Jeff Georgilas, Utility Worker and Amber Velay-Mah, Patrol Officer
From lighting up our campus to responding to safety and security concerns, Jeff and Amber keep our community safe in their respective roles.
Advance our culture of service, stewardship and continuous improvement
When you talk to Jeff or Amber, one of the first things you will notice is their genuine care for our beautiful campus and diverse community.
Jeff is a Utility Worker with Facilities’ Custodial Services and Amber is a first aid-certified Patrol Officer with Safety & Risk Services’ Campus Security.
Both professionals in their fields, Jeff and Amber work hard to ensure a safe, inviting and comfortable environment for students, faculty, staff and visitors at UBC.
What do you do for the VPFO?
“This collaboration is like a symphony in which everyone is working to seamlessly keep our campus running.”
– Jeff Georgilas
Jeff: My role is mostly centered around lighting in buildings, though it can sometimes involve repairing custodial equipment or even unplugging toilets! I travel from building to building in my vehicle to ensure our spaces are well lit, so we can all enjoy a comfortable environment to study, work, research, teach and play.
While I work mostly independently, I don’t function in silo. I’m thankful to have such a great crew to rely on, and to be able to work in tandem with other departments, such as the wonderful people in Stores, Service Centre, Waste Management, Trades across Facilities. This collaboration is like a symphony in which everyone is working to seamlessly keep our campus running.
Amber: I’m a Patrol Officer with Campus Security. My job is to be present and to respond to safety and security concerns of our community. Like Jeff, we also don’t function in silo. We support a safer community by working with internal and community partners, such as the RCMP to support investigations, UBC’s Sexual Violence Prevention & Response Office to support individuals with safety planning, Custodial Services to ensure spaces are clear of people before they’re cleaned and locked up, and more.
Lighting matters. Jeff ensures spaces are well-lit so people feel comfortable and safe while enjoying our campus.
What does Strategic Direction 2: Advance our culture of service, stewardship and continuous improvement mean to you?
Jeff: As a Utility Worker, I provide something tangible that affects the ambient environment of the university. I’m conscious of providing a positive and professional service for those occupying the room, and the care and consideration I apply into my work reflects my stewardship toward the university.
Amber: One of the ways I support UBC is through crime prevention. I’m always looking for security gaps and opportunities to elevate our safety and security on my patrol. I once found an easy-to-breach bike cage inside a parkade. I sent a video of myself breaching that lock to my supervisor, who contacted Facilities to reinforce the security of the bike cage. It was very satisfying to be able to make a direct positive impact on our service.
Continuous improvement also aligns with what Campus Security is trying to achieve as we transition to electric vehicles and digital processes, revive the bike patrol team, and review our service model to ensure the needs of our rapidly changing community are being met.
Campus Security responds to all First Aid calls for students, faculty, staff, student-staff, and visitors on the UBC Vancouver campus.
What is a location on campus that is meaningful to you?
Jeff: Before joining the Utilities crew last November, I was a weekend custodian. I had a great time working a at Cecil Green Parkhouse, a beautiful place that carries a tremendous amount of UBC heritage. It was meaningful because of the opportunities to set up major events, especially weddings, and interact with many hardworking and inspiring people.
Amber: I like The Chan Centre for the Performing Arts because of the graduation ceremonies and the joy that comes along with it. On this important day, I watch over the graduation gowns so students can enjoy their big day. I also like it because my favourite tree, which was planted in the 1990s from a longstanding tradition that started in 1919, is in the area. To me, it’s a reminder of the long and astonishing history of UBC.
Jeff travels from building to building to support our community.
“At UBC, you won’t be considered unprofessional for having bold hair or tattoos, and you’re treated equally despite your race, gender identity, or sexual orientation.”
– Amber Velay-Mah
For you, what makes UBC different?
Jeff: Situated on the traditional, ancestral and unceded territory of the Musqueam people, UBC is a beautiful campus with top-notch and diverse people, leadership and research. Its natural beauty coupled with its thoughtful architecture—not to mention its proximity to the best city in the world, Vancouver—all make UBC not only different but an ideal place to work. I couldn’t ask for more!
Amber: At UBC, you won’t be considered unprofessional for having bold hair or tattoos, and you’re treated equally despite your race, gender identity, or sexual orientation. All employers should be like that, but until all of them are, UBC takes pride in being inclusive and welcoming, and it’s much appreciated.
A typical weekend for you is…
Jeff: Just sleeping in, spending time with my family and taking it easy. I also volunteer with Track & Field Meets, cheering on my kids and others.
Amber: When the weather is nice, I enjoy hiking with my friends. In the winter, you’ll usually find me playing video games at home.
Campus Security’s uniforms feature a Thunderbird badge, designed by First Nations artist, Susan Point, acknowledging our relationship with the Musqueam First Nation.
Tell us one thing people don’t know about you.
Jeff: I love driving around campus under the cherry blossoms and fall leaves in my work vehicle, so people are always surprised when they hear I’ve never personally owned a vehicle!
Amber: I met my wife in the online game, World of Warcraft. We were on the same team but on different servers, so it was pure chance that we had met each other.