Foundation Board of Directors
Ken Hahn, Chair
Ken Hahn was appointed to the Board of Governors October 18, 2001, and completed his six-year term on July 31, 2008. He recently retired as Senior Vice President of Human Resources for Coast Capital Savings. Prior to that, he was Vice President of the Richmond Savings Credit Union and was with the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce for over 20 years. Ken serves on the BC Credit Union Employees' Pension & Benefits Trust, he also served as a director of the Surrey Chamber of Commerce and Board of the BC Human Resources Management Association.
Don Coulter, Vice-Chair
Don Coulter oversees finance, treasury, institutional and agency deposits, analytics and information reporting, purchasing, and facilities at Coast Capital Savings. His responsibilities also include financial governance, controls and statutory and management reporting. With 20 years of financial and management experience in banking, investment management, financial governance and financial reporting, he holds a degree in Mathematics and Economics from the University of Toronto and is a member of the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants.
Christine Brodie, Past-Chair
Christine Brodie graduated with a Masters of Arts from California State University, Long Beach in 1971 and further university courses at UBC and SFU. She began her career as a classroom teacher and became a specialist in math and reading and working with children with learning disabilities. Christine currently serves as a Teacher Consultant for the Richmond School District in Community Outreach and the District Autism Team. She works with students and is involved in professional development for staff.
Christine's community involvement includes serving on Boards and Committees - Richmond Caring Place Society (1994; Chair 1998-2002), and Richmond Family Court Committee (1997 - 2002). She has also served on Boards in the financial sector — Coast Capital Savings (1993 - 2008), Credit Union Central –
BC (1997 - 2005) and The Co-operators Group (2002 - 2008). Christine currently serves as Past-Chair of Kwantlen Polytechnic University Foundation, a member of Richmond Sunrise Rotary, Canadian Federation of University Women, volunteering for the Richmond Food Bank and Youth dragon boating teams.
Clark Shewfelt, Treasurer
Clark Shewfelt, graduated from the University of Victoria with a BSc in 1980 and obtained his CA designation in 1984 while articling with Clarkson Gordon (now Ernst & Young). Clark then joined Pemberton Securities in Dec 1984 as an Investment Advisor in White Rock. He is currently employed as an investment advisor with Wellington West Capital, one of the largest and fastest growing independent brokerage firms in Canada. Clark is married to Nancy and has 3 children and is also active with many local charities and fundraisers. His volunteering also includes roles as Past Board member of Crescent Housing Society and White Rock Museum.
Jeff Norris, Secretary & Executive Director
Chief Advancement Officer, Kwantlen Polytechnic University
With more than thirteen years of fundraising experience, Jeff has garnered a broad range of knowledge in the not-for-profit sector. Jeff started his career in fundraising in 1994 with the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Saskatchewan working in Special Events and Annual Giving. Jeff has continued to expand his expertise throughout the years into all areas of fundraising. Following work with the Kidney Foundation of Canada, Jeff joined the St. Paul's Hospital Foundation in1999. In his eight years with St. Paul's, Jeff introduced several new annual fundraising initiatives and expanded his work to include Corporate Sponsorship and Major Gifts. His most notable accomplishment at St. Paul's Hospital was growing St. Paul's Lights of Hope campaign revenues from $163,000 to over $1.63 million. Lights of Hope is now recognized as the hospital's signature event.
In 2003, Jeff completed his Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) Designation. Jeff is an active speaker in the not-for-profit sector and since 2005 has taught Essentials of Fundraising at the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) School of Business.
In 2006, Jeff became Executive Director of the Kwantlen Polytechnic University Foundation. His role at Kwantlen includes all aspects of fundraising and leading a team of dedicated staff and volunteers to a new level of fundraising success.
In his spare time, Jeff is an accomplished woodworker, who has appeared in both "Wood" and "Canadian Woodworking" magazines. He has also received national recognition for original furniture designs and is the only two-time award winner of the Canadian Amateur Wood Working Competition.
Arvinder Singh Bubber, Director
Chancellor, Kwantlen Polytechnic University
Arvinder Singh Bubber is Kwantlen Polytechnic University's first Chancellor. Chancellor Bubber was installed in his new role as Chancellor at Kwantlen's Fall Convocation in October 2008, and will serve a three-year term through 2011.
The Chancellor is the ceremonial head of the university, presiding at convocations and conferring all university degrees. Chancellor Bubber will also play a pivotal ambassadorial role in advancing the university's interests within the local, provincial, national and international communities.
Chancellor Bubber began his education at the University of Punjab, in India where he earned his undergraduate degree in the faculty of science. After moving to England in 1971, he received his chartered accountant designation and became a member of the largest professional accountancy group in England and Wales. Upon moving to Canada in 1976, Bubber worked in the financial field while earning his Canadian chartered accountant status.
