Donald Coleman

Don Coleman is pursuing a Master of Business Administration in Executive Management at Royal Roads University while serving as a Cloud Architect and IT Project Manager at Island Health, where he leads enterprise-wide technology strategy and infrastructure modernization initiatives supporting over 36,000 healthcare workers.

Don’s commitment to supporting students at different life stages began at the University of Victoria, where he served as Senior Community Leader, helping first-year students navigate the transition into early adulthood. This experience, combined with his journey through undergraduate, post-degree diploma, and MBA studies, has prepared him to listen to and advocate for diverse student voices—making himself available to connect with students across programs and ensuring that board decisions reflect genuine student needs.

His career in public healthcare has provided extensive experience developing and operating within complex shared governance structures. Leading teams of more than 20 professionals, he has developed organization-wide policies, negotiated service agreements, and coordinated stakeholder engagement across clinical, executive, and government partners. This work has reinforced his understanding of fiduciary responsibility, the distinction between board oversight and operational management, and the need to balance diverse stakeholder interests in complex public institutions.

Since July 2024, Don has served as Treasurer for the Canadian College of Health Leaders (CCHL) Vancouver Island Chapter, where he manages financial operations, develops annual budgets, ensures compliance, and collaborates with fellow executives to establish financial goals aligned with strategic priorities. As Director at Large since 2022, he has contributed to executive committee decision-making, strategic planning, and organizational governance. His Post-Degree Diploma in Accounting from Camosun College provides a strong technical foundation for financial stewardship, complementing his Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from the University of Victoria.

Don values Royal Roads University’s unique learning model, which integrates academic rigor with practical professional application. Like many RRU students, he has made personal sacrifices to pursue this education while balancing work, study, and family commitments. Growing up, he spent significant time learning about and volunteering at historic sites, which instilled in him an appreciation for the care and community engagement required to steward spaces like Hatley Castle—deepening his connection to Royal Roads’ unique setting.

He is committed to advancing RRU’s mission of delivering innovative, applied education while ensuring sound governance, financial stewardship, and strong student representation at the board level.