Alumni Engagement Coordinator | renee@youngdiplomats.ca

Vancouver, BC

Renee Zhao is a youth climate advocate and an undergraduate student at the University of British Columbia, where she studies Bioeconomy Sciences and Technology. Her work spans climate policy, youth governance, sustainability, and international affairs, with a particular interest in advancing inclusive decision-making and meaningful youth participation in public policy.

Renee is an alumna of the Young Diplomats of Canada (YDC) program, where she served as the Engagement Coordinator for the YDC delegation at the 2026 United Nations High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development. Renee has worked on youth leadership and governance through the nonprofit organization Youth Climate Corps British Columbia, where she supported research and strategy development to strengthen youth participation in environmental organizations and decision-making.

In recognition of her climate advocacy, Renee was named one of Canada's Top 25 Environmentalists Under 25 and received the National Youth Climate Activism Award. Her work is grounded in a commitment to climate justice, equitable access to leadership opportunities, and ensuring that young people from diverse backgrounds have a meaningful role in shaping the policies that affect their futures.