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.

John (Jack) McGee, CD, LLD (HON)

Jack McGee is President and CEO of the Justice Institute of British Columbia (JIBC). He holds a Bachelor of Arts (summa cum laude) from St. Mary’s University, Halifax; a Master of Public Administration with Honours from Auburn University; completed doctoral studies in International Relations and Strategic Studies at York University and was awarded a Doctor of Laws (Honoris Causa) from the University of Windsor. He serves on a variety of charitable, civic, business and educational bodies representing community, provincial, national and international interests including the Director of the BC Aviation Council, Pacific Autism Centre Society, Chair of the New Westminster Spirit of BC Committee, and a Director and Secretary Treasurer of the Vancouver Board of Trade. Following a career as a navy and air force pilot in the Canadian Armed Forces, Jack retired in the rank of Colonel following command of CFB Comox, served as Dean of Science and Technology at George Brown College, Toronto, Ontario and President of St. Clair College, Windsor, Ontario prior to his current role at the JIBC.

N. John McKendry, Ph. D.

Dr. McKendry’s career in higher education spans more than 35 years. Following experiences in the private corporate sector, he obtained a BA with Honours and an M Sc from the University of Guelph followed by a Ph D from Florida State University. He has served in senior and executive positions in several jurisdictions in Canada and the USA. He was Director of Policy, Planning, Research and Legislation and, subsequently, Assistant Deputy Minister of Universities with the Government of Saskatchewan. He has served both as a college Dean and Vice President Academic. His international experiences extend to the UK and Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, including award-winning bilateral program alliances with universities and consultancies with organizations like the World Bank, CIDA, EU, and the Asian Development Bank. He served as a representative of the Canadian Secretary of State to the Parliament of Europe and has represented DFAIT in promoting Canadian higher education in foreign countries. Following the 2008 re-designation of Kwantlen University College as Kwantlen Polytechnic University, Dr. McKendry left Simon Fraser University and accepted an appointment to Kwantlen in January 2009 as Special Advisor to the President for the purpose of refurbishing Kwantlen’s Langley Campus. In 2010 he assumed the position of Provost and Vice President Academic. He became President in 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).

Jeannette Cook jeannette.cook@ufv.ca 250.940.1142

Jeannette Cook was appointed as Manager, Office of the President of the BC Association of Institutes + Universities in April 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 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.

Ms. Cook has worked for the British Columbia Public Service for the past 15 years. She is currently on secondment from the Ministry of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development (Manager, Division Operations, Assistant Deputy Minister’s Office). Ms. Cook has held positions in the Ministry of Education (Manager, Division Operations, Assistant Deputy Minister’s Office), the Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs (Research Analyst and Program Coordinator for the First Citizen’s Fund).