Lead Faculty
Sara Barron
Program Director
Email program questions to sara.barron@ubc.ca
Sara Barron is the Program Director of UBC’s Master of Urban Forestry Leadership. With expertise at the intersection of landscape architecture and urban forestry, Sara specializes in designing and evaluating urban forest strategies for compact communities. As a key member of the Design Centre for Sustainability, she has collaborated with communities across Western Canada to shape sustainable futures, drafting policies and future-focused plans. Currently, Sara collaborates with interdisciplinary teams to explore how urban green spaces can drive climate adaptation and improve human well-being. She is passionate about empowering future leaders to create greener, more resilient cities.
Elisa Kwun
Program Coordinator
Email program questions to elisa.kwun@ubc.ca
Elisa Kwun is an urban forestry professional focused on community engagement, climate education, and place-based solutions. As the Program Coordinator for the Master of Urban Forestry Leadership program, they support students, events, and academic planning. Their past work with the Collaborative for Advanced Landscape Planning included climate action projects like the Oak Bay Coolkit and a teacher resource guide for the Vancouver School Board. With experience in teaching and research, Elisa aims to make climate solutions practical and accessible. They are currently completing a Master of Education in Adult Learning and hold a Bachelor of Urban Forestry from UBC.
Dr. Cecil C. Konijnendijk
Senior Program Advisor
Honorary Professor (urban forestry)
A global leader in urban forestry, Dr. Cecil Konijnendijk has dedicated his career to transforming cities into greener, healthier places to live. With over 25 years of experience across Europe, Asia, and North America, Cecil has shaped how communities around the world plan and care for their urban forests. As co-founder of Urban Forestry & Urban Greening and editor of landmark textbooks, his work bridges cutting-edge research and real-world action. At UBC, Cecil inspires the next generation of urban forestry leaders to think boldly, lead with purpose, and create vibrant cities where people and nature thrive together.
Andrew Almas
Lecturer
Andrew Almas is an Assistant Professor of Teaching in Urban Forestry at UBC’s Faculty of Forestry. A passionate educator, he teaches courses like Greening the City, Urban Forest Inventory and Assessment, and Introduction to Urban Forest Design, and leads the Urban Forestry Field Camp and Capstone Course.
Andrew’s love of trees began growing up near the Royal Botanical Gardens in Hamilton, Ontario, and led to a career in municipal urban forestry, environmental consulting, and academia. He holds degrees in Geography, Environmental Management, Environment and Sustainability, and a PhD in Urban Forestry. His current work focuses on advancing urban forestry education and leadership.
Committed to supporting students, Andrew maintains an open-door policy and is always ready to help students grow their passion for greener, healthier cities.
Owen Croy
Lecturer
With over 35 years of experience, Owen Croy has built a career spanning the forest industry, Agriculture Canada, and 25 years in senior leadership with the City of Surrey, where he managed parks, urban forests, and advised elected officials. A founding member of the Municipal Forestry Institute, Owen has been teaching urban forestry leadership to international participants since 2006.
Today, Owen advises municipalities on urban forestry strategy and teaches in UBC’s Urban Forestry Program as an Adjunct Professor. Committed to advancing the profession, Owen actively serves on boards and committees across the urban forestry community.
Tahia Devisscher
Lecturer
Tahia Devisscher explores how urban forests and green spaces promote well-being, climate resilience, and equitable nature-based solutions. Her interdisciplinary research blends spatial analysis, participatory methods, and local knowledge—including work with Indigenous communities and partners in over 20 countries. With a PhD from Oxford and a background at the UN and Stockholm Environment Institute, Tahia now leads UBC’s Urban Forests Research Hub and teaches courses on urban forest assessment, governance, and well-being.
Meagan (Meg) Hanna
Sessional Lecturer
Meg Hanna is a seasoned urban forestry professional with nearly 20 years of experience managing municipal green spaces and shaping national standards. Currently Director of Urban and Community Forestry for Canada at the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI), Meg brings deep expertise in urban forestry operations, industry best practices, and community engagement.
An ISA Board Certified Master Arborist, Meg has worked for the City of Montreal, led living collections at the Montreal Botanical Garden, and volunteered extensively with the International Society of Arboriculture. She holds degrees in political science, political history, and green space management, and has guest lectured at UBC, McGill, and beyond. Meg is passionate about sharing knowledge and helping the next generation of urban forestry leaders thrive.
Lorien Nesbitt
Lecturer
Lorien Nesbitt is dedicated to creating more livable, equitable urban spaces. With experience working across Canada and internationally, Lorien’s research focuses on urban forestry and socio-ecological interactions, with a strong emphasis on environmental justice, human health, climate change, and community well-being.
Her work explores key topics such as the link between urban greenness and public health, resilient urban forest governance systems, the role of smart technologies in urban forestry, and the dynamics of green gentrification. Lorien’s research employs both quantitative and qualitative methods, aiming to shape sustainable, inclusive cities for the future.
Ryan Senechal
Sessional Lecturer
Ryan Senechal is a practicing consulting arborist and urban forester with extensive experience across municipal, commercial, education, and nonprofit sectors. As a Sessional Lecturer at UBC’s Faculty of Forestry, he teaches Developing Green and Resilient Cities and contributes to field-based arboriculture courses in the Bachelor of Urban Forestry program.
A first cohort graduate of UBC’s Master of Urban Forestry Leadership, Ryan advises on professional credentialing, industry standards, and community-based urban forestry initiatives. He holds numerous certifications, including ISA Certified Arborist, ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualification, and TCIA Certified Treecare Safety Professional, bringing real-world expertise into the classroom.
Program Contributors
Johan Östberg
Johan Östberg, based in Sweden, is an Associate Professor with a PhD in Landscape Planning and a prolific academic with over 100 publications. He’s played key roles in numerous international projects and networks, including chairing the ISA Conference Program Committee and serving as vice president of the Urban Tree Growth & Longevity Working Group. Currently, he is the president of AREA (Arboriculture Research and Education Academy).
Beyond academia, Johan is the executive director of the Swedish Tree Association and an ISA Certified Arborist. He leads a consulting network focused on creating management plans for large tree populations in Sweden and co-founded the Nature Based Solutions Institute in 2020.
