In July, John Jack of the Huu-ay-aht First Nations and Roger Kishi of Cumberland will officially join the board for a two-year term. They will replace outgoing members Barry Minaker, who served on various committees including, most recently, the governance and board development committee, and Jane Atherton, who served as chair and vice-chair.
“I wish to extend a note of appreciation to two of our outgoing directors who have served the college community well over their six-year and seven-year terms,” said Chair Patricia Trasolini. “Barry Minaker and Jane Atherton have given graciously of their time and expertise in order to promote the goals, values and growth of NIC through careful deliberation on matters of governance during committee meetings, board meetings, workshops, conferences and college events.”
Kishi and Jack follow Corinne Stavness of Comox, who also joined the board in December.
The three bring a wide range of experience to the board. Roger Kishi is currently co-ordinator of Homeless and Housing Programs for the Wachiay Friendship Centre and is responsible for Wachiay's Naut'sa mawt affordable housing project. He was a two-term council member for the Village of Cumberland from 2011 to 2018 and served as a director and finance committee member with the St. Joseph's Hospital Board from 2012 to 2020.
He currently serves with the M'akola Housing/Development Services Societies and is Nə́c̓aʔmat Leləm̓ Committee member for the Aboriginal Housing Management Association. He was also involved with Island Coastal Economic Trust (ICET) and is a founding director of the Beaufort Family Health Society, which was established to bring back a medical clinic to Cumberland.
“With my background in affordable housing, I am particularly interested in the work that NIC is doing for student housing,” he said. “I am impressed with the variety of programs that NIC offers for students on the North Island and the work it has done with local First Nations.”
John Jack has worked with communities in many ways. He is elected Chief Councillor for the Huu-ay-aht First Nations, and through that, a director and chair of the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District. Other commitments include ICET and a position on the Vancouver Island University Board of Governors, for which he is completing his term. He and his wife operate a consulting business oriented toward services for First Nations and Indigenous organizations.
“My background has lot of economic development. I bring some experience from the board of governors for VIU,” he said. “I do have some familiarity with post-secondary governance.”
Corinne Stavness is the vice president of corporate affairs at Western Forest Products. Previously, she was the director of prevention services and communication for the Ending Violence Association of BC. She holds a Bachelor of Science in forestry from the University of British Columbia and a Master of Science in economics from the University of Helsinki.
“As a North Island resident and in my role at Western Forest Products, I have had the opportunity to see first-hand how the skills training and educational opportunities offered by NIC are critical to our economy and communities,” she said. “I'm grateful for the opportunity to join NIC's Board of Governors and support the college's important work.”
The NIC Board of Governors oversees the college’s strategic direction and makes policy-level decisions to provide guidance. For more information, see www.nic.bc.ca/board.
