International Advisory Board (IAB)
IAB members are key to the Gustavson School of Business, as they assist in helping the school achieve its strategic goals.
In addition to offering their insights and expertise on a variety of topics and projects, they also:
- discuss the school’s strategic direction, opportunities and management of risk that said opportunities may entail;
- provide advice to the dean and executive team on a confidential and as-needed basis;
- act in and put the best interests of the school ahead of any single stakeholder or group.
The IAB has also established the IAB Community Engagement Award, and is being funded by 6 of its current and past members. The award recognizes faculty members who actively engage with the local business community in ways that are critical for the long-term success of the Gustavson School of Business. Each year, the IAB Community Engagement Award is given to a faculty member who demonstrates exceptional community engagement.
Members:
Chair: Blair Hagkull
Blair Hagkull, Adviser, Jones Lang LaSalle Canada |
Over the past 25 years, Blair Hagkull has played a leading role in some of the world’s largest real estate developments and investments in North America, Asia, the Middle East and Africa. He has developed strategic management expertise and leadership skills in international real estate advisory, development and investment organizations. Blair lives in Victoria, British Columbia, with his wife Tracey and their two children, Sarah and Matthew. |
Merrick Abel
Merrick Abel, CEO and Executive Director, Primeserv Group Limited |
Merrick Abel is from Johannesburg, South Africa. In 1997 he founded the Privest Group (now Primeserv Group Limited) which was successfully listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange in 1998. The Group has become a leading integrated Human Capital Services provider to major companies, multinationals and parastatals in Southern Africa. Merrick has served as CEO since 1997 and as Executive Chairman of the Group from 2000 to 2003. Merrick completed his BA (Hons.) at the University of Natal and then an MBA at the University of Cape Town’s Graduate School of Business. After graduation, he gained experience in property development and property finance. From 1988 to 1998, Merrick developed the APW Group, which focused on the wholesale and retail distribution of specialized automotive components and on the engineering and remanufacturing of heavy duty automotive and industrial engines and engine components. This business operated throughout South Africa, and included agency agreements with original equipment manufacturers and suppliers of blue chip automotive brands in North America, Europe and the Far East. |
Cameron Bailey
Cameron Bailey, Chief Strategy and Culture Officer, World Vision International |
Cam is the Chief Strategy Officer, World Vision International headquartered in the UK. World Vision is the world’s largest child-focused NGO, serving the world’s most vulnerable children with an operating budget of USD 3.3 billion and 35,000 staff in over 100 countries. Cam has a BCom degree from UBC, Vancouver, Canada (1983) and an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania (1988). Growing up in Victoria, he attended UVic for his first year before moving to UBC to complete a Commerce degree. His daughter Mackenzie completed her BCom (Entrepreneurship) at the Gustavson School in 2014. Cam and his wife Gelaine recently moved back to their home in Calgary after several years residing in Eton, England. |
Susan Barry
Susan Barry, Former Head of Human Resources and Organizational Transformation, Nestle Nespresso Canada Leadership Team |
Susan has over twenty-five years’ experience in national, regional and global leadership roles in Organizational Transformation, Information Management Systems/Technology, Customer Service/Supply Chain Development and Human Resources Development at Nestle. Susan is a bilingual (English/French) Senior Project and Portfolio Manager with proven capabilities in change management and people development. She holds several years of operational experience in a variety of business and service models, including multi-brand management and acquisitions/divestitures. Susan lives in Montreal, Quebec. |
Anatolijus Fouracre
Anatolijus Fouracre, CEO, Swiss Post Solutions |
Anatolijus is the CEO of Swiss Post Solutions Vietnam, a premier provider of document management outsourcing solutions globally. With over 1,200 staff members, the Vietnam operation is the largest site conforming part of SPS global outsourcing. Their team provides document digitization, data entry, back office BPO, image processing, software development and intelligent automation services. With volumes exceeding 1/4 billion of documents processed per year, Anatolijus' team is one of the most efficient, secure and high quality document BPO delivery centers in Asia. Coupled with motivated staff, ISO 9001, 27001, 14001 certifications and European management, they offer top notch solutions, superb economic value and service excellence.
Anatolijus lives in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. |
Gordon J. Fyfe
Gordon J. Fyfe, CEO, British Columbia Investment Management Corporation |
Gordon J. Fyfe is the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer of British Columbia Investment Management Corporation (BCI). BCI is the 4th largest fund manager in Canada, managing more than $200 billion on behalf of British Columbia’s public sector. With more than 30 years in the investment and finance industry, Gordon has a strong and extensive investment background. Prior to joining BCI in July 2014, he served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Public Sector Pension Investment Board (PSPIB) in Montreal, Canada for 11 years. Gordon started his career with JP Morgan in New York and London, and then moved to senior executive positions at TAL Global Asset Management and Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec, both large Canadian institutional investors. Gordon holds a degree in Commerce from the University of British Columbia and an MBA from INSEAD, France. Gordon lives in Victoria, British Columbia. |
Peter Gustavson
Peter Gustavson, President and CEO, Gustavson Capital Corporation |
Peter is the President and CEO of Gustavson Capital Corporation. Founded in Victoria, Gustavson Capital Corporation (GCC) follows a mandate of fostering entrepreneurialism and is currently investing in small to midmarket companies across a broad range of sectors. Peter graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce (Hons.) from the University of Manitoba in 1979. He obtained his Chartered Accountancy designation in 1982 and was awarded the title "Fellow Chartered Accountant" by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of BC in 2005.
In addition to Peter's personal philanthropic involvement in organizations within his community, Peter's past and current board membership and service include:
Peter lives in Victoria, British Columbia. |
Rob Inkster
Rob Inkster, Serial Entrepreneur |
Rob is a serial entrepreneur with experience in early stage technology companies in Canada, as well as the University sector. Rob's experience includes patents and licenses, finance, strategy, and marketing, as practiced in earlystage companies. He has acquired, and managed or directed, companies in Asia, Europe, US, and Russia and has served on many corporate, University, and trade association Boards. |
Patrick Kelly
Patrick Kelly, Member of the Leq:amel First Nation (Sto:lo Nation) and Business Consultant |
Patrick is a member of the Leq:amel First Nation (Sto:lo Nation). He operates a consulting business and was Advisor and Director of the Missing Women Commission of Inquiry. Patrick is also the founding President of the BC Aboriginal Golf Association established in April 2009. From September 2010 to February 2012, he was Vice President of National Services at CESO. From March 2001 to March 2007, he was the BC Director of Strategic Planning and Communications at Indian and Northern Affairs Canada. In September 2012, he completed a five-year term as Advisor to the Lieutenant Governor of BC. In December 2010, Patrick was appointed as Governor of the Law Foundation of BC. In September 2012, Patrick became an Advisor to the Banff Centre for Indigenous Leadership & Management. Patrick is a also a mentor for Commerce students in the UVic Gustavson School of Business. Among his many accolades, some of Patrick's successes include:
Patrick lives in Victoria, British Columbia. |
Christian Kittleson
Christian Kittleson, Partner, Deloitte |
Christian is Deloitte's Financial Advisory Leader in the Victoria marketplace, the National Indigenous Practice Leader and the Value Creation Services Leader for BC. Christian is experienced in leading large-scale public and private sector organizational transformations; completing large scale financial transactions; leading change management; and providing strategic advice on all aspects of indigenous reconciliation and indigenous relations through a strong understanding of indigenous culture. Christian has more than 10 years of public, private and consulting sector executive experience including positions of Assistant Deputy Minister, Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of Finance. Christian moved to Deloitte from EY, where he was the National Indigenous Practice Leader and the lead for Government and Public Service in BC. Christian lives in Victoria, British Columbia. |
Brent Kokoskin
Brent Kokoskin, Marketing Leader, Philips Ultrasound |
Brent Kokoskin is currently the Marketing Leader at Philips Ultrasound. He joined Philips, the Netherlands based health and well-being company, in 2008 in Seattle, USA. As the Director of Global Upstream Marketing for the Sonicare power toothbrush business, he was instrumental in expanding the brand in Europe, Asia and North America. Brent lives in Seattle, Washington. |
Laura Nashman
Laura Nashman, CEO, British Columbia Pension Corporation |
Laura joined BC Pension Corporation as chief executive officer in December 2008. Laura is an active mentor for women leaders and emerging leaders who look to her for guidance and direction on their leadership practice and career development. Laura lives in Victoria, British Columbia. |
Phillip Rubel
Phillip Rubel, Managing Partner and Senior Advisor, Song Sparrow Advisory |
Throughout his career, Phillip has cultivated a unique combination of corporate and entrepreneurial skill sets applied to a broad range of consumer, luxury, technology, financial services and healthcare categories. He enjoys multicultural and multinational environments having worked extensively in Canada, the US and Japan and having responsibilities for Asian markets and global assignments. Expertise includes growing existing entities and brands to their next level and igniting start-ups that disrupt the status quo. Phillip believes that the future success for brands and businesses converge at the intersection of behavioral insight, creativity and scaling technology. Phillip is currently managing partner and senior advisor of Song Sparrow Advisory, a firm he founded in April 2021, helping brands and boards achieve their goals by combining technology, creativity and digital marketing expertise engaging a global network of SMEs. Phillip most recently served as director of marketing and communications at Philip Morris International in Tokyo, driving the business transformation to reduced risk products. Was previously a Partner, Innovation & Insights at KPMG where he was responsible for launching and leading two new business units creating the firm’s future in business transformation, analytics, AI and digital solutions. Before KPMG, Phillip was managing and representative director at Designit Tokyo. In addition to leading Japan, Phillip was responsible for Asia Pacific activities and expansion opportunities and was also a member of the Global Executive Board. In 2003, Phillip co-founded the Japan office of Saatchi & Saatchi Fallon Tokyo, becoming CEO and representative director. In addition to CEO responsibilities, Phillip also founded the agency’s planning and consulting practice. Phillip’s career experience also includes chief operating officer of McCann Erickson Worldgroup Japan; founding president and CEO of Beacon Communications (Leo Burnett) in Japan; EVP Leo Burnett USA; co-founder and MD of Rubel & Schwab Communications in Canada. Phillip began his career in Montreal with Schering-Plough Pharmaceuticals, quickly rising through progressive sales and marketing positions. Phillip serves on a variety of community and industry associations, is a frequent guest lecturer on marketing and a trustee for HOPE International. Phillip is a member of the University of Victoria’s Gustavson School of Business International Advisory Board and an Adjunct Professor. He currently serves as Executive-In-Residence at Gustavson. |
