Peter Devlin was appointed Fanshawe College’s fifth President effective September 2013.
Prior to joining Fanshawe, Mr. Devlin served 35 years in the Canadian Armed Forces and retired commanding the Canadian Army at the rank of Lieutenant General. He has several UN, NATO and Coalition tours and his awards include Orders of Military Merit from the United States, Brazil and Colombia as well as the Canadian Meritorious Service Cross, France’s National Order of the Legion of Honour and Commander of the Canadian Order of Military Merit.
Mr. Devlin serves as a member of the Colleges Ontario Committee of Presidents and Committee of Presidents Executive. He also serves on the London Economic Development Corporation’s Board of Directors and was recently appointed the Chair of Polytechnics Canada’s Board of Directors. Mr. Devlin was also recently appointed the Honorary Colonel of The Royal Canadian Regiment.
Mr. Devlin received an undergraduate degree in Honours Economics from Western University, a graduate degree in Strategic Studies from the US Army War College and a certificate in Advanced Executive Management from Queen’s University. He has also studied at Command and Staff Colleges of the Canadian Defence Academy. He is a graduate of the Institute of Corporate Directors and of the Competent Boards ESG Program. He received an Honorary Doctorate from the Royal Military College of Canada.
Peter has been married for 40 years, and together he and his wife Judy have four children.
Fred Meier became President and CEO of Red River College Polytechnic – Manitoba’s only polytechnic institution – in 2020, leading the College through transformative academic and institutional growth.
Mr. Meier’s vision has guided RRC Polytech in embracing its identity as a polytechnic, launching a bold strategic plan to anticipate industry needs and prepare a workforce for the jobs of tomorrow. Key priorities include delivering industry-aligned programming for over 20,000 students, advancing Truth and Reconciliation, embedding equity, diversity, and inclusion and deepening industry partnerships in Manitoba and beyond.
Under Mr. Meier’s leadership, RRC Polytech surpassed the $60-million target for its largest-ever fundraising campaign in under two years. He also played a pivotal role in establishing the Price Institute of Advanced Manufacturing and Mechatronics and the Schroeder Institute of Entertainment and Media Arts, solidifying the College’s leadership in applied research and work-integrated learning.
Mr. Meier emphasizes collaboration and fostering a positive, inclusive work environment, recognizing employee engagement as essential to institutional success. He is also deeply committed to Truth and Reconciliation, seeking guidance and learning from Knowledge Keepers, Elders and Grandmothers in Residence to incorporate Indigenous knowledge into College practices, from policies to the naming of spaces.
Before joining RRC Polytech, Mr. Meier held senior leadership roles in Manitoba’s public service, including as Clerk of Executive Council and Secretary to Cabinet. He holds a Master of Science from the University of Manitoba.
Claude Brulé is Algonquin College’s ninth President and Chief Executive Officer. Prior to taking on this leadership role in August 2019, Claude served in progressive administrative roles from Department Chair, to Dean of the Faculty of Technology and Trades and Senior Vice President Academic, leading many significant educational innovation initiatives, as well as cross-college information technology and infrastructure-related projects during his tenure.
Prior to joining the College, Mr. Brulé was an officer in the Canadian Forces, in the Air Force occupational branch of Communication and Electronics Engineering, in a career that spanned 22 years, retiring at the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel in 1999. He graduated from the Royal Military College in Kingston in 1982 with a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering Physics and again in 1990, earning a Master of Science in Mathematics.
Mr. Brulé is an active member of the community and serves on several boards, including Invest Ottawa. He is also a member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and was promoted to Senior Member in 2018 for his significant contributions to the profession.
Dr. David Ross is the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT)’s 16th president. Under Dr. Ross’ leadership, SAIT has become Alberta’s third-largest post-secondary institution. SAIT is known internationally for its action-based applied education, solution-focused research and enterprising collaborations with people and partners from around the globe.
Before joining SAIT in March 2013, Dr. Ross was President and CEO of Langara College and Vice President of Administration and CFO at Kwantlen Polytechnic University. Dr. Ross brings over 30 years of post-secondary experience across several provinces to SAIT.
