Board of Governors

The Board of Governors has the sole responsibility for the management, administration and control of the property, revenue, expenditures, business and affairs of the institution.

The Board of Governors consists of the following representatives, in accordance with the College and Institute Act:

  1. Eight or more persons appointed by the provincial government’s Lieutenant Governor in Council who shall  determine the length of their term and any renewals thereof;
  2. One person on the faculty of the College and elected by the faculty members, who shall serve a three-year term and may be elected to further terms;
  3. Two students, elected by the students, who shall each serve a one-year term and may be elected to further terms;
  4. One person who is part of the support staff and elected by the support staff, who shall serve a three-year term and may be elected to further terms;
  5. The President; and
  6. The Chair of Education Council

Elections

Positions:
(1) Support
(1) Faculty/Instructional 
(2) Students
Elected Member Position Information

Term:
Terms start on August 1st. The next regular scheduled election for employee positions is in Spring 2024 for a three-year term. Student elections are held annually in Spring for a one-year term.

Eligibility:
Support - any individual employed by Okanagan College who is a member of the BC General Employees’ Union (Support Staff) or covered by the Terms and Conditions for Exempt and Excluded Employees and is not in a position excluded under Appendix A of the Election Rules.

Faculty/Instructional -- any faculty member or vocational instructor employed by Okanagan College who is a member of the Okanagan College Faculty Association or BC Government and Service Employees’ Union (Vocational Instructors).

Students -- any person enrolled as a student at Okanagan College in a program approved by Education Council. The student must be deemed to be in good standing by the Registrar.

Election Rules and Schedule:
Board Election Rules

 Information about the Election Schedule and application process can be found on the elections page.

okanagan.bc.ca/elections

Members of the Board of Governors

Chair Dale Safinuk

Dale Safinuk is a retired Financial Services Executive with TD Bank and most recently served as District Vice President.  In this role he was responsible for overseeing TD's retail operations and developing strategic partnerships throughout the southern interior of BC.  His career at TD Bank Group spans over 20 years in a variety of diverse roles including: Call Centre Management, Credit Centre Management and he has also worked in Branch Banking and Commercial Banking.

Dale has previously served on the Advisory Board for Ch'nook Indigenous Students Education at UBC; as Co-Chair of TD's Diversity Leadership Council for Indigenous people; was a member of TD's National Committee for Indigenous people; and served as Board Member with TD Friends of the Environment Foundation. He is a past Director (Vice Chair) for the United Way of Kamloops and past Director (Treasurer) for United Way of Trail.  Other community organizations include: Kelowna Minor Hockey, Derrick Figure Skating Club (Edmonton), along with Rotary clubs in Kamloops and Trail. 

Term: July 31, 2019 to July 31, 2025 (appointed) 

Vice Chair, Board of Governors, Dale Safinuk stand by a railing wearing a black suit jacket with a blue shirt underneath

Vice Chair Andrea Alexander

Andrea Alexander is a Councillor for Westbank First Nation, where she has served  since 2019. Prior to being elected, Andrea was the Executive Assistant to Westbank First Nation Council. She has been active in the community, sitting on the Regional District of Central Okanagan Electoral Area Services Committee, SICA Board, Central Okanagan Economic Development Commission, Okanagan Nation Alliance Syilx Indian Residential School Committee, and the WFN Economic Development Commission. Andrea holds a Bachelor of Arts in Indigenous Studies from the University of British Columbia Okanagan, as well as a certificate in Indigenous Leadership, Governance, and Management Excellence from the Indigenous Leadership Program at the Banff Centre.

Term: July 31, 2020 to July 31, 2026 (appointed)

Photo of Andrea Alexander right side angled toward camera

Neil Fassina

Ex officio

Dr. Neil Fassina became Okanagan College's President in April 2021, drawn to the institution for its reputation for transforming lives and communities.

Fassina holds a PhD in Management from the Rotman School of Business at the University of Toronto, a BSc in Psychology from the University of Calgary and is a chartered professional in human resources (CPHR), and a chartered director through the Institute of Chartered Directors (ICD.D). As an active researcher, he has authored or co-authored a number of refereed articles, a Canadian Human Resource Management text, and pursues research interests in negotiations, applied decision making, and the role of education in shaping societies.

Prior to joining OC, Fassina was the President of Athabasca University (2016-21). He served previously as Provost and Vice President Academic at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) and the Dean of the JR Shaw School of Business and School of Hospitality and Culinary Arts. He has taught as part of his academic career at the University of Toronto, the University of Calgary, the University of Manitoba, and in executive environments.

