VIU Initiatives Corporation Inc. is the trustee of VIU Initiatives Trust. The trustee is governed by an independent Board of Directors, separate from the VIU Board of Governors.
Dr. Deborah (Deb) Saucier, Director
Dr. Deborah (Deb) Saucier became President and Vice-Chancellor of Vancouver Island University in July 2019. An experienced administrator, accomplished neuroscientist and devoted educator, Saucier is deeply committed to student success, Indigenous education, reconciliation and community engagement.
Originally from Saskatoon with Métis heritage, Saucier started her journey in academia on Vancouver Island, completing an International Baccalaureate diploma at the Lester B. Pearson College of the Pacific in Metchosin, and then bachelor’s and master’s degrees in psychology at the University of Victoria.
After obtaining her PhD in psychology from the University of Western Ontario in 1995, Saucier worked as a psychology professor and researcher for many years, garnering a number of Natural Science and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), Canadian Foundation for Innovation and other research grants for various projects. She’s also held a number of administrative roles, most recently President of MacEwan University in Edmonton, Alberta, and Provost and Vice President (Academic) at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology in Oshawa.
Aside from continuing VIU’s innovative work in Indigenous education, access and community engagement, Saucier is a major proponent of a well-rounded university experience that includes training in both the sciences and the humanities.
Her dream is to help make VIU’s high-quality education even more accessible to all who wish to attend post-secondary.
William Litchfield, Director
William is a connector, connecting community, industry, and government in support of Vancouver Island University as the Associate Vice-President, University Relations and Chief Advancement Officer. In addition, he serves as the Executive Director of the Vancouver Island University Foundation and Alumni Association.
Through these roles William is able to live his values of equality, opportunity, partnership and access through education. The most rewarding aspect of his current position is creating new opportunities for vulnerable populations through programs like BC’s first Tuition Waiver for former youth-in-care, an outreach program to empower low income families to access free RESP funding for their child’s education through the Canada Learning Bond, and academic bursaries so that students, no matter their background, have the opportunity to dream, and realize those dreams. Under his leadership the VIU Foundation has doubled its endowment fund, tripled annual giving and more than quadrupled student scholarships over the last 5 years.
William holds a Master’s degree in Project Management from the University of Liverpool, a graduate certificate in International Development from University of British Columbia and an Honours degree in International Business from Carleton University. William has had the opportunity to live and work in New Brunswick, Ontario, Saskatchewan, British Columbia, Ecuador, Peru, and Brazil.
Marlene G. Kowalski, Director
Marlene is currently the Interim Chief Financial Officer and VP Administration at VIU. She has more than 25 years’ experience leading strategic business services and organizational transformation. She has spent most of her career as a leader of financial operations and change in dynamic and complex environments, in both the public and private sectors. She has been involved extensively in growing businesses organically, through acquisitions, joint ventures and partnerships both domestically and internationally. Industries and sectors, she has worked in include post-secondary education, commercial aviation, technology, manufacturing, forestry, retail/service and construction. Marlene has a Charter Professional Accountant/Certified General Accountant (CPA/CGA) designation and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Royal Roads University.
Allan Wiekenkamp, Director
Allan Wiekenkamp, CA TEP CFP, is the President of Sum Consulting Limited, a Nanaimo based consultancy firm specializing in financial services for international private clients and family offices. He is an enthusiastic entrepreneur who has founded 2 successful offshore financial services companies and is active in giving back to the community through volunteering on several local boards. Mr. Wiekenkamp was previously the Managing Director (and founder) of FORS (Family Office Reporting Services) that provides accounting and investment reporting services to individuals, family offices and trust companies throughout the world. He spent 5 years with Ernst & Young in Bermuda before staring FORS. Mr. Wiekenkamp is also a member of the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants, The Bermuda Institute of Chartered Accountants and Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) Bermuda. In 2010 he received the early achievement award from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of British Columbia. Mr. Wiekenkamp was appointed to the Board in February 2019.