President during SAIT’s centennial in 2016, he has now launched the first strategic plan of the institution’s second century, New World. New Thinking. The plan sets a transformational course for the future and is part of the institution’s proactive approach to rapidly changing job skill requirements.
Most recently, Dr. Ross chaired the Alberta Skills to Job Task Force as the province adapts to new economic realities and develops the next generation of talent. He also chaired the Canadian Bureau for International Education. He currently serves as Chair of the Alberta Bureau for International Education (ABIE) Board of Directors.
Dr. Ross sits on international boards for the League for Innovation, the Global Education Network and the Global Applied Education Network. In Calgary, his board experience includes Calgary Economic Development and the Calgary Homeless Foundation.
Dr. Ross holds a Ph.D. from the University of Nebraska, a Master of Aquaculture (MAq) from Simon Fraser University, a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Dalhousie University and a Bachelor of Science (BSc) from Dalhousie University.
With extensive experience in the public, private and non-profit sectors, David Agnew became the fifth president of Seneca Polytechnic in July 2009.
Under his leadership, Seneca Polytechnic has continued to strengthen its reputation at home and abroad, forging new partnerships in industry and higher education, developing new programs, growing enrolment and making substantial investments in technology, teaching and spaces.
Mr. Agnew was Secretary to the Cabinet and head of the public service in the Government of Ontario from 1992 to 1995 after serving as Principal Secretary to the Premier. In 1995, he led the Public-Private Partnerships Project and was seconded to Massey College at the University of Toronto where he was a Senior Resident.
He was the President and CEO of UNICEF Canada, the first head of the organization recruited from outside the international development sector. As Principal for the consulting firm Digital 4Sight, he led the firm’s global research initiative on the impact of technology on government and democracy. In the co-operative sector, he was the Executive Vice-President and Corporate Secretary for the Credit Union Central of Ontario. Mr. Agnew was the Ombudsman for Banking Services and Investments, the national dispute resolution service for consumers and small businesses.
Mr. Agnew serves on the Board of the Conference Board of Canada, ventureLAB and Mitacs. He has also chaired the boards of Polytechnics Canada, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and Colleges Ontario. His other board and committee service has included: former Vice Chair of the Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO); the Canadian Ditchley Foundation Advisory Board; Sichuan University’s International Advisory Board; Colleges and Institutes Canada; the Canadian government’s Science, Technology and Innovation Council; the Toronto Region Immigrant Employment Council; the Empire Club of Canada; the Council on Foreign Relations Higher Education Working Group; and campaign cabinets of the United Way in Toronto and Peel.
He is a recipient of the Queen’s Diamond and Platinum Jubilee medals in recognition of his community and public service. Mr. Agnew holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Memorial University in Newfoundland.
Dr. Gervan Fearon is president of George Brown Polytechnic. An accomplished economist, scholar and teacher, he brings his vision for the transformative impacts of education to leading one of Canada’s most culturally diverse, urban post-secondary institutions. Recognized for his ability to inspire and move teams toward positive and constructive change, Dr. Fearon collaborates across the college to support career-focused programs, advance applied research and innovation, and promote community development.
Dr. Fearon has an esteemed record of progressive leadership positions in higher education. He served as the president and vice-chancellor at Brock University in Ontario and Brandon University in Manitoba. Prior to his presidential appointments, he was dean of the G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education at Toronto Metropolitan University, associate dean at York University’s Atkinson Faculty of Liberal and Professional Studies and was a visiting scholar at the University of Washington. Dr. Fearon began his career as an economist and policy advisor in government.
Improving social and economic mobility through education is one of Dr. Fearon’s areas of expertise, and he shares his insights around the world. He currently chairs the external reference group for the federal government’s Supporting Black Canadian Communities Initiative, which is advancing Canada’s commitment to the United Nations International Decade for People of African Descent. He is a former board member with the Ontario Chamber of Commerce and Niagara Health and current trustee at Ingenium – Canada’s museums of science and innovation. He also co-founded the Canada Caribbean Institute with Sir Hilary Beckles, Vice-Chancellor of the University of the West Indies. His work has been recognized with the Order of Ontario, Queen Elizabeth II Platinum and Diamond Jubilee Medals, and The Michaëlle Jean Foundation Influencer Award, among other honours.
