William R. Holmes

It would be my privilege to serve a second term as the professor-elected candidate for the Royal Roads University Board of Governors.  In my almost ten years at Royal Roads, I have served as Dean, Faculty of Management, Interim Vice-President Academic and Provost, Associate Professor in the School of Business, and most recently, Academic Director for the Ras al Khaimah branch campus.  I believe this combination of experiences provides me with an in-depth understanding of both the academic and administrative arms of the institution. 

I am committed to the mission, vision, and values of RRU, and to the primacy of the academic mission of the university.  RRU is first and foremost a place of learning and discovery, developing students as contributors to society and advancing human knowledge and understanding through research and dissemination.  All other activities should be viewed as in service to this academic mission.  RRU’s focus on finding solutions to the major environmental and social challenges of our time make me proud to be part of the RRU family.  

I am well-versed and experienced in board governance. As Dean, I had the opportunity to present to the Board on several occasions and as Interim VPA and Provost I served as an Executive (Ex-Officio) member of the Board.  In addition to my current role on RRU’s Board of Governors, I am currently serving on the Board of Directors of the Minerva Safety Council of Canada and as Treasurer and Director on the Board of Directors of the Chartered Governance Institute of Canada (CGIC).  I have previously served on the Board of Governors for the Sheridan Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning and as Treasurer and Chair of the Finance Committee on the Board of Directors of NAFSA: The Association of International Educators. I am a Fellow of the Chartered Governance Institute and I hold the ICD.D designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors.  These experiences combined with my training as a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) and a Chartered Professional in Human Resources (CPHR) provide an in-depth understanding of the functioning of Boards of Governors and the issues affecting them. 

My teaching in the areas of ethics, law, and governance, business ethics, and business strategy all encompass the importance of governance.  My developing research interests also address governance issues and the increasing necessity for boards to address environmental and social issues in addition to their traditional focus on the financial and economic wellbeing of their institutions.

I have worked at several post-secondary educational institutions including Simon Fraser University, Copenhagen Business School, University of Northern British Columbia, and Sheridan College, but I have found a home at Royal Roads University. Being able to serve on the Board of Governors provides me with a wonderful opportunity to contribute to the future of the institution.