Dr. Don Wright

Don Wright has been President of BCIT since March 2008. Prior to that, his career had spanned the academic, government and private sectors. His government service has included positions as Deputy Minister in the ministries of finance, forests, economic development, and education in the Saskatchewan and British Columbia provincial governments. Don has been a Vice-President at Weldwood of Canada.

Immediately prior to joining BCIT he was the principal of Analytica Consulting, which provided advice to public and private sector clients. Don holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Saskatchewan, a Masters degree in Economics from the University of British Columbia, and a PhD in Economics from Harvard University. He and his wife Nancy have three children.

Dr. Kris Bulcroft

Dr. Bulcroft took the reins as Capilano University’s sixth president on August 1, 2010. She brings to the presidency a lifelong commitment to education as a university professor and academic administrator.

Dr. Bulcroft had a distinguished 20-year career at Western Washington University, serving as a professor of sociology as well as vice-provost for undergraduate education – a position she held until 2008 when she joined Franklin College as provost and vice-president for academic affairs.

She holds a BA from Pacific Lutheran University, an MA from Eastern Washington University and a PhD from the University of Minnesota. Her primary field of study is sociology, with emphasis on family life and aging. Kris has published widely on these issues and has worked as a research scientist at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle. She is also a recipient of several Fulbright Awards for research and teaching in Canada and Slovakia, and has served as a reviewer for Fulbright proposals for Central Europe.

Dr. Ron Burnett

Dr. Ron Burnett, President + Vice-Chancellor of Emily Carr University of Art + Design, has been President since August 1996. Recent honours include the Chevalier des Arts et des Letters, an Order of France, the Commemorative Medal for the Golden Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, induction into the Royal Academy of the Arts, Canadian New Media Association Educator of the Year award and appointment as Chair of the Knowledge Network Board. Dr. Burnett has also been appointed Adjunct Professor at York University in Toronto, a Burda Scholar at Ben Gurion University in Israel, and a William Evans Fellow at the University of Otago in New Zealand. Dr. Burnett has published three books including the recent, How Images Think with MIT Press, over 150 book chapters and journal articles. His second book, Cultures of Vision was recently published in China. Burnett has been an educator and administrator for nearly 40 years, a strong advocate for post-secondary education in Canada, a former Professor and administrator at McGill University and the founder and editor of one of Canada’s first Cultural Studies and Film journals. He has lectured around the world and is a sought after speaker.

Michel Tarko

Prior to his appointment as President, Michel served as VP Academic at JIBC since September 2009. He previously served in several capacities at Douglas College, including the position of Dean, Faculty of Health Sciences. As Dean, he was actively engaged in building partnerships between post-secondary educational institutions inter-provincially related to graduate education in psychiatric nursing. He serves on a variety of committees with professional and regulatory bodies, as well as two international boards (European Psychiatric Nursing Advisory Board; and the Neuman Systems Model of Nursing, President, Executive Committee). Michel holds a Diploma in Psychiatric Nursing, a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminology from the University of Manitoba, and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Education (Curriculum & Instruction) from the University of British Columbia.

Dr. Alan Davis

Dr. Davis has studied and worked at well-known institutions in the UK, United States and Canada, and has played leadership roles at the British Columbia Open University, Athabasca University, Niagara College and Vancouver Community College. Most recently, Dr. Davis held the position of President at State University of New York, Empire State College in Saratoga Springs, NY.
Dr. Davis has extensive teaching experience at colleges and universities across Western Canada, including Athabasca University, Vancouver Community College, Douglas College and Fraser Valley College.
A native of Reading, England, Dr. Davis has lived in North America since 1972, and spent the majority of these years in British Columbia. He earned his Ph.D. and Master of Science in Chemistry from Simon Fraser University, and a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, with honours, from the University of London.
In addition to his extraordinary academic contributions through publications and presentations, Dr. Davis is a published playwright who has worked extensively in Community Theater. He is married with four children.
Dr. Davis’ innovative, transformative and ambitious vision will serve Kwantlen well as it continues to attract top students from around the world.
He succeeds John McKendry who has served as President since July 2011.

Ken Tourand

Ken Tourand is the new President and Chief Executive Officer of the Nicola Valley Institute of Technology – BC’s Aboriginal Post Secondary Institution. Ken started with NVIT in 1995 as a faculty member and has also taught for Simon Fraser University. He has an undergraduate degree in Business Administration from SFU and a masters degree in Leadership and Training from Royal Roads University. Ken is passionate about aboriginal education.

