YPE Vancouver Leadership
Welcome to YPE Vancouver, a city that proudly utilizes all energy sources to provide a high quality of living for its citizens!
YPE would like to invite those employed, looking to be employed or curious about our provinces energy resources to join us for networking, educational and philanthropic events geared towards furthering energy education across the province. Be it bio fuels to natural gas to hydro, we, and these sources of energy, are all part of our living, breathing economy.
Let us learn to respect all of BC’s energy resources, and work with each other in understanding how we bridge our current energy demands to future energy demands, doing so in a environmentally and fiscally respectful and responsible way.
YPE Vancouver Board
ypevancouver@gmail.com
Zahra Pirani
Director
Zahra is an environmental engineer with 12 years of post-graduate experience. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering and a Master’s degree related to contaminated soil remediation. Zahra’s main area of focus is contaminated site assessment and remediation, as well as the management of multi-disciplinary projects; howver, she began her career by spending a few years with Petro-Canada (now Suncor Energy) as a natural gas production and completions engineer. In 2017, Zahra received the Association of Consulting Engineering Companies BC (ACEC-BC) Young Professional Award for excellence in consulting business practices, and she is currently the President and Conference Chair for the Science Advisory Board for Contaminated Sites (SABCS). Zahra works at Stantec Consulting Ltd. as an Environmental Engineer and Project Manager.
Zahra is an environmental engineer with 12 years of post-graduate experience. She ...
zahra.pirani@stantec.com
6043581379
Parmjot Gill
Director
Parm is a Sustainability Consultant and is currently working on his MBA at the University of British Columbia.
He started his academic journey in business and quickly transitioned to the sciences to pursue his interests in the environment. Since then he has combined his learnings in research, start-ups, consulting, and innovation to develop deep expertise in Clean-Technology and Renewable Energy. Some of his achievements include managing a portfolio of projects worth +$210 M, pioneering UK’s first SMART Grid, starting-up his own successful multi-national consulting practice, and discovering what it takes to have ‘work-life balance’.
A finalist for Business Green’s Youngest Sustainability Executive of the Year in 2016 and Scottish Renewables Youngest Innovator of the Year for 2018, Parm pushes the boundaries of innovation in existing markets and helps companies exhibit best practice.
Parm holds a BSc from the University of Victoria, with a double major in Biology (Marine Concentration) and Environmental studies and is a certified PRINCE2 Practitioner. He is an active Board Director for Young Energy Professionals and in the past been involved with organizations such as the Rhodes Southern Africa Forum, Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre, REEF, and the Dogwood Initiative.
Parm is a Sustainability Consultant and is currently working on his MBA at the ...
parmjotsgill@gmail.com
6048490090
Izzah Khan
Director
Izzah is a Public Policy and Government Relations Analyst at FortisBC. Her team is currently involved with advancing climate change objectives inside FortisBC and externally. Her team often works with various stakeholders that include municipal, provincial and federal governments, NGOs, non-profits and academic institutions. A key priority for her team is advancing the production of renewable gases to decrease the footprint left by conventional natural gas, and expanding LNG infrastructure to replace diesel and other more carbon intensive fossil fuels.
Izzah recently completed a Master’s degree in Public Policy from SFU and wrote her thesis on the CleanBC 15% renewable gas target. Prior to her Masters, Izzah worked at the Alberta Energy Regulator on the Climate Policy team. She also holds an undergraduate Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Calgary, with a specialization in Energy Management.
Izzah is passionate about engaging with young professionals, youth and students and getting them more involved in the energy industry and increasing energy literacy among other young professionals. Outside of her career, Izzah enjoys hiking, yoga, running, biking, snowboarding, trying new foods and traveling.
Izzah is a Public Policy and Government Relations Analyst at FortisBC. Her ...
Izzah.Khan@fortisbc.com
Danielle Gillianders
Director
Danielle is a passionate energy advocate who believes in the responsible development of resources to support growing communities, in Canada and all over the world. Danielle believes that engaging discussions and developing relationships with individuals and groups of diverse backgrounds is the key to a stronger energy future.
As a registered Professional Engineer and Project Management Professional, Danielle has worked on and lead pipeline projects for FortisBC. Danielle believes in the engagement with locally impacted communities and regulatory authorities to develop projects that meet the needs of stakeholders and customers in a financial and socially responsible manner. Danielle has a BASc from the University of Waterloo, specializing in Chemical engineering, with a focus in Management Science Engineering and Environmental Engineering.
Danielle is a passionate energy advocate who believes in the responsible development ...
Jesse Unke
Director
Jesse is Director of Project Management/Business Development with RAM. As a Project Management Professional (PMP) and Risk Management Professional (RMP), Jesse is experienced in all areas of project and construction leadership overseeing large, complex, high-profile municipal infrastructure and transportation projects. Jesse has an intimate knowledge with multiple project delivery methods, project management models, and scope, financial, schedule, and risk management tools and techniques. During Jesse’s career, he has developed an ability to understand his client’s “why”, work collaboratively leading teams, and implement successful strategic initiatives for multiple project stakeholders and groups. With a background as a Professional Engineer in Canada (P.Eng.) and the United States (PE), a LEED Accredited Professional (LEED AP), Envision Sustainability Professional (ENV SP), and a MMCD Certified Contract Administrator (MMCD CCA), Jesse has the ability to lead projects effectively, incorporate sustainable design and construction principles, interpret and administer contracts, and understand the technical aspects of his projects. His effective written and verbal communication, workshop facilitation, and engaging presentation skills to both technical and non-technical audiences, allow him to serve as a knowledgeable leader and advisor to his clients. Jesse enjoys being actively engaged in the project management/engineering community, volunteering as a Director/Board Member with the British Columbia Construction Roundtable (BCCR), PMI Canadian Westcoast Chapter (CWCC), and Young Professionals in Energy (YPE). Jesse is a graduate from the University of British Columbia with a degree in Civil Engineering.
Jesse is Director of Project Management/Business Development with RAM. As a Project ...
jesse.unke@ramengineering.ca
604.789.2533
Tariq Ahmed
Director
Tariq is a lawyer in Fasken’s Litigation and Dispute Resolution group. He frequently assists clients with matters related to energy regulation and construction disputes. In addition to representing clients before the courts, and in arbitrations and mediation s, Tariq has assisted clients with matters before regulatory tribunals including the British Columbia Utilities Commission, the Alberta Utilities Commission, and the National Energy Board.
Tariq obtained his law degree from the University of British Columbia. Prior to his legal career, Tariq earned a degree in electrical engineering at the University of Victoria.
Tariq is a lawyer in Fasken’s Litigation and Dispute Resolution group. He ...
tahmed@fasken.com
604 631 4983
Richard Dieu
Director
Richard is a Project Manager at RAM Consulting, with an academic background in civil, environmental, and energy engineering from the University of Calgary.
As a growth-driven, creative, and aspiring sustainable urban development expert, Richard became a consultant in order to express his passion for problem solving, while rapidly honing his technical knowledge. Richard is an engineer-in-training with experience in engineering consulting, construction management, and project management, who possesses a wide array of technical skills in municipal engineering, land development planning and engineering, traffic engineering, and contaminated sites remediation and risk management. His diverse work experience has led him to work in Europe, Central America, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, the Arctic, and now, British Columbia – offering him a well-rounded perspective in his projects.
Richard is a Project Manager at RAM Consulting, with an academic background ...
richard.dieu@ramconsulting.com
Previous Directors of YPE Vancouver
Joanna Shea (2016-2019), Sanjeet Sanghera (2016-2018), Tanya Gutmanis (2016-2017)