Board Members
Ariana Arguello, Professional Support Staff Representative
Ariana Arguello is the elected representative on the Board of Governors for the professional and support staff at Kwantlen Polytechnic University. She has been working at Kwantlen since January 2005 in the department of Institutional Analysis and Planning as Manager of Strategic Planning. Her major focuses are: organizational development, strategic planning, evaluation and assessment, and applied research to support decision making. Her three year term on the Board of Governors began September 2009.
Ms. Arguello has an Economics degree and a Masters of Business Administration from Simon Fraser University. Prior to coming to Kwantlen, she worked in the United States Department of Commerce helping American companies enter the B.C. market and in Chile evaluating the socio-economic impact of a mega infrastructure project on indigenous communities.
Ms. Arguello has lived in Canada since 1986. She was born in Nicaragua and spent her formative years in Miami. Ms. Arguello's interests include: painting, music, dance, yoga, cooking, corporate social responsibility, and leadership. She enjoys spending her free time playing with her son Matias.
Kristan Ash, Community Member
Appointed to the Board of Governors for a term ending July 31, 2010, Kristan Ash is the Director of Operations for the Healing Hands Rehabilitation Services Inc., and previous to this, she was the Vice President of Franchise and Business Development for Nurse Next Door Home Healthcare. Ms. Ash is active in her community through her involvement with the Kwantlen Polytechnic University Alumni Association, as a member of the You've Gotta Have Friends Initiative Steering Committee, and as the Chair of the Fundraising Committee of Cambridge Elementary PAC. Ms. Ash holds her Bachelor of Business Administration and Entrepreneurial Leadership from Kwantlen Polytechnic University.
Arvinder Bubber, Chancellor / ex-officio
Mr. Bubber was appointed Kwantlen Polytechnic University's first chancellor on October 3, 2008. Initially, Mr. Bubber was appointed to the Board of Governors in October 2001, chairing the Board from 2002-2007. He completed his six-year term on July 31, 2008. Mr. Bubber is a chartered accountant with his own firm, A.S. Bubber Chartered Accountant, in Surrey, BC. He is the former director of the revenue and fiscal services department and manager of the internal audit department for the City of Regina. Mr. Bubber is the vice chair of the Asia Pacific Trade Council of BC, the founding President of the SPARK Education Foundation, is a member of the Surrey Chamber of Commerce, as well as a member of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business.
Yuri Fulmer, Community Member
Appointed to the Board for a term ending July 31, 2011, Mr. Fulmer is an ambitious entrepreneur who believes the path to success is relatively simple: combine a good idea with even better people, and a desire to serve your community, and you're on your way to the top.
Living out that philosophy, and equipped with an outstanding leadership team and a dynamic vision, Mr. Fulmer has led his company, FDC Brands, to be one of Canada's largest privately held food and beverage businesses in just 10 years and has been twice named to the Profit 100 as one of the country's fastest growing private companies
Mr. Fulmer is the President and Chief Executive Officer of FDC Brands which includes A&W and Mr. Mike's Steakhouses, and is one of Canada's largest privately-held food and beverage businesses. He is also responsible for Fulmer Holdings, the company's real estate division. Holding a passion for serving his community, Mr. Fulmer has taken leadership roles through his involvement with the United Way of the Lower Mainland, the Surrey Food Bank, Vancouver Community College, and the Vancouver Opera. In 2007, he was named one of Canada's Top 40 under 40.
Ryan Keigher, Student Representative
Elected to the Board of Governors for a one-year term of office beginning September 1, 2010, Mr. Keigher is enrolled in the Bachelor of Business Administration in Entrepreneurial Leadership program. He previously completed a Diploma in Marketing Management. Mr. Keigher is a member of the President's Ambassadorial Team and is an active member in the community.
Shane King, Community Member
Mr. King was appointed to the Board of Governors as of December 31, 2008 for a term ending December 31, 2010. Mr. King obtained his Financial Management Diploma in 1992 from Kwantlen. He then joined KNV Chartered Accountants LLP in 1993. He received his designation as a Chartered Accountant in 1999 and completed the CICA In-depth Tax course in 2001. Mr. King was admitted as a partner of KNV on January 1, 2005. Mr. King enjoys working with clients to implement strategies that will improve their business' profitability. In 2008, Mr. King was recognized for achievement in the field as he received the Institute of Chartered Accountants of BC Early Achievement Award.
Scott Nicoll, Chair
Appointed to the Board of Governors in April 2006, Mr. Nicoll is a partner in the firm of Hamilton Duncan Armstrong & Stewart, LLP. He is a native of South Surrey/White Rock and graduated from St. George's School in Vancouver, obtaining his Bachelor of Arts (Honours) from Queen's University at Kingston. Mr. Nicoll has a Master of Arts degree from UBC and a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Victoria. He was called to the bar in British Columbia in 1994. His practice focuses primarily on business litigation and risk management, including insurance, construction and secured transactions disputes, among others. Mr. Nicoll has also acted in the past for aboriginal groups in a variety of matters, including the BC Treaty Commission's comprehensive claims process. He is active in his community and is a member of a number of local community and professional associations. His term ends July 31, 2012.
