David Nicholas Oswald

Associate faculty

Environment & Sustainability

David Oswald is a designer and environmental scientist. He founded DE Design + Environment Inc. in 2005, where he and his team continue to tackle global environmental problems worldwide. 

David is trained in ecosystem ecology, systems design, environmental science and environmental economics. He received his training at the University of Waterloo, Royal Roads University, McGill University and the University of British Columbia.

David's work focuses primarily on integrated environmental analysis through data acquisition, indicator development and decision/policy making for sustainable development.

His professional work is focused on SIDS in the Caribbean and helping them become more resilient to environmental change. His research work is currently focused on the NW coastal zone of BC.

Experience

David has worked as a consultant for the United Nations on Sustainable Development Projects in Latin America and the Caribbean.

He spent eight years working with multi-lateral development banks, including the World Bank and Inter-American Development Bank, on sustainable development projects. He has also completed design projects in Saudi Arabia, Germany, Brazil and Canada.

David has served as advisor to corporations in the energy, telecommunications and finance sectors on sustainability and CSR. He's worked closely with several NGOs on climate adaptation, biodiversity and conservation. He has technical design experience ranging from software engineering to controls systems design to robotics.

David is capable of working in English (first), French, Spanish and Brazilian Portuguese.

Memberships and Committees

David is an Elected Fellow to Royal Canadian Geographic Society – FRCGS (2016).

Education

In progress
PhD – Interdisciplinary: Environmental Science, Economics, Design

University of British Columbia

2008
MSc – Physical Geography

McGill University

1999
BSc – Environmental Science with Distinction

Royal Roads University

Publications

Oswald, D.N. 2019. Mapping data for priority environmental indicators in Guyana.  United Nations Environment Program.

Maxam, A., Oswald, D.N., and Baur, T. 2018.  Climate data sharing protocol for the Caribbean Region.  Caribbean Community Climate Change Center. Funder: USAID.

Oswald, D.N. 2015. Sustainable Development and Its Implications for Constitutional and Cultural Affairs – Lessons for Canada and Turkey from Ecuador and the Caribbean.  Chapter in Book in Press.  Springer. London.

Oswald, D.N., Maxam, A., Senecal, C., Park, A., McIntyre, K., and Wright, J.M. 2014.  C-READ System Design: Conceptual Document – Database Management System for Environmental Change in the Wider Caribbean.  IDB Project: ATN / OC – 12554-RG.  http://design-environment.com/news/archives/2305

Oswald, D.N. 2011. Achieving biodiversity preservation and CSR through design. Business 2020 – A magazine on Business and Biodiversity.  Secretariat of the Convention on Biodiversity.

Oswald, D.N.  2008. “Deforestation in the Amazon”.  In  Araújo, Gisele Ferreira de. (Ed). Estratégias de Sustentabilidade na Amazônia. Aspectos científicos, sociais e legais. Contexto global. Visão comparativa. São Paulo. Letras Jurídicas.

Oswald, D.N. 2008. “Using forest in the second national communications to UNFCC for adaptation in Tropical countries: The cases of TroFCCA project countries.”.  Consultancy for the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR).