In over 30 years of practice, Dr. Pamela Shaw has been a dedicated professional practitioner, academic, mentor, and tireless volunteer and proponent for the Planning Institute of British Columbia, Canadian Institute of Planners, and the planning profession. Her development of leading-edge planning methodologies through her work with Indigenous communities, her commitment to exploring new models of community engagement, and her exceptional capacity to promote the planning profession amongst a diversity of community interests, are amongst her many truly remarkable achievements.
 
Pam’s professional practice work has focused on First Nations Planning and land development, working with over 20 of the more than 60 Nations on Vancouver Island. This has included supporting and encouraging First Nations planners. As an academic and teacher, she has inspired and mentored countless students, and was the driving force behind the development and recent recognition of Vancouver Island University’s Master of Community Planning, as an accredited graduate planning program. Her planning research work includes not only Indigenous planning, but has extended to advocating for grant programs and promoting international partnerships for planning students. The truly remarkable number of awards recognizing her excellence in teaching, multiple scholarly publications, and her enthusiasm for experiential learning, all exemplify her outstanding accomplishments as an educator and teacher.
 
In addition to all of her other contributions, Dr. Shaw has also been a long-time supporter and contributor to the advancement of the planning profession locally, and in Canada, including serving as a PIBC Councillor and as Director and Treasurer of the CIP Board of Directors.