Board of Governors

Dan Reader has been employed with Murray Latta Progressive Machine Inc., a Surrey, BC based custom machinery manufacturer since 1986 and part-owner and President since 1996. He was previously a Chartered Accountant for Campbell Sharp and a Tax Auditor for Revenue Canada.

He has been actively involved with many industry and charitable related Boards for many years including Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters (CME), Surrey Board of Trade, Manufacturing Safety Alliance of BC, The Peoples Law School, and Big Brothers Big Sister of Langley. He is also the Board Chair of the Executive Health & Safety Council of BC. Mr. Reader has served on several industry or program advisory committees including the Industry Training Authority, BCIT and the British Columbia Safety Charter.

Mr. Reader holds his Bachelor of Commerce, Accounting degree from Saint Mary’s University and his Chartered Accountant designation from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of BC.

Mr. Reader is the Board Chair (since June 29, 2021), and Chair of the Executive Committee.

TENURE

Appointed: January 1, 2019; third term expires July 31, 2023

COMMITTEES

Chair, Executive Committee

The Board Chair is an ex-officio member of all Board Committees

Dr. Catherine Boivie is the Principal of Strategic Technology Leadership Corporation. Previously, Dr. Boivie was the Chief Executive Officer of Inventure Solutions and Senior Vice President of Information Technology at Vancity, Canada’s largest credit union, and was also Senior Vice President of Information Technology (IT) at Pacific Blue Cross. As the founding chair of the Chief Information Officers Association of Canada (CIOCAN), Dr. Boivie played an integral role in establishing and growing a network of Information Technology (IT) leaders.

Dr. Boivie has been named one of Canada’s Most Powerful Women for 2009: Top 100 by the Women’s Executive Network. She received her award in the “Trailblazers and Trendsetters” category, which recognizes women who are either the first in their fields or have made a major impact on them, and who have made a great contribution to Canadian society. She is currently a Director of BC Real Estate Association. Dr. Boivie received a Bachelor of Mathematics in computer science from the University of Waterloo, and a master’s degree and PhD from the University of Toronto.

TENURE

Appointed: August 1, 2021; expires July 31, 2023

COMMITTEES

Member: Human Resources Committee, and the Governance Committee

Michael Bonshor, CPA, CMA is a member of the Dzawada’enuxw First Nation of Kingcome Inlet and has worked with First Nations and Indigenous organizations for the past 20 years. He is President and CEO of Visions First Nations Financial Services/Ki’mola Indigenous Capital and Managing Director of First Nations Business Development Association.

In 2020 Michael was appointed to the National Indigenous Economic Development Board. He is also the Co-Chair of the BC First Nations Gaming Revenue Sharing General Partnership.  As well, Michael is a graduate of BCIT’s Financial Management Program.

TENURE

Appointed: July 31, 2022; expires July 31, 2023

Dr. Braundy, Principal of Journeywomen Ventures, is an Inter-Provincially qualified Red Seal construction carpenter and national advocate for Women in Trades & Technology. She chaired the Equity Sub-Committees of the Canadian Labour Force Development Board Apprenticeship Committee and BC Provincial Apprenticeship Board.

She is a community development worker, social change activist, independent research scholar, multimedia project manager, archivist, catalyst, and was the founding national coordinator of Women in Trades and Technology National Network (WITTNN). She currently curates and manages KootenayFeminism.com and has been active in the Canadian women’s movement since 1972. Seed-funded by ITA/BC, the Columbia Basin Trust, the BC & Yukon Building Trades Council, Columbia Power Corporation and Heritage Credit Union, Braundy is currently building a freely-available, full-text Provincial/ National/International Digital Archive of Equity in Apprenticeship & Technical Fields, with a focus on initiatives for under-represented groups.

Dr. Braundy has a Ph.D. in Technology Studies in Education from the University of British Columbia (UBC) and has developed curriculum used across Canada. She continues to work with men and women to bring effective integration for women in trades and technology training and work. Fernwood published Men & Women and Tools – Bridging the Divide (2011) which is used in Technology Education at UBC. In 2020, she completed a national study for the Federal Department of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour of Canada on “Lessons Learned and Best Practices for Success for Women in Apprenticeship & Skilled Technical Jobs.