Dr. Fearon earned a Ph.D. in Economics from Western University and received his Master’s and Bachelor of Science degrees in Agricultural Economics from the University of Guelph. He holds a Chartered Professional Accountant designation (CPA, CGA) and an Institute of Corporate Directors designation (ICD.D).
President and Vice-Chancellor,
Sheridan College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning
Dr. Cindy Gouveia became the ninth President and Vice-Chancellor of Sheridan College in January 2026. An accomplished leader with more than two decades of experience in public and private sectors, her experiences fuel her results-driven commitment to expanding access and opportunity for every learner.
Her leadership philosophy, rooted in empathy, equity and collaboration, reflects Sheridan’s commitment to transparency, inclusion and accountability. Dr. Gouveia is known for championing student success and expanding access to education for under-represented groups. Dr. Gouveia excels at building relationships, developing forward-thinking strategies, and bringing people together to tackle complex challenges. Her work has taken her across cultures and borders, where she has forged impactful partnerships and delivered lasting results.
Previously, Dr. Gouveia served as Vice President of Global Strategic Projects at George Brown Polytechnic. Cindy holds a Ph.D. in higher education from the University of Toronto. She also holds a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Guelph.
Laura Jo Gunter became the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) President and CEO in August 2020 — bringing with her a wealth of knowledge in post-secondary education and an entrepreneurial mindset.
Ms. Gunter leads The NAIT Effect, a visionary institutional strategic plan focused on impacts to create a prosperous Alberta and thriving Albertans. The NAIT Effect aims to deliver meaningful careers, vibrant communities, and globally competitive industries — all through transformative polytechnic education.
She has provided steadfast leadership through unprecedented challenges and used them as a catalyst to drive transformational changes — positioning NAIT for a more sustainable future. Laura Jo has been instrumental in the adoption of new ways to serve students and industry, including the pioneering of assessment-first micro-credentials and the maturation of NAIT’s Industry Solutions model. These initiatives provide a uniquely integrated approach to combining upskilling and reskilling opportunities with industry-focused applied research.
Prior to NAIT, she served as the President and CEO for Bow Valley College in Calgary. Ms. Gunter has also served as Senior Vice-President Academic at George Brown College.
Ms. Gunter’s career began in British Columbia, where she directed Continuing Education for Applied Science at Simon Fraser University and later served as the Vice-President of Programming, Special Projects and Industry Partnerships for the Vancouver Film School. She has also been an entrepreneur, as the CEO and co-founder of Condition 30 Inc., a software and gaming company, and held the role of Vice-President of Creative and Community at User Friendly Media.
Committed to community development and education, Ms. Gunter has contributed her time and expertise to numerous initiatives and boards. She was a member of the Minister of Advanced Education’s Skills for Jobs Task Force and is currently a member of the Resource Diversification Council and Alberta Post-Secondary Network. Formerly, she served as a board member for uDigit Systems, Interactive Ontario, North York Regional Hospital and TELUS Spark.
Ms. Gunter holds a Bachelor of Journalism from Carleton University and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Queen’s University.
Interim President,
Conestoga College Institute of Technology & Advanced Learning
A respected leader in Ontario’s post-secondary sector, Norma steps into the role of Interim President during an important period of transition as the college’s Board of Governors initiates a comprehensive executive search for the next president. In this capacity, she works closely with the executive team and the Board to advance Conestoga’s mission, strengthen employee engagement and support productive, collaborative relationships with industry, community and government partners.
Norma brings nearly thirty years of experience at Conestoga, reflecting a deep commitment to students, employees and the communities the college serves. Her progressively senior roles have equipped her with extensive experience in institutional strategy, governance, labour-market responsiveness and stakeholder engagement.
