
The UBC School of Public Policy and Global Affairs wishes to congratulate Master of Public Policy and Global Affairs alum Ravina Anand on being selected in the “Top 50 Canadian Business Changemakers” by the Globe and Mail.
Alumna Spotlight: Adrianna Spyker
When Adrianna Spyker went to Ecuador as part of her medical program, she was struck by the social and political inequality. “When I came back, I was determined to change the focus of my study.” After receiving her MPPGA degree, she now works as a Community Health Specialist, promoting cooperative approaches to current and emerging issues.
Big Money, Nuclear Subsidies, and Systemic Corruption
In July, a $60 million bribery and corruption case came to light in Ohio. The guilty party—one of Ohio’s largest utility corporations. For years, the firm lobbied to continue operating its unprofitable nuclear plants, write Professor Ramana and MPPGA Alumna Cassandra Jeffery.
How Can a Survivor-Centered Approach Address Sexual Violence?
MPPGA alumni Eseohe Ojo, Ravina Anand and Israa Noureddine co-wrote a piece on why policymaking needs to adapt a survivor-centric approach in addressing sexual violence, while acknowledging discursive gaps, context and cultural understandings.
COVID-19 Research by MPPGA Summer Research Assistants
Over summer 2020, MPPGA students conducted research related to the Covid-19 pandemic with UBC professors and produced infographics that illustrate their research question, main findings, and policy relevance. Learn more.
Spotlight on MPPGA Alumni Careers – Series Compilation
During our Spotlight on MPPGA Alumni Careers series, we showcased ten Master of Public Policy and Global Affairs (MPPGA) alumni who are committed to addressing the urgent and complex public policy challenges facing the world. Learn more about them in our series compilation.
Global Public Policy Project Reflection: Applying an Equity Lens with the City of Vancouver
A team of Master of Public Policy and Global Affairs (MPPGA) students at the University of British Columbia published a reflection of their immersive Global Policy Project that took place in 2019 and 2020 with their client, the City of Vancouver – Planning, Urban Design and Sustainability Department. Read the reflection below: Global Public Policy Project […]
Spotlight on MPPGA Alumni Careers – Nathan Seef
As part of our Spotlight on MPPGA Alumni Careers, meet Nathan Seef who is now a Policy Analyst within the Trade and Investment team for the Low-Carbon Energy Sector at Natural Resources Canada in Ottawa.
Spotlight on MPPGA Alumni Careers – Chiamaka Mọgọ
As part of our Spotlight on MPPGA Alumni Careers, meet Chiamaka Mọgọ who is maintaining several roles: a Board Director with the Canadian Race Relations Foundation, the Executive Secretary and a Board Member of the African Marine Environment Sustainability Initiative, and the Founder and President of the Board of the Initiative for Inclusive Dialogue in Nigeria.
Spotlight on MPPGA Alumni Careers – Sebastian Jarrin Grijalba
As part of our Spotlight on MPPGA Alumni Careers series, meet Sebastian Jarrin Grijalba who is currently working as a Program Officer with the Supporting the Ministry of Mines Ethiopia project with the Canadian International Resources and Development Institute.
Spotlight on MPPGA Alumni Careers – Rafael Posada
As part of our Spotlight on MPPGA Alumni Careers series, meet Rafael Posada who is the Co-Founder, COO & Managing Partner of Stratego Solutions.
Why Trade Restrictions Must Be Eliminated During COVID-19’s Second Wave
“The use of export restrictions is damaging to global health systems – and ultimately undermines efforts to combat the Coronavirus.” Professor Kristen Hopewell & Joshua Tafel (MPPGA Alumni) speak on the restrictions of exporting medical products. More at The Conversation.
Spotlight on MPPGA Alumni Careers – Lauren Hamman
As part of our Spotlight on MPPGA Alumni Careers series, meet Lauren Hamman who is working as an Intergovernmental Relations Advisor in the Intergovernmental Relations Secretariat, Office of the Premier, Government of British Columbia.
Reflections from MPPGA Alumna Chiamaka Mọgọ’s Internship at the United Nations Migration Agency
Learn more about MPPGA alumna Chiamaka Mọgọ’s experiences in the program while working with the International Organization for Migration in Accra, Ghana as part of the United Nations Association of Canada International Development and Diplomacy Internship program.
Spotlight on MPPGA Alumni Careers – Alfonso Hernandez
As part of our Spotlight on MPPGA Alumni Careers series, meet Alfonso Hernandez (’19) who is working as a Public Management Consultant with the UN Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean in Santiago, Chile.
