The role of the President is to provide counsel to members on strategies and approaches to government to represent members’ points of view on policy, legislation, or other actions; coordinate research and develop information material to support members’ views or as a response to government requests; forecast and evaluate the effects of public policy on members and keep them informed of developments.

Dr. Macdonald retired as President of PACIU effective September 30, 2025.

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.

Experience

Prior to his appointment as President of the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) in 2023, 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 Chair of the Board of Directors for the British Columbia Association of Institutes and Universities (BCAIU) and Treasurer of the Board of Directors for the Skilled Trades Training Consortium. In addition, he is active on the boards for the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade, the Post Secondary Employers’ Association, and Invest Vancouver. Previously, he chaired municipal United Way campaigns for both Oakville and Winnipeg.

Accomplishments

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 PhD 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.

Dr. Trish Kelly was appointed President + Vice Chancellor at Emily Carr University of Art + Design in June of 2024, after serving in the interim capacity for one year. Prior to that, she held a series of administrative roles at the institution, including Vice President Academic + Provost (2019-23), and Associate Dean of Graduate Studies (2017-19). Kelly holds a PhD from the University of British Columbia, an MA from Tufts University, and a BFA from the Rhode Island School of Design. Before coming to ECU in 2011, she was an Associate Professor at DePaul University in Chicago, and the Chair of the Universitywide Honours Program.

As an art historian and educator, Kelly’s writings on contemporary art have been published in various
peer-reviewed venues including Art Journal, American Art, the Journal of Curatorial Studies, and The Sixties: A Journal of History, Politics, and Culture. Her research involves a range of subjects including minimal art and abstraction, art and politics, alternative art networks, and time and duration in new media production.

Throughout, an interest in viewership, and artmaking as a critical form of knowledge production, is central. Her current book project, On-Site: Art, Politics, and Viewers (New York, circa 1970), explores modes of critical and embodied viewership explored in artist run-centres and alternative art networks of the early 1970s.

Kelly is committed to collaborative and inclusive leadership models, and service in the public sector. She
has served on various Boards and advisory committees, including the Food Stash Foundation, which
champions food security, zero waste, and sustainable agriculture; and the Academic Governance and
Strategic Planning Committee of the CDM (Centre for Digital Media, Vancouver BC), which fosters
partnerships between post-secondary institutions.

Additionally, she has been an active member of
AICAD (the Association of Independent Colleges of Art and Design), serving on the DEI Task Force and
helping to develop and implement the AICAD BIPOC Academic Leadership Institute.

Dr. James Mandigo began his tenure as President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of the Fraser Valley on July 1, 2025. He brings 25 years of experience in post-secondary education, with a focus on student-centred learning, international engagement, and building strong community partnerships.

Dr. Mandigo believes universities play a vital role in supporting the social and economic well-being of the regions they serve, a view that aligns closely with UFV’s mission to engage learners, transform lives, and build community. He has consistently emphasized the importance of collaboration across disciplines and communities to create meaningful educational experiences that help prepare students for an increasingly interconnected world.

Before becoming UFV’s President, Dr. Mandigo served as the university’s Provost and Vice-President, Academic from 2019 to 2025, including a one-year term as Acting President. Prior to joining UFV, he held several senior academic leadership roles at Brock University, including Vice-Provost, Enrolment Management and International; Co-Director, Centre for Healthy Development through Sport and Physical Activity; and Interim Dean, Faculty of Applied Health Sciences. He holds a PhD in Physical Education and Recreation from the University of Alberta, a master’s degree from Laurentian University, and a bachelor’s degree from Wilfrid Laurier University.

An active researcher throughout his career, Dr. Mandigo is internationally recognized for his work in physical literacy, life skills development, and sport for social change. He has collaborated with partners including the International Olympic Committee and Right to Play, with a particular focus on violence prevention through education in Central America.

Dr. Mandigo is the author of one book, ten book chapters, and forty-five peer-reviewed journal articles. He has delivered over 120 invited and refereed conference presentations and received multiple national awards for his contributions to physical and health education, including the Award of Distinction from the Ontario Physical and Health Education Association in 2019, and the Lifetime Achievement Award from Physical and Health Education Canada in 2015.

Bringing more than 30 years of experience in post-secondary education across Canada, Dr. Johnson most recently served as president of the College of New Caledonia (CNC) from 2019 to 2023. Since his time at CNC, he has stayed active in higher education and has been providing consulting services, including working with several institutions on finance and organizational improvement projects. Prior to his time at CNC, he held several senior leadership roles at Saskatchewan Polytechnic, including provost and vice-president academic, and vice-president strategy and business development. 

He began his academic career as an instructor at Mohawk College and later taught at Okanagan University College and Thompson Rivers University, where he also held leadership positions. Originally from British Columbia, Dr. Johnson is widely respected for his collaborative leadership style and his deep commitment to student success and community engagement. 

Dr. Johnson holds a PhD in Educational Administration from the University of Saskatchewan, a Master of Education in Post-Secondary Studies from Memorial University of Newfoundland, a Bachelor of Education in Adult Education from Brock University and a Carpentry Certificate of Qualification and Certificate of Apprenticeship from British Columbia.

Dr. Bruce Choy is Kwantlen Polytechnic University's seventh President and Vice-Chancellor. He commenced his five-year term on September 2, 2025. Dr. Choy is an accomplished academic scholar and globally experienced business leader. He has taught at several top universities in the fields of engineering and finance, and researches in the inter-disciplinary field of risk management. He has also previously held a variety of senior corporate sector roles and has worked in some of the world's largest international financial hubs, including Wall St., Bay St. and Martin Place.

Dr. Bruce Choy is a Canadian-Australian academic scholar who became Kwantlen Polytechnic University's President and Vice-Chancellor in September 2025. Dr. Choy is a recognised specialist in governance and risk management, where he has authored a book on quantitative risk assessment in the environment, several book chapters on financial risk management, and numerous journal papers and industry reports on a broad range of risk topics. He taught for four years at the University of Sydney, Australia, in the field of engineering and four years at the University of Toronto, Canada, in the field of finance. Before joining KPU, Dr. Choy was chair of the Board of Governors for the George Brown College of Applied Arts and Technology.

His academic career began at the University of Sydney, Australia, where he was awarded a doctorate for his research on mathematics for risk management. He was a University and R.A. Priddle medallist from the university's Faculty of Engineering. Early in his career, Dr. Choy was a tenure-track academic at the university in the faculty of engineering with a focus on environmental protection. He is a Sloan Fellow from Stanford University's Graduate School of Business and was an adjunct professor with the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto.

Dr. Choy is an experienced independent board director and is accredited with a directors designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors. He has led governance functions for organizations in both the financial services and post-secondary education sectors. Additionally, Dr. Choy is a highly experienced financier and management consultant who has held a number of senior leadership positions in the corporate sector. He was a General Manager with the Commonwealth Bank of Australia during the period where the once government owned bank transformed into one of the world's largest financial services conglomerates. Additionally, he was a Partner and risk consulting practice leader with the international professional services firm PwC.

A proven leader in public safety and post-secondary leadership, Len joined JIBC as President and CEO in July 2024, coming full circle from his days as a recruit in the JIBC Police Academy at the start of his distinguished 34-year policing career.

With over a decade of governance experience in higher education, Mr. Goerke has served on the Boards of Governors for both JIBC and the University of the Fraser Valley (UFV). His previous roles include serving as Chief Constable of West Vancouver Police (WVPD) and Deputy Chief Constable of Abbotsford Police.

Mr. Goerke taught at both JIBC and UFV, earned a master of arts in conflict analysis and management from Royal Roads University and completed the Executive Program at the University of Western Ontario’s Ivey School of Business. He is committed to the principles of Truth and Reconciliation.

He served on the Boards of Directors of Klahanee Park Housing Society and the University of the Fraser Valley Properties Development Corporation. He also served on the boards of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police, British Columbia Association of Chiefs of Police, the Restorative Justice Association of BC, and the Capilano Senior Citizens Housing Society.

Mr. Goerke has been recognized with the Order of Merit of Police Forces, the Queens Diamond Jubilee Medal and the Police Exemplary Service Medal.

NVIT is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. John Chenoweth as its new President & CEO. Dr. Chenoweth, a member of the Upper Nicola Indian Band (Okanagan Nation) in the Nicola Valley of British Columbia, brings a wealth of experience and a lifelong dedication to serving Indigenous communities.

Throughout his distinguished career, Dr. Chenoweth has worked to advance Indigenous education and has a deep commitment to supporting marginalized people within the educational system. His journey began with his graduation from the University of British Columbia’s Native Indian Teacher Education Program (NITEP), followed by a teaching career that spanned from 1994 as a schoolteacher to leadership roles as a Principal and District Principal for First Nations Education.

In 2007, Dr. Chenoweth transitioned to post-secondary education, serving in various capacities at NVIT, including Dean of Community Education, Associate Vice-President, and Vice-President Academic. His extensive leadership experience and profound knowledge of NVIT’s mission uniquely position him to guide the institution into the future.

Dr. Lesley Brown is the President and Vice-Chancellor of Yukon University.   She is an experienced senior academic leader, having served in a number of administrative roles including Provost and Vice-President Academic at Mount Royal University, and Vice-Provost Academic, Vice-President Research (interim) and Associate Vice-President Research at the University of Lethbridge.

In addition to being a proven leader, Dr. Brown is an accomplished scholar in the field of Kinesiology, with a research specialization in balance and fall prevention in the elderly and people with Parkinson’s disease. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for Fulbright Canada, the University of the Arctic and the Board of Directors for the Arctic Winter Games to be held in Whitehorse, Yukon in 2026.

Brown holds a PhD in Kinesiology from the University of Waterloo, a Master of Human Kinetics in Biomechanics from the University of Windsor and a Bachelor of Physical Education from McMaster University. Dr. Brown was installed as the 8th President and Vice-Chancellor of Yukon University in May 2022.

Dr. Styles joined Capilano University in 2018 and held the role of Vice-President, Academic and Provost, and since the fall of 2024 was serving as a special advisor to the president. 

Throughout her time at CapU, she has been instrumental in the creation of Envisioning 2030 and the corresponding academic plan, Illuminating 2030.  Laureen successfully stood up the office of Creative Activity Research and Scholarship (CARS), lead significant expansion of new programs particularly at the degree level, and oversaw the launch of the Squamish Campus.  Her leadership was instrumental in the creation of Indigenous Education & Affairs (IEA) and Chén̓chenstway, a living document outlining CapU's journey of reconciliACTION and learning. 

Dr. Styles holds a Doctor of Education in educational leadership (EdD) from the University of Calgary as well as a Master of Nursing and a Bachelor of Science in nursing, both from the University of Alberta.  Prior to her tenure at CapU, she held the positions of vice-president academic at the Justice Institute of BC;  dean, Faculty of Health and Human Services at Vancouver Island University (VIU); and teaching (faculty) roles at VIU, University of Calgary, and the College of New Caledonia.