President
Hello! My name is Natasha Thom and I am this years Geography Student Association (GSA) President. I am entering my 4th year of my BA in the Geography Environment and Sustainability (E&S) program and I am so excited for the opportunity to lead this year’s executive team. I have been part of the GSA since 2018 as the Arts Undergraduate Society (AUS) representative and have been involved in all of the activities such as bake sales, the Majors Tea, grad night info session and my favourite, Geo-gala. I know the university will be operating differently this year but I will work tirelessly with the team to continue to bring activities to you in an online, safe and virtual platform. I want to continue to provide students with the opportunity to connect, especially more so now because classes are online and we have the time to virtually interact and make new connections. I know the events may not be in person but I hope to strive to have the same interactions as those that took place last year.
VP Academic
Hello! My name is Kensley, and I’ll be your VP Academic for this coming academic year! I am a 2nd year student majoring in Human Geography and minoring in Urban Studies! I am glad to be joining this geography family and am looking forward to be connected to the greater geography community. Outside of geography, I have various hobbies – you can often find me doing squash, badminton, orienteering, skiing, singing or playing the guitar etc. But I cannot end this self-intro without mentioning my passion for travelling – geography students would always have the curiosity to learn more about various cultures and issues around the world! Feel free to contact me at academic@ubcgsa.ca, say hi when crossing by the Geography Building, and chat about any stuff!
VP Administration
Hi there! If you are looking for GSA exec who’s supposed to reply your email ages ago, that’s me! My name is Ploy, and I’m your VP Administration. I’ll be taking care of info@ubcgsa.ca email, this ubcgsa.ca website, and the GSA newsletter. If you have any suggestions or comments on any of these, please send me an email or message UBC GSA on Facebook. Back to me then, yay, I’m second year student majoring in Environment and Sustainability with a B+MM dual degree. I love connecting with people, so if love traveling, eating, sustainability, twosetviolin, anime, or Premier League, come by to talk to me! Even so, please come by and say hi to me if you see me! I hope to enchant your UBC experience this year with GSA!
VP Communications
Hello everyone! My name is Olga Kochkareva and I am deeply honoured to be the GSA’s VP Communications this year. I am an international student from Russia, the UK and Switzerland and am in my second year at UBC, majoring in Environment and Sustainability. I will be looking after all the social media and AMS campus base this year, so keep an eye out on those platforms for exciting opportunities that will be coming your way! Outside of the classroom I am an avid hiker, skier and swimmer (both pool and ocean) and you will always find me enjoying a good National Geographic on my sofa when it’s raining. Looking forward to getting to know you all!
VP External
Hello, my name is Alvin To and I am a third year student in human geography. Geography has been my passion my whole life, with me pouring over any maps with curiosity I can get my hands on for as long as I remember, imagining what adventures could be had within those lines and areas depicted within. I am looking forward to working with you all as your VP External!
VP Finance
Hi everyone! My name is Holly Denson-Camp and I’ll be your VP Finance this year. I’m in my fourth year, majoring in Environment and Sustainability but I have a special passion for biogeography and conservation which I hope to pursue in more depth after my undergrad. Outside of class I love thrifting, embroidery, eating guacamole, and collecting absurd amounts of environmental non-fiction books that I’ll hopefully read someday. If I finally finish Silent Spring by the end of this year: mission accomplished. I’m also a huge documentary nerd so if you have any recommendations, feel free to hit me up!
VP Graduation
Hi! My name is Isabella and I’ll be your VP Graduation for this coming academic year! I’m a third-year student majoring in Human Geography and minoring in GIS, and I am so looking forward to working with the GSA team this year. I hope that this year, even though we’re online, I can help the graduating class go out with a blast and I welcome any and all suggestions in making that happen! I’m very open and friendly and self-deprecating so please don’t hesitate to reach out! I am one of those so-called ‘third culture kids’ with a very mixed background and I grew up all over the world. I am passionate about other cultures, fighting climate change, and pursuing more sustainable lifestyles, which I am working towards through my roles as Sustainability Ambassador and Global Lounge Officer this year – feel free to ask me about it or contact me if you’d like to coordinate with these programs as well! I absolutely love Vancouver, UBC, and the Geography community and I am so thankful to be here!
