Vancouver Community College is a public post-secondary education institution. The Board of Governors administers the college, on behalf of the government of British Columbia and Ministry of Post Secondary Education and Future Skills and determines policy and reviews the college's performance as detailed in the College and Institute Act, Part 4, Section 19.
Joey Hartman, Chair
Appointed Member Term: July 31, 2018 to July 31, 2025
Joey Hartman retired as President of the Vancouver & District Labour Council in February 2018. She is recognized as a community and social justice activist and serves on a number of boards including the Council of Canadians, BC Labour Heritage Centre and Pacific Blue Cross. She holds a Certificate in Early Childhood Education from Capilano College.
Ajay Patel, President & CEO Ex-Officio
Ajay Patel was confirmed as president of Vancouver Community College on January 24, 2020. He first joined VCC in May 2019 as Vice-President, Enterprise and International Development. Ajay has over 20 years of post-secondary experience, and has consistently distinguished himself for his strategic leadership and for his inspiration and support for students, employees, and the whole community.
Ajay’s ongoing commitment to International Education across the post-secondary sector was recognized in 2019 with the BC Council for International Education Distinguished Leadership Award. Other awards include the City of Vancouver Parks and Recreation’s Volunteer of the Year, the Sport BC President’s Award, and the Top 25 Canadian Immigrant award in 2021.
At VCC, one of Ajay’s priorities is to lead the college into a promising future by implementing the Strategic Innovation Plan, including a Campus Master Plan designed to guide VCC’s development over the next 10 years.
Libby Davies, Vice Chair Appointed Member Term: July 31, 2018 to July 31, 2024
Libby Davies was a Member of Parliament for Vancouver East from 1997 – 2015. During that time she served as House Leader, Deputy Leader (2007-2015), and Official Opposition Spokesperson for Health. Ms. Davies is invited as a guest lecturer on a variety of topics related to government, situation related to drugs and HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis.
Natasha Mandryk, Education Council Chair Ex Officio Member Term: Jan 1 to December 31, 2023
Dr. Chi Lo Appointed Member Term: July 31, 2023 to July 31, 2024
Dr. Chi Lo is Principal Lawyer, Barrister & Solicitor at CML Law Corporation. Previously, he was Census Enumerator at Statistics Canada. Active in his community, Dr. Lo is an Advising Lawyer with Access Pro Bono, and Honourary Legal Advisor for The Natives of Toi Shan Benevolent Society. Dr. Lo holds a Juris Doctor in English and Hong Kong Common Law, and a Doctor of Philosophy from Chinese University of Hong Kong; a Master of Applied Science from the University of British Columbia; a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) from Imperial College, University of London; a Chartered Financial Analyst from CFA Institute; advanced (postgraduate) diploma courses from the British Columbia Institute of Technology; and, certificates from the Federation of Law Societies of Canada and Harvard University Online.
Jeffrey Yu Appointed Member Term: July 12, 2021 to July 31, 2025
Jeffrey Yu is the principal owner of REL Technology Inc, a company that empowers people to live an independent and healthy lifestyle. As a former Assistant Operations Manager for Five Star Building Maintenance, and as an Integrated Service Manager and numerous Management roles in the Long Term Care Industry, Mr. Yu has extensive management and leadership experience. Mr. Yu is also experienced in real estate development and master site planning.
Active in his community, he is a member of Premier’s Chinese Canadian Community Advisory Committee, Trustee Chair for the New Vista Society and the Board Chair of Trustees for the Burnaby Library. He is a Nutrition Manager of the Canadian Society of Nutrition Managers and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Simon Fraser University.
Mahin Rashid Appointed Member Term: July 31, 2018 to July 31, 2024
Nadia Belokopitov Appointed Member Term: July 31, 2018 to July 31, 2024
Nadia Belokopitov is a status member of the Haida Nation, House of Yuuglaanas, Raven Clan. She is the owner of the Cedar Root Gallery, the only 100% owned and operated Indigenous retail store in Vancouver. Ms. Belokopitov was previously a Federal negotiator with Indian and Northern Affairs Canada and is an activist with the Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women’s Inquiry. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Toronto and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of British Columbia. Nadia was the proud recipient of the 2019 Arbor Award from University of Toronto recognizing her dedication to enhancing the experience of its students.
