Biography of George Drazenovic
Since early 2020, George Drazenovic has served as a faculty member at the University Canada West (UCW) in Vancouver, BC, and has taught a variety of accounting, finance, entrepreneurship, and corporate strategy courses. During his tenure at UCW, he also served as Chair of the Undergraduate programs for nearly 4 years, and before academia, worked in private industry, leading numerous resource ventures in the junior public markets.
His areas of expertise include HR management & recruiting, industry partnership, business development, financial reporting, capital budgeting, strategic planning and analysis, capital markets, regulatory compliance, and investment valuation
Professional Career
Drazenovic’s Work, Accomplishments at University Canada West (UCW)
Mr. Drazenovic originally joined UCW as an instructor in the MBA Program and eventually earned the rank of Associate Professor. In 2021, he took on additional responsibilities, becoming the Chair and overseeing a >10x increase in student enrollment and faculty by the end of his appointment in December 2024. Directly reporting to the VP of Academics, he initiated new curriculum, governance, and industry partnerships, and was responsible for all strategic initiatives, budget planning, and regulatory compliance for the Undergraduate Programs at UCW.
His achievements as Chair are numerous and include the delivery of curriculum for three programs (Associated Arts, Bachelor of Commerce (ACBSP-accredited), and Bachelor of Arts in Business Communications), representing 5,500 enrolled students, > 200 faculty by the end of his term. He was a voting member of the University Senate, Governance and Strategic Policies, Quality Assurance and Standards, University Curriculum, Admissions Appeals, and Undergraduate Program Working Committees. Additionally, Mr. Drazenovic successfully completed the consent renewal process for each of the department’s three programs and introduced/redeveloped dozens of courses
Leading the growth of the Undergraduate Programs, Mr Drazenovic implemented new subject lead, co-vice, and associate chair structures, and introduced transformative academic and institutional initiatives advancing program quality, faculty development, and student outcomes. He spearheaded full transfer-credit alignment with CPA Western School of Business, positioning the accounting program among the leading private institutions in British Columbia, while introducing new technology-focused and certification-aligned courses that expanded career pathways and enrollments Mr Drazenovic also led major operational improvements, including curriculum modernization, faculty alignment, large-scale scheduling efficiencies, and a successful transition to a new Learning Management System
In addition, he has been deeply involved in faculty leadership and student engagement, mentoring faculty for leadership roles, supporting DEI initiatives, expanding industry partnerships and professional accreditations, and teaching extensively in the Bachelor of Commerce program with consistently high student evaluations. His work also includes launching the university’s first Pitch Night, strengthening employer engagement through initiating career events for the CPA programs, and contributing to policy-focused scholarship through the McGill Transformative Business Law Summer Academy in Montreal, Quebec
His Work as an Entrepreneur
Prior to his work in academia, George served as CFO, CEO, and Director for numerous public companies, developing business plans and strategies, and led regulatory requirements with the public exchanges (OTC, CSE, and TSX-V), including financial accounting and audit filings.
Most notably, Mr Drazenovic was CEO of St James Gold, a mining exploration company focused on identifying, acquiring, and financing gold properties in Canada. He identified and negotiated the acquisition of gold exploration properties in Newfoundland and the Yukon (2 5 million oz of inferred gold resource), and successfully completed a 3,000-meter drill program in the Yukon.
Mr. Drazenovic was also the original CFO of Oramed Pharmaceuticals, a public company that has raised millions to research and develop an oral insulin pill for patients with diabetes Ben Shapiro, a well-known conservative media personality, serves on the company's Board of Directors. Under his leadership, Mr. Drazenovic secured $2.5 million in financing, completed a
Reverse Take-Over, and supported the company in conducting Phase 1 B clinical trials and animal studies for its revolutionary insulin pill.
A Researcher, Author
Mr. Drazenovic’s research and writing focus on the intersection of artificial intelligence, digital transformation, and investment strategy He is a co-author of peer-reviewed research examining the impact of AI on investment decision-making and business transformation, and has contributed chapters to leading academic and professional publications on AI-driven startup development and innovation in the digital economy
He is also a co-author of the book, Business Transformation in the Era of Digital Disruption, and wrote the foreword to Mainstreaming Cryptocurrency and the Future of Digital Finance, reflecting his broader perspective on emerging technologies and their implications for finance, entrepreneurship, and global markets
Education
George Drazenovic earned his Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of British Columbia and his Master of Business Administration (Finance) from the University of Notre Dame
Personal Life
Outside his professional work, he is a certified sommelier, holding a WSET Level 3 with Distinction in wine and spirits He is an active soccer player, ran the Victoria Marathon, and ran federally for Member of Parliament