These in-their-own-words pieces are told to Patricia Lane and co-edited with input from the interviewee for the purpose of brevity.

Victoria Lim helps bring industry leaders and policymakers together to make our climate safer. This 22-year-old from Vancouver leads events planning and management at The Zero Emissions Innovation Centre. She is also a writer for Starfish Canada and a 2025 winner of their Climate 75 Fellowship 

Tell us about your work 

I help ensure our events run smoothly and are enjoyable for participants and presenters. Every day is different. I might run the technology for a webinar for architects, builders and planners for our Zero Emissions Building Exchange (ZEBx) so participants can learn which kinds of building design and materials are best for the climate. I might ensure a major symposium’s logistics are well managed so government policymakers and industry players can better understand the advantages of distributed energy. I organize the logistics for peer education events on the best uses of heat pumps and other tools for electrifying energy in buildings. I also enjoy providing organizational and events delivery support to the team that hosts the mentoring and networking program, Women4Climate, connecting climate innovators. 

I am enjoying moving into project management for a team organizing events on the technological pathways for municipal governments building lower carbon and more affordable modular or prefabricated homes. 

How did you get into this work?

At university, I really enjoyed the project management and technology skills involved in helping lead several “hackathons” that gathered more than 1,000 students together to design technological solutions for various problems. For example, one team designed an app that would allow victims of domestic violence to call for help in a way that was disguised as a food ordering service. I thought that was a great example of using technology for social good and when this opportunity came up to use these skills to support people to make our climate safer, I jumped at the chance.

There are many different programs at the Zero Emissions Innovation Centre. While I don't have to be a content expert, I do have to know something about each one so I can ask the right questions and anticipate some of the challenges. It can be a bit intimidating to be supporting people with significant expertise in such a wide variety of topics. But this makes it fascinating too.

How else do you work on climate?

I love writing and have been a contributor to The Starfish Journal for young people since 2020. I don’t always write about climate — I am passionate about women’s sports and sometimes write about that too. I think it is all connected. I am working towards a world with a healthier, more equitable environment and culture. It is important to start building that world now.

It is hard not to be overwhelmed sometimes by the state of the world. As a young person it is easy to feel frightened about the future. But the people I meet in my work are interested and, in so many cases, the climate solution is also the affordable and healthy one. I sometimes think the work is just helping decision makers to connect the dots.

It is inspiring to see so many women in the climate space intent on making the world safer and better. 

How do you think the way you were raised has affected you?

I immigrated here with my parents from Singapore when I was seven. They made a deliberate choice to leave the familiar and take a chance on a pathway to a better future for me and a better world for everyone. I was taught to look for ways to use my time to make a difference. 

My mother often took me to the library. She taught me to seek comfort and joy in reading rather than just consuming. That is pretty counter-cultural. And my love of reading has made me a writer. I am grateful. My parents brought me up to work for things I believe in and not to just assume they will be handed to me. 

What would you like to say to other young people?

Every job is a climate job. Every small or large thing you do matters. As young people, we might think our inexperience and age disqualifies us from playing a significant role, but our ambition and empathy for each other and the world can allow us to make a contribution. Look for places that offer both impact and joy.

What about older readers?

Thank you for paving the way and for sharing your knowledge. This work needs all ages.

Victoria Lim lives in Vancouver. 

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