Juliette Cunningham

Previous Chair (2022-2023)

Term:  July 31, 2018 to July 31, 2024 (appointed)

Juliette Cunningham served as Chair of the OC Board of Governors in 2022 and 2023.

Juliette was previously a Councillor in Vernon and the Vice-Chair of the Regional District of the North Okanagan, Vice-Chair of the Okanagan Basin Water Board as well as a business owner. She has served on the Vantage One Credit Union Board as a Director since 2020 and chairs their ESG Committee. She also has an extensive history of working with non-profit Boards such as the Women’s Centre, Junction Literacy, People Place, Museum and the Early Years Council.

Cindy Battersby

Term: July 31, 2023 - July 31, 2024 (appointed)

Prior to her retirement in 2021, Cindy Battersby was an Okanagan College employee for 30 years, most recently as a Financial Awards Analyst with Student Services.

During her career, Cindy served as Vice President, Administration for the BC Association of Student Awards Professionals. She also held various roles with the British Columbia General Employees Union (BCGEU) including  Vice President, Component 7 (Education, Science, Tech and Admin), as well as the role of Treasurer from 2011 to 2019. Cindy studied Business Administration and attended studies at both Okanagan College and Mount Royal College. She lives in Peachland with her husband.

Dustyn Baulkham

Term: July 31, 2022 - July 31, 2025 (appointed)

Dustyn Baulkham is the founder and CEO of Rebellious Unicorns Production Company. Previously he was the General Manager of the Kelowna Pride Society and the Executive Director of the Arts Council of the Central Okanagan. Mr. Baulkham is active in his community currently serving as a Director on the Central Okanagan Foundation and previously as the President and Treasurer of the Kelowna Pride Society. He holds a Bachelor of Management from UBC Okanagan.

Marcel Beerkens

Term: March 31, 2020 - July 31, 2024 (elected)

Marcel Beerkens joined Okanagan University College in 1998 and transitioned to Okanagan College in 2005. For many years, Marcel and his wife have been pleased to host a number of Okanagan College International Education students. Until recently, Marcel served six years as the BCGEU Support Staff Bargaining Unit Chairperson. Well versed in labour relations and occupational health and safety, he continues to apply his knowledge, skills and abilities on various committees both internally and externally.

Marcel holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Regina with a major in Psychology and received a technical designation from CompTIA in 2001 and a TESL Certificate from Okanagan College in 2004. In the pursuit of life-long learning, Marcel has enrolled in many of the annual professional development opportunities as offered by his employer and union.

Jillian Garrett

Ex-Officio 

Term: April 24, 2023 to June 30, 2024 (Education Council Chair)

Jillian Garrett (she/her) is incoming Chair of the Department of Communications at Okanagan College and Chair of Education Council. As a member of the local disability community, Jillian works passionately to combat ableism and promote equity and accessibility; she has spent decades volunteering in the public health sector as a patient advocate and proudly sits on Okanagan College’s Accessibility Committee. She also sits on the Boards of the Kelowna Art Gallery and Advocacy Canada LGBT.

Jillian’s teaching and subject matter expertise include visual culture, critical disability studies, inclusive pedagogies, cultural theory, environmental communication, argumentation and persuasion, and professional communication. Jillian’s scholarly interests primarily focus on issues around visual culture, including how collective and cultural memory is created and sustained through public monuments and memorials; the function of visual culture in times of national crisis; and the pedagogical role of public art in urban culture.

JoAnn Fowler

Term:  July 31, 2020 to July 31, 2026 (appointed)

JoAnn Fowler is a Mentor for new Social Workers for the Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD). Previously Ms. Fowler was a Delegated Social Worker with MCFD. During her career at MCFD, she worked in Child Protection, with Adults with Disabilities, Children with Special Needs, in Youth Services and in Guardianship. Ms. Fowler also was Seconded as a Resource Social Worker and Director of Child Welfare Department for the Splatsin Band.   Active in her community, she is President of the Shuswap Children’s Association, Treasurer for the Enderby and District Community Resource Centre, and a Member of the Ashton Creek Riverside Community. Previously Ms. Fowler was Chairperson and Shop Steward for the BC Government Employees’ Union Local 605. She holds a Bachelor of Social Work from the University of Victoria. 

