About Us

Board of Directors


CHAIR
Dr. David Ross

President and CEO,
Southern Alberta Institute of Technology

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Dr. David Ross joined the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) in 2013, becoming its 16th President and Chief Executive Officer. A passionate leader in post-secondary education dedicated to promoting student success, Dr. Ross has a reputation for innovation in applied education. Under his leadership, SAIT has become Alberta’s third largest post-secondary institution, well known for its action-based learning, solution-focused research and enterprising collaborations with people and partners from around the globe.

Prior to joining SAIT, Dr. Ross was President and CEO of Langara College, where he transformed the institution through extensive growth and strategic market development. A life-long educator, Dr. Ross has held academic appointments in Business at the University of New Brunswick and Kwantlen Polytechnic University.

Active in his community and on the national and international levels of post-secondary education, Dr. Ross is a member of the board of several foundations and associations including the Calgary Homeless Foundation and the Business Research Advisory Council for the National Sciences and Engineering Research Council. He is past-Chair of the Canadian Bureau of International Education and a member of the Business/Higher Education Roundtable. He holds a PhD from the University of Nebraska, 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.

Dr. Ross lives in Calgary, Canada with his wife, Ewa, and son, Aleksander.

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VICE CHAIR
Dr. Janet Morrison

President and Vice Chancellor,
Sheridan College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning

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Dr. Janet Morrison was named Sheridan’s eighth President and Vice Chancellor in June 2018. She had previously held the role of Provost and Vice President, Academic at Sheridan.

Prior to her appointment, Dr. Morrison spent 17 years at York University, working in various roles focused on learning, discovery and engagement, most recently serving as Vice-Provost, Students. Before joining York, she held leadership positions in student affairs and taught at the University of Guelph, Bowling Green State University, Medical College of Ohio and George Brown College. She holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in history and education.

Having worked in the post-secondary sector for more than 20 years, Dr. Morrison remains passionate about student success and community engagement. She served as a staff representative on York’s Board of Governors and in 2010 was awarded York University’s President’s Leadership Award. An active volunteer, Dr. Morrison is the former Chair of the Board of Trustees at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital and previously chaired the Board of Directors for the Children’s Aid Society of Toronto.

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TREASURER
Fred Meier

President and CEO,
Red River College Polytechnic

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Fred Meier is the President and CEO of Red River College Polytechnic, Manitoba’s largest College and only polytechnic. RRC Polytech serves more than 20,000 students annually and is one of Canada’s top five applied research institutions.

Fred is known for his work leading large organizations in senior management and executive roles, focusing on building positive and inclusive cultures that embrace employee engagement, innovation, and collaboration.

His past leadership within the Manitoba Public Service has impacted Manitoba’s economy, advanced Indigenous inclusion, and empowered organizations inside the public service to grow, innovate, and move forward to serve Manitobans better and strengthen the province’s economy. 

Today, Fred uses that experience to connect with employers, industry partners, faculty, staff and students.

In September 2021, RRC Polytech created a bold new vision and strategic plan, a plan that will take big leaps to build a stronger and more resilient college. One that continues to move at the pace of industry to meet their needs and creates a workforce today that is prepared for the jobs of tomorrow.

Fred is the sixth President and CEO in the College’s 85-year history. In addition to his role as President & CEO, Fred serves as a member of the Premier’s Economic Opportunities Advisory Board.

Fred holds a Master of Science from the University of Manitoba.

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PAST CHAIR
David Agnew

President,
Seneca Polytechnic

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With extensive experience in the public, private and non-profit sectors, David Agnew became the fifth president of Seneca in July 2009.

Under his leadership, Seneca has experienced record growth in enrolment and expanded its offerings in both undergraduate and graduate programs. One of the largest colleges in Canada, Seneca is growing its applied research, broadening international and corporate partnerships, investing in capital expansion and adopting an innovative academic direction to increase experiential, cross-disciplinary and flexible learning opportunities.

Mr. Agnew was Secretary to the Cabinet and head of the public service in the Government of Ontario, Canada 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’s working life started in high school as a newspaper reporter in Toronto and he continued his journalism career in St. John’s, Ottawa and Edmonton. He was the gold medallist when he graduated from Memorial University of Newfoundland with a B.A. in political science. Following his studies, he was a Parliamentary Intern at the House of Commons of Canada.

Mr. Agnew is Chair of the Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH). He is past chair of Colleges Ontario, Polytechnics Canada and Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and former vice-chair of Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO). He also serves on numerous other boards and committees, including the Canadian Ditchley Foundation Advisory Board and Sichuan University’s International Advisory Board. He has also served as a director or member of Colleges and Institutes Canada, the Canadian government’s Science, Technology and Innovation Council, the Toronto Region Immigrant Employment Council, ventureLAB, former director of the Empire Club of Canada, the Council on Foreign Relations Higher Education Working Group and has served on the campaign cabinets of the United Way in Toronto and Peel.

In 2012, Mr. Agnew received a Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for his service to the community.

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DIRECTOR
Claude Brulé

President and CEO,
Algonquin College of Applied Arts and Technology

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Claude Brulé was appointed as Algonquin College’s ninth President and Chief Executive Officer in August 2019. Prior to taking on this leadership role,Claude served the College at every level of its leadership team from Department Chair, to Faculty Dean, to Senior Vice President Academic where, for the past twenty years, he has been a champion for student success and an innovator in the higher education sector, providing leadership to the advancement of digital learning.

Prior to joining the College, Claude served 22 years in the Canadian Armed Forces, in the Air Force occupational branch of Communication and Electronics Engineering, retiring at the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. Among his many tours of duty, he was an instructor at the Canadian Forces School of Communications and Electronics (CFSCE), and subsequently, its Senior Staff Officer for Strategic Planning and Chief of Staff. Between tours at CFSCE, he lectured in the Mathematics and Computer Science department as an assistant professor at the Royal Military College.

He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering Physics and a Master’s of Science degree in Mathematics from the Royal Military College in Kingston. He is also a graduate of the Command and Staff College, and holds a certificate in Management and Leadership in Education from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education.

Claude is an active member of the community and serves on several boards, including Invest Ottawa, the Ottawa Network for Education (ONFE) and the Ottawa Community Loan Fund (OCLF). 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.

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DIRECTOR
Dr. Alan Davis

President and Vice-Chancellor / ex-officio,
Kwantlen Polytechnic University

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Dr. Alan Davis was appointed President of Kwantlen Polytechnic University on September 1, 2012. A native of Reading, England, Dr. Davis has held leadership positions at renowned institutions in the United States and Canada, including roles at the British Columbia Open University, Athabasca University, Niagara College and Vancouver Community College. Most recently, he served as President of Empire State College at the State University of New York.

Dr. Davis is a member of the board of the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning, and has served on various committees and commissions with the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, and the American Council for Education. He is past President of the Canadian Society for the Study of Higher Education and is on the Board of the Collaboration for Online Higher Education Research.

Aside from his academic contributions through publications and presentations, Dr. Davis is also a published playwright.

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DIRECTOR
Peter Devlin

President,
Fanshawe College of Applied Arts and Technology

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Peter Devlin was appointed Fanshawe College’s fifth President effective September 2013.

Prior to joining Fanshawe, President 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.

President Devlin serves on provincial and national college committees. These include the Ontario Colleges Library Service Board as past president and a member of the Colleges Ontario Committee of Presidents and serves on the Executive Committee. He is a Director on the Colleges and Institutes Canada’s Board (CICan), a member of CICan’s Presidents Leadership  Network and Coordinating Committees, CICan’s International Advisory Committee, and a Director on the Polytechnics Canada Board. Peter also serves on the London Economic Development Corporation’s Board of Directors, the Canadian Association of Defence and Security Industries and is a member of the lvey Business School Leadership Council.

President 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 and is a graduate of the Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD.D). He received an Honorary Doctorate from the Royal Military College of Canada.

Peter has been married for 37 years, and together he and his wife Judy have four children.

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DIRECTOR
Dr. Gervan Fearon

President,
George Brown College

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Dr. Gervan Fearon became President of George Brown College in August 2021. Working with colleagues across the college, he aims to support career-oriented programs to meet the needs of students and the demands of employers; advance college-led research; and enhance community engagement. With a proven track record of collaboration, transformative leadership and engaging higher learning communities in a shared mission, he leads George Brown’s efforts to provide transformative education opportunities that benefit learners, industry and the greater community.

Gervan has a strong professional background in post-secondary education. Prior to being President and Vice-Chancellor at Brock University (2017-2021) and Brandon University (2014-2017), he held numerous progressive roles in post-secondary education, including Dean of the G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education at Ryerson University; Associate Dean at York University’s Atkinson Faculty of Liberal and Professional Studies; Visiting Scholar at the University of Washington; and as an Associate Professor at York University. Dr. Fearon also has a strong teaching and research record.

His career also included serving as the Executive Assistant to the Deputy Minister at the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and a Senior Analyst at the Treasury Board, Ontario Ministry of Finance. He has also served on numerous community boards, including Ontario Trillium Foundation, Brandon Urban Aboriginal Peoples’ Council, United Way Niagara, Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce, and the Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Toronto. He was also Co-Chair of the Niagara Region’s Community Safety and Well-Being Planning Committee, Chair of the Budget and Audit Committee of Council of Ontario Universities, and President of Tropicana Community Services. Gervan is a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal (2013), The Michaëlle Jean Foundation Influencer Award (2017), The University of the West Indies Vice-Chancellor’s Award (2020) and several other awards of recognition.

He holds a Ph.D. in economics from the University of Western Ontario and received his master’s and bachelor’s of science degrees in agricultural economics from the University of Guelph. He holds a Chartered Professional Accountant designation (CPA, CGA) and Institute of Corporate Directors designation (ICD.D).

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DIRECTOR
Laura Jo Gunter

President and CEO,
Northern Alberta Institute of Technology

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Laura Jo Gunter became NAIT’s seventh President and CEO on August 24, 2020. An innovative leader, she brings extensive post-secondary knowledge and an entrepreneurial spirit to her role.

Prior to joining NAIT, Ms. Gunter was President and CEO of Bow Valley College in Calgary. During her tenure she led the creation of a new strategic plan, Open Doors – Open Minds. She also expanded Bow Valley College’s brand locally, nationally and internationally through significant partnerships with global companies. In addition, she initiated Pivot-Ed, a platform that re-imagines adult education to help those needing to pivot in their careers. Pivot-Ed incorporates AI-driven assessments based on workplace simulations and micro-credentialing using blockchain technology.

Before coming to Alberta, Ms. Gunter spent a number of years in Ontario. She was the Senior Vice-President Academic for George Brown College. Her portfolio included all academic divisions, the office of applied and institutional research, international, academic services and student affairs, and registration.

Prior to joining George Brown College, Ms. Gunter was Dean of the Faculty of Information Arts and Technology at Toronto’s Seneca College, where she was later Dean of the Faculty of Communication, Art and Design.

Ms. Gunter began her career in academic leadership in British Columbia where she was the Continuing Education Program Director for Applied Science at Simon Fraser University and then later the Vice-President of Programming, Special Projects and Industry Partnerships for the Vancouver Film School.

Ms. Gunter has also been an entrepreneur. She was the CEO and co-founder of Condition30 Inc., a software and game company based in Toronto and Vancouver. As well, Ms. Gunter was the Vice-President of Creative and Community for the British Columbia-based User Friendly Media.

A community builder, she has also given her time to advancing skills development and post-secondary education and to improving the communities in which she has lived in. She is a board member for Telus Spark, a member of the Minister of Advanced Education’s Skills for Jobs Task Force and a member of the Council of Post-Secondary Presidents of Alberta.  She was also a supporting contributor to the Skilled by Design: A Blueprint for Alberta’s Future Workforce report by the Business Council of Alberta. Previously, Ms. Gunter chaired the Coordinating Committee of Vice-Presidents Academic for Colleges Ontario, was a member of the Interactive Ontario Board, and served as a board member of the North York General Hospital.

Ms. Gunter has a Bachelor of Journalism from Carleton University, and a Master of Business Administration from Queen’s University.

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DIRECTOR
Dr. Larry Rosia

President and CEO,
Saskatchewan Polytechnic

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As President and CEO of Saskatchewan Polytechnic, Dr. Larry Rosia leads the province’s primary provider of technical education and skills training. Saskatchewan Polytechnic serves more than 28,000 students and offers programs that touch every sector of the economy. In his role as President, Dr. Rosia is responsible for providing strategic direction and enabling the institution to 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 and that Saskatchewan Polytechnic offers 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 and has served in advisory roles to community, provincial and municipal committees. Dr. Rosia is the President of Post-Secondary International Network and serves on Boards including CANARIE, Community Colleges for International Development, Polytechnics Canada, the International Mineral Innovation Institute, Skills Canada (Saskatchewan), the Chair Academy International Leadership Board, the Saskatchewan Post-Secondary International Education Council, the Saskatchewan Labour Market Task Force, World Federation of Colleges and Polytechnics and the University of Regina Senate.

Dr. Rosia is an alumnus of the University of Alberta and Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) and is a lifelong learner. He has a background in telecommunications engineering, adult education and educational policy and administration. In 2006, he 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 Designation. Notable recognition includes the SAIT Board of Governors 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 authored a book entitled “The Successful College President.”

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DIRECTOR
Dr. John Tibbits

President,
Conestoga Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning

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Dr. John Tibbits has been President and Chief Executive Officer of Conestoga Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning since 1987.  In that time Conestoga has moved forward into a leadership position in the Ontario college system.

Dr. Tibbits holds a Bachelor of Science degree and a Diploma in Education from McGill University, a Master of Education degree and a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study from the University of Vermont and a Doctorate in Education from Boston University. He has held senior administrative positions at Dawson College in Montreal, Touche Ross & Partners in Ottawa and Canada Post Corporation in Ottawa.

Currently he is a member of the Board of Canada’s Technology Triangle (Honourary Board), and Polytechnics Canada He is also a member of the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony Chairman’s Advisory Committee.  Dr. Tibbits has been Chair of Grand River Hospital Board and a Board member on the Greater Kitchener-Waterloo Chamber of Commerce, Cambridge North Dumfries Hydro, the March of Dimes, Skills Canada (Ontario), Thyssen Krupp Budd Canada, and Communitech. 

In 2000 Dr. Tibbits was voted Business Leader of the Year by The Chamber of Commerce of Kitchener and Waterloo.  He was also presented with the Impact Award by Communitech, which recognizes the individual who has shown significant commitment, support and dedication to the development of Communitech.  In 2009 Dr. Tibbits was inducted into Skills Canada-Ontario’s Klaus Woerner Hall of Fame.  In March, 2011 Dr. Tibbits was awarded the Cambridge Chamber of Commerce Lifetime Achievement Award and in November, 2011 Dr. Tibbits was named a Paul Harris Fellow by the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International.

Dr. Tibbits was the recipient of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012.

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DIRECTOR
Dr. Ann Marie Vaughan

President and CEO,
Humber College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning

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Dr. Ann Marie Vaughan 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 postsecondary 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, such as health, agriculture, bioproducts, and environment, to advance the province’s knowledge-based economy. Dr. Vaughan’s forward-thinking approach and significant contributions to the evolution of online learning have earned numerous accolades nationally and internationally, including being selected as a participant in the 2004 Governor General Canadian Leadership Conference.

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.

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DIRECTOR
Dr. Jeff Zabudsky

President,
British Columbia Institute of Technology

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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), 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 an active member of the communities in which he works and lives, including having chaired municipal United Way campaigns for both Oakville and Winnipeg. He served on the Halton Healthcare regional board and Halton Food for Life foodbank, in addition to sitting on the boards for the Mississauga Board of Trade and Mississauga Healthy City Stewardship Centre.

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 Inter Provincial 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.

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