President of Kootenay Women in Trades & Technology, she has been a board member of the Rural Alternatives Research & Training Society (RARTS) (1973-2022), a founding member of the Slocan Valley Seniors’ Housing Society, and a lifetime member of the West Kootenay Women’s Association and Nelson and District Women’s Centre.

Dr. Braundy is a member of the Human Resources Committee, and the Governance Committee.

TENURE

Appointed: July 31, 2019; second term expires July 31, 2023

COMMITTEES

Member: Human Resources Committee, and the Governance Committee

Robert L. Enns, CPA, CGA. After starting his career in industry Bob worked in a medium sized national firm for eight years until he acquired the predecessor firm in 1991. Bob retired in January 2022 after having been a business services principal for more than 25 years. He brings a wealth of experience in a range of assurance, business advisory, taxation and accounting services.

TENURE

Appointed: December 31, 2019; third term expires July 31, 2023

COMMITTEES

Member: Audit and Finance Committee

Don Matthew, CPC, CA; ICD.D, retired in September 2022 as an audit partner and the National Industry Leader for the Industrial Manufacturing Industry Group at KPMG with experience in various industries including construction, transportation and distribution, manufacturing, power generation, and technology. He joined KPMG’s Vancouver office in 1982, was promoted to partner in 1993, and was appointed Office Managing Partner in Edmonton in 2006, learning about the resource extraction industries in Central Canada. In 2013, he returned to the greater Vancouver area to lead the opening of KPMG’s new Langley office and the existing Fraser Valley practices.

Mr. Matthew is a member of the National Board of Directors of CME (Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters), was an active member of the Board of Governors of the University of Alberta and has previously served on the boards and committees of various Chambers of Commerce (Richmond, Vancouver, Edmonton and BC), the Aerospace Industry Association of BC, and the Vancouver Power and Sail Squadron.

As a life-long learner with innate curiosity, an entrepreneurial spirit and a business development mindset, Mr. Matthew likes to contribute to thought-provoking discussions and mentoring on forward-looking strategies and change management initiatives.

TENURE

Appointed: December 31, 2021; expires July 31, 2023

COMMITTEES

Chair: Audit and Finance Committee

Member: Human Resources Committee, Campus Planning and Development Committee

Marilyn Loewen Mauritz is a senior executive and corporate director.  Most recently, she was the Chief Organizational Development Officer at Atlas Corp. and Seaspan Corporation, where she led People and Culture, Insurance, Sustainability and Corporate Communications globally. Prior to joining Atlas/Seaspan, Ms. Mauritz held several senior executive positions at Central 1 Credit Union. This included serving as its interim Chief Executive Officer and later as Chief Transformation & Legal Officer/Corporate Secretary, where she led strategy, transformation, legal, IT and stakeholder relations. Previously Ms. Mauritz was General Counsel and Corporate Secretary at Interfor Corporation and was Senior Counsel at Methanex Corporation, advising on multi-million-dollar transactions. She actively supports diversity, equity and inclusion both professionally and in her personal commitments.

Marilyn also serves as an independent director on the Board of Powerex Corp. and is a director of the YWCA Greater Vancouver. She obtained a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Calgary and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from McMaster University. Marilyn is a graduate of the Institute of Corporate Directors, ICD.D.

TENURE

Appointed: August 1, 2021; first term expires July 31, 2023

COMMITTEES

Chair: Human Resources Committee

Jeff Musialek is President of Smith Bros and Wilson Ltd. Mr. Musialek has worked in the local construction industry for more than 25 years and has had different roles with increasing responsibility from Estimating, Project Coordinator, Project Manager, Manager of Special Projects, Business Development Manager, and Operations Manager. Jeff joined SBW as the Vice President in 2013 and was elected as SBW’s new President & Co-CEO as of August 1, 2019. He has a demonstrated track record and a broad range of experiences in the industry. He has successfully completed projects across BC and the Yukon in civil, industrial, institutional, and social infrastructure markets.

Previously he was Operations Manager with Graham Construction, Manager of Business Development with Dominion Construction, and a Project Manager and Estimator with WR Shields Contracting.

Jeff graduated from the University of Victoria with a BA in 1993 and a certificate in Building Technology from BCIT in 1996. He has supplemented this education with Operations Management, Leadership, Advanced Risk Management, Communications, and Business Development training to name a few.

TENURE

Appointed: March 5, 2021; second term expires July 31, 2023

COMMITTEES

Chair: Campus Planning and Development Committee

Member: Audit and Finance Committee

Mr. Balwant Sanghera is a well-respected educator, community activist and bridge builder between various communities and groups. All along, he has been actively involved in both the Indo-Canadian community and the community at-large. He is one of the founders and chairperson of the South Asian Community Coalition Against Youth Violence. Mr. Sanghera retired as a school psychologist in 2004 after serving in the BC Public School system for 36 years. Over the past several years, Mr. Sanghera has served as Senator of Simon Fraser University, as a member of the Board of Governors of Langara College and College of Naturopathic Physicians of British Columbia.

His selfless service has earned Mr. Sanghera various awards. These include the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal, Order of British Columbia, Solicitor General’s Lifetime Community Achievement Award for Crime Prevention and Community Safety and Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal. In 2010 he was voted as one of Top 25 Canadian Immigrants. Mr. Sanghera was voted twice as Richmond Review’s Top Ten Citizens of Richmond in 2007 and 2011. In 2011, he was also awarded the Defender of Heritage Award by prominent South Asian Magazine Darpan. Mr. Sanghera was selected as UBC’s One of Education 100 –Year of Alumni Outstanding Contributors in 2015. Just recently, on May 31, 2018 Mr. Sanghera was honoured as one of Richmond’s top twenty (Richmond’s Best) citizens by the Richmond News.

Mr. Sanghera is a regular writer for the local community newspapers and frequently appears as guest on various radio and TV programs. Currently, in addition to heading the Richmond Multicultural Community Services, he is also serving as president of the East Richmond Community Association, Punjabi Language Education Association of Canada, and on the Management Committee of India Cultural Centre of Canada Gurdwara Nanak Niwas in Richmond. He is also one of the founders and chairperson of Richmond’s popular Highway to Heaven Association.

Mr. Sanghera received his B.Sc. degree from Punjab University in India. He earned his B.Ed. degree from Notre Dame University and Master of Education degree from the University of British Columbia.

Mr. Sanghera is also a member of the BCIT Tributes Committee, and the Human Resources Committee.

TENURE

Appointed: July 31, 2018; third term expires July 31, 2023

COMMITTEES

Chair: Tributes Committee

Member: Human Resources Committee

Meredith Sargent (she/her) is Vice President, Commercial Performance and Legal Counsel to the Surespan Group of companies.  Meredith’s expertise is in construction and engineering law, and commercial management of construction businesses.  She practiced law in Australia, and has lived and worked in Canada since 2002, working in General Counsel, consulting and private practice roles.  Meredith was called to the bar in in BC in 2010.  Meredith’s specialties are: Project Management Processes, Project Commercial Management, Contract Development & Negotiation, Commercial Performance Improvement, and Dispute Resolution.

Ms. Sargent is the Board Vice Chair, Chair of the Governance Committee and a member of the Executive Committee, and Capital Planning & Development Committee.

TENURE

Appointed: December 31, 2019; second term expires July 31, 2024

COMMITTEES

Chair: Governance Committee

Member: Executive Committee, Campus Planning and Development Committee

Claire Wang is the Vice President of Finance and Administration for the Burnaby Hospital Foundation. She oversees the organization’s financial functions, including accounting, audit, treasury, financial reporting, capital projects, and financial planning. She also leads human resources and IT activities. Her career spans over 18 years of varied experience in financial management, business development, healthcare, and education.

Active in her community, Ms. Wang is an incumbent Council Member of the Insurance Council of British Columbia, an insurance regulatory body appointed by the BC government to ensure licensed practitioners act within a professional framework. Formerly, she served as a Board of Governor for the Justice Institute of British Columbia for over five years and as Chair of the Finance & Audit Committee for the Simon Fraser University Childcare Society for three years. Ms. Wang is a co-founder of the Burnaby Hospital Foundation Chinese Ambassador Society to raise awareness and funds in local Chinese communities for equitable access to high-quality healthcare close to home. She is the recipient of the 2021 Outstanding Community Contribution Award by the United Global Chinese Women’s Association of Canada.

Ms. Wang is a Chartered Professional Accountant. She holds a master’s degree in Business Administration from Queen’s University and a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Simon Fraser University.

TENURE

Appointed: December 31, 2021; expires July 31, 2023

COMMITTEES

Member: Audit and Finance, Tributes Committee

Eric Fry (MEd, ID, AD, RSE) is the Associate Dean, Agile and Work Integrated Learning responsible for operationalising the British Columbia Institute of Technology’s (BCIT) Agile Learning Initiatives. Eric collaborates with BCIT’s 6 Schools, 5 campuses, 300 full-time and over 1000 part-time programs to provide short, stackable, transferable, relevant and responsive training opportunities to meet industry’s reskilling and upskilling needs. Starting at BCIT over 30 years ago as an apprentice in trades, with the last 21 years as an educator,

Eric is driven by the experiences, accomplishments and success he has gained in his own developmental journey. This drives his passion for facilitating accessible learning and providing alternative pathways to higher education. With 9 years on Education Council serving on Programing, Policy and the Executive sub-committees, Eric is looking forward to new experiences and opportunities to contribute to success working with the Board of Governors.

TENURE

Term: June 2022; expires June 2023

COMMITTEES

Member, Governance Committee

Liam joins us as the recently elected BCIT Student Association President.  He is currently pursuing his diploma in Architectural and Building Technology from BCIT’s School of Transportation, Construction, and the Environment. Having grown up around his dad’s construction company and later working for him, Liam realized his passion for construction. In the past he has helped operate and organize multiple charity events, has been an active member of several local clubs, and has been Vice President of his high school graduation class. With these experiences, Liam was motivated to partake in various positions within the BCIT Student Association, and is heavily involved with student life.

TENURE

Term: June 1, 2022; expires May 31, 2023

Scott McAlpine is BCIT’s Institute Photographer working within the Marketing and Communications department, a role he has held for 20 years. In addition to a Diploma in Photography (with Honours), he holds a Bachelor of Business Administration. Previous Board experience includes three years of service with BCIT’s Board of Governors and on the Board of Directors of CAPIC, a national photography association effectively advocating for better copyright protection for photographers and illustrators.

Mr. McAlpine serves the BCGEU as a shop steward. A truly engaged member of the BCIT community, he is a 2015 recipient of the BCIT’s Service Excellence Award and was a member of the 2008 and 2016 Team Excellence Award recipients.

TENURE

Term: June 1, 2021; expires May 31, 2024

COMMITTEES

Member: Tributes Committee,

Chair: 2022 Nominating Committee

Stewart McGillivray is a government relations professional currently enrolled in BCIT’s non-profit management program. Born and raised in Vancouver, he developed an interest in politics at a young age and began volunteering in his Member of Parliament’s office. Over time, these interests developed into a skillset that has served him well in matters of policy analysis and board governance. As the Government Relations Strategist for the BCIT Student Association, Stewart is passionate about delivering better outcomes for students through his advocacy for post-secondary affordability, sound policy-making, and inclusive politics.

Stewart believes deeply in the importance of public service and education. Nominated to seek federal office at the age of 19, he has served on numerous boards in the political and voluntary sector. He graduated from the University of British Columbia with a B.A. in Political Science and recently completed the Institute of Corporate Directors program in Not-for-Profit Governance Essentials. Stewart was re-elected by BCIT students in spring 2022.

TENURE

Term: June 1, 2021;  second term expires May 31, 2023

COMMITTEES

Member: Governance Committee

Tamara E. Pongracz (she/her) brings over 25 years of insight as an active member of the BCIT community. She has served as Vice Chair of BCIT Education Council and Chair of the Programming Committee (2003 –  2004), Burnaby Campus Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committee (2019 – 2022), the Respect Diversity and Inclusion Committee (2012 – 2022).  Currently, she is a member of the Harassment and Discrimination Steering Committee (2022 – present) and is a Bargaining Committee Member for the BCGEU Faculty (2019 – present).

An advocate of trades and apprenticeship training, Ms. Pongracz is the Department Head of the BCIT Trades Access group. Trades Access provides programs and services to support students who are enrolled in or planning to enter trades or technical studies.

Tamara received a BCIT Teaching Excellence Award in 2005, an Employee Excellence Award (Inclusivity) in 2019 and was recognized by the Vancouver Regional Construction Association as Outstanding Woman in Construction 2007.

Ms. Pongracz descends from the Haida Nation (Old Massett Village Council), and is an Inter-Provincial Certified Plumber (RSE – 1995) with a Master of Education Degree (2010) from Simon Fraser University.

TENURE

Term: June 1, 2022; expires May 31, 2025

COMMITTEES

Member: Governance Committee