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March 17, 2026

SCARP Speaker Series: Emotions in Planning

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About

Next up, we present our panel: 

Emotions in Planning

This panel brings together three SCARP graduates to speak about the role of emotions in the work of planning. SCARP has had a long history of recognising affective ways of knowing, and harnessing the power of surfacing, rather than ignoring or avoiding, the effects of emotion in planning processes. During this panel, our guests will reflect on how they see the role of emotion in planning, how they have facilitated productive use of emotion in their work, and creative ways of combining two ways of knowing that are often contrasted against each other: affective and technical.

What it means: Affective Ways of Knowing?
Affective Knowing is understanding derived from our feelings and emotional responses, shaping our connection to the world and guiding our choices. It provides an immediate, visceral understanding of our surroundings.

Our alumni panelists

Woman in front of bush

Paula Hay (she/her)

is a Community Planner committed to working alongside Indigenous communities and organizations to advance self-determination and systems change. Paula has worked across a diverse range of projects and planning initiatives including health planning, land use planning, and comprehensive community planning. Paula holds a Master’s degree in Planning from UBC’s School of Community and Regional Planning, specializing in Indigenous Community Planning.

 

Person in button-up shirt in front of bush

Azlan Nur Saidy (they/them)

is a community planner and arts organizer who has worked on diverse projects, including supporting Indigenous communities with developing land-use plans and designing memorial gardens. Azlan has also supported capacity-building initiatives for Filipino community organizations through strategic planning workshops. In their spare time, Azlan is a member of a local Indonesian gamelan group and explores batik textiles with the Batik Library. Azlan holds a Master of Community and Regional Planning from the University of British Columbia and serves as a board member at hua foundation in Vancouver’s Chinatown.

 

Man in sweater in front of plant-filled sunlit room

SCARP Associate Professor Maged Senbel’s (he/him) 

Maged Senbel's doctoral research examined empathic leadership in sustainability planning. He has since used emotional awareness as an integral part of his community engaged research and teaching. His palette of dialogical tools, for expressing the palpable intangibles, includes poetry and arts-based approaches.

 

And moderated by:

Man in button-up shirt, his arms crossed

SCARP Associate Professor Theo Lim's (he/him)

interests include environmental and climate action planning, community-engaged teaching and research, and the use of diverse kinds of information in planning processes. 

 

A part of SCARP 75 | 1951 - 2026

SCARP is turning 75 years old, and leading up to this amazing point in our School's story, we're preparing both reflections on where we've been (and all that's meant for us and the world) and opportunities to inspire and gather in community today! We're proud to say this event is the first event towards that goal. Watch out for more events and amazing stories in celebration!

Date & Time

Tue, March 17 : 12:00pm - 1:00pm

Location

West Mall Annex, Room 110
1933 West Mall
Vancouver BC
Canada

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