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Since 2019, I have been a guest on the ancestral, unceded, lands of the Sto:lo people – the people of the river. I am an environmental researcher, an ally to Indigenous peoples, a teacher, a learner, and a mother. My work – that just so happens to also be my passion – has taken me across the world where I’ve met and worked with different organizations, communities, people, and cultures.

Prior to working at UFV, I completed a postdoctoral research fellowship in the Faculty of Forestry at the University of British Columbia where I worked with and for the Heiltsuk Nation in Bella Bella, BC.  Our collaborative project was entitled, “Developing spatial and participatory resolutions for the Canadian Aboriginal housing crisis”.  The context of this project was focused on developing, implementing, and assessing community-led housing solutions to alleviate and meet housing demands. 

I completed my PhD in New Zealand in 2016 where my research focused on forestry resource management with key Māori community members. Applying a kaupapa Māori approach (which embraces traditional beliefs, ethics, and ways of being), I worked closely with the participants using a comprehensive life cycle sustainability technique which provided environmental, social, and economic data regarding forestry options.  The process provided the participants with a framework to develop a clear pathway to achieving the collective vision of their community. 

Furthermore, I have experience working with and within government agencies.  For nearly six years I worked at Forest Research, a government agency in Edinburgh, Scotland. My research was applied at regional, national, and international (European Union) levels and involved GIS analysis, project management, data collection and model synthesis, critical analysis, and frequent engagement with stakeholders - from foresters to business leaders to government officials. In addition, for a period of nine months I was seconded to the Scottish Government's Renewable Energy Department as a hydropower policy officer.

2016    Doctor of Philosophy, Sciences (Ph.D) in Life Cycle Management, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand

2006    Master of Science (MSc) in Environmental Conservation Management (Distinction), University of Glamorgan, Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom

2002    Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Environmental Studies and Geography (Double major), University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California, USA

2000    Associate of Arts (A.A.) in Liberal Arts, De Anza College, San Jose, California, USA

2011-current   UK Institute of Chartered Foresters

2012-current   New Zealand Life Cycle Management Centre; Life Cycle Association of New Zealand; New Zealand Institute of Forestry; International Society of Industrial Ecology

2014-current   Society of American Foresters

2016-current   Native American and Indigenous Studies Association

I believe that the process of being an effective teacher is not one that is ever truly accomplished. The teaching process involves continuous exploration of teaching techniques and methodologies which place the student learning experience at the center. The teaching process also involves a degree of observation and reflection as to ‘what worked’ and ‘what needs improvement’ – both in terms of learning outcomes and knowledge exchange.

As an instructor, I aim to support collaborative, transformative, and active learning in the classroom. Together, my students and I are responsible for ensuring a respectful, engaging, inclusive, effective, and productive learning environment. I believe in the pedagogies of kindness and dignity, listening and empathy as a teaching practice, and principles of transparency and accountability.

I acknowledge that each student brings value to the classroom and I endeavor to recognize their unique pre-existing skills and insights. I have found that by better understanding my students I can deliver the course content in a manner that is more meaningful and interesting to them.

Regarding the recognition and representation of Indigenous content in my classroom, I aim to highlight the interconnectedness of various forms of knowledge – be it from an Indigenous worldview or otherwise. Instead of focusing on what differentiates this knowledge, I focus on what is similar. As a result, the silos that often exist between cultures can be broken down. I therefore reflect multi-cultural perspectives within the courses I have taught.

I am keenly aware as to the importance of positionality throughout the process of decolonizing education and research. As a non-Indigenous instructor and researcher, I strive to honor Indigenous peoples and worldviews by educating myself on Indigenous ways of knowing, histories, perspectives, and preferences. I firmly believe that the reconciliation process is not just between Indigenous peoples and the Canadian government; it is a process that all guests on traditional territories should embrace in order engender mutual respect and healing dialogue. One of the most accessible places for this to occur is in the classroom, and I have committed myself to this important opportunity.

GEOG 111 (Environmental Issues and Strategies)

GEOG 130 (Geography of Canada)

GEOG 331 (Environmental Assessment and Management)

Sustainable development, social science, cultural values, decision making process, stakeholder engagement techniques, Indigenous housing and community planning, forestry, supply/value chain analysis, Life Cycle Assessment, climate change, environmental geography, policy development, and GIS applications.

2019    “A Heiltsuk-designed home: a story of process, protocol, and partners”, Vancouver, BC, invited speaker for the Forestry in Place speaker series at the University of British Columbia.

2019    “Indigenous Initiatives Learning Community: Collaboration & Reciprocity”, Vancouver, BC, 2019 First-Year Educators’ Symposium at the University of British Columbia.

2017    “Developing spatial and participatory solutions for the Heiltsuk First Nation’s housing crisis”, Vancouver, BC, Native American and Indigenous Studies Association.

2017    “The distinctive recognition of Indigenous culture in forestry sustainability assessments”, Vancouver, BC, International Union of Forest Research Organisations (IUFRO, Div.5).

2015    “Forestry options for New Zealand: taking a closer look at Radiata pine, Rimu, and Mānuka”, Rotorua, NZ, Scion Forest Science Seminar.

2015    “A culturally focused Mānuka value chain”, Ruatoria, NZ, East Coast Manuka Oil Coalition workshop.

2014    “A culturally focused life cycle sustainability assessment: Analysis of forestry value chain options with Māori land owners”, Salt Lake City, Utah, IUFRO.

2014    “Representing culture within Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment”, Wellington, NZ, New Zealand Life Cycle Assessment conference.

2013    “Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment to Analyse Alternative Forestry Value Chains with Māori Land Owners”, Ulsan, South Korea, International Society for Industrial Ecology.

2012    “Modern forestry: Challenges, opportunities, and life cycle sustainability assessment”, Fielding, NZ, Farm Forestry Association workshop.

2011    “Integration of Forestry Decision Support Systems in GIS”, Birmingham, UK, Spatial Ecology & Conservation conference.

2011    “Multifunctional Landscapes: How do we manage forests in a National Park to meet diverse expectations?: A case study in Northern Scotland”, Rovaniemi, Finland, Northern ToSIA conference.

2010    “Analysing forest sustainability under various climate change scenarios: a case study in northern Scotland”, Edinburgh, UK, Commonwealth Forestry conference.

2019    Caverley, N., Lyall, A., Pizzirani, S., and Bulkan, J. (2019). “Articulating Indigenous rights within the inclusive development framework: An assessment of forest stewardship policies and practices in British Columbia, Canada” Society and Natural Resources, pp. 1-21. doi:10.1080/08941920.2019.1597237

2019    Pizzirani, S., Monge, J. J., Hall, P., Steward, G., Caskey, P., and McLaren, S. J. (2019) “Exploring forestry options with Māori landowners: an economic assessment of radiata pine, rimu, and mānuka”, New Zealand Journal of Forestry Science, 49(5), pp. 1-15. https://doi.org/10.33494/nzjfs492019x44x

2017    Monge, J. J., Parker, W. J., and Pizzirani, S. (2017). “Identifying complementarities for the dairy and forestry industries in the Central North Island”, New Zealand Journal of Forestry, 61(4), pp. 16-23

2016    Pizzirani, S., McLaren, S. J., Forster, M., Pohatu, P., Porou, T. T. W., and Warmenhoven, T. A. (2016) “The distinctive recognition of culture within LCSA: realising the quadruple bottom line”, The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment 23(3), pp. 663-682

2015    Hale, S., Gardiner, B., Peace, A., Nicoll, B., Taylor, P., and Pizzirani, S. (2015) “Comparison and Validation of Three Versions of a Forest Wind Risk Model”, Ecological Modelling 68, pp. 27-41

2014    Ray, D., Bathgate, S., Moseley, D., Taylor, P., Nicoll, B., Pizzirani, S., and Gardiner, B. (2014) “Comparing the provision of ecosystem services in plantation forests under alternative climate change adaptation management options in Wales”, Regional Environmental Change 15(8), pp. 1501-1513

2014    Pizzirani, S., McLaren, S. J., and Seadon, J. K. (2014) “Is there a place for culture in life cycle sustainability assessment?”, The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment 19(6), pp. 1316-1330

2012    Pizzirani, S. and Bathgate, S. (2012) “Integration of Forestry Decision Support Systems in GIS”, Journal of Environmental Assessment Policy and Management 14(2)

2011    Berg, S., Fischbach, J., Bruchert, F., Poissonnet, M., Pizzirani, S., Varet, A., and Sauter, U. (2011) “Towards assessing the sustainability of European logging operations”, European Journal of Forest Research 131(1), p. 81-94

2011    Lindner, M., Werhahn-Mees, W., Suominen, T., Vötter, D., Zudin, S., Pekkanen, M., Päivinen, R., Roubalova, M., Kneblik, P., Brüchert, F., Valinger, E., Guinard, L., and Pizzirani, S. (2011). “Conducting sustainability impact assessments of forestry-wood chains: examples of ToSIA applications”, European Journal of Forest Research 131, p. 21-34

2011    Edwards, D., Jensen, F.S., Marzano, M., Mason, B., Pizzirani, S., and Schelhaas, M. (2011) “A theoretical framework to assess the impacts of forest management on the recreational value of European forests”, Ecological Indicators 11, pp. 81–89

2010    Pizzirani, S., Gardiner, B., and Edwards, D. (2010) “Analysing forest sustainability under various climate change scenarios: a case study in northern Scotland”, Edinburgh, UK, Commonwealth Forestry Conference Proceedings

Reports and technical papers

2019    Pizzirani, S. (2019). “Indigenous research engagement and methodologies”, Indigenous Forestry Information Repository report (Engagement module), UBC Faculty of Forestry, Vancouver, BC

2018    Pizzirani, S. (2018). “Creating the Heiltsuk ‘tiny’ home”, University of British Columbia’s Forestry Branchlines 29(2), pp. 6-7

2017    Timko, J. A., Pizzirani, S., Kozak, R. A., and Bull, G. (2017). “Exploring First Nation-held Forest Tenures and Community Forest Enterprises in British Columbia”, Rights and Resources Initiative, Washington, D.C.

2016    Pizzirani, S. “A culturally-focused life cycle sustainability assessment: Analysis of forestry value chain options with Māori land owners”, PhD thesis, Massey University, Palmerston North, NZ

2015    Dunningham, A., Bayne, K., Pizzirani, S., Blackett, P., and Cradock-Henry, N. (2015) “Innovative and targeted mechanisms for supporting climate change adaptation in the primary sectors”, Ministry for Primary Industries Technical Paper, Wellington, New Zealand