Dr. William Holmes teaches at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels. He has designed and delivered courses in Business Ethics, Corporate Governance, Strategy, International Business, and Creativity in Business. In 2024, he was appointed to the role of Academic Director for Royal Roads University's branch campus in the United Arab Emirates. Holmes serves as Treasurer on the Board of Directors of the Chartered Governance Institute of Canada, and as a Director on the Board of the Minerva Safety Council of Canada.
He has previously served on the Board of Governors of Royal Roads University and the Sheridan Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning and as Treasurer and Chair of the Finance and Audit Committee on the Board of Directors for NAFSA: The Association of International Educators.
His research interests include Business Ethics, Corporate Governance, and Strategy. He also writes and publishes teaching case studies. Holmes has taught at Royal Roads University, Copenhagen Business School, Simon Fraser University, Munich University of Applied Sciences, University of Northern British Columbia, and the Higher Colleges of Technology. Holmes’ career spans corporate and educational sectors and has included assignments in Canada, Europe, Asia, the Caribbean, and the Middle East.
Experience
Holmes has served as Vice-President Academic & Provost and Dean of the Faculty of Management at Royal Roads University. Previously, he worked at Sheridan College in Toronto, first as Dean of the School of Business and then as Vice Provost. He has held positions as Adjunct Professor and Executive Director of the Undergraduate Program in Business at Simon Fraser University and as Instructional Manager of the Business Division at the Higher Colleges of Technology in the United Arab Emirates.
Memberships and Committees
- Institute Certified Director (ICD.D), Institute of Corporate Directors of Canada, 2023.
- Fellow, Chartered Governance Institute (FCG), Chartered Governance Institute of Canada, 2021.
- Accredited Director (Acc.Dir.), Chartered Governance Institute of Canada, 2021.
- Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CMA, CGA), Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada, 2013.
- Certified Human Resources Leader (CHRL), Human Resource Professional Association of Ontario, 2014.
- Chartered Professional in Human Resources (CPHR), British Columbia and Yukon Human Resource Management Association, 2006.
- Associate Fellow, Institute of Islamic Banking and Insurance, London, 2004.
- Member, Trust Institute (MTI), Trust Companies Institute of Canada, Toronto, 1991.
Education
2008
Doctor of Business Administration
University of Southern Queensland
1997
Master of Business Administration
University of British Columbia
1995
Master of Arts, Philosophy (Ethics)
University of Waterloo
1994
Bachelor of Arts, Honours in Philosophy
University of Waterloo
1992
Bachelor of Arts, Economics
University of Waterloo
Awards
2025
Honourable Mention Award
Received for “Neighbourhood Entrepreneurship: The Story of the Fernwood Collective,” case presented at Administrative Sciences Association of Canada (ASAC) 2025 Annual Conference, University of Waterloo, May 17-19, 2025.
2024
Nominee, Change Maker Employee Award
Nominee, Royal Roads University Change Maker Employee Award, in the “Any Age, Any Stage, Any Place” Life-Long Learning Category.
2023
1st Prize, John Molson Business Ownership Case Writing Competition
Award sponsored by the Bob and Raye Briscoe Centre in Business Ownership Studies, Concordia University, for case "Motorcycle Offsetters: Carbon Offsets for Motorcycle Enthusiasts."
2023/2024
ASAC Outstanding Reviewer Award
For acting as Reviewer, Case Division, Administrative Sciences Association of Canada (ASAC) 2023, 2024 Annual Conferences, Ted Rogers School of Business, Toronto Metropolitan University and Universte de Sherbrooke, respectively.
2022
Nominee, Kelly Outstanding Teaching Award
Nominated for the 2022 Kelly Outstanding Teaching Award, Center for Teaching and Educational Technology, Royal Roads University.
2010
David Aplin Recruiting Top Talent Award
Award for Demonstrated Strategic Leadership and Academic Performance in the CMA Executive Program, Certified Management Accountants, British Columbia.
2006, 2009
Teaching Honour Roll
Awarded to Faculty in the top 10% of Student Evaluations, Undergraduate Program, Faculty of Business Administration, Simon Fraser University.
1996
Centre for International Business Studies (CIBS) Fellowship
University of British Columbia Centre for International Business Studies (CIBS) Fellowship, Faculty of Commerce, University of British Columbia, 1996.
1996
Walter H. Gage and Elsie M. Harvey Education Abroad Scholarship
Walter H. Gage and Elsie M. Harvey Education Abroad Scholarship, Faculty of Commerce, University of British Columbia.
1996
Lily Benn Memorial Fund Award
Award for Significant Contribution to the MBA Hong Kong Consulting Program, Faculty of Commerce, University of British Columbia.
Research
Research interest
Business Case Study Writing and Publishing
Corporate Governance
Applied Business Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility
Publications
Holmes, W. R., 2025, 'SeeShell Consulting and the International Coach Coalition: An Entrepreneur's Expansion Dilemma in the Gig Economy,' Open Access Teaching Case Journal (OATCJ), 3:1.
Holmes, W.R., 2024, ‘Diversity and Creativity, Wisdom, and the Learning Board’, Encyclopaedia of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Spirituality, Joan Marquez, ed., Springer Publishing, May 2024.
Diversity and Creativity, Wisdom, and Learning in Board Governance | SpringerLink.
Holmes, W.R., 2024, ‘Motorcycle Offsetters: The Road to Sustainability and Carbon Offsets for Motorcycle Enthusiasts’, Ivey Publishing, London, February 2024.
Leary, T., Bishop C., and Holmes, W.R., 2024, ‘Thriving and Surviving as an Incoming or Experienced Business School Dean: How Can Mentorship Play a Role?’ research report for Business Schools Association of Canada (BSAC), Montreal.
Holmes, W.R., 2014, ‘Student Success in the Creative Economy’, paper presented at the 2014 International Forum of Higher Education in Media and Communication: The Internationalization of Higher Education in the Era of New Media – Strategy for China, Communications University of China (CUC) and The International League of Higher Education in Media and Communication (MLeague), Beijing, September 20, 2014.
Grace, D., Cohen, S. and Holmes, W.R., 2014, Business Ethics; A Canadian Perspective, 1st Canadian Edition, Oxford University Press, London.
Holmes, W.R., 2008, ‘A Theoretical Framework for the Investigation of the Determinants of Corporate Environmental Policy’, in Interdisciplinary Environmental Review, vol. 10, no. 1-2, pp. 110-147.
https://www.inderscienceonline.com/doi/epdf/10.1504/IER.2008.053965