Chancellor Bubber spent 15 years working with various levels of government before relocating to Vancouver in 1991, to establish his own practice, A.S. Bubber and Associates. Appointed to Kwantlen Polytechnic University's Board of Governors (then Kwantlen University College) in October 2001, Chancellor Bubber chaired the Board from 2002-2007. His term expired in July 31, 2008.
The Chancellor strongly believes in giving back to society, mentored several others in the business world, participated in numerous fundraisers and guided young people through the Junior Achievement Foundation of British Columbia. As the founding president of SPARK Education Foundation, he continually donates his talents to raise funds to promote academic achievement by helping students who are challenged economically or culturally to remain in high school and attain their dream of a post-secondary education. The Chancellor is strongly committed to inspiring and encouraging others through business, education, and continual learning.
In 2005, Chancellor Bubber was appointed as Vice-Chair, Premier's Asia Pacific Trade Council, and in 2006, he was appointed to the Simon Fraser University Presidential Advisory Council on India.
Currently the Chancellor resides in North Delta, B.C.; he is married, and has four grown children.
Marilena Fluckiger, Director
Marilena Fluckiger was born in Piacenza, Italy and immigrated to Canada with her family when she was a year old. She completed an Education degree at SFU and taught grades 4-7 for seven years before returning to SFU to complete a degree in General Studies with a major in Psychology. Marilena served as Communications Director for the Swiss Canadian Chamber of Commerce and is currently co-owner of the Interior Heavy Equipment (IHE) Operator School in British Columbia and Alberta. Marilena is still extremely active in the community and continues to volunteer regularly - she is presently serving as a director on the White Rock Museum Board, the White Rock Tourism Board and is in her 18th year as a practicing Master Gardener. Marilena and her husband, Peter, have spent many years together growing businesses and are now both semi-retired.
Craig Jones, Director
Craig Jones brings over thirty years of leadership experience working in Canada and throughout the Asia Pacific Region. He has extensive experience in developing and implementing progressive sales and marketing programs. Over the course of his career Craig has developed a wide range of trans-pacific partnerships and trading opportunities.
Currently, Craig is the Executive Director of the Richmond Chamber of Commerce and has served in this capacity for the past three and half years. The Richmond Chamber of Commerce is a non-profit membership association, celebrating 84+ years of commitment to make Richmond the most prosperous and favourable place to do business. It serves as a catalyst and unifying body for the driving forces of the Richmond economy and actively engages in key sectors of economic development. Craig's diverse experience and achievements serve the members of Richmond Chamber of Commerce and the Community of Richmond well as we move forward into the twenty-first century.
Craig has served as Vice-President Sales and Marketing for Canada and USA for QI Systems Inc. He has served as Director Export Sales and Business Development for Dairyworld Foods, President Bayshore Pacific Trade Inc., Vice-President Whitewater West Industries Ltd., Managing Director Canada West Business Model Systems, Sales Consultant Xerox Canada/Rank Xerox Australia.
Craig has been a resident of Richmond for twenty four years. He has been active in the Richmond community through coaching basketball, baseball and soccer, and enjoys activities such as golf and skiing with his family.
Julie Liu, Director
Julie Liu is a licensed customs broker in Vancouver. She is a life member of S.U.C.C.E.S.S. and has been on the Board of Directors since 2004. She won the S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Outstanding Member award in 1986. Ms. Liu was the president of the Vancouver Pacific Lion Club in 1999, president of the Canadian Chinese Business Association in 2005-2007, vice president of Chinese Entrepreneurs Society of Canada in 2006-2007 and advisor of the Canadian China Business Women's Association from 2006-2007.
Wayne McKay, Director
Wayne McKay has spent more than four decades in the credit union system in B.C. During that time he has held most senior executive roles, including operations, human resources, marketing, technology, administration while employed by two of the largest credit unions in the province.
Wayne has also consulted for numerous credit unions on a wide variety of projects including mergers, sales, governance, marketing, communications and production of history books. He has also served on many boards and committees and spearheaded various charitable endeavours. Wayne also has a long association with the marketing of amateur and professional sports.
John McKendry, Director
Acting President, Kwantlen Polytechnic University
Dr. McKendry’s international experience extends to the UK, Europe, Asia and the Middle East and includes award-winning bilateral program alliances and work with organizations like the World Bank, CIDA and the Asian Development Bank. He has served as an appointed representative of the Canadian Secretary of State to the Parliament of Europe, Secretariat for Science and Education and also represented DFAIT in promoting Canadian higher education internationally.
Hargo Mundi, Director
Hargo Mundi began practicing law as an associate in July, 2003. Prior to this, Hargo clerked at the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal and practiced with a national law firm in Calgary, Alberta.
