Verna J. Kirkness, Honourary Chair – Member of the Fisher River Cree Nation

A lifelong advocate of Indigenous education, Verna Kirkness created new learning opportunities for Canada’s Indigenous people through her work as a teacher, counselor, consultant and professor. As the first education director for what is now the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs and the Assembly of First Nations, she played a pivotal role in the development of the MIBs position paper, Wahbung: Our Tomorrows and the 1972 landmark policy of Indian Control of Indian Education. As a professor at the University of British Columbia, she worked to extend new programs, support services and cultural enrichment to Indigenous students. Verna has written and edited eight books and is published extensively in academic journals. She has received numerous awards, including the Order of Canada in 1998.

Tony Williams - Chairman

Mr. Williams is an alumni of the U of M Faculty of Science where he obtained a Bachelor of Science in Actuarial Mathematics. He is a Fellow of the Canadian Institute of Actuaries and a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries. He is a founder and former president of PBI Actuarial Consultants, Ltd. with head office in Vancouver. During his career he has provide actuarial and consulting advice to organizations in the private sector and public sector across Canada. His clients included First Nations, whom he advised regarding risk and investment management of their land claims settlement funds.

Ron Woznow - Executive Director

Ron Woznow - Executive Director

Dr. Ron Woznow is a resident of Powell River, British Columbia. He founded the Verna J. Kirkness Education Foundation in 2008 along with Susan O’Brien. He has served in executive positions in both the for-profit and non-profit sectors.  Ron Woznow has 30 years of board experience with Canadian charitable organizations including Science World BC, the BC Children’s and Family Research Institute and the North-South Institute.

Tyson MacGillivray, President

Mr. MacGillivray is a resident of Winnipeg, Manitoba. He received his BSc. from St. Francis Xavier University in 1996. Tyson is the Assistant Superintendent of the Frontier School Division. Prior to this, he was a teacher, vice-principal and a principal in the Shamattawa Education Authority. He chairs the School Advisory Committee for the Foundation and was also instrumental in the recruitment of Program participants from Winnipeg high schools.

Patrick Lauzon - Vice-President

Mr. Lauzon is a resident of White Rock, British Columbia.  He graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree from UBC in 1978 and did advanced studies at Simon Fraser University.  From 1981 to 2010 he held a range of positions in Western Canada.  In 2001 he was appointed Manager for Corporate Affairs and Policy for Merck Frosst Canada in BC with responsibility for liaison with the academic health research community, the business and biotechnology sector, patient and disease advocacy groups and the BC government.

Ulandi Teubes - Treasurer 

Ulandi Teubes is an Associate and the BC Region Operations Manager at Golder Associates Ltd., a global employee-owned engineering and environmental consulting services company with approximately 100 offices worldwide. Ulandi works in Golder’s Vancouver office as a part of a small senior leadership team that collaborates with the Principals and Associates of the region to develop and implement strategy, and manage the operations. Ulandi has been active in supervisory and management positions for 30 years and this is mostly attributable to her sincere interest in identifying and providing opportunities for people, mentorship to support their career growth and confidence development.

DeDe DeRose

DeDe was British Columbia’s first Superintendent of Aboriginal Achievement, and is a prominent advocate for Aboriginal student success. Born in Williams Lake to a Secwepempc family and as a member of the Esketemc First Nation, DeRose graduated from UBC’s Indigenous Teacher’s Education Program (NITEP) with a Bachelor of Education in 1981. She also earned a Diploma in Education in 1990, and completed the UBC Ts”kel Master’s Program in 1993. DeRose taught in the Cariboo Chilcotin School District for nine years, and then served as principal for various elementary schools in the Kamloops/Thompson School District for nearly two decades. In 2012, DeRose was appointed to the BC Ministry of Education as the first ever Superintendent of Aboriginal Achievement. The position was created to improve the rates of high-school graduation for Aboriginal youth, which is on average 30% lower than non-Aboriginal students.

Gerry Brach 

Gerry graduated from U.B.C. in 1990, with a M.Ed. in Counselling Psychology. He is a Registered Clinical Counsellor who has worked extensively as a school and private clinical counsellor. Passionate about working with First Nations youth, Gerry works to help students recognize and develop their strengths and to find ways to highlight and share their talents. It has been with this focus that he has developed and facilitated numerous programs for Tla’amin Nation in and around the Powell River, B.C. area.

Mark Fatteded

Mr. Fattedad joined Jarislowsky Fraser in 2006 and is a Partner in the firm’s Vancouver office. He is a registered portfolio manager and advises both institutional and private clients on investment strategy, investment policy and portfolio management. He serves on the Board of the Down Syndrome Research Foundation and is a member of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee.