Paige Olmsted

Paige Olmsted is an Adjunct Professor at the University of British Columbia’s Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability (IRES), and leads the conservation finance initiative at the Smart Prosperity Institute in Ottawa. Her research focuses on ecosystem services, nature-based solutions for climate change, and the intersection of ecological economics with relational and environmental values. She holds a PhD from UBC’s IRES and a Master’s from Columbia University.

Educational Background:

• PhD in Resources, Environment and Sustainability, UBC
• Master’s in Environmental Science and Policy, Columbia University

Research Interests: Paige explores how to value nature through economic and personal lenses, particularly in contexts like Latin America and Southeast Asia. Her work emphasizes connecting stakeholders—including governments, NGOs, and private sector actors—to drive conservation investment. Key areas include policy design, financial mechanisms for ecosystem services, and leveraging relational values to enhance sustainability outcomes.

Publications Trends: Her work spans conservation finance, relational values in sustainability, and policy levers for systemic change. Recent articles highlight innovation in impact investing for ocean economies and strategies to integrate smallholder farmers into sustainable palm oil practices.

Awards: None listed in the provided text.

Advising & Grants: Not explicitly detailed here, but her affiliations with the CHANS Lab (IRES) and Copenhagen Business School’s Impact for Innovation Lab suggest collaborative research initiatives.

Labs/Teams: Affiliated with the CHANS Lab at IRES and the Impact for Innovation Lab at Copenhagen Business School, focusing on socio-ecological systems and sustainable innovation.