Hargo's practice areas include: corporate finance and securities law, general corporate and commercial law, real estate and banking law. Hargo advises clients on various business law issues including purchase and sale of businesses, asset transactions, share transactions, and corporate reorganizations. Hargo also negotiates and drafts various commercial agreements, including license agreements, commercial leases, franchise agreements and shareholders' agreements.
Steve Paul, Director
Stephen Paul has diversified career experiences in large scale manufacturing, industrial environments, commercial enterprises, institutional educational administration, entrepreneurial ventures and joint venture project management.
Steve holds a Master's degree in Educational Administration from the University of Toronto, has operated a private consulting practice for twenty two years specializing in staff training. Over this time period, he has been contracted as an Instructor at Kwantlen Polytechnic University, University of the Fraser Valley and Douglas College. Prior to this he worked with Ford Motor Company of Canada Ltd., Gulf Oil Canada Ltd., and served as a Personnel Manager for the University of Guelph. Currently Steve is serving as President of the Aislinn Education and Safety Foundation.
A blending of career skills, personal, academic interests and active community involvement has allowed Steve to serve in a volunteer capacity as: Director and Founding Member Kwantlen Polytechnic University Foundation Board; Board of Directors, Child Abuse Research and Education; President, Vintage Car Club of Canada (Vancouver Chapter); Provincial Chairman, Vintage Car Club of Canada May Tour Committee; Senior Executive Member, Langley Good Times Cruise In Society (Non Profit Charity); Chair, Motorsport Technologies Program Advisory Committee, Kwantlen Polytechnic University.
Peter Podovinikoff, Director
Peter Podovinikoff is past president of Envision Financial, B.C.'s third-largest credit union. Peter played a significant leadership role in the creation of the Credit Union Central of British Columbia (now
Central 1) and the Credit Union Central of Canada. He previously served on the Economic Council of Canada and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. In addition to being a founding member of the Kwantlen Polytechnic University Foundation Board, Peter has also held positions with the following organizations:
Premier's Advisory Council on Literacy, Fraser River Port Authority, Rotary Club of Ladner, University of the Fraser Valley Foundation, Credit Union Central of British Columbia, Credit Union Central of Canada, World Council of Credit Unions, The Co-operators Group, Nationwide Insurance, Co-operative Trust Company of Canada, Canadian Co-operative Association, Northwest Territories Co-operative Business Development Fund, Envision Financial Board of Directors.
Peter's international experiences include work on Credit Union and Co-operative Development projects in Asia, Australia, South America, Africa, and Europe. In 1999 he was elected to the Canadian Credit Union hall of fame, and was previously honoured as a British Columbia Credit Union Pioneer.
Launi Skinner, Director
Launi Skinner is the CEO of First West Credit Union, B.C.’s third-largest credit union with $6.2 billion in assets under administration, approximately 167,000 members and more than 1,300 employees. As CEO, Launi leads First West's executive team, which includes the presidents of the credit union's Envision Financial and Valley First operating divisions. Her primary focus is First West's strategic development and future growth, while the presidents focus on winning their local markets.
Raised in Summerland, B.C., Launi brings more than 20 years of business-building experience in both the U.S. and Canada as a result of her time at Starbucks U.S. and 1-800-GOT-JUNK?. As president of Starbucks U.S., Launi oversaw 7,000 company owned stores and 3,400 licensed stores, and managed an extensive management team with operational responsibility for 130,000 employees.
In 2007, Launi was heralded as one of “Four Women to Watch” in Fortune Magazine's 50 Most Powerful Women feature. She has been named as one of Canada’s Most Powerful Women for 2011 as well as 2010 by the Women’s Executive Network. Most recently, Launi received the 2011 Stevie Award for Best Canadian Executive.
Educated in business administration, Launi has also completed the certified general accountant program. She has a history of community involvement, including her service as past event chair for the Vancouver YWCA Women of Distinction Awards. She is also a community leader for the Minerva Foundation and was appointed by the provincial government to sit on Kwantlen Polytechnic University’s Board of Governors for a term ending on July 31, 2012.
Bill Wright, Director
Bill Wright was a senior partner of Davis and Company where he had a corporate commercial practice and was for several years the Chairman of the Management Committee. He currently serves as a member of the provincial Employment Assistance Appeals Tribunal.
Bill is active in a number of community and volunteer organizations, including Watari Research Association of which he is the immediate past president; the Credit Union Foundation of BC from which he holds a Distinguished Service Award; and the Advisory Board of the Franciscan Sisters Benevolent Society. Also, he has served as president of the Vancouver Opera and the Opera Foundation and as a director of the Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada.
For several years Bill served as a volunteer for CCA/CIDA in the development of micro credit projects in rural China.
