Zach moved to Vancouver from a small town in rural Alberta to pursue post-secondary education. He is very grateful to live and work on the unceded territories of the 

xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and səl̓ílwətaʔ /Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.

In May of 2020, he graduated from the University of British Columbia with a Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in Psychology. Shortly after, Zach began working with Vancity Credit Union as a branch staff where he worked until joining the Philanthropy team.

During Zach's time at the University of British Columbia, he became very intrigued by the study of Gender, Race, Sexuality & Social Justice theory, as well as the University's commitment to Reconciliation. Given that he is a member of the Ojibwe First Nations from Northwestern Ontario, he sought out his position at Vancity Credit Union, and subsequently Vancity Community Foundation, as he's always wanted to be a part of an organization that highlights these core values.