VP Sustainability
Kiren is a 4th year human geography major, GRSJ minor. She was born and grew up as an un-invited guest on Musqueam lands in so called “Richmond”. She is interested and constantly learning more about living and embodying cooperative values, healthy communication and compassion. She is also extremely passionate about beach days, hydration and cuddles. Kiren brings with her to the role of VP sustainability a wide range of experiences. She has been the coordinator of the ethical purchasing policy and procedures at the Capilano Students Union (CSU), creating and implementing the project. She has also had the pleasure of being an Eco Warrior at LUSH, a summer camp coordinator and a facilitator for leadership and community building workshops with teens. Kiren also brings with her a desire to be a genuine ally to indigenous peoples on turtle Island and else where, a fighter for climate justice and a reliable friend and colleague. Please feel free to reach out Kiren if you have a environmental, social or economic sustainability related idea for the GSA, she loves to collaborate!
VP Social
Hi everyone! My name is Marium and I’m currently a second year studying Geography (E&S) and Geology, and I’ll be your VP Social this year! Some of my Geography related passions include showing absolutely everybody I know my rock collection, growing and using my own herbs to cook, and camping! I have great interest in pursuing sustainability, geomorphology, and astrogeology in the future and I’m so excited to share some really fun facts about rocks on Mars and Saturn and all the other planets with you all! Outside of Geography I love painting, cooking, and just generally hanging out with my friends. I really hope that I can hold events that everybody can enjoy even with all the current barriers (COVID and what-not) and I look forward to meeting you all! Feel free to drop me an email (social@ubcgsa.ca) or message me on Facebook about any GSA related social events or even just to say hello!
Vice President and Covid Safety Representative
Hello, My name is Beatriz Fantini and I am this years Vice President and Covid Safety Representative. My job is to coordinate with the president to make sure all weekly activities are running smoothly as well as keep the group and others informed on the COVID information in Vancouver. I am a fourth year student majoring in Geography: E & S and Psychology. I was born in Brazil, but moved to Indonesia at the age of 5 and then to China six months later. I lived there for 4 years and then moved to Uruguay where I stayed until graduating high school. I came to UBC not knowing exactly what I was doing, but now almost 4 years later I am extremely happy with the decisions I have made and the experiences I have had here. Some of my interests outside of class, include playing any type of sport, enjoying nature and spending time with friends. This year the GSA wants to make sure that we create a fulfilling experience for all the students in geography, and I am excited to be a part of it.
Trail Six Co-Manager
Hi, I’m Angela, and I am a fourth-year student in E&S with a minor in Environmental Sciences, I will be Trail Six co-Editor-in-Chief this year. I’m passionate about GIS, biodiversity conservation, and bad puns. I’m currently a research assistant for several faculty members to help model species responses to climate change, and I am also an assistant policy analyst with BCCIC looking at climate justice integration into municipal climate action plans. Outside of class, I love to indulge in existential crises and true crime podcasts. I’ve been with GSA for the past two years and I’m excited to be working with Trail Six again to maintain its reputation as a nationally-recognized undergraduate journal and showcase the brilliant work from our students.
Hello there! I’m Ashley Harris and I’m thrilled to be back on the GSA exec team for a third year, this time as Co-Manager of the Trail Six Journal. I’m in the 4th (and final!) year of my degree in Geography: Environment and Sustainability. I’m from Whitehorse, Yukon and I’m a huge outer space and sci-fi nerd. After graduation, I’m hoping to apply my Geography and GIS knowledge to space exploration or emergency management. As far as hobbies I love theatre and film arts, as well as soccer and hockey. I’m excited to meet and work with you all this year!
Geogarden Manager
Hello! My name is Phoebe Autio and I will be this years Geogarden Manager. I am currently in my last year of a B.A. in Geography (ENS). I am also part of UBC’s B+MM dual degree program and will be completing that after I gradate this year. If you are interested in it, please reach out! Other activities that keep me involved on campus are working for a climate lab in Forestry, participating in the Sustainability Ambassador program as a Project Team Mentor, and playing intramural sports when they are in session. I am really excited to be a part of the GSA this year and keep our garden plots healthy!