Amolkdeep Kaur

Term: August 1, 2023 to July 31, 2024 (elected)

Amolkdeep Kaur is a third-year accounting student in the Okanagan School of Business. When not in classes or with spending time with family and friends, Amolk works as a  Commercial Insurance and Accounting Assistant, and has held past roles as an Insurance Advisor and Insurance Reconciliation Specialist.

Throughout her term as a student governor, Amolk is excited to provide a voice for OC students at the Board table. 

Matt Kavanagh

Term: March 1, 2024 to July 31, 2024 (elected) 

Matt Kavanagh joined the Department of English at Okanagan College in 2007. He served three terms as department chair between 2009 and 2019 and also participated on various college committees, including Education Council and the Okanagan College Faculty Association Council. 

Hailing from Southern Ontario, Matt’s studies took him to McGill University (Ph.D) and McMaster University (MA, BA). He is a scholar of contemporary American fiction and literary representations of finance. He also specializes in film studies as well as psychoanalytic theory. He lives in Kelowna with his three children.

Tina Lee

Term: July 31, 2018 to July 31, 2024 (appointed)

Tina Lee is an experienced communications and strategy professional from Penticton whose human rights and development work has spanned six continents and has ranged from influencing United Nations activity to developing municipal community engagement processes.

Destiny McNish

Term: August 1, 2023 to July 31, 2024 (elected)

Destiny McNish is a third-year Arts student working towards an Associate of Arts (A.A.) degree specializing in English and Sociology. Passionate about accessibility, advocacy, equity, and inclusion, Destiny is proud to be involved in various volunteer opportunities at OC’s Kelowna campus. In 2022, with the help of some incredibly supportive faculty, Destiny founded OC Kelowna’s student-led Accessibility Alliance – an agreement among students and faculty to work together to make OC more accessible. In early 2023, Destiny had the privilege of speaking to her fellow disabled and neurodiverse students as a Student Consultant, gathering their insight and experiential knowledge to inform OC’s Accessibility Plan. Afterwards, Destiny joined OC’s Accessibility Committee as a proud student member.

Through her work with the Board of Governors, Destiny hopes to continue her advocacy work while acting as a voice for the students.  After OC, Destiny hopes to get a master’s degree in social work (M.S.W.) or English (M.A.) and a Doctorate in Philosophy (Ph.D) specializing in Community Engagement, Social Change, and Equity. Education can be life-changing, and Destiny hopes to build a career making education more accessible for marginalized students and students with disabilities.

Meeting schedule

2023/24 Financial Year

May

Meeting:
May 23, 2023 
Type:
Regular session
Location:
Revelstoke 

June

Meeting:
June 20, 2023 
Type:
Strategy and Assessment
Regular session (if required)
Location:
South Okanagan

September

Meeting:
Sept. 26, 2023
Type:
Regular session
Location:
North Okanagan

October

Meeting:
 Oct 24 & 25, 2023
Type:
Professional development
Location:
Kelowna

December

Meeting:
Dec. 12, 2023
Type:
Regular session
Location:
Kelowna

March

Meeting:
Mar. 12, 2024
Type:
Regular session
Location:
North Okanagan

2024/25 Financial Year

May

Meeting:
May 21, 2024
Type:
Regular session
Location:
Kelowna

June

Meeting:
June 18, 2024 
Type:
Strategy & Assessment
Location:
Salmon Arm or Revelstoke

September

Meeting:
September 24, 2024
Type:
Regular session
Location:
Penticton 

October

Meeting:
October 22 & 23, 2024
Type:
Professional Development
Location:
Kelowna

December

Meeting:
December 10, 2024
Type:
Regular session
Location:
Kelowna

March

Meeting:
March 11, 2025
Type:
Regular session
Location:
Penticton

Statements from the Board

Okanagan College Statement on Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Social Justice

Okanagan College’s Board of Governors recognizes that a strategic focus on equity, diversity, inclusion, and social justice is essential to the well-being of the college and all its members.

Our mission is to transform lives and communities.  We are committed to imbuing the principles of equity, diversity, inclusion, and social justice into every corner of the College and thus into every possible aspect of how we can fulfill that mission.

We are committed to educating ourselves on what and how we can do better by being vulnerable and through our continuous commitment to learn, unlearn, and re-learn. We are persistent in planning how we can build upon the steps taken in the past and present.

The Board commits to embrace the principles of equity, diversity, inclusion and social justice in its deliberations and decisions and through the process of appointing members to the Board.