2019 BCIRP June Meeting

Tom was born and raised in Munich, Bavaria, Germany. After some time as a logistics coordinator with the air force in Portugal, he attended the University of Munich and relocated to Canada in 1993.

Initially, Tom developed production control systems and database solutions for industry, when he received a call from Okanagan College to design an engineering technology program around the emerging Internet. Having chaired the program for a few years, he moved into post-secondary administration. After appointments as Dean of Trades & Technology and Vice-President Strategic Development at Victoria’s Camosun College, he joined BCIT in early 2016.

As BCIT’s Vice-President Academic, he is responsible for the educational, international, indigenous and applied research portfolios of the Institute. This comprises about 2000 people and the lion’s share of BCIT’s $335 million budget. He functions as the Institute’s executive academic liaison and seeks out new partnerships around the globe. Translated to the private sector, his responsibilities are somewhat of a blend of Operating, Learning and Strategy Officer. 

Tom holds a Master’s degree in astrophysics, and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Simon Fraser University. He maintains strong ties to Germany and Brazil, and specializes in questions of practitioner training, global workforce development and applied research. He serves on various external Boards such as Innovate BC.

Tom lives in both Vancouver and Victoria, and in his spare time he loves to go hiking with his dog Fiasco, or travel the world with his wife Karen. 

Jacqui Stewart, CPA, CGA joined Capilano University in April of 2016 after working with the Ministry of Advanced Education for 16 years, serving in a number of high-level positions. Most recently, Jacqui held the position of Executive Director of the Post-Secondary Audit and Accountability Branch within the Ministry of Advanced Education. Jacqui has also served as the interim VP of Finance at BCIT and has held financial roles at the Ministries of Advanced Education and Health.

In her role with the Ministry of Advanced Education, Jacqui led the implementation of a data-sharing mechanism to understand a student's transition from K-12 to post-secondary, as well as the design of programs to support students in improving these results. Jacqui also provided executive leadership in developing the Nicola Valley Institute of Technology's (NVIT) Vancouver campus. At an earlier phase in her career, Jacqui worked in the hotel industry, where she was part of a team responsible for implementing a computer-based registration system in advance of Expo '86.

Jacqui holds both a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) and a Chartered General Accountant (CGA) designation, and she earned a diploma in technology from the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT).

Born in Burnaby, Jacqui commutes between Vancouver and Victoria, where her family resides.

Chris Holling leads labour market forecasting in the Labour Market Insights, Evaluation and Outreach Branch of the B.C. Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Training. He and his team produce the annual B.C. Labour Market Outlook report (www.workbc.ca/labourmarketoutlook) and associated industry and occupation profiles and open data files as well as the quarterly B.C. Major Projects Inventory (www.majorprojectsinventory.com). He also helps people effectively use labour market information and forecasts in their planning processes. Previously he was Director of Economic Development at the Toronto Region Board of Trade and Vice President of Global Economic Consulting at IHS Global Insight (now IHS Markit).

Joshua Mitchell, Senior Director, Student Affairs (KPU)

Surinder Aulakh, Director, Safety/Security and Risk Management (VCC)

Mike Bennett, Educational Research Analyst (Camosun College)

For more than 50 years, the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) has been training the experts, innovators, and professionals who shape our economy – across BC and around the world. With five campuses and over 50,000 students enrolled each year, BCIT is one of BC’s largest post-secondary institutes. BCIT offers over 300 programs – from certificates and diplomas, to bachelor's and master's degrees – in areas such as Applied and Natural Sciences, Business and Media, Computing, Engineering, Health Sciences, and Trades and Apprenticeship.

Through our unique applied education model, BCIT students gain the technical skills, real-world experience, and problem-solving ability needed to embrace complexity and lead innovation in a rapidly changing workforce. Our curriculum is developed through close consultation with industry and delivered by instructors who have direct, hands-on experience in their fields. 

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