Alex Kortum
Alex Kortum is vice-president of finance and operations at Royal Roads University. With more than 20 years of experience in financial management, audit and public-sector leadership, Kortum has held senior roles in Canada, the United Kingdom and South Africa. Areas of focus include long-term financial sustainability, organizational growth and innovation.
Before joining Royal Roads, Kortum served in senior leadership roles within the BC Public Service, leading province-wide financial risk management and compliance initiatives, modernizing corporate oversight functions, and strengthening audit and financial capacity across government.
Kortum’s international background includes finance positions with the Crown Prosecution Service of England, as well as roles in national government and the private sector in England and South Africa.
A Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA Canada), Kortum holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting from the University of South Africa and an Honours degree from the University of KwaZulu-Natal.
Kortum is also active in the community, contributing to ecological restoration projects and municipal governance efforts in the Capital Region.
Appointed interim Vice-President, Finance and Information Technology in September 2024, Kortum was confirmed in the permanent role of Vice-President, Finance and Operations on April 1, 2025.
As a member of the executive leadership team, the Vice-President, Finance and Operations (VPF&O) is jointly accountable for the strategic stewardship of Royal Roads University in line with its mandate. The VPF&O is responsible for coordinating and managing the university’s operating and capital budgets, safeguarding and optimizing return on the university’s assets, ensuring management and control of its financial systems and risk programs, and providing oversight for the financial and technology and functions of the university, while working effectively with the Board of Governors.