Alberta’s United Conservative government announced a comprehensive overhaul of the governance of Alberta’s colleges and universities Friday, removing many appointments made by the former NDP government.
Former Edmonton city councillor and LGBTQ rights pioneer Michael Phair will be replaced by Kate Chisholm, a senior vice-president and Chief Legal and Sustainability Office for Capital Power.
Phair was appointed chair of the University of Alberta in February 2016.
Ray Pisani, president and CEO of Alberta Blue Cross, replaces former NDP Leader Ray Martin as the chair of the board of governors of the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT).
Alex Pourbaix, CEO of energy company Cenovus, has been named as board chair at Mount Royal University.
Sue Mallon, the former chair, was appointed by the NDP government in December 2016.
Jill Wyatt, another NDP appointment, is out as the chair of the University of Calgary’s board.
Geeta Sankappanavar, president of Grafton Asset Management, will take her place.
All told, the provincial government appointed new board members at 11 of Alberta’s post-secondary institutions.
Other high profile appointees include former provincial Progressive Conservative cabinet minister Donna Kennedy-Glans to the board of the Banff Centre, president and CEO of Perpetual Energy Sue Riddell-Rose to the board of Mount Royal University and former PC MLA Janice Sarich to the board of MacEwan University.
Edmonton Chamber of Commerce president Janet Riopel has been appointed to the NAIT board and former Conservative MP James Rajotte to the Univeristy of Alberta board.
Here is the full list of post-secondary appointments:
Athabasca University Board of Governors
- Nancy M. Laird, board chair
- Bryan Berg, public member
- IIario (Larry) Spagnolo, public member
Banff Centre Board of Governors
- Adam Waterous, board chair
- Patricia Brister, public member
- Donna Kennedy-Glans, QC, public member
Bow Valley College Board of Governors
- Dwayne Dubois, public member
Grande Prairie Regional College Board of Governors
- Ron Wiebe, public member
- Lydell Torgerson, public member
- Brent Cage, public member
Keyano College Board of Governors
- Shelley Powell, board chair
- Kim Farwell, public member
- Christian Matte, public member
- Joe MacNeil, public member
- Staci Millard, public member
MacEwan University Board of Governors
- Carolyn Graham, board chair
- Adam Guiney, public member
- Samantha Kernahan, public member
- Janice Sarich, public member
Mount Royal University Board of Governors
- Alex Pourbaix, board chair
- Karl Johannson, public member
- Chris Lee, public member
- Carrie Lonardelli, public member
- Sue Riddell-Rose, public member
Northern Alberta Institute of Technology Board of Governors
- Ray Pisani, board chair
- Kris Mauthe, public member
- Marlea Sleeman, public member
- Kristina Williams, public member
- Janet Riopel, public member
- Paul Verhesen, public member
Southern Alberta Institute of Technology Board of Governors
- Scott Thon, board chair
- Tonya Fleming, public member
- Lara Murphy, public member
- James Cameron Bailey, public member
University of Alberta Board of Governors
- Kathryn (Kate) Chisholm, board chair
- Daniel Eggert, public member
- Larry Kaumeyer, public member
- Rakesh Saraf, public member
- Tom Ross, public member
- James Rajotte, public member
University of Calgary Board of Governors
- Geeta Sankappanavar, board chair
- Heather Christie-Burns, public member
- Cody Church, public member