Appointed and Elected
Bailey Cove
Bailey Cove, student appointed, is a third year student in the Sports Science Bachelor of Physical Education and Coaching program. Bailey aspires to work as a faculty member of Douglas College. She serves on the Board of Directors for the Douglas Students Union, as the Director of College Relations. She is also the President of the Student Council for the Sports Science program, and actively volunteers in her community coaching volleyball.
Mehre Dlir
Mehre Dlir, a recent graduate of Douglas College with a Bachelor of Business Administration, is a dedicated student appointee committed to ensuring the continued excellence of Douglas College as a leader in post-secondary education. She is committed to providing students with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in the 21st century.
In her role as the Director of External Relations for the Douglas Students Union, Mehre serves on the Board of Directors and represents the Union at the BC Federation of Students. Additionally, she has recently been elected as a Director-at-Large for the BC Federation of Students.
Adel Gamar
Adel Gamar, Ministry appointed, is cofounder and CEO of GLG Ltd., a boutique firm specializing in adaptive leadership, organizational strategy and change management. Mr. Gamar has advised senior leaders of Fortune 500 companies, nonprofit organizations and governments worldwide. He served as Education Specialist at UNESCO and Policy Fellow at Harvard Law School. While at Harvard, he taught adaptive leadership and negotiation.
He is currently an Adjunct Professor at UBC Sauder School of Business where he delivers executive programs in adaptive leadership and collaboration. Mr. Gamar served on the boards of Coquitlam Foundation and Boston-based Knovva Academy. He is cofounder of Gamar Foundation, a nonprofit that aims to inspire, empower, and connect young people to enhance the public good in their communities. He holds an MPA from Harvard and a B.Ed. from the University of Calgary.
Brian Haugen
Brian Haugen, Ministry appointed, works as a Director at International Union of Operating Engineers. He has many years of post-secondary education experience working both in the public and private sectors in British Columbia. Prior to his role as Dean of Trades and Technology at Kwantlen Polytechnic University, he worked as an instructor and department head at Vancouver Community College. Active in his community, he is the Chair of the BC Transportation & Transit Sector Advisory Group (SAG) and the President of the Canadian Association of Fleet Supervisors. He is a past BC Director on the National Council of Deans of Technology.
Mr. Haugen holds a Masters of Education from Simon Fraser University, a Provincial Instructors Diploma from Vancouver Community College and graduated as a Red Seal Endorsed Heavy Duty Equipment Technician from British Columbia Institute of Technology.
Bereket Kebede
Bereket Kebede በረከት ከበደ, Ministry appointed, is a passionate community organizer who was born and raised in Ethiopia. Bereket ran for City Council with the Community First New West team in the 2022 municipal election. He lives in the historic neighbourhood of Queensborough with his wife and children.
Bereket is an active volunteer for many local organizations, including the various African communities, and he hopes to increase the African Diaspora civic engagement. He is the past President of the Ethiopian Community Association of BC and past Board Director for Co-op Community Radio and the Chartered Professional Accountants of BC.
He is the President of the African Canadian Soccer and Cultural Association and serves as the Executive Director for the Ethiopian House Project. Bereket works for TransLink’s Rail Division (SkyTrain) and is a member of TransLink’s Equity Diversity and Inclusion Taskforce.
Natasha Knox
Natasha Knox, Ministry appointed, is the Principal for Alaphia Financial Wellness Inc., a boutique fee-for-service financial planning firm centred around holistic financial wellness. Currently, she is Chair of the Coquitlam Public Library Board. Ms. Knox serves on the Board of Directors of the Financial Therapy Association as Chair of Business Development. The Financial Therapy Association is a transdisciplinary association dedicated to the advancement of mental, financial, and relational well-being.
Active in her community, she in the past has been a member of the Coquitlam Multicultural Advisory Committee and the Cultural Services Advisory Committee. She is also a regular volunteer with FP Canada. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from Simon Fraser University. Ms. Knox is also a Certified Financial Planner Professional, Registered Trust and Estate Practitioner, a Certified Financial Behaviour Specialist, and has a graduate Certificate in in Financial Therapy from Kansas State University.