Suzanne Pearce, Faculty Representative
Ms. Pearce was elected to the Board of Governors for a term ending August 31, 2012. She has been involved in, and committed to, Kwantlen and our students since she first joined the university in 1992. Ms. Pearce has taught countless students Chemistry, mentored colleagues, developed curriculum, and introduced innovative teaching practices to both students and colleagues. She was Chair of Chemistry for four years, participated in major strategic planning initiatives such as Creating Our Future and Mission and Mandate, served as Secretary-Treasurer of the KFA for five years, participated in the Governor General’s Canadian Leadership Conference in 2008, served as a member of the Federation of Post-Secondary Educators Pension Advisory Committee for two years, participated in the planning and implementation of an international Instructional Skills Workshop project in Chile, and more. Ms. Pearce recently returned to learning as an Ed. D. student in SFU's Educational Leadership program so that she can continue to develop and improve as an educator. She has lived in Delta since 1994 with her husband Dave and son Michael. Ms Pearce is active in her son’s school and extracurricular activities, and she is an avid runner so that she can indulge in her other passions: good food and good wine.
Kim Richter, Faculty Representative
Ms. Richter was recently elected to the Board of Governors beginning January, 2009 to August 31, 2011. She is an instructor of Business Management in Kwantlen's School of Business, having taught at Kwantlen for over 14 years. Ms. Richter has a BA, B.Sc and MHA. She previously served two consecutive terms on the Board of Governors, from September 2000 until August 31, 2006. She has served three terms on the Greater Vancouver Regional District's Waste Management Committee and was the first Chair of the South Fraser Regional Health Board. Ms. Richter is also a Langley Township Councillor, having served multiple terms.
Derek Robertson, Student Representative
Mr. Robertson was elected to a one-year term on the Board, beginning September 1, 2007 and re-elected in 2008 and 2009. He is in his third year of the Political Science Program at Kwantlen.
Gord Schoberg, Community Member
Gord Schoberg was appointed to the Board of Governors on July 31, 2008 for a one-year term and re-appointed August 1, 2009 for a further two-year term of office.
During the past 33 years, Mr. Schoberg helped B.C. Hydro and now Terasen Gas design electric and natural gas infrastructure, acquire rights of way and improve supply chain performance. For the past several years he has worked to send all employees home safe after work, minimize Terasen's impact on the natural environmental and keep the public safe, by Directing the Environment, Health & Safety group at Terasen Gas. He is focused on ensuring regulatory requirements are met by having acceptable governance structures in place, enhancing operational excellence and providing support to the Terasen business so they can successfully achieve their goals.
Mr. Schoberg has made Surrey his home since 1996. His three grown children live with their families between Mission and Jamaica and are raising four wonderful grandchildren (fifth on the way) who all attempt to keep him from growing old too quickly.
When not in the office, Mr. Schoberg likes to be found on a golf course, in the gym, playing squash, eating out with family and friends, or travelling.
Kenneth Tung, Community Member
Appointed to the Board of Governors for a term ending July 31, 2010, Mr. Tung is President of BTI Technologies Inc. Previously, Mr. Tung was the President of Compumax Systems Corporation, a Senior Program Analyst with the Vancouver Stock Exchange and a Program Analyst for Canfor. Within his community, Mr. Tung is the Vice Chair and former Chair of SUCCESS, on the Board of Directors for the Duke of Edinburgh's Award (BC/Yukon), a member of Richmond General Hospital Ethics Committee, and an Assessor for the Canada Millennium Scholarship Foundation. He has been working on numerous youth leadership development projects including the SUCCESS Youth Leadership Millennium Program and as an Advisor for Vision Youth Leadership in Ontario and Youth Leadership Development program for Richmond Centre for Disability. Mr. Tung has a Programming Certificate in the Management of Information Systems and Computers from the Centennial College of Ontario.
Amrik Virk, Community Member
Mr. Virk was appointed to the Board of Governors on July 31, 2008 for a one-year term and re-appointed August 1, 2009 for a further two-year term. Mr. Virk is an inspector with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. He held postings in the past in Alberta, Surrey and presently Langley. Currently, he is a Director with the Surrey Memorial Hospital Foundation and a member of the Advisory Panel with the Community Outreach Advisory Board with the Surrey campus of Simon Fraser University. In the past, he was a Director with the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police, Law Enforcement, and Diversity Network.
Mr. Virk holds his Bachelor of Arts in Economics from SFU, as well as black belt in karate. He is married with three children.
David Atkinson, President / ex-officio
David Atkinson received the B.A. from the University of Calgary, where he subsequently went on to complete the M.A. and Ph.D., all in English literature. After teaching for a year at Drumheller Penitentiary, an experience he says “shaped” his life, David went to the University of Lethbridge in 1977 where he stayed for fifteen years, during which he took on increasingly senior administrative positions. It was during this period that he developed additional interests in Religious Studies. In 1987 he was promoted to Professor of Religious Studies.
In 1991, Dr. Atkinson was appointed Dean of Arts and Science and Professor of English and Religious Studies at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon. Subsequently, he served as President & Vice-Chancellor of two Ontario Universities, Brock University in St. Catharines and Carleton University in Ottawa, Ontario. He was also Professor of English Language and Literature at both institutions. Dr. Atkinson became President of Kwantlen Polytechnic University in British Columbia in July, 2008.
Dr. Atkinson has been active in the larger academic community and in the community generally. He received the Queen's Jubilee Medal in April, 2002, is a Paul Harris Fellow, and is an honorary member of the Board of Governors of Brock University. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Katimavik Foundation.
Dr. Atkinson teaches in the areas of Medieval and Renaissance Literature, World Religions, and critical hermeneutics, and he has published widely, including four books and over ninety papers and reviews. His fifth book on the Scottish writer James Melville is currently in preparation.