Seung Oh Appointed Member Term: February 25, 2019 to July 31, 2025
Ms. Oh is an experienced advisor for local business owners and managers and is currently the sole proprietor of Seung Oh Ltd. chartered accounting firm in Burnaby. She is an experienced director and CFO for Canadian public companies and a seminar speaker for the Korean Canadian Business Community on business and tax related matters.
Shobha Rajagopalan Appointed Member Term: July 31, 2018 to July 31, 2024
Shobha Rajagopalan is a passionate educator with many years of post secondary teaching experience and served in many leadership roles in private public sectors in British Columbia. Currently working as the Health Science Program manager at the Native Education College.
Very active in the local community, served as the chair for the Youth justice committee, City of Coquitlam. A passionate community organizer, previously served as the president of Kerala Cultural Organization and Society of Women Empowerment.
Sue Hammell Appointed Member Term: July 31, 2019 to July 31, 2025
Sue Hammell recently retired as a Member of the BC Legislature. She was re-elected as the MLA for Surrey-Green Timbers in May 2013. She was first elected in 1991, and then re-elected multiple times. She serves as Opposition Spokesperson for Mental Health and Addictions. Ms. Hammell served in a number of cabinet positions as MLA, including Minister of Housing, Recreation and Consumer Services, Minister Responsible for Co-operatives, and Minister for Women’s Equality. In addition, she was government caucus chair and was active on several legislative committees. Ms. Hammell also worked with the Surrey Aboriginal Society as their Executive Director, where she developed the society into a modern urban centre for aboriginal people with an annual budget of over $2 million. She has been working with the Washington, D.C.-based National Democratic Institute (NDI) for many years. With NDI she travelled to the Middle East five times to work with emerging political parties and female candidates. She is also a founding member of the Minerva Foundation for B.C. Women, initiated in 1999 to provide funds for projects that will assist women to realize their potential and to create a safe place for them to live and work in British Columbia. After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Education from the University of British Columbia, she taught in Verdun, Quebec, Courtenay and Surrey.
Dr. Paul Yeung, Support Staff Representative Elected Member Term: November 1, 2020 to October 31, 2023
Dr. Paul Yeung was elected by the Support Staff group in October 2020. Dr. Yeung has been working as a VCC support staff since 2011. He has held various positions in academia, government and the not for profit sector. In academia, he has taught both undergraduate and graduate courses at UBC, SFU, and Brock University and is currently treasurer of the BC Chapter of the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA), as well as a board member for the Private Practitioner Chapter. In government, Dr. Yeung was a researcher to the Centre for Chronic Disease Prevention and Control (CCDPC) for the Public Health Agency of Canada.
Dr. Yeung has authored articles in refereed journals and presented at conferences in Canada and abroad.
Karen Brooke, Faculty Representative Elected Member Term: November 1, 2020 to October 31, 2023
Karen Brooke was elected by the faculty group in October 2020. Ms. Brooke has been an instructor at Vancouver Community College since 2004, first with the English as an Additional Langauge department and now with the School of Instructor Education. She has been proud to serve the college on a number of committees. She is interested in the history and mission of community colleges.
Justine Gonzales Elected Student Member Term: November 1, 2022 to November 1, 2023
Justine Gonzales is an international student in the Business & Project Management post-graduate program. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in Medical Technology from Centro Escolar University in the Philippines. He was the Medical Technology Student Council President in 2014 and 2015 at the university and is a leadership award recipient during his time at the university. He has been part of different business sectors from pharmaceutical, logistics, and finance. He has been part of an executive committee for a freight forwarding company in the Philippines for 3 years and he has experience in customer service, sales, marketing, and finance.
Yanni Wong Elected Student Member Term: March 1, 2023 to November 1, 2023
Yanni Wong is a full-time international student pursuing the diploma in Automotive Collision and Refinishing in Broadway Campus. He holds a master degree in Building Engineering.
Before arriving in Vancouver, Yanni was a Chartered Building Surveyor in the UK, and a Chartered Construction Project Manager working for a sizable charity organization in Hong Kong for 10 years. Yanni is experienced in dealing with public sectors for town planning and building development issues.
For questions relating to Board Governance at VCC, please contact Executive Assistant, Deborah Lucas at dlucas@vcc.ca or 604.871.7000 Ext. 8313
Government-appointed board members are appointed by the Province of British Columbia. For information on appointment processes and guidelines, please visit the Crown Agencies and Board Resourcing Office.
