
CLIMATE ACTION
February 5, 2020
6:30-8:30pm
Rennie Hall, Emily Carr University of Art + Design
Free Admission, Capacity 50
Moderated by leaders in social impact enterprises, environmental science and design, Emily Carr community members presented their innovations at the intersection of technology, ethics, science, wellness and art that address Climate Action, humanity's biggest challenge. Audience members had opportunities to discuss, follow and participate in projects gaining momentum, learn ways of personally impacting climate, build relationships with like-minded creatives and changemakers, and join the glocal Boma community of shared values to drive a more sustainable future. Pitch candidates were eligible for ongoing strategic support across Boma, and finalist Moni El Batrik was sponsored to present at an international Boma Summit. Read more re-capping the event at Boma Discover.
Moderators
Mara Mennicken
Owner, The GOOD Chocolatier
Community Manager, Dudoc Vancouver
A social impact leader from Cologne, Germany, Mara Mennicken synthesizes innovation and social enterprises. Her organization builds more inclusive communities by handcrafting healthy, ethical chocolates, where she is a master chocolatier. At Dudoc, she grows a community of innovators striving for sustainable cities.
Alan Shapiro
Advisor, Climate Ventures Earth Tech
Science Communications Manager, STEMCELL
Alan Shapiro is a water, sustainability, and science communication professional with experience in the consulting, non-profit, and tech sectors, including at ECU's new campus site. He co-founded science outreach non-profit Science Slam Canada, and teaches science communication and sustainable business at SFU and BCIT.
George Benson
Sector Manager, Built Environment, Vancouver Economic Commission
Working in local government and non-profits, George Benson leads change in bringing together social, economic, and environmental considerations in all aspects of decision-making. He works to create lasting, just, and resilient systems and communities. He has been a Strategic Initiatives official for City of Vancouver and City of New Westminster.
Thomas Girard
Design Scholar & Educator
User Experience Designer
With field experience in Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, New Delhi and London, Thomas Girard is a speaker and panelist at international conferences in design, tech and business. A five time Emerging Scholar Award recipient, he has developed and led courses & workshops across design disciplines for art & design institutions in Vancouver including ECU.
Stephanie Ostler
President, Devil May Wear
Municiple Political Party Member, YES! Vancouver
Stephanie Ostler facilitates small business funding, startups, marketing and problem solving. Her organization makes local, ethical, natural clothing & accessories. She serves on environmental, business and cultural committees, the Canadian Club of Vancouver Board of Directors, and as faculty co-establishing a program for sustainable local textiles industry with ECU and SFU.
Kookai Chaimahawong
Partnerships Associate, Pangaea Ventures
Former Consultant, UN Development Program
Recongnized as a social innovator, Kookai uses impact evaluation to help organizations capture untapped growth opportunities. She has worked for the United Nations Development Program promoting the Sustainable Development Goals in the Asia Pacific. Now involved in Vancouver's female entrepreneurship community, she seeks impact-focused, green and clean-tech start-ups to assess and support.
Pauline Lai
Experience Designer & Educator
Web Communications Chair, GDC/BC
Specializing in cross-cultural design, Pauline Lai has worked in the UX/UI industry with businesses, restaurants, real estate projects and startups for almost 20 years. She is an ECU faculty member, and a community builder who was on the founding committee of Creative Mornings Vancouver, long term executive for Graphic Designers of Canada (GDC/BC), mentor in Canada Learning Code and DesignX Vancouver team.
Johann Roduit
Ethics Scholar & Writer
Board, Swiss Canadian Chamber of Commerce
An author in ethics, Johann, is an Affiliate Researcher at the Institute of Biomedical Ethics and History of Medicine at the University of Zurich. He is a founding member and Chairman of future technologies think tank NeoHumanitas, co-founded Conexkt Innovation Studio turning ideas into impact, builds grassroots communities, and has worked with organizations like World Economic Forum.
Presenters
Chase Ando
Industrial Designer
BDes '19
Indoor smart gardening of organic chef-grade herbs and leafy greens monitored by voice or app.
Jiyun Park
Interaction Designer
BDes '20
Personalized tracker for social values giving users tools to bring them from being passive allies to active allies in climate justice issues.
Madigan McDonald
Communication Designer
BDes '20
Products & artworks co-created in elementary schools that increase youth awareness and advocacy for pollinators.
Moni El Batrik
Industrial Designer
BDes '20
Gravity based filter combining ceramics & nanotech to purify rain water into potable drinking water, decorative in various spaces.
PoChun Chen
Filmmaker
Bachelor of Media Arts '19
Documentary on connections between waste, culture, “throwaway culture,” daily life, religion, communities & relationships.
Sanya Arora
Meta-design
BDes '20
Global network of university-based communities that engage about how food consumption habits impact environments & economies.
Supported by




About Us
A GLOBAL NETWORK OF LOCAL PARTNERS
We are living complex times. The world around us is changing faster than ever. And it's not just technology. Sociopolitical change. Geopolitical change. Climate change. Changes in our structures and economic systems. We want to make sure the future doesn't happen to us; it's created by us.
The word "boma" dates back to Africa, the cradle of all mankind, and signifies a circular enclosure for the community to hold meaningful discussions and plan action. Through transformational experiences and events, Boma Global brings together an agile ecosystem of stakeholders to solve humanity's challenges, including social leaders, impact organizations, NGO's, investors, industry & corporate leaders, community, policy & government, entrepreneurs & startups, and educational institutions & thought leaders.
Emily Carr University of Art + Design is a world hallmark of transdisciplinary innovation. Boma ECU, a community group founded by faculty member Scott Mallory involving faculty, students and alumni, shares and enriches projects from our local community across Boma to cultivate the exposure, collaboration, and strategic and financial support to scale outcomes. Boma Global was initiated by CEO Lara Stein, who after founding TEDx and taking Singularity Global, proved that a for-profit & impact model, delivered through decentralized partners, can work. And it is incredibly powerful.

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Submit a Project
We seek actionable transdisciplinary innovations with potential to scale impact for driving a more sustainable future. Projects may currently be at any stage of development. Finalists will be eligible to receive full sponsorship to attend and present at an international Boma Summit, strategic support, and financial support. Submissions are accepted on a rolling basis and kept in consideration for future events. The February 5 Climate Action event is fully booked.
