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, 2012, 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 and re-appointed in 2011. 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, 2013, Mr. Fulmer is an ambitious entrepreneur at heart 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
Holding a passion for serving his community, Mr. Fulmer has taken leadership roles in several of the Greater Vancouver Area's most prestigious charitable, educational and arts organizations, most notably as General Campaign Chair for United Way in 2008 - the youngest person in the organization's 78-year history to hold this office. Mr. Fulmer is Board Chair of the United Way of the Lower Mainland. He previously served as Vice Chair in 2009 and as General Campaign Chair in 2008. He is a director of Vancouver Foundation, Kwantlen Polytechnic University, Vice Chair of The Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Vancouver and is Vice Chair of the Vancouver Opera.
Mr. Fulmer has been the recipient of numerous awards for his business and community involvements, including the BC Community Achievement Award in 2010 as well as being named one of Canada's Top 40 under 40 in 2007.
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 and was subsequently re-appointed for a term ending July 31, 2012. He was nominated by the Alumni Association. 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.
Kassandra Linklater, Student Representative
Ms. Linklater is a Political Science student at Kwantlen Polytechnic University who strives to be on the forefront of a new generation of innovative youth leaders in Canada and abroad. Having over six years of international experience, specializing in international trade missions and development, Kassandra has represented Canada to South East Asia, South America, the 2010 G8/G20 Summit, and accompanied the Prime Minister to represent Canada at the 2006 APEC Summits. Believing in the importance of community building, Kassandra has been active in creating community programs such as Surrey’s Top 25 under 25, a “Tour of Industry,” and has been involved with Rotary for many years. Dedicated to her university, she is currently a member of Kwantlen’s President’s Ambassadorial Team (PAT), a newly elected student representative on the Board of Governors, and is the former news editor of Kwantlen’s independent student newspaper – The Runner. Kassandra is also active in entrepreneurship; she was a finalist for Impact’s Next Apprentice 2010 and currently runs an online start-up. Her term of office on the Board of Governors is September 1, 2011 to August 31, 2012.
Rob Mumford, Student Representative
Mr. Mumford was elected to a one-year term of office on the Board of Governors effective September 1, 2011.
Scott Nicoll, Community Member
Appointed to the Board of Governors in April 2006, Mr. Nicoll is a partner in the firm of Hamilton Duncan Armstrong & Stewart, Barristers & Solicitors. His practice is restricted to litigation primarily in personal injury and commercial litigation. He has acted for a variety of clients since being called to the Bar in 1994 from large insurance companies and national financial institutions to small business entrepreneurs and technology sector clients. He has represented these clients in a variety of matters including personal injury, contractual disputes, intellectual property, secured transactions, construction law, insurance defence, employment and general realization work.
Mr. Nicoll obtained his Bachelor of Arts (Honours) from Queen's University at Kingston, a Master of Arts from the University of British Columbia, and a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Victoria. He is active in his community and is a member of a number of local community and professional associations. He will complete his term of office on 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 elected to the Board of Governors beginning January, 2009 and re-elected for a further term ending to August 31, 2014. 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.
Gord Schoberg / Chair, Community Member
Gord Schoberg was appointed to the Board of Governors on July 31, 2008 and will complete his term of office on July 31, 2014. During the past 33 years, Mr. Schoberg helped B.C. Hydro and now Fortis BC 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 Fortis BC's impact on the natural environmental and keep the public safe, by Directing the Environment, Health & Safety group at Fortis BC. He is focused on ensuring regulatory requirements are met by having acceptable governance structures in place, enhancing operational excellence and providing support to the Fortis BC 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.
Launi Skinner, Community Member
Appointed to the Board of Governors in November 2010, Launi Skinner is the CEO of First West Credit Union, B.C.'s third-largest credit union with $5.6 billion in assets under administration, approximately 167,000 members and more than 1,150 employees. As CEO, Ms. Skinner 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.
Ms. Skinner, raised in Summerland, B.C., brings more than 20 years of business-building experience in both the U.S. and Canada, including a term as president and chief operating officer of 1-800-GOT-JUNK? and a series of increasingly senior roles with Starbucks, culminating with her appointment as president of the company's U.S. stores division. As president of Starbucks U.S., Skinner 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, she was included as one of "Four Women to Watch" in Fortune Magazine's 50 Most Powerful Women feature.
Educated in business administration, Ms. Skinner has also completed the certified general accountant program. She has a history of community involvement, including a term as board trustee for Seattle's non-profit Northwest Hospital. Ms. Skinner lives in West Vancouver with her husband and two daughters.
Kenneth Tung, Community Member
Appointed to the Board of Governors for a term ending July 31, 2012, 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 / Vice Chair, Community Member
Mr. Virk was appointed to the Board of Governors on July 31, 2008 and will complete his term of office on July 31, 2013. Mr. Virk is an inspector with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. He held postings in the past in Alberta, Surrey and presently Langley. He recently completed a six-year term as a Director with the Surrey Memorial Hospital Foundation. In the past, he was a member of the Advisory Panel with the Community Outreach Advisory Board with the Surrey campus of Simon Fraser University and 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.
John McKendry, President / ex-officio
John McKendry has a career in higher education that spans more than 35 years. Following experiences in the private corporate sector, Dr. McKendry obtained a B.A. and M.Sc. from the University of Guelph followed by a Ph.D. from Florida State University. He has served in senior and executive positions in several jurisdictions. He was the Director of Policy, Planning, Research and Legislation and, subsequently, Assistant Deputy Minister of Universities with the Government of Saskatchewan. He has also served as both a college Dean and Vice-President Academic.
Dr. McKendry's international experience extends to the UK, Europe, Asia and the Middle East and includes award-winning bilateral alliances with 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.
