Prince George, B.C. – Tracey Wolsey, a University of Northern British Columbia graduate, has been elected the new Chair of UNBC’s Board of Governors.

Wolsey has been a provincially appointed alumni representative on the Board of Governors since December 2015. She replaces outgoing Board Chair Ryan Matheson who was the first UNBC graduate to hold the position. He served as Chair since June 2015, and served six years on the Board.

Wolsey is the Director of Stakeholder and Aboriginal Relations with Suncor Energy in Fort St. John, B.C. She has worked with Suncor since 1998 and serves as Co-Chair of the Northeast Energy and Mines Advisory Committee. In 2006, she was a recipient of the Suncor President’s Operational Excellence Award for Environmental Excellence, and in the following year was the recipient of the Outstanding Resources Woman of Honour Award for the oil and gas sector. She holds her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Calgary, and a Master’s degree in Political Science from UNBC.

“It’s an honour to be entrusted with the responsibility of providing governance leadership at such a terrific institution as UNBC,” says Wolsey. “One of the Board’s main responsibilities is to work with the President in implementing the Board’s strategic vision. I am pleased with the work that is being done at the University under Dr. Weeks’ leadership, and look forward to continued success for UNBC as a top-ranked University in Canada.”

“UNBC is poised to become an even more influential and relevant University on the national and international landscape, thanks to our students, alumni, faculty, staff, and supporters,” says UNBC President Dr. Daniel Weeks. “It’s terrific that such strong leadership for UNBC is coming from the Northern regions of the province. I know that our Board, under Ms. Wolsey’s leadership, is ready to support our institution to continue to offer an unparalleled post-secondary education, conduct world-leading research, and provide exceptional service to the communities that have helped build and shape UNBC over the years.”

Another UNBC graduate, Sean Simmons, has been named vice-chair of the Board. Simmons has been President and Publisher of Angler’s Atlas since 1999. Prior to that, he worked as a contractor for Forest Renewal BC and as a Fisheries Biologist for Industrial Forestry Service. Simmons serves as Chair of the Innovation Central Society and is a Public Advisor for the Freshwater Fisheries Society of British Columbia. He holds his Master of Environmental Science from UNBC and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Western Ontario.

The 15-member UNBC Board of Governors is responsible for the financial oversight of the University. The board is composed of the UNBC Chancellor, the UNBC President, eight members appointed by the Lieutenant-Governor in Council, and five elected by the University community (two students, two faculty, and one non-faculty).

The Board of Governors meets at least four times per year to conduct its general business; the next regular meeting is scheduled for February 3, 2017.

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