Democratic Health Communications during Covid-19: A RAPID Response
How do we put health communications at the heart of democracies’ response to COVID-19? Professor Heidi Tworek (SPPGA/History), Dr. Ian Beacock & MPPGA alumni Eseohe Ojo launch their report on introducing the RAPID principles and how more effective communications could save lives.
Spotlight on MPPGA Alumni Careers – Hyun Ju Lee
As part of our Spotlight on MPPGA Alumni Careers series, meet Hyun Ju Lee (’18) who is now working as a Research & Evaluation Officer for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada in Ottawa.
Leadership Lessons: How FLIK’s Co-Founder Transformed Her Biggest Problem into a Community She Craved
What does it mean to build your own community? MPPGA alumni Ravina Anand tackles the issue of female representation in the workplace with her venture, FLIK – Female Laboratory of Innovative Knowledge, to build the next generation’s leaders through online apprenticeships. More at Entrepreneurship at UBC.
Spotlight on MPPGA Alumni Careers – Meet Bo Wang
As part of our Spotlight on MPPGA Alumni Careers series, meet Bo Wang (’18) who is employed as an Associate, China for Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) in Beijing, China.
Spotlight on MPPGA Alumni Careers – Meet Talia Ahmad
During our Spotlight on MPPGA Alumni Careers series, meet Talia Ahmad (’17) who works as a Planning and Projects Associate with Richmond Fire-Rescue for the City of Richmond, B.C.
Small Modular Reactors Aren’t the Energy Answer for Remote Communities and Mines
The energy costs associated with small modular reactors exceed those of diesel-based electricity. Policy-makers should focus on renewables, argue SPPGA Professor Ramana, Professor Nadja Kunz (SPPGA & Mining Engineering), and MPPGA alumna Sarah Froese. Read the article in Policy Options.
Spotlight on MPPGA Alumni Careers – Meet Aboozar Ahmadi
During our Spotlight on MPPGA Alumni Careers series, meet the MPPGA alumni who are committed to addressing the urgent and complex public policy challenges facing the world. Today, we are featuring Aboozar Ahmadi (’19) who works as a Policy Officer for the Department of National Defence-ADM Policy in Ottawa, Canada.
Canada Should Be Alarmed by Cold War Rhetoric Emerging from U.S.
The continued U.S.-China ideological strife has left Canada stifled between the two rivals. With the U.S. dishing out cold war rhetoric, Ottawa should be alarmed at least, writes MPPGA alumni Darren Touch in his article for The Hill Times.
MPPGA Alumna Christiana Onabola Recipient of 2020 Vanier Canada Doctoral Scholarship
Congratulations to Christiana Onabola, a graduate of the Master of Public Policy and Global Affairs (MPPGA) program, for receiving a 2020 Vanier Canada Doctoral Scholarship.
Why #BlackLivesMatter is About the Right to Life
In the face of disregard of the human rights for Black people and the inherent violence against them, MPPGA alumni Eseohe Ojo says that the current protests are no surprise. Read more at OpenGlobalRights.
MPPGA Graduates Ready to Influence Policy Change on Global Issues
Our Master of Public Policy and Global Affairs students don’t have to wait until graduation to make their mark on the world. Hear from several graduates on their most memorable program moments, their policy career plans after graduation, as well as their advice for our current and future students.
Why Is Ontario Spending Billions On Nuclear Energy When Cheap Renewables Are Available?
Read this article by Cassandra Jeffrey, MPPGA graduate and recipient of the 2019 Simons Award in Nuclear Disarmament and Global Security, who analyzes Ontario’s misdirected priorities for the electricity sector and traces these to the decision making structures that are based on unsustainable and decaying frameworks.
Working Towards Change: MPPGA Alumni Confront the COVID-19 Crisis featuring Adrianna Spyker
Learn how MPPGA alum, Adrianna Spyker, is addressing COVID-19 through her role as Community Health Specialist, Population and Public Health, Fraser Health Authority, in her career spotlight.
Working Towards Change: MPPGA Alumni Confront the COVID-19 Crisis
MPPGA alumni are responding to the COVID-19 pandemic with policies, recommendations, and actions in professional roles that span the public and private sectors, and non-governmental agencies. We heard from twelve alumni about what their current policy work entails and how is it impacting their organization and key stakeholders.
Why Chinese Asset Owners Should Act on Climate
Values, risks and fiduciary duties – Chinese asset owners have three reasons to act on climate change, says Bo Wang. Bo is an MPPGA alumnus and an associate at the UN-supported Principles for Responsible Investment (China). Read his publication in China Dialogue.
