New Chair and members appointed to Royal Roads Board of Governors

This summer, a new Chancellor and Chair and four new members were elected or appointed to the Royal Roads University Board of Governors.  

Royal Roads is pleased to welcome to the board: Chancellor and Chair Lori Wanamaker, Board-Appointed member Jody Thomas, Lieutenant Governor in Council appointees Curtis Clarke, and Richa Sharma-Raisinghani, and Faculty-Elected member Eva Malisius. 

Lori Wanamaker, former deputy minister to the premier, cabinet secretary and head of the BC Public Service has been appointed chancellor and chair of the Board of Governors. Her appointment took effect August 1, 2025. Wanamaker previously served on the board as a Lieutenant Governor in Council appointee. She succeeds Nelson Chan, who completed his term as chancellor and chair in July.   

“We are delighted to welcome Lori Wanamaker into the role of chancellor and chair,” says RRU President and Vice-Chancellor Philip Steenkamp. “Her broad public sector experience and background in business and accounting will serve us well, especially as we expand into new markets, including opening the doors to the RRU Langford, John Horgan Campus.”  

Eva Malisius, associate professor of Humanitarian Studies at Royal Roads, is the newest faculty-elected member on the board. Her role took effect April 1, 2025. Malisius is an expert in constructive conflict engagement, leadership and decision-making in complex and diverse settings, human rights and global justice, as well as transformative learning and teaching.  

Jody Thomas, former national security and intelligence advisor to the Prime Minister, and RRU Spring 2023 honorary degree recipient, is the newest board-appointed member. Her appointment took effect June 15, 2025. Thomas has dedicated more than 37 years to public service and made significant contributions to the country. In the past eight years, she has served at the most senior levels of the federal government.  

Curtis Clarke, former deputy minister of Advanced Education, K-12 Education, and Solicitor General for the Government of Alberta, is one of two new government-appointed members. Clarke brings experience in public service, K-12 education, higher education, and criminal justice to the board.  

Richa Sharma-Raisinghani, senior strategy manager at TELUS, is the second  
government-appointed member. Sharma-Raisinghani is a seasoned policy and government relations professional with over a decade of experience spanning government, public, and private sectors.  

“We are delighted to welcome our new board members, whose diverse expertise and passion for education will be invaluable as we enter a new and exciting chapter for our university while continuing to deliver transformational learning experiences that meet the needs of today’s labour market,” says Steenkamp.  

Five members have completed their service on the board, including Chancellor and Chair Nelson Chan, government-appointed members Geoff Pearce, Monique Gray Smith and Dave Saunders, and Faculty-Elected member William Holmes.  

“On behalf of our university community, I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to all our departing board members,” says Steenkamp. “Their dedicated service, visionary leadership, and unwavering commitment to changemaking have made a lasting, positive impact on Royal Roads University.” 

Board members hold their seats for one to three years before their replacement is elected or appointed, or they are reappointed for a further term.