Four new board members for Okanagan College
Tina Lee of Penticton is one of four new members appointed to the Okanagan College board of governors.
In a press release, Lee is described as “an experienced communications and strategy professional from Penticton whose human rights and development work has spanned six continents and has ranged from influencing United Nations activity to developing municipal community engagement processes.” She worked briefly for the City of Penticton as its communications co-ordinator.
“I’ve watched Okanagan College develop its profile in the South Okanagan and Similkameen, and I am excited to learn more about the institution and bring my talents to the board table,” said Lee.
David Porteous, Juliette Cunningham and Shelley Cook were also appointed to the college board by the provincial government for one-year terms.
Provincially-appointed board members whose term ends July 31 are Connie Denesiuk of Summerland (who served six years and was board chair from 2016 to 2018) and Joe Maciel (who was appointed in 2014). Vernon’s Riminder Gakhal completed her 16-month term with the board at the end of 2017. Board vice-chair Gloria Morgan has been reappointed to July 31, 2019.
Cunningham is a current City of Vernon councillor, vice-chair of the Regional District of the North Okanagan and vice-chair of the Okanagan Basin Water Board as well as a business owner. She also has an extensive history of working with non-profit boards such as the Women’s Centre, Junction Literacy, People Place, Museum and the Early Years Council.
Porteous is an employee group benefits consultant and writes for a quarterly senior’s magazine on health and benefits issues. He co-founded McIver-Porteous Insurance Services Ltd. in the 1980s and was president of Working Enterprises Insurance Services Ltd. He also started Canadian Administrative Underwriting Services Inc. and Working Enterprises Consulting & Benefits Services Ltd.
Cook is an Okanagan College alumnus and has more than 20 years’ experience working with disadvantaged populations in institutional and community-based settings in B.C. and Ontario. She has a master’s degree in human and social development from the University of Victoria and is currently completing her PhD in community, culture and global studies at the University of British Columbia - Okanagan.