Since early 2020, George Drazenovic has been a faculty member at University Canada West (UCW) in Vancouver, BC. He has taught courses in accounting, finance, entrepreneurship, and corporate strategy. During this time, he also served as Chair of the Undergraduate Programs for nearly four years. Before entering academia, he worked in private industry, leading several resource ventures in the junior public markets.
His expertise includes human resource management and recruiting, business partnerships, financial reporting, strategic planning, investment valuation, capital budgeting, compliance, and capital markets.
Professional Career
Work and Accomplishments at University Canada West (UCW)
George joined UCW as an instructor in the MBA Program and later became an Associate Professor. In 2021, he accepted additional responsibilities as Chair of the Undergraduate Programs, where he oversaw a more than tenfold increase in both student enrollment and faculty by the end of his term in December 2024. Reporting directly to the Vice President of Academics, he led the development of new curricula, governance structures, and industry collaborations. He was responsible for all strategic initiatives, budget oversight, and regulatory requirements for undergraduate programs.
As Chair, his accomplishments included delivering the curriculum for three degree programs: Associate of Arts, Bachelor of Commerce (ACBSP-accredited), and Bachelor of Arts in Business Communications, serving 5,500 students and more than 200 faculty members by the end of his tenure. He served as a voting member of various university-level committees, including those on Governance, Strategic Policies, Quality Assurance, Curriculum, Admissions Appeals, and Undergraduate Program Working Groups. He also completed the renewal of consent for each of the three academic programs under his oversight and led the introduction and redevelopment of many courses.
To support program expansion, he implemented new leadership structures, including subject leads and associate chairs. He introduced institutional improvements that advanced teaching quality, faculty growth, and student success. Under his leadership, the accounting program achieved complete transfer-credit alignment with the CPA Western School of Business, enhancing its position among private institutions in British Columbia. He also added technology- and certification-focused courses that improved enrollment and expanded career pathways. Operationally, he led improvements including curriculum updates, enhanced scheduling systems, and the successful implementation of a new Learning Management System.
George's contributions extended to faculty mentorship and student engagement. He supported diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, expanded industry collaborations, and strengthened academic programs through professional accreditations. He consistently received high student evaluation scores while teaching in the Bachelor of Commerce program. He also organized the university’s first Pitch Night, created networking opportunities with CPA programs, and participated in academic forums, including the McGill Transformative Business Law Summer Academy in Montreal.
Work as an Entrepreneur
Before working in academia, he held executive positions including CFO, CEO, and Director at multiple public companies. In those roles, he developed business strategies, managed regulatory filings, and led financial reporting and compliance efforts for listings on exchanges such as OTC, CSE, and TSX-V.
As CEO of St. James Gold, a mining exploration firm, he led the acquisition of gold exploration assets in Newfoundland and the Yukon with an estimated 2.5 million ounces of inferred gold resources. He also completed a 3,000-metre drill program in the Yukon.
Earlier, he served as the company's original CFO at Oramed Pharmaceuticals, a publicly traded company focused on the development of oral insulin for diabetes treatment. He played a key role in securing $2.5 million in financing, led the company through a Reverse Takeover, and supported early clinical trials and animal testing for its insulin product.
A Researcher, Author
George's research explores artificial intelligence, digital transformation, and investment strategies. He has co-authored peer-reviewed articles on the role of AI in business decision-making. He has contributed to academic and industry publications on AI-driven innovation and startup growth.
He is also a co-author of the book Business Transformation in the Era of Digital Disruption and the author of the foreword to Mainstreaming Cryptocurrency and the Future of Digital Finance, sharing insights on the evolving impact of technology on finance and entrepreneurship.
Academic Background
George Drazenovic completed a Bachelor of Arts in Economics at the University of British Columbia and later earned an MBA in Finance from the University of Notre Dame.
Personal Life
Outside his professional commitments, he is a certified sommelier, holding WSET Level 3 with Distinction in wine and spirits. He is also an avid soccer player, completed the Victoria Marathon, and once ran for federal office as a Member of Parliament.
George Drazenovic continues to bring experience across academia, business, and research, with a strong focus on practical outcomes and emerging trends.