Why We Should Help Developing Countries Fighting to Flatten the Curve
In an article for The Hamilton Spectator, MPPGA Alumni Luthfi Dhofier writes on the devastating consequences that COVID-19 would have on developing countries should its spread be uncontained. Luthfi highlights how ensuring a stable international order is in Canada’s national interest.
The 2015 European Refugee Crisis
In 2015, a record 1,005,504 asylum seekers and migrants reached Europe in search of security and a better future. That same year, almost 4,000 people went missing in the trajectory to Europe, with many presumed to have drowned in the Mediterranean.
MPPGA Alumni Spotlight on Jiaxin Li
Name: Jiaxin Li Hometown: Shanghai, China Current Location: Vancouver, B.C. Job Title: Analyst Employer: Pembina Institute Graduation Year: May 2019 MPPGA Course Stream: Resources, Energy and Sustainability Visit her LinkedIn Profile In this alumni spotlight, we hear from Jiaxin Li, a UBC Master of Public Policy and Global Affairs alumna, regarding how her experiences during […]
MPPGA Alumni Spotlight on Darren Touch
In this alumni spotlight, we hear from Darren Touch, a UBC Master of Public Policy and Global Affairs alumnus, regarding how his experiences as a Schwarzman Scholar at Tsinghua University in China have impacted him. “The last five months studying at Tsinghua University as a Schwarzman Scholar has been a transformative experience for me. The […]
MPPGA Alumni Spotlight on Luthfi Dhofier
Enjoy this spotlight on Luthfi Dhofier, MPPGA Alumnus and a Local Government Consultant with Urban Systems Ltd.
MPPGA Alumni Spotlight on Bo Wang
Enjoy this spotlight on Bo Wang, MPPGA Alumnus and China Associate at the Principles for Responsible Investment based in Beijing.
Having Young Canadians in China is Valuable as Tensions Rise
Amidst US and China tensions, Darren Touch (MPPGA alumnus and Schwarzman Scholar) and Dongwoo Kim say that “we can’t afford to let political and economic challenges compromise long-term opportunities in China for young Canadians.”
All This Burnaby Refugee Wanted was an Education. He Got That and More
Recent MPPGA graduate, Aboozar Ahmadi is featured in Burnaby Now and the Vancouver Courier. Read his inspiring story on his journey as a refugee in Iran, and his time in our Masters program. Congratulations Aboozar!
A Review of the Fate of Southern BC Coho Salmon
UBC MPPGA alumnus Raphael Roman co-authored the paper, “A review of the fate of southern British Columbia coho salmon over time,” with SPPGA Professor Rashid Sumaila and others.
MPPGA Alumni Nominated for BBC Emerge Media Award
MPPGA alumni Marc Attallah, Amelia Duggan, Yannick Gayama and Farah Kashaf have been nominated for a 2019 Emerge Media Award for the BBC News multimedia project “Finding a Solution to Canada’s Indigenous Water Crisis.” The students’ research was conducted as part of the MPPGA program’s Global Policy Project in 2018. The students worked closely with […]
Sonia Takhar, MPPGA Alumna
Sonia is a Policy Analyst at the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade, managing relationships with key industry stakeholders, execute research and advocacy projects, and design content for events and forums.
Alumni
Our UBC Master of Public Policy and Global Affairs alumni embody important voices in the policy making landscape both locally and globally. Employers, hire a MPPGA graduate! Our alumni are ambitious, globally-minded policy professionals. We would be pleased to connect you directly. Please contact Kerry Ross, MPPGA Careers & Co-op Coordinator, at kerry.ross@ubc.ca Meet UBC […]
Reflections From Alumnus Bo Wang
Alumnus Bo Wang is now working as a Programme Analyst with the Environment and Climate Change Unit at the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Vietnam. Learn about his experiences since graduation.
Reagan Rockzsfforde: Reflections on the UBC Sustainability Scholars Program
Master of Public Policy and Global Affairs Alumnus Reagan Rockzsfforde recently had the opportunity to participate in UBC Sustainability’s Scholars Program.
MPPGA Alumni Spotlight: Raphaël Roman
Join us in congratulating our first cohort of UBC Master of Public Policy and Global Affairs alumni! The MPPGA Alumni Spotlight is a regular feature aimed to celebrate select alumni who continue to inspire us and embody important voices in policymaking. Find a spotlight on new graduate Raphaël Roman below: “As a fresh graduate of the […]