University Neighbourhoods Association Strategic Planning

Neilson Strategies Inc. worked with the University Neighbourhoods Association, a unique local governing body that provides municipal-like services to the university community at UBC, to create their 2025-2028 Strategic Plan.  

As part of this process, Neilson Strategies conducted 

• various one-on-one meetings with senior staff and Board Directors;
• an environmental scan designed to help Directors explore and understand the context within which the UNA operates, and identify the implications of forces, trends and changes in this context for the organization and its services;
• and a full-day workshop for the Board and senior staff to discuss the context and implications, consider possible priorities, and develop consensus around directions and goals. 

The priorities identified during the workshop were defined as these five distinct pillars:  Governance, Advocacy, Environmental Sustainability, Community Building, and Service Capacity. The goals created under each of those pillars will inform the specific actions to be taken by the organization in the coming year and will guide the organization’s use of resources.  

A draft strategic plan, outlining the priorities and goals identified during the workshop, was developed by Neilson Strategies. The draft strategic plan, with feedback from Directors, was submitted to the Board through the Chief Administrative Officer for final approval.