Jada Basi

Graduation Year: 2008
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“A university in the North gave me the opportunity to be the first in my family to earn a post-secondary education, and a license to serve communities in return.”

Jada is the Owner and Principal of CitySpaces Consulting Ltd. Her planning career has had a transformative impact across diverse industries, from forestry and metals to LNG and hydroelectricity. Growing up in the Cariboo and working in resource-based communities across BC, Jada developed a deep understanding of the critical role these industries play in the economy, which has informed her approach as a professional planner and strategist.

Jada has worked internationally, with the past decade focused on Western Canada and the Territories. One of Jada’s proudest achievements was consulting for 21 local governments in Northwest BC, leading a team to assess infrastructure needs for managing growth tied to major economic investments such as LNG Canada, port expansion, mining, wind farms, clean tech, and changes to the forestry sector.

After graduating from UNBC, Jada went onto earn a Masters in Strategy, Leadership, and Management from Michigan State University. She is a member of the Canadian Institute of Planners, Planning Institute of BC, and LAI International Land Economics Society. She served on the BC Business Council’s Next Leaders Steering Committee and previously chaired the PIBC Communications Committee. Jada has sponsored many RPP candidates and co-owns a planning and development consulting firm with 30 employees.

Nigel Whitehead

Graduation Year: 2011

“The Bachelor of Planning has kept me in the North and opened up numerous opportunities to advance my career. Planning professionals value the tangible world-ready skills that UNBC Planning students come armed with.”

Nigel Whitehead is the Manager of Planning Services for the Cariboo Regional District and a Registered Professional Planner. He has been working in and leading planning departments in small cities and rural areas of BC for 13 years. Nigel’s passion lies in understanding and supporting communities whose successes are dependent on a positive relationship with the natural environment, whether that be forestry, mining, agriculture, or tourism. Nigel applies a practical approach to land use planning, inspired by the resilient personalities and down-to-earth perspectives of rural BC citizens.

Nigel has worked at the City of Williams Lake (twice!), Cariboo Regional District (also twice!), City of Dawson Creek, and City of Revelstoke. It has been an enlightening tour of BC, providing insight into different ways that planning departments operate in varying political contexts.

Devin Croin

Graduation Year: 2021
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“UNBC's planning program provided me with the knowledge required for a career in planning. I've found that the work I completed in my degree has been directly related to work I'm now doing as a professional. The accredited planning degree can accelerate your ability to obtain the designation of Registered Professional Planner.”

Devin Croin is a Registered Professional Planner, currently working at the Peace River Regional District. Devin began his planning career through the Local Government Internship Program, hosted by Northern Development Initiative Trust, where he had an opportunity to learn about - and experience the important role that planners play in local government. Since then, Devin has held several roles, always valuing the opportunity to work with landowners in navigating policy and processes on a range of projects.

With an aim to promote planning in Northern BC, Devin is an active volunteer with PIBC's Central North Chapter. His main goal is to promote planning in the North as a viable career path for young people. As well, he values collaborating with other planners in the North to make Northern BC an even more desirable place to live, work and play.

Sam Hadfield

Graduation Year: 2023
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“Finding a practical, multi-disciplinary and equity-informed planning program at UNBC that would also prepare me for a career felt like an incredible stroke of luck. I owe a lot to the opportunity I had to learn from faculty and classmates that were so passionate about improving the way we organize our communities.”

Sam Hadfield is a Planner at the City of Terrace. After graduating with a degree in Northern and Rural Community Planning, Sam joined the planning department at the City of Terrace. In his role as a municipal planner, Sam has worked on a variety of exciting planning projects related to climate action, fleet electrification, small-scale multi-unit housing, and is currently involved in the City's Official Community Plan update.

In his work, Sam is passionate about bringing innovative solutions to communities in a way that responds to the unique character and contexts that define them. He takes pride in using a grounded, personable approach to communicating complex planning concepts when engaging with stakeholders, working with applicants during the development review process, and when assisting residents with their day-to-day enquiries.