When: Wednesday, November 26, 2025 | 4-5 PM, Reception to Follow
Where: Forest Sciences Centre, Room 1003
Join recent graduates of the Master of International Forestry program as they share insights and stories from internships with international organizations in Colombia, Germany, Sri Lanka, and Kenya. This session highlights the challenges and rewards of working abroad and offers practical advice for students considering global career pathways.
Presenters:
Connor Haynes
A British-born Canadian citizen with a diverse background in terrestrial restoration. Now I live in Cali, Colombia, working on national emissions estimations in the land-use sector at the International Alliance of Bioversity-CIAT. My goal is to work in collaboration with Indigenous and local communities to repair degraded lands, whilst simultaneously promoting equitable social justice.
Vivekan Jeyagaran
Sri Lankan-born Tamil-Canadian with a passion for regenerative economic and land use systems. I interned with CIFOR-ICRAF supporting the leadership team on their regenerative finance work globally, based out of Bonn, Germany.
Edwin Aluku
From Ghana, and an alumnus of the Mastercard Foundation Scholarship. I’m passionate about contributing to solving the complex forest challenges that confront us. I interned with Montane Forests Consultants Ltd in 100 Mile House, BC. I am currently participating in the Africa Finance Corporation Fellowship on a carbon markets project.
Chrispus Ongom
Hails from Uganda, as a Mastercard Foundation Scholar at UBC. I completed my internship in Uganda with CIFOR-ICRAF, as an Intern in their Department of Natural Resource Governance and Bioenergy.
Katarzyna Przystupa
Polish-Canadian MIF alumni. Completed her internship with CIFOR-ICRAF, based in Nairobi, Kenya. Mainly worked on the landscape restoration education curriculum, especially Module 3, which focuses on landscape governance.
Questions?
If you have any questions regarding the event, please contact peter.wood@ubc.ca