Lance Kayfish has been chosen as the new chair of Okanagan College’s Board of Governors. He was elected Tuesday at the Board’s regular meeting. The new vice-chair is Yvonne Pinder.

Kayfish has served on the College Board since 2007 and is a risk management expert with the City of Kelowna. He holds baccalaureate degrees in both commerce and political science. Before beginning his employment with the municipality in 2003, he served as a manager for the University of Calgary in both the Risk Management and Safety functions. His previous board experience includes a three-year term on the Alberta Student Finance Board and the University of Calgary’s Senate and General Faculties Council. He has also been actively involved in leadership roles for the Risk and Insurance Management Society, an international professional association.

Pinder is a Certified Management Accountant (CMA) and a Fellow of the Society of Management Accountants of Canada.  She holds an MBA from the University of Saskatchewan. She has extensive experience as a senior financial executive for organizations in the Health and Education sectors including Okanagan College, the Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology, and Parkridge Centre for long term care (Saskatoon). She has served on several community and foundation boards in Saskatchewan and on several professional committees for CMA Canada at both a provincial and national level.

Kayfish follows Janet Shaw as Board Chair, who finished her term as a Board member at the end of 2009. Shaw served six years on the Okanagan College Board. Kayfish was Vice-Chair.
“I’m flattered by my colleagues’ decision,” says Kayfish. “The months and years ahead will be interesting and challenging times. We all recognize that the provincial government is facing significant financial pressures that will have an impact on public agencies.

“Over the past five years we’ve exceeded expectations in terms of enrolment and performance and we see the demand for our programs continuing to grow. Balancing demand and resources will be, as it always has been, the challenge for Okanagan College and the Board. I have every confidence we will continue meet that challenge and serve the needs of the region, our students, staff and supporters.”

Kayfish and Pinder are joined on the Board by appointed members Bill Cooke, Brian Hughes, Paul Johnson, Jane Lister, Tom Styffe, and Loretta Swite, and by elected members Michael Conlin, Lianne Rozniak, Andrew Nelson, Phillippe Bourbeau as well as ex officio members Jim Hamilton (President, Okanagan College) and Rick Gee (Chair, Okanagan College Education Council).