Baljinder Kaur Narang
Baljinder Narang, Ministry appointed, is a retired Occupational Therapist who specialized in Mental Health Services with focus on drug and alcohol counselling. She served as an elected school trustee, including Board Chair & Vice Chair, at the Burnaby Board of Education for 10 years. Currently she is member of the Passenger Transportation Board, Trustee at New Vista Society, and Chair of the Burnaby Healthier Communities Partnership. She is also Founding President for Panjab Digital Library Canada, and Board Emeritus for Sikh Research Institute.
She graduated from the London School of Occupational Therapy (UK), Specialized in Alcohol Counselling and Consultation from the University of Kent (UK), and holds a Masters in Health Education from Dalhousie University.
Mohammad Rafiei
Mohammad Rafiei, elected by staff, has been an Enrollment Service Advisor at Douglas College since 2021. He holds a Bachelor of Arts and Social Sciences from Simon Fraser University, focusing on double minor programs in Indigenous Studies and Gerontology. He has over 6 years of experience working in multiple student services and advising roles in a post-secondary environment with students with diverse socio-economic and cultural backgrounds. Mr. Rafiei has a passion for accessibility and supporting students in academia, hence his involvement in his current role as Enrollment Service Advisor, which enables him to bring his personal and professional experience together to create a more accessible environment.
Erin Rozman
Erin Rozman, elected by faculty, has been a Mathematics instructor at Douglas College since 1998. As a faculty advocate, Ms. Rozman has been elected to the positions of Vice President Stewardship and President, respectively, of the Douglas College Faculty Association (DCFA) from 2011 to 2019. In addition to this service, she was an elected representative on the DCFA Executive Council for two terms, representing the Faculty of Science and Technology.
Ms. Rozman holds Baccalaureate degrees in both Political Science and Mathematics from UBC, and M.Sc. degrees in both Mathematics and Mathematics Education from Montana State University.
Eileen B. Stewart
Eileen B. Stewart, Ministry appointed, is a senior human resources professional with extensive experience in all areas of human resource management in both the public and private sectors. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Commerce and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Simon Fraser University. Ms. Stewart is a former full-time faculty member at a post-secondary institution in BC. Prior to that she was General Manager, Human Resources, for the City of Vancouver and held other executive level human resources roles at UBC and BCIT.
She was also a Board member of the Crown Corporation, Community Living BC, where she served as Chair of the Governance and Human Resources Committee. Active for many years in the voluntary sector, Ms. Stewart just completed her term as Board Vice Chair for BC Women's Health Foundation as well as member of the Board for over 10 years. She is also a former president of the Human Resources Management Association.
Susan Todd
Susan Todd, Ministry appointed, is President and Director of Solstice Sustainability Works Inc., which is devoted to building capacity in organizations for better management and oversight of environmental, community and other sustainability risks and opportunities. Ms. Todd began her career as a financial auditor with KMPG in Toronto and Brussels, becoming a senior audit manager. She leveraged her auditing expertise to become a Canadian pioneer in the new field of social auditing, which developed into sustainability reporting and assurance.
Ms. Todd conducted some of the earliest work in Canada on sustainability reporting and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and contributed to global standards development. Her financial reporting background and sustainability experience have made her a valued advisor to business, government and non-governmental organizations that are seeking to integrate material business and sustainability issues, for both reporting and strategy purposes. Her recent work supports organizations in valuing natural capital and adapting to climate change impacts.
Ms. Todd is a Visiting Lecturer in the Beedie School of Business at Simon Fraser University and a former member of the Sustainability Advisory Board of CPA Canada. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce from Queen’s University and a Master of Natural Resources Management from SFU. She is a Chartered Professional Accountant.
Ex-officio
Graeme Bowbrick
Graeme Bowbrick, elected by faculty, is a faculty member in criminology and legal studies and is currently the Chair of the Douglas College Education Council. At the College he has previously served two terms as the faculty member on the College Board as well as previous terms on the Education Council.
Before coming to Douglas College he served as the MLA for New Westminster (1996-2001) and during that time held the cabinet portfolios of Minister of Advanced Education (2000) and Attorney General (2000-2001).
Mr. Bowbrick is also a lawyer, and has degrees from SFU (Bachelor of Arts), University of Victoria (Bachelor of Laws) and University of British Columbia (Master of Laws).
Kathy Denton
Kathy Denton serves on the Board by virtue of her role as College President. Please refer to Dr. Denton's biography.