Ramki Subramanian
Ramki Subramanian, Managing and Global Director for Mobility, DowAksa |
Ramki Subramanian joined IAB in October of 2021, bringing years of experience to Gustavson’s board. A senior management professional and techno-commercial expert, Subramanian serves as Managing and Global Director for Mobility at DowAksa. A champion of new technologies, Subramianian brings a passion for academic-business partnerships that can help drive scientific development and build skills for the next generation. Prior to his work with DowAksa, Subramanian served as Senior Vice President of Business Development at Reliance Industries. He was also the founder and CEO of Lithe Power Storage Solutions, a company created to address the chronic power problem in rural India. There he helped pioneer the use of Lithium battery solutions throughout the region. For over a decade, Subramanian served in a variety of positions at Dow Chemical focusing on the development and commercialization of new technologies. |
Carole Taylor
Carole Taylor, OC, OBC, Chancellor, journalist and former politician |
Carole Taylor (O.C., O.B.C.) is Chancellor Emeritus of Victoria University at the University of Toronto, Chancellor Emeritus Simon Fraser University and a member of the Trilateral Commission. She also serves as Vice-Chair of the Audain Art Museum. Carole was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2001 and awarded the Order of British Columbia in 2020. Prior to her current roles, Carole worked in public affairs broadcasting for many years, covering the Yom Kippur War, the revolution in Chile, devastating floods in Honduras as well as Canadian politics. Her interest in public policy led to Municipal politics, where she served for 2 terms as a Vancouver Councillor. Eventually, Carole’s political involvement led to the Provincial arena where she was named British Columbia’s Minister of Finance, introducing one of the first comprehensive carbon taxes in 2008. Along the way, Carole served as Chair of the CBC/Radio-Canada, Chair of the Vancouver Port, Chair of Ports Canada and Chair of the Vancouver Board of Trade. She was also named Director of more than two dozen Boards including Bell Canada, TD Bank, HSBC Holdings, Fairmont Hotels and Canadian Pacific Ltd. |
Jawahar Vadivelu
Jawahar Vadivelu, Chairman, Cameo Corporate Ltd. |
Jawahar Vadivelu is the Chairman of Cameo Corporate Services Limited, a business process outsourcing firm headquartered in Chennai, and also holds directorships in the following companies, namely National Trust Housing Finance Limited and Navia Markets Limited. He has served as independent director on the board of India's largest company, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited, and on several of its sub-committees, including its audit committee and policy and planning committee. He has also served on the boards of Southern Petrochemical Industries Corporation Limited (SPIC) and Sical Logistics Limited. Jawahar holds MBA degrees from the Asian Institute of Management, Philippines, and from the Booth School of Business, University of Chicago. He has rich experience in a broad spectrum of financial services in India, that includes, mortgage finance, stock broking, insurance, registry and transfer, and asset management. |
Kresse Wesling
Kresse Wesling, Co-Founder, Elvis & Kresse |
Kresse Wesling, CBE, is a multi-award winning environmental entrepreneur. After graduating from McGill with a degree in Political Science and East Asian Studies she started her career in venture capital (Hong Kong) before launching a string of eco and ethical businesses. An obsession with waste and a chance meeting with the London Fire Brigade in 2005 resulted in the launch of Elvis & Kresse, which rescues and transforms decommissioned fire hose into innovative lifestyle products and returns 50% of profits to the Fire Fighters Charity. The company now collects 12 different waste streams and has several charitable partnerships and collaborations across industries. In 2021, Elvis & Kresse also took on a farm in order to establish a regenerative agriculture project, build a passive workshop, generate their own renewables and implement a host of environmental initiatives. The farm is in rural Kent, England, and is also where Kresse lives with Elvis and their dog, Monty. |
Faculty & Staff Advisors:
- Saul Klein, Dean; Director, Executive Programs; Lansdowne Professor of International Business
Faculty Representatives:
- A.R. Elangovan – International Programs Director; Professor; Organizational Behaviour
- Yan Shen - Associate Professor, International Business; Organizational Behaviour