Her leadership reflects Conestoga’s mandate as a leading polytechnic institution, helping meet urgent workforce needs, expand access to high-quality education and training, and contribute to regional economic development. Norma builds resilient, action-oriented teams and champions leadership development through coaching and mentorship. She is recognized for helping leaders build clarity, adaptability and meaningful impact, supported by her training in Stitt Feld Handy, Applied Positive Psychology, Leadership Excellence, and Adult Education, and her credentials as an ICF Professional Certified Coach (PCC) and Certified Instructional Skills Workshop (ISW) Train the Trainer.
As an active community leader, Norma’s contributions to education and public service have been acknowledged through multiple honours, including the Leadership in Faculty Teaching Award by the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities; Aubrey Hagar Distinguished Teaching Award at Conestoga; the King Charles III Coronation Medal; Canada 125 Award; University of Waterloo Distinguished Alumni Award; United Way Outstanding Volunteer of the Year Award; and YWCA Women of Distinction Award. These recognitions reflect a career rooted in civic engagement and public benefit.
Norma holds a Master of Arts from the University of Waterloo and a Diploma in Adult Education from St. Francis Xavier University.
Acting President and Vice-Chancellor,
Kwantlen Polytechnic University
Dr. Diane Purvey is Acting President and Vice Chancellor of Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU). Prior to her current role, she served as KPU’s Provost and Vice President Academic since 2021.
Dr. Purvey first came to KPU in the early 1990s as a non-regular history instructor though her primary teaching experience in that decade came at Thompson Rivers University (TRU), when she was hired as an assistant professor in 1998. In 2000, she completed her Ph.D. from the School of Social and Educational Studies at the University of British Columbia and soon after became an associate professor. Dr. Purvey started her administrative career first as chair of the School of Education from 2000 – 2004 and then as coordinator of its master of education program in 2006–2011, and finally returned to the chair-ship in 2011.
She became Dean of the Faculty of Arts in 2012, the largest academic division at KPU. The Faculty of Arts was the result of a merger in 2012 and Dr. Purvey oversaw not only the creation of standardized processes for the new entity but the addition of new initiatives along the way, such as the popular Arts Speaker series and the City Studio initiative.
During Dr. Purvey’s time as Provost and Vice-President, Academic, she delivered an Academic Plan, shaped teaching in the post-COVID-19 era, and advanced reconciliation, decolonization and Indigenization within the academy. She was recognized with KPU’s distinguished leadership award in Spring 2022.
As president and CEO of Saskatchewan Polytechnic, Dr. Larry Rosia leads the province’s primary provider of technical education and skills training. Sask Polytech serves more than 28,000 distinct students and offers programs that touch every sector of the economy.
Dr. Rosia is responsible for leading the development of Sask Polytech’s vision and for providing strategic direction to the organization, enabling it to sustain its momentum and capitalize on new opportunities. His priorities include ensuring that students have access to a high-quality, innovative post-secondary education, that employers have access to a highly skilled and qualified workforce that contributes to Saskatchewan’s prosperity and that Sask Polytech nurtures a positive and vibrant workplace environment.
Dr. Rosia’s career in education spans more than 35 years, as an Instructor, Program Chair, Revenue Generating Coordinator, Marketing Manager, and Dean. He has more than 20 years of leadership experience in educational administration and has served in advisory roles to community, provincial and municipal committees. He is a current or former Board Member for several regional, national and international organizations including: Business/Higher Education Roundtable (BHER); Canadian Council of Chief Executives; Canadian Homebuilder’s Association; CANARIE; Community Colleges for International Development (CCID); the International Minerals Innovation Institute (IMII); Polytechnics Canada; Post-Secondary International Network (PIN); Skills Canada Saskatchewan; the Saskatchewan Post-Secondary International Education Council; the Saskatchewan Labour Market Task Force (LMTF); The Chair Academy; the University of Regina Senate; and the World Federation of Colleges & Polytechnics (WFCP).
