e@UBCO Team

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Please reach out to innovation.ok@ubc.ca

Sandra Spencer

Director, Innovation, Entrepreneurship, UBC Okanagan (e@UBCO)
Cell 780-722-6663 | sandra.spencer@ubc.ca | UBC Okanagan Campus | ADM006 – 1138 Alumni Avenue

Sandra Spencer has worked in the entrepreneur & innovation ecosystem for the past 10+ years, most recently within the Okanagan following a move from Alberta in 2021. Sandra joined UBC Okanagan as Innovation Manager in June of 2022, supporting industry partnerships, commercialization and entrepreneurship for the campus community.

Prior to that, Sandra was a Sr. Innovation Advisor with Innovation Canada supporting companies of all sectors and sizes across BC and Yukon in identifying resources and supports to grow their companies – she worked with well over 100 companies and dozens of service providers to build out her network in BC. In addition to this work, Sandra incorporated her company Nimble Strategizing in 2017 to provide additional opportunities to work directly with startups and support organizations in areas of raising capital, commercialization, and business modelling through coaching and program delivery. 

Prior to her move to BC, she spent 2 years building and running the University of Alberta Health Hub & Accelerator supporting 30+ researchers, faculty and students in validating their business models and getting their health technologies to market – a program that has now evolved into Applied Pharmaceutical Innovation. Sandra is passionate about coaching entrepreneurs toward viable business models and developing long-term growth strategies, as well as working with organizations to develop and deliver programming for entrepreneurs and investors.  

Kayla Cartlidge

Program Manager, Entrepreneurship, UBC Okanagan (e@UBCO)
kayla.cartlidge@ubc.ca  | UBC Okanagan Campus | ADM006 – 1138 Alumni Avenue 

Kayla Cartlidge joined e@UBCO as the new Program Manager in January of 2023. She is responsible for developing and managing both new and existing initiatives of e@UBCO, developing operational policies internally for the organization, and the overall day-to-day operations. Kayla oversees the data analytics needs of the unit, regular analysis and reporting to multiple stakeholders, and the organization and administration of software systems to support venture success.

Kayla holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Ottawa in Second Language Teaching and completed her minor in Gender Studies at the University of Alberta. Paired with a post-grad diploma in HR Business Management from McMaster University, she is also a designated Certified Human Resources Professional (CHRP).

Kayla leverages over 6 years of Operational and Leadership experience in various sectors. Passionate about entrepreneurship, operations, human resources, social and environmental sustainability, and equity diversity and inclusion (EDI) in the workplace.