Doctor of Business Administration

Benjamin Ameh

Benjamin Eneojo Ameh is a supply chain and logistics professional with more than 18 years of experience in import/export operations, transportation, logistics, project management, inventory control, budget planning, industry benchmarking, process improvements, cost reduction and purchasing. Ameh believes work processes should add value, and any steps that do not add value should be examined, changed, or eliminated.

Ameh’s research interests include supply chain optimization for business process re-engineering. He will investigate the impact of full-scale deregulation of the downstream oil and gas industry in Nigeria. His research aims to deepen understanding of the challenges hindering effective supply chain management of the downstream oil sector, and the impact of oil subsidy removal on the urban and rural households. Hopefully, the findings of the study will provide policy evidence for Nigeria oil sector reform, which will guide Nigeria economic managers to maximize the expected gains from subsidy removal in the O&G sector.

Ameh holds a Master of Business Administration from Rivers State University (2008). He is a Chartered Accountant (ICAN) and a certified Logistics Professional (CITT).

Edward Appiah-Brafoh

Nathan Banda

Nathan Banda is an administrator with Alberta Health Services at the Drumheller Health Centre Site, where he leads the local management team and frontline professionals in nursing and allied health in patient and family centred care. Banda believes in the power of collaboration, teamwork and a shared vision in ensuring that there is continued betterment in service delivery along the continuum of care. He is a passionate and dedicated health care administrator with a strong background in patient safety and quality.

While working at Olds Hospital and Care Centre in central Alberta, Banda implemented changes in the nurse-to-nurse reporting system and also implemented the “Big White Board” for discharge planning and RAPID rounds. This initiative was key in bringing all the patients information in one place and updating the information with clear plans from admission to planned discharge.

In 2018, as a manager in the Drumheller Operative Room, Banda initiated debriefings after major surgical cases as a way of improving patient safety and quality. He also initiated changes in the orientation program for new nurses on the medical surgical unit and the Emergency Department at the Drumheller site. His doctoral research focuses on nursing retention and recruitment challenges in rural Alberta, with interest in strategies to deal with perpetual and growing challenges in patient care delivery in these areas.

Outside of work, Banda enjoys spending time with his wife and four children. His hobbies include writing, gospel music, evangelism and counselling. In 2016, he self-published his memoir, “Moments That Shaped My Life: Life of an Ordinary Malawian Boy,” in which he chronicles his upbringing in Malawi, the heart of Africa, in the 1980s.

Banda holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a Master of Science in Nursing from Excelsior College, Albany, New York (2016).

Tasha Brooks

Tasha Brooks works as an Indigenous education navigator at Vancouver Island University (VIU), where she taught the Introduction to Management course as a term instructor in 2019. She is the president of the board for Quw’utsun Kwa’tlkwa Enterprises, a member of VIU’s alumni board and a previous national student director for Council for the Advancement of Native Development Officers (CANDO) and the lead researcher on a national project investigating Indigenous business incubators.

Brooks is a member of the Cowichan Tribes First Nation and has extensive experience working with and for Indigenous communities and organizations. She understands the need for Indigenous-led research and looks forward to contributing to the body of knowledge in Indigenous entrepreneurship. In her first term at Royal Roads she has been awarded 5 National scholarships.

Brooks’ research aims to enhance and encourage capacity building and self-determination through entrepreneurship by conducting research for First Nation entrepreneurs and Indigenous business support organizations. More specifically, why is there a disproportionately lower number of self-employed First Nation entrepreneurs despite the large number of entrepreneurial support services available to entrepreneurs throughout Canada? She aims to inspire and empower people along their journey and progress towards strong, unified nations. 

She has completed coursework for a Doctor of Business Administration through Walden University and has transferred to Royal Roads to She holds a Master of Business Administration, a Master of Science in International Management and a Bachelor of Business Administration (2011) from Vancouver Island University. She received a Technician of Aboriginal Economic Development Certificate (2015) from CANDO.

Rick Burt

Rick Burt is a vice-president for a Canadian-based aviation company. Burt is responsible for both the development of new business as well as actively promoting safety and innovation in the aviation Industry. Among Rick’s achievements are his numerous contributions to harsh weather operations, search and rescue, and medical evacuation. He developed and introduced dedicated offshore search and rescue/medevac services in Canada, the United States and Australia (WA). His work has taken him around the globe in many capacities that have had tangible and material positive contributions to aviation infrastructure, safety and standards.

Rick has Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certificates in fixed and rotor wing aircraft. He has over 10,000 accident free hours in both airplanes and helicopters. Burt has participated in several industry associations and boards including SAR Working Group Member – HeliOffshore (2019-Present), Helicopter Association International (2001/09), Helicopter Association of Canada (2002/04) and Newfoundland Ocean Industries Association (1998/00). He received the Transportation Person of the Year Award by St. John’s Board of Trade (2000) and recognized as one of Atlantic Canada’s “Top CEOs” by the Atlantic Business Magazine (2010).

Burt’s doctoral research will investigate, identify and address the problem situation and associated gaps in emergency services and resources as it relates to search and rescue (SAR) and medical repatriation/evacuation in the Antarctic. He will focus on the methodology and modeling, techniques and tools and associated business solutions in terms of providing SAR services in harsh polar environments.

He holds a Master of Business Administration from Royal Roads University (2014).

Bill Danielsen

Bill Danielsen works as the executive director for Enterprise Identity Services with Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC). Throughout his more than 23-year career in the federal government, Danielsen has championed a number of significant change management initiatives and has overseen the implementation of several multi-national and international projects. Additionally, Danielsen has chaired federal committees reporting to the Privy Council Office that have directly impacted the operations and machinery of government. A seasoned leader, he has led crisis and emergency response for a portfolio of more than $120B. Danielsen has been a leader in working to address corporate risk associated with insider threat across a number of federal departments. Insider threats include intentional and non-intentional events caused by employees that can have significant and catastrophic impacts to organizations, largely linked to data breaches.

Danielsen’s doctoral research interests include the identification of corporate risks linked to insider threat through the implementation of psycho-social testing that identifies potential vulnerabilities. This information will bolster the technological tools that exist in some organizations as a means to further reduce insider threat risk.

When not working, Danielsen can be found out on the trails running, or on the ice curling. He holds a Master of Business Administration from Royal Roads University (2014) and a Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences from the University of Victoria (2008).

William Fung

William Fung grew up in Vancouver before returning to Hong Kong for a quarter-century. Fung has served in financial and general management roles in corporations as well as not-for-profit organizations, and has volunteered in board director and treasurer capacities for organizations both in Hong Kong and in Greater Vancouver.

His doctoral research will investigate the costs and benefits of improving governance, implementing risk management, and ensuring compliance to see if there is net improvement in financial performance to be had from betterment in the three areas.

Fung holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting from the University of British Columbia (1993) and an Executive Master of Business Administration from the Richard Ivey School of Business, the University of Western Ontario (2005). He holds the designations of Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CGA), Chartered Certified Accountant (ACCA, UK), Chartered Secretary (ACIS), Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) and International Certified Valuation Specialist (ICVS).

Dilash Krishnapillai

Dilash Krishnapillai is a leading project management expert who works with private and public sector organizations to build Project Management Offices (PMO) and project delivery models that will effectively transform the organizational mission with tangible results. Krishnapillai believes organizations need nimble processes that can quickly adapt to change to thrive and innovate in the contemporary information age. He is currently employed as the director for delivery services at a multi-national organization in the financial industry, where he has accountability for the delivery of all strategic, client-driven, and regulatory projects. He is also a professor and faculty member at Humber College, teaching a postgraduate project management program for the past ten years