Dr. Mark Evered

Dr. Mark Evered began his term as President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) on July 1, 2009. He came to UFV from Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops, BC, where he served as provost and vice-president academic. Prior to his move to TRU (then University College of the Cariboo) in 2004, Dr. Evered held the position of associate vice president academic at the University of Saskatchewan, where he was also appointed that university’s first vice-provost.

Dr. Evered holds a BSc in biology from McMaster University and a PhD in physiology from the University of Western Ontario. Over the course of his 30-year career, he has held research and academic appointments at Cambridge University, the University of Western Ontario, the Howard Florey Research Institute in Melbourne, and the University of Saskatchewan. He has taught undergraduate and graduate students in a variety of science and health disciplines, supervised M.Sc. and Ph.D. thesis projects, and received a number of teaching awards, including the University of Saskatchewan Master Teacher award. Dr. Evered has also held a variety of academic administrative appointments and served on many university committees and governance bodies. Throughout his career, he has maintained an active research program, presenting his work nationally and internationally, and publishing broadly.

Dr. Ralph Nilson ralph.nilson@viu.ca 250.740.6568

Dr. RALPH NILSON is the President and Vice-Chancellor of Vancouver Island University.

Dr. Nilson holds and a B.A. from Simon Fraser University, a M.Sc. from Southern Connecticut University and a Ph.D. from the University of Oregon.

He has extensive teaching and administrative experience at undergraduate and graduate levels in Universities across Canada and the United States and developed an active research program in physical activity, population health and community development. He advocates for excellence in teaching and scholarship.

He has been actively engaged in working with communities and recognizes the important role of the university in the economic and social prosperity of the region it serves.

His active support for building capacity in aboriginal communities through access to Education has been evidenced throughout his career.

He also emphasizes the importance of the University in international outreach and in particular bringing a global connection to the local region through being a portal for international dialogue and exchange.

He is honoured to be serving as President and Vice-Chancellor at a University which provides education and learning opportunities for a broad spectrum of students who are supported by faculty and staff who focus student success.

Dr. Nilson and his wife Dr. Suzanne Nilson, a biologist, moved to Nanaimo from Nova Scotia in January 2007.

Ruth Wittenberg ruth.wittenberg@ufv.ca 250.940.1142

Ruth Wittenberg was appointed President of the BC Association of Institutes + Universities in January 2010. This Association represents a group of public post-secondary institutions that offer a range of post-secondary education, ranging from trades and technical training to masters degrees in specialty areas. The role of the President is to provide counsel to members on strategies and approaches to government to represent members points of view on policy, legislation, or other actions; coordinate research and develop information material to support members views, or as a response to government requests; forecast and evaluate the effects of public policy on members and keep them informed of developments.

Ms. Wittenberg has a BA from the University of Victoria (1979).

Prior to her current position, Ms. Wittenberg was employed by the British Columbia Public Service from 1981 until she assumed the role of the BC Association of Institutes + Universities President. Ms. Wittenberg has held positions in the Ministry of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development (Assistant Deputy Minister, Post Secondary Education Division), Ministry of Education (Assistant Deputy Minister, Management Services Division), the Ministry of Human Resources (Assistant Deputy Minister, Financial and Administrative Services), the Ministry of Finance (Chief Information Officer), the Ministry of Transportation (Manager, Financial Systems and Policy), and at Treasury Board Staff (analyst).

Leanne Brophy Leanne.brophy@ufv.ca 250.940.1142

Leanne was appointed as Manager, Office of the President of the BC Association of Institutes + Universities in February 2012. This Association represents a group of public post-secondary institutions that offer a range of post-secondary education, ranging from trades and technical training to masters degrees in specialty areas. The role of the Manager is to provide confidential advice to the President on matters of policy, relationship management and any other aspects of the BCAIU, to coordinate communications between the member institutions and the Office of the President, BCAIU, manage individual projects and contractors involved in providing services to the Association, conduct research to support specific initiatives and manage the coordination of regular Board meetings, developing materials and reporting on budget and work in progress for the members.

Prior to her role at BCAIU, Leanne worked with Reboot Communications; a Victoria based company specialising in organizing and implementing national and international conferences focused on information technology, public safety, privacy and security, and health care. Leanne was Executive Coordinator responsible for providing planning and organizational services to Reboot sponsors, speakers, advisory committees and event partners. Prior to her time with Reboot, Leanne was a senior administrator and financial advisor in the financial services and insurance sector.