Board Governance - Understanding the Role of the Economic Development Board
The majority of Economic Development officers are, or will be, working for an Economic Development Board. Understanding Board governance and how they operate are key skills necessary for EDO’s to be successful. Building on last year’s session, this workshop will allow participants to gain a better understanding of the role of the Board, the effective use of Board committees, the role of the Chair/ Director/ CEO, the importance of a diversified Board through the use of a skills matrix, and how to monitor organizational performance. The session will also touch on standards of conduct and the seven skills of Board Governance. This workshop session is being presented by Ken Tourand, President/CEO of the Nicola Valley Institute of Technology and Warren Weir, Academic Administrator for Cowichan Campus at Vancouver Island University. With over 55 years of combined experience working in Community Economic Development, Leadership, Governance, and Indigenous Post Secondary Education, Warren and Ken will provide insight into the importance of having an effective and fully functioning Board. The session will conclude with an interactive question and answer period where participants can share their questions and challenges through the use of the online tool SLIDO. Bring your smartphones and let’s chat about Board Governance.
Presented by: Ken Tourand, Nicola Valley Institute of Technology & Warren Weir, Vancouver Island University
Ken Tourand is the President of the Nicola Valley Institute of Technology. Ken started at NVIT in 1995 as a faculty member and after holding a number of administrative positions, became President/CEO of NVIT in October 2010. Ken holds a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree and a Master of Arts Degree in Leadership and Training. Ken is passionate about Aboriginal Education. Ken has presented at many conferences and roundtables regarding Aboriginal Education and the unique role that NVIT plays in meeting the needs of Aboriginal students and Aboriginal communities. Ken has served on many Boards (including CANDO) and is the past Chair of the Indigenous Advisory Committee for College and Institutes Canada. Ken was instrumental in creating the National Indigenous protocol for post-secondary institutions. Ken is married to Darlene and has two wonderful children, Jacob and Stephanie.
Warren Weir is the Academic Administrator of Vancouver Island University’s Cowichan Campus, Duncan, BC. He has worked with and for a number of colleges and universities and specializes in Aboriginal organization and management, FN education, and Indigenous community economic and small business development. He is an active member of the Council for the Advancement of Native Development Officers, is a member of its Education Committee and also serves as the managing editor and member of the editorial board for their journal - the Journal of Aboriginal Economic Development.