The VCC Board of Governors has three standing committees:
G.1.0 Board Conduct
G.2.0 Board Governance
G.3.0 Board Honoraria & Expenses
Election Rules (v. Sept 12, 2023)
2023/24 Mandate Letter for Public Post-Secondary Institutions
2022/23 Mandate Letter for Public Post-Secondary Institutions
2021/22 Mandate Letter for Public Post-Secondary Institutions
2020/21 Mandate Letter for Public Post-Secondary Institutions
2019/20 Mandate Letter for Public Post-Secondary Institutions
2018/19 Mandate Letter for Public Post-Secondary Institutions
2017/18 Mandate Letter for Public Post-Secondary Institutions
2016/17 Mandate Letter for Public Post-Secondary Institutions
2015/16 Mandate Letter for Public Post-Secondary Institutions
| Date | Location |
Agenda | Minutes | Certified Resolutions |
| Feb. 8, 2023 | Dtn Campus | PDF 2MB | PDF 237KB | |
| Mar. 29, 2023 | 5025, Bwy Campus | PDF 2.8 MB | PDF 312 KB | |
| Apr. 14, 2023 | ZOOM | PDF 1.4 MB | PDF 1.1 MB |
PDF 248 KB |
| May. 31, 2023 | 5025, Bwy Campus | PDF 4.6 MB | PDF 367 KB | PDF 270 KB |
| Jun. 28, 2023 | 5025, Bwy Campus | PDF 2.6 MB | PDF 268 KB | |
| Sep. 27, 2023 | ||||
| Nov 22, 2023 |
The Board breaks during the summer and meetings resume in September. The Board will approve the January to December 2024 meeting schedule in June 2023.
| Date | Agenda | Minutes | Certified Resolutions |
| Nov. 23, 2022 | PDF 3.3 MB | PDF 1.1 MB | PDF 230 KB |
| Sep.28 ,2022 | PDF 4.8 MB |
PDF 1.1 MB | PDF 1.1 MB |
| Jun.29, 2022 | PDF 3.8 MB |
PDF 1.1 MB | PDF 1.1 MB |
| May. 25, 2022 | PDF 2.8 MB | PDF 1.1 MB | PDF 1.1 MB |
| Mar. 30, 2022 | PDF 3.4 MB (v.2 updated Mar 28-22) |
PDF 410 KB | PDF 1.2 MB |
| Feb. 9, 2022 | PDF 2.5 MB | PDF 1.2 MB |
PDF 300 KB |
| Date | Agenda | Minutes | Certified Resolutions |
| Nov. 24, 2021 | PDF3.3 MB | PDF 1.3 MB | PDF 300 KB |
| Sep. 29, 2021 | PDF 2.2 MB | PDF 1 MB | PDF 300 KB |
| Aug. 11, 2021 | PDF 7.7 MB | PDF 1 MB | PDF 254 MB |
| Jun. 30, 2021 | PDF 10.9 MB | PDF 2.9 MB | PDF 260 KB |
| May. 27, 2021 | PDF 3.2 MB | PDF 355 MB | PDF 280 KB |
| Mar. 31, 2021 | PDF 6.3 MB | PDF 1.1 MB | PDF 1.1 MB |
| Feb. 10, 2021 | PDF 2.1 MB | PDF 1 MB | PDF 800 KB |
| Date | Agenda | Minutes | Certified Resolutions |
| Nov. 25, 2020 | PDF 3 MB | PDF 355 MB | PDF 400 KB |
| Sep. 30, 2020 |
PDF 3 MB | PDF 1.1 MB | PDF 329 KB |
| Sep. 9, 2020 | PDF 6.5 MB | PDF 1.1 MB | PDF 296 KB |
| Jun. 24, 2020 | PDF 8 MB | PDF 1.1 MB | PDF 1.2 MB |
| May. 27, 2020 | PDF 3.8 MB | PDF 1.1 MB | PDF 379 KB |
| Mar. 25, 2020 |
PDF 3.4 MB |
PDF 339 KB | PDF 329 MB |
| Feb. 19, 2020 | PDF 9.1 MB | PDF 1 MB | PDF 1 MB |
The Board breaks during the summer and meetings resume in September. The Board will approve the Jan to Dec 2022 meeting schedule in June 2021.
| Date | Agenda | Minutes | Certified Resolutions |
| Nov. 27, 2019 | PDF 5.7 MB | PDF 1.1 MB | PDF 772 KB |
| Sep. 25, 2019 | PDF 15 MB | PDF 1 MB | PDF 397 KB |
| Jun. 26, 2019 | PDF 5.2 MB | PDF 1.1 MB | PDF 311 KB |
| May. 29, 2019 | PDF 7.2 MB | PDF 631 MB | PDF 301 KB |
| Apr. 10, 2019 | PDF 4.5 MB | PDF 1.1 MB | PDF 251 KB |
| Feb. 13, 2019 | PDF 1.3 MB | PDF 948 KB | PDF 250 KB |
| Date | Agenda | Minutes | Certified Resolutions |
| Nov 28, 2018 | PDF v.2 3 MB | PDF 170 KB | PDF 279 KB |
| Sept. 26, 2018 | PDF 3.4MB | PDF 1.1 MB | PDF 335 KB |
| Jun. 27, 2018 | PDF 5.9MB | PDF 187 KB | PDF 266 KB |
| May. 30, 2018 | PDF 6.5MB | PDF 980 KB |
PDF 293 KB |
| Apr. 4, 2018 |
PDF 3.13 MB |
PDF 919 KB |
PDF 199 KB |
| Feb. 7, 2018 | PDF 1.92 MB | PDF 263 KB | PDF 199 KB |
| Date | Agenda | Minutes | Certified Resolutions |
| Nov. 15, 2017 | PDF 3,000 KB | PDF 216 KB |
PDF 167 KB |
| Sept. 27, 2017 | PDF 4,000 KB | PDF 234 KB | PDF 193 KB |
| Jun. 28, 2017 | PDF 3,466 KB | PDF 251 KB | PDF 244 KB |
| May. 31, 2017 | PDF 6,293 KB | PDF 259 KB | PDF 203 KB |
| May. 11, 2017 |
PDF 2,000 KB |
PDF 163 KB | PDF 144 KB |
| Apr. 5, 2017 | PDF V.2 2,767 KB | PDF 147 KB | PDF 213 KB |
| Feb. 15, 2017 | PDF 5,487 KB | PDF 155 KB | PDF 211 KB |
| Date | Agenda | Minutes | Certified Resolutions |
| Dec. 16, 2015 | PDF v.2 13,073 KB | PDF 600 KB | PDF 52 KB |
| Oct. 28, 2015 | PDF 2,235 KB | PDF 399 KB | PDF 126 KB |
| Jun. 29, 2015 | PDF 7,200 KB | PDF 161 KB | PDF 1,403 KB |
| May 27, 2015 | PDF 1,667 KB | PDF 246 KB | PDF 685 KB |
| Apr. 29, 2015 | PDF 2,866 KB | PDF 243 KB | PDF 356 KB |
| Feb. 25, 2015 | PDF 2,919 KB | PDF 365 KB | PDF 745 KB |
| Date | Agenda | Minutes | Certified Resolutions |
| Nov. 16, 2016 | PDF 3,471 KB | PDF 181 KB | PDF 174 KB |
| Sept. 28, 2016 | PDF V.2 7,360 KB | PDF 258 KB | PDF 310 KB |
| Jun. 29, 2016 | PDF 3,156 KB | PDF 174 KB | PDF 216 KB |
| Jun. 8, 2016 | PDF V.2 8,000 KB | PDF 344 KB | PDF 189 KB |
| May. 11, 2016 | PDF 568 KB | PDF 196 KB | PDF 173 KB |
| Apr. 6, 2016 | PDF 7,008 KB | PDF 135 KB | PDF 622 KB |
| Feb. 24, 2016 | PDF 4,815 KB | PDF 189 KB | PDF 159 KB |
| Jan. 27, 2016 | PDF 3,753 KB | PDF 251 KB | PDF 141 KB |
| Date | Agenda | Minutes | Certified Resolutions |
| Dec. 3, 2014 | PDF 955 KB | PDF 208 KB | PDF 349 KB |
| Nov. 6, 2014 | PDF 5,159 KB | PDF 700 KB | PDF 174 KB |
| May 28, 2014 | PDF 3,014 KB | PDF 171 KB | PDF 87 KB |
| Apr. 30, 2014 | PDF 2,551 KB | PDF 294 KB | PDF 1,640 KB |
| Feb. 26, 2014 | PDF 1,427 KB | -- | PDF 1,016 KB |
