This website stores cookies on your computer. These cookies are used to collect information about how you interact with our website and allow us to remember your browser. We use this information to improve and customize your browsing experience, for analytics and metrics about our visitors both on this website and other media, and for marketing purposes. By using this website, you accept and agree to be bound by UVic’s Terms of Use and Protection of Privacy Policy.  If you do not agree to the above, you can configure your browser’s setting to “do not track.”

Skip to main content
People Departments Maps Buildings Rooms A-Z
University
of Victoria
Apply Library
Sign in Online tools Sign out
Public Administration

Mark Zacharias NEW Adjunct Faculty

September 24, 2025

 Mark Zacharias NEW Adjunct Faculty

The School of Public Administration is pleased to welcome Dr. Mark Zacharias as Adjunct Faculty. Dr. Zacharias brings an exceptional record of leadership in government, non-profit organizations, and academia, alongside a distinguished body of scholarship and public service. His unique blend of executive experience and academic expertise will enrich the School’s teaching, research, and engagement with public policy practitioners and students alike.

 Dr. Zacharias has spent more than two decades in senior executive leadership in government and the non-profit sector, managing ministries, directing organizations of over 1,500 staff, and overseeing annual budgets of more than $2 billion. His career with the Government of British Columbia included serving as Deputy Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy, as well as a series of Assistant Deputy Minister roles within the environmental, sustainability, and advanced education portfolios. In these roles, he led groundbreaking initiatives in environmental protection, climate change policy, post-secondary education policy, and geographic and land management systems. More recently, he has contributed to national thought leadership in climate policy and the clean economy as President and Special Advisor for Clean Energy Canada and as a Fellow at Simon Fraser University’s Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue.

Equally notable is Dr. Zacharias’ scholarly and teaching record. He earned his PhD in Zoology from the University of Guelph after completing his MSc and BSc in Geography from the University of Victoria. He has held a number of academic appointments at Canadian and American universities, including California State University Channel Islands, the University of British Columbia, the University of Idaho, and the University of Victoria. His ongoing role as Adjunct Professor at Simon Fraser University’s School of Public Policy and prior service on numerous academic boards and advisory councils have positioned him as a leading contributor to the dialogue between research and practice. In addition, Dr. Zacharias has authored and co-authored highly regarded books on marine policy, conservation ecology, and global ocean governance, as well as chapters in prominent academic volumes. His ability to maintain a strong academic output while serving in senior leadership roles is a testament to his deep commitment to advancing both scholarship and real-world solutions.

Dr. Zacharias’ contributions extend to governance and board leadership within key organizations, including Ocean Networks Canada, the Surfrider Foundation Canada, and the BC Trust for Public Lands, among others. These experiences provide him with insights into governance, organizational strategy, and stakeholder engagement that will be invaluable to students at the School of Public Administration, particularly those focused on public sector leadership, climate policy, and the interface between government, Indigenous peoples, non-profits, and the private sector.

As an Adjunct Faculty member, Dr. Zacharias will bring this wealth of expertise into the classroom, offering students a rare perspective that integrates high-level academic knowledge with practical, applied experience in government and policy-making. His broad experience—from the executive level of government to international scholarship—mirrors the interdisciplinary and impact-driven mission of the School. Students will benefit not only from his expertise in environmental and climate policy but also from his deep knowledge of public administration, organizational governance, and cross-sectoral collaboration.

We are delighted to have Dr. Zacharias join the School of Public Administration community. His appointment will expand opportunities for students to engage with one of Canada’s foremost practitioners and thinkers in the fields of public policy, environmental leadership, and clean energy. We look forward to his contributions to teaching, mentorship, and research collaboration in the years ahead.