The State of Climate Policy in BC: A Conversation with George Heyman and Kathryn Harrison

George Heyman (he/him)
Adjunct Professor, Simon Fraser University - School of Resource and Environmental Management

George Heyman’s career has spanned the environment, labour, and social sectors.  He was first elected to the British Columbia Legislature as MLA for Vancouver-Fairview in 2013 and was appointed Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy from 2017 to 2024.  Prior to his career in provincial politics, he served three terms as president of the BC Government and Service Employees’ Union (BCGEU), followed by nearly four years as executive director of Sierra Club BC, one of the province’s oldest environmental advocacy and education organizations.  In both organizations, George was a respected negotiator and organizational leader.  Prior to these positions, George lived in Terrace for many years and worked throughout B.C.’s northwest and coastal communities.  He has taught collaborative decision making and negotiations at Simon Fraser University and is currently an Adjunct Professor in the School of Resource and Environmental Management. 

Dr. Kathryn Harrison (she/her) 
Professor, Political Science (Faculty of Arts), UBC. 

Kathryn Harrison is a Professor of Political Science who has published widely on Canadian environmental, climate, and energy policy. She previously worked as a chemical engineer in the oil industry. Dr. Harrison is a regular commenter on climate policy in print and broadcast media,. She has advised local, provincial, and national governments, and is currently chair of the mitigation expert advisory committee of the Canadian Climate Institute.