Dr. Rosia is an alumnus of the University of Alberta and the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) and a lifelong learner. He has a background in telecommunications engineering, adult education, and educational policy and administration, and in 2006 completed his PhD in academic leadership at the University of Calgary. He completed the Executive Leadership Program at Harvard University and earned Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD) Designation. Notable recognition includes the SAIT Board of Governor Award for Business and Industry Partnerships, the Conference Board of Canada Award for Business and Industry Partnerships, the Chair Academy International Exemplary Leadership Award, the Saskatchewan Men of Influence Award, and the Paul A. Elsner Excellence in Leadership Award.
Dr. Rosia is a well-respected ambassador for the post-secondary community. He authored a book titled “The Successful College President.”
Dr. Ann Marie Vaughan is President and CEO of Humber Polytechnic. She is the first woman to hold the position and is the fifth President and CEO in Humber’s history.
Dr. Vaughan is a highly distinguished senior executive with nearly 30 years of success in the post-secondary sector. She joins Humber from Loyalist College in Belleville, Ontario where she served as President and CEO since 2016, and successfully drove an ambitious growth plan that strengthened Loyalist’s financial positioning, and saw the College take on a new strategic direction Prior to that she was the president and CEO of the College of the North Atlantic, in Newfoundland and Labrador, from 2011-2016. In 2015, she was recognized as a Top 50 CEO in Atlantic Canada.
Driven by her passion to advance social and economic development through expanding access to education, Dr. Vaughan is helping to pioneer the sector’s micro-credential movement as co-Chair of eCampusOntario’s Board of Directors. In addition, she serves on the Board of Directors for Ontario Genomics, a non-profit organization that is focused on nurturing genomics innovation in Ontario, and applying these technologies across key sectors, to advance the province’s knowledge-based economy. She also serves as a Board member for Colleges and Institutes Canada.
In 2018, Dr. Vaughan was appointed to serve as an Honorary Colonel in the Royal Canadian Air Force, affiliated with the 426 Training Squadron, 8 Wing, CFB Trenton. Dr. Vaughan is actively engaged in the college sector and currently also serves as Chair of the Management Board for College Employers Council.
Dr. Vaughan is proud of her early roots in student leadership which sparked her interest and career in higher education. She holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Education from Memorial University; certificates in Public Administration and Business from Memorial University; a Master of Arts in Higher Education from the University of British Columbia, and a Masters Certificate in Project Management from York University/Memorial University. Continuing her lifelong learning journey, in 2015 Dr. Vaughan received her doctorate in higher education leadership from the University of Calgary.
Dr. Jeff Zabudsky has over 30 years of experience within post-secondary and polytechnic leadership roles, both in Canada and internationally. Throughout his career, he has championed applied education as a transformative instrument to enrich lives and contribute to thriving communities.
Prior to his appointment as President of the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) in 2023, Dr. Zabudsky was Provost for the American University of Bahrain, having also served as CEO for Bahrain Polytechnic. Before his career took him to the Middle East, Dr. Zabudsky was President and Vice Chancellor for Sheridan College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning. He has also served as President and CEO of Red River College Polytechnic and Vice President, Academic at Sault College of Applied Arts and Technology.
Dr. Zabudsky is Chair of the Board of Directors for the British Columbia Association of Institutes and Universities (BCAIU) and Treasurer of the Board of Directors for the Skilled Trades Training Consortium. In addition, he is active on the boards for the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade, the Post Secondary Employers’ Association and Invest Vancouver. Previously, he chaired municipal United Way campaigns for both Oakville and Winnipeg.
Dr. Zabudsky has been honoured with distinguished alumni awards from Toronto Metropolitan University and Athabasca University. He has also received an award for the employment of Indigenous people from the InterProvincial Association for Native Employment (IANE) and is a Paul Harris Fellow of Rotary International.
Dr. Zabudsky holds a Ph.D. in Educational Policy Studies from the University of Alberta, a Master’s degree in Distance Education from Athabasca University and a Bachelor of Applied Arts in Broadcast Journalism from Toronto Metropolitan University.