Kim (Kwuntiltunaat) Baird, Chancellor
Current KPU chancellor Kim Baird (her ancestral name is Kwuntiltunaat) is known for being a leader and team-builder. Baird was the elected Chief of the Tsawwassen First Nation for six terms, from 1999-2012. At just 28 years old, she was the youngest woman to hold that position.
She negotiated and implemented British Columbia’s first urban modern treaty, which provided unprecedented benefits and opportunities for Tsawwassen First Nation. Her leadership has contributed to Tsawwassen First Nation being one of the most progressive First Nations in the country.
Receiving numerous awards and accolades throughout her career, Baird’s accomplishments include being a Member of the Order of Canada, being a recipient of the Order of British Columbia and a Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, being recognized as part of Canada’s Top 40 Under 40, and many others. She has been appointed to various boards in the community including the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade, BC Indigenous Business Investment Council, and the Canada Public Policy Forum.
Baird is a Distinguished Alumna of KPU, an honour granted to her by the KPU Alumni Association. She completed an arts diploma at KPU and credits her time at the university with awakening her political consciousness.
Baird also provides strategic consulting to First Nations, governments, businesses, and other organizations on Indigenous matters with the goal of improving the quality of life for Indigenous people. In addition to the many roles she holds professionally, Baird is a proud mom to three young girls.
Erin Barnes, Community Member
Erin is a lawyer at Miller Titerle + Co., specializing in advising First Nations on environmental and regulatory matters, including joint and Nation-led processes and economic development strategies. She supports First Nations clients in advocating for the meaningful implementation of UNDRIP, ensuring that communities have a strong foundation to increase jurisdiction and reach self-determination. Her skills extend to advising clients on governance structuring, land and resource planning, government-to-government agreements, and legislative reform.
Erin has practiced law in Vancouver for 6 years, and has experience at both National and Regional law firms. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Victoria, and a Juris Doctor from the Peter A. Allard School of Law at the University of British Columbia.
Erin is Mi’kmaw and a member of the Acadia First Nation. She is active in the Vancouver and British Columbia community, acting on the Board of Directors for Saa’men Economic Development LP, the GreaterVancouver Board of Trade, and volunteers with youth at the Urban Native Youth Association.
Dianne Doyle, Chair, Community Member
Dianne is a results-oriented health leader with broad senior executive experience, predominantly within an academic health science center. She served as President and CEO of Providence Health Care for almost 12 years, and then served as President of St. Thomas More Collegiate, an independent high school part of a global network of Christian Brother Schools.
Dianne is a certified director with the Institute of Corporate Directors. She brings experience in strategy, governance, organizational culture, team building and capital planning to multiple boards. Some examples include her service as Director on the BC Rapid Transit Company, the College of Dental Surgeons of BC, Mothers Matter Centre, and the Provincial Health Services Authority. She currently is President of the Registered Nurses Foundation of BC.
Dianne is a lifelong learner and holds a BScN from the University of Ottawa, an MSN from the University of BC, an Honorary Doctorate from St Mark's College, and a Fellowship in the Canadian College of Health Leaders.
Dianne brings humility to her journey of truth and reconciliation with Indigenous communities and brings compassion to issues of social inequity.
Furquan Gehlen, Vice Chair, Community Member
Furquan has worked in the industrial automation industry as a Program Manager and a Commercial Project Engineer for over 30 years. He has a background in Electrical Control Systems and Computer Systems. He has travelled for work extensively across North America and around the world, visiting various industrial plants and facilities to resolve technical and commercial challenges.
He has furthered his education by completing a ‘Certificate in International Development’ from UBC, a master’s degree in Peacebuilding from Royal Roads University and PMP certification from PMI.
Passionate about serving the community, Furquan has 25 years of involvement on the boards of various charities and non-profits including the Delta Mayors Public Safety Committee. He has been a social justice advocate for the past 30 year and is focused on making the world a better place by working on resolving problems at the root cause level and in a sustainable way.
Born in Newcastle, England and living in the Metro Vancouver region since 1973, Furquan has lived in North Delta since 1992.
Kim McGill, Support Staff Member
Kim McGill and has proudly worked at KPU since 2001. Currently, Kim is the Manager of Community Engagement & Major Events in the Office of External Affairs. This fairly new department works with every corner of the university and represents KPU at community events within many of the communities it serves. Having previously served 3 years on Senate and another 6 on the Board of Governors she is pleased to return at this exciting time of change at KPU. Having been the recipient of the KPU Distinguished Service Award-Support Staff in 2023, Kim understands what teamwork truly means.
Kim is thankful for her colleagues & the administration she works with every single day, and it is an honour for her to represent Support Staff once again in this important role. Kim has served on many committees and working groups over her two decades at KPU and has truly enjoyed contributing. The Support Staff voice is an important one at the Board of Governors level where sharing thoughts, solutions, and working together create opportunities for the betterment of KPU.
Kyungjune June Park, Community Member
Kyungjune (June) Park is the Executive Director of the Burnaby North Road Business Improvement Association, where he leads initiatives that support local business vitality, public safety, and long-term urban planning. He works closely with municipal departments, civic agencies, and grassroots organizations to advance collaborative solutions that reflect the needs of a diverse commercial district.
Park’s professional background spans business operations, strategic development, and community engagement. He has led regional sales teams in the food distribution industry and currently advises on real estate and marketing strategy through various consulting roles. His work emphasizes systems thinking, stakeholder alignment, and culturally competent leadership.
In addition to his core responsibilities, Park contributes to public-facing projects that connect small businesses with digital tools and civic programs. His experience working at the intersection of public and private sectors informs his commitment to inclusive growth and responsive governance.
Park holds a diploma in Entertainment Business Management from Vancouver Film School and completed studies in Health Sciences at Simon Fraser University. He is fluent in English and Korean and has lived and worked across several Lower Mainland communities. He currently resides in Langley.
Dr. Lyndsay Passmore, Faculty Board Member
Lyndsay has been a faculty member at Kwantlen Polytechnic University for the last 15 years, teaching in the business and entrepreneurial leadership departments. Leadership positions held at KPU include multiple committee chair roles and most recently, chairing the Business department through the Covid transition to online, as well as through a major program revision that focused on developing business students who are skilled interpersonal leaders with competencies in equity, diversity, and inclusion.
Lyndsay lives on the traditional and unceeded lands of the Tsawwassen and Musqueam First Nations. She is married with four kids, a poodle and a pug. Lyndsay started as a non-traditional student at KPU, which laid the framework for her passion for accessible education. She holds both an HBA (general management/accounting) and MBA (strategy/health sector) from the Richard Ivey School of Business at Western University in London, Ontario. Lyndsay holds a Doctorate in Entrepreneurial Leadership in Education from Johns Hopkins University. Lyndsay has a special interest in accessible and equitable education. Her dissertation focus was on improving the international student experience in Canada, and she is currently exploring how learning communities impact student experience and outcomes.
Valerie Warren
Valerie Warren is an accounting educator and academic leader with over 20 years of experience at Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU). She has served in several leadership roles, including three terms as Chair of the Accounting Department, Vice Chair of Faculty Council, and Associate Dean Pro Tem in the Melville School of Business. She has contributed to key academic initiatives, including the development and implementation of the Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) framework, the Post-Baccalaureate Accounting Diploma program, and ensuring alignment of the requirements of the accounting profession.
Valerie is also the author of a widely used textbook accounting textbook and has been actively involved in the broader accounting community, serving on the Board of Directors of the Canadian Academic Accounting Association and conducting Practice Reviews for the Chartered Professional Accountants of British Columbia (CPABC). Valerie holds an MBA in Professional Accounting from the University of Toronto, and she has been elected to Fellowship with CPABC in recognition of her contributions to the profession.
Anson Fong
Anson Fong is from Vancouver, British Columbia and he is a third year BBA student in the Melville School of Business, majoring in Accounting.
Anson has a history of contributing to the KPU community previously holding important roles as a Student Representative on the Melville School of Business Dean Search Advisory Committee (2025), Melville School of Business Associate Dean Search Advisory Committees (2023 and 2024), and Faculty of Arts Research and Scholarly Mentorship Award Selection Committee (2023). Furthermore, he regularly volunteers at the Fraser Health Authority as a Wayfinding Volunteer.
Anson has also worked as a Student Assistant at Kwantlen Polytechnic University, as an Academic Integrity Student Ambassador (Faculty of Arts), and Open Education Student Ambassador (Teaching & Learning). While he was an Academic Integrity Student Ambassador, he was on the Arts Academic Integrity Committee and Arts International Committee. Additionally, he has worked for the Provincial Health Services Authority, Elections Canada, Elections British Columbia, City of Vancouver, and City of Richmond.
Anson has been recognized for his accomplishments, as the recipient of the Richmond Chamber of Commerce Endowed Award, CBSY Department Scholarship, and the KPU Student Leadership Award.
Kritika Sohi
Kritika Sohi, CPA, CA is a senior finance and assurance leader with over 13 years of experience advising private companies and owner managed businesses on accounting, tax, and strategic growth matters. As Senior Manager, Assurance at Doane Grant Thornton LLP, she leads complex client engagements, manages significant client portfolios, and provides trusted advisory services across assurance, taxation, and business planning.
Known for her strong client relationships and collaborative leadership style, Kritika has successfully led multidisciplinary teams, driven business development initiatives, and supported organizations through critical financial and operational decisions. Her expertise includes assurance services, corporate and personal taxation, remuneration planning, governance, and financial strategy.
Kritika holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from Kwantlen Polytechnic University and earned her CPA, CA designation through the Chartered Accountant School of Business.
Beyond her professional role, she is committed to community leadership and governance. She serves as Treasurer of the Harvey Sohi Foundation, where she contributes her financial expertise to support organizational growth, sustainability, and community impact.
Kritika is recognized for combining strategic insight, financial expertise, and stakeholder focused leadership to help organizations achieve sustainable success.
Roopleen Chhabra
Roopleen Chhabra is an international student from Punjab, India, currently pursuing a Diploma in Business Management at Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU). As a Dean’s Honour Roll student, she demonstrates a strong commitment to academic excellence while actively contributing to both campus life and the broader student community.
Roopleen serves as a student representative and member of the Board of Governors (BOG) at KPU, where she advocates for student voices and works to ensure institutional decisions reflect the diverse needs of the student body. Her experience as a Peer Mentor has enabled her to support first-year students with academic planning and campus engagement, providing her with valuable insight into the challenges faced by students—particularly international students—adapting to a new environment.
In addition to her academic and leadership roles, Roopleen works as a Crew Member, where she has developed strong customer service, teamwork, and problem-solving skills in a fast-paced setting. Previously, she held a Keyholder position, managing store operations, supervising team members, and resolving customer concerns, further strengthening her leadership, accountability, and organizational abilities.
She has also contributed to campus initiatives as an Orientation Leader and volunteer, helping foster a welcoming and inclusive environment for new and prospective students. As a Board member, Roopleen brings a balanced perspective shaped by her academic, professional, and lived experiences. She is committed to contributing thoughtfully to governance processes, collaborating with university leadership, and advocating for accessible resources, equitable opportunities, and policies that enhance student success, well-being, and engagement across KPU’s diverse community.
Ryan Keigher
Ryan Keigher graduated from KPU with a Diploma in Marketing Management and a Bachelor of Business Administration in Entrepreneurial Leadership, and has completed several specialized programs through the Canadian Securities Institute.
Ryan is a Senior Manager of Business Banking at Coast Capital Savings, bringing over 15 years of experience in the financial services industry. In his current role, he manages complex commercial and corporate portfolios spanning diverse sectors, including hospitality, large-scale construction and contractors, aggregate operators, manufacturing, and commercial real estate. Recognized as a leader within his division for business excellence, Ryan combines deep expertise in commercial credit with strategic relationship management. His extensive governance experience includes serving as regional president and board chair of the Risk Management Association, alongside active past involvement with Rotary and various non-profit organizations.
Deeply committed to his alma mater, Ryan served on the KPU Alumni Association Board of Directors from 2015 to 2020, holding roles as a Director-at-Large (2015–2016), Board Chair (2016–2019), and Past Chair (2020). He is a passionate advocate for lifelong engagement with the university, frequently supporting students and fellow alumni as a guest speaker, subject matter expert, and mentor.
Ryan resides in South Surrey with his family. An active sports enthusiast, he enjoys running, cycling, playing soccer, and coaching his daughter’s sports teams.
Sonia Parmar
Sonia Parmar is a Partner at David Pel & Company Inc., a full-service CPA practice located in Central City, Surrey. Joining the firm in 2013, Sonia oversees practice operations while advising clients on corporate tax, estate planning, and succession strategies. Having gained foundational experience across international and mid-sized public practice firms, she combines deep technical expertise with a passion for organizational leadership.
A champion of applied education and regional talent, Sonia is a dedicated advocate for KPU students and alumni. Under her leadership, David Pel & Company actively fosters the next generation of accounting professionals by recruiting KPU Co-op students and mentoring business graduates as they pursue their Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) designations.
Sonia brings extensive executive governance and financial oversight experience to the Board of Governors. She currently serves as Secretary and Chair of the Finance & Risk Committee for DIVERSEcity Community Services, Board Member and Finance Chair for the SurreyCares Community Foundation, and a Director for the Symington Symbiotic Foundation. She previously served as Vice-Chair of the Surrey Police Board and Chair of its Finance and Risk Committee. In recognition of her exceptional civic contributions, Sonia was named the 2025 Community Leader Award Volunteer of the Year.
Guided by the values of lifelong learning and the Sikh principle of giving back, she and her husband are proud to raise their children with a strong commitment to community service. When not giving her time and knowledge to the various organizations, Sonia is a life long learner and is always taking courses to further her interests.
Fun fact – Sonia pretends she uses crocheting for relaxing and her guilty pleasure is watching “reality” tv as a form of escapism.
Sonia holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Finance from the University of Northern British Columbia. She is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CGA) and a designated Trust and Estate Practitioner (TEP) through the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners.