Welcome to episode 16 of the Fairware Changemaker Series, where we highlight entrepreneurs and thought leaders that continuously inspire us through their passion for using business to better the world.
On this episode, we feature Victoria Wakefield who manages purchasing at the University of British Columbia (UBC) for student housing, hospitality and food services. Victoria has been at UBC since 2007, working to embed sustainability into their supply chains.
Tell us how you got started at UBC?
UBC has always been a leader in sustainability, but one of the areas that was somewhat deficient was in supply chain. I started by policy writing, so I wrote the supplier code of conduct. From there, we started building out areas where sustainability and the things we were purchasing were not aligned with UBC’s vision and values. We tackled food, Styrofoam, zero waste, and emissions – all UBC’s key priorities.
What does being a changemaker mean to you?
Being bold, taking opportunity and leadership to push the envelope. Encourage change and don’t settle for the status quo. In my work over the years, NO is where I’ve always started, not where I’ve stopped.
