His work also encouraged real estate developers to build LEED-certified buildings and helped the City of Vancouver win a national honour award from the Canadian Institute of Planners for the False Creek neighbourhood.

Holland was a city planner on staff at the City of Vancouver from 1997 to 1999. He left to found the private consulting firm Holland Barrs Planning Group Inc. and hone its specialty in urban planning. He has since added a business partner and three staff.

"I saw the sustainability movement growing, so I realized I'd have to leave government to get a piece of the action," he said.

Holland Barrs generated about $500,000 in revenue in 2003, double what it earned the year before, said Holland.

Part of that success comes from his former employer. Last year, the City of Vancouver contracted him as an in-house consultant to establish its sustainability office. While there, he grew the city's sustainability office from the equivalent of one and a half people to a team of five full-time employees. He also saw that office's budget grow from $250,000 to more than $2 million.

As a student, Holland won a medal for graduating at the top of his University of British Columbia landscape design class.

Outside of work, he co-chairs the Community Energy Association and is vice-president of the Ecodesign Resource Society. He also gives presentations on issues that he's passionate about, such as climate change, envisioning sustainability and public sector land management. He spends as much time as he can with his partner Linda Findlay.

Profession you would like to try: Novelist and educational author

Where do you feel most comfortable? Standing on a beach in the Gulf Islands

Favourite movie: Bladerunner

Currently reading: Creating Money by Sanya Roman and a book called The Best Business Stories of 2004

Toughest decision: To leave the public sector to go to the private sector

Car: Saab 900s, but I'm shopping for a Mercedes Smart car

Would most like to meet: Kofi Annan because he's choreographing world progress

Born: Victoria, B.C.

Last CD bought: Den of Thieves by Thievery Corporation

Education: M.Sc from UBC

What's left to do: Write a book for city managers on sustainable cities