Advisory Board
The Royal Roads University School of Communications and Culture is pleased to welcome a new Chair, Robyn Quinn, and a roster of incoming members to the dynamic group as the school experiences growing success. As Chair of the School of Communication and Culture Advisory Board Robyn will lead dedicated volunteers to guide Royal Roads policy and to identify opportunities to increase school profile and promote student engagement. A special thank you is extended to Michael McCarthy stepping down as Chair after two years providing invaluable insights and advice.
Chair: Robyn Quinn is an award winning communications professional and accredited member of the Canadian Public Relations Society (National President 2004/2005). She is currently President and owner of Big Bang Communications, a Victoria based firm providing public relations, media and marketing services to innovative science and technology entrepreneurs and organizations. She has over 15 years’ experience in senior communications management. Quinn is a member of the Professional Writers Association of Canada, Science Writers of Canada, VIATeC and has served as a Senior Communications Officer for Natural Resources Canada and for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency.
New advisory board members represent a diverse and exciting slice of Canadian education, media and corporate culture:
Well known journalist Craig Oliver is the Chief Parliamentary Correspondent for CTV News. Known as CTV’s Chief Political Correspondent, Craig Oliver continues to be a major influence in Canadian TV news. He is a member of the Canadian Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame and has won numerous awards including the Canadian Association of Broadcasters Gold Ribbon Award for broadcast excellence.
Dr. Myer Horowitz is considered one of Canada’s most eminent scholars in the discipline of education. Horowitz was President of the University of Alberta for ten years and was honoured with many awards including the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the Graduate Students’ Association at the University of Alberta. Dr Horowitz was admitted as an Officer into the Order of Canada.
Local media and Vancouver Island community leader Hudson Mack is the current News Director for A Channel and an award winning member of the Radio Television News Directors Association. Hudson served from 1990 to 2008 on the board of directors of the RTNDA, including two terms as president. He is BC Regional Vice-Chair of the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council and is former chair of the National Editorial Committee of Broadcast News Limited.
Corporate communications pro Susan Danard manages media relations for BC Hydro and boasts an impressive background as a journalist as well. Danard is currently the Manager, Issues Management and Media Relations for the utility and was also acting manager of corporate communications at TransLink. In her journalism experience, she was Victoria Bureau Chief at Citytv and Senior Reporter for the Victoria Times Colonist.
Rian Bowden is one of two Principals\ Founders of DailySplice—a social media and podcasting business. His experience starting a high-technology business based on Vancouver Island will add an entrepreneurial element to the board. Rian is also bringing his knowledge and interest in using social media in higher education.
Dr. Bill Muirhead provides strategic leadership in the administration of education. Dr. Muirhead is the Associate Provost for Teaching and Learning at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology and brings extensive expertise in on-line education to the Board. He is Founding Co-Director of the Health Education Technology Research Unit and is on the Faculty of Health Sciences. He currently serves as President of the Canadian Association of Distance Education.
Returning members to the RRU Advisory Board are:
Parm Bains is a Media Relations Officer at the Communications Division in the Public Affairs Bureau of British Columbia. He is also active in the BC South Asian community. He serves as a board member of the South Asian Chamber of Commerce and of the Sikh Societies of the Lower Mainland. As a graduate of the Masters in Professional Communications (MAPC) program, Parm makes practical contributions to future improvements and changes.
Jas Cheema is the Manager of Diversity Services at Surrey Memorial Hospital. She also works as an educational consultant and researcher in the area of Communication Competence and Intercultural Communication. Jas was the recipient of the Woman of the Year award in Surrey, BC for 2008.
Professor Yang Daping is the Deputy-Dean, College of Foreign Language Studies at Shandong Normal University. Professor Daping spent six months at Royal Roads University and works as a liaison in Intercultural/International Communication.
Dr. Fred Fletcher is Professor Emeritus in Communication Studies and Political Science at York University and Past Chair of the Canadian Media Research Consortium. Fred Fletcher has provided significant leadership to the discipline of communication studies in Canada with a focus on policy and politics.
Maureen Nicholson works as a Faculty member and the Coordinator of the Print Futures program at Douglas College, she has also been an Associate RRU faculty member. She contributes her knowledge of community college programs as well as her technical program expertise. In addition to her teaching roles Nicholson operates a publishing services company for editorial development and project management.
Dr. Jan Walls is a SFU Professor Emeritus as well as the Founding Director of the David Lam Centre for International Communication. He has a Ph.D. in Chinese and Japanese literatures and brings valued experience in diplomacy for Canada, international business, foreign affairs, industry leadership and communication consulting.
