David Wells

Day 1 Speaker

Equipping the Workforce for a Low-Carbon Economy

David is the Vice President, Academic and Applied Research at Vancouver Community College (VCC). As an educational administrator and lawyer of Indigenous ancestry, David has helped guide academic planning, program development, and Indigenization across more than 150 programs since joining VCC in 2014. His portfolio includes advancing applied research capacity, strengthening industry partnerships, and supporting innovations that align with British Columbia’s workforce and sustainability priorities. 

David brings significant governance and regulatory expertise to his leadership. He currently serves on the BC Family Maintenance Agency, the Chartered Professional Accountants of BC Investigations Committee, and the BC Farm Industry Review Board. He is also Chair of the Board for Family Services of Greater Vancouver and the Indigenous Homelessness Steering Committee for Metro Vancouver. His previous appointments include roles with Engineers and Geoscientists BC, the Provincial Crown regulatory body PCTIA, the Open Door Group, and the Urban Indigenous Persons Advisory Council for the City of Vancouver. 

David holds a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in political science from Simon Fraser University, and a law degree from the University of British Columbia. He has been called to the Bar in British Columbia and is a PhD Candidate in Higher Education at the University of Toronto’s Ontario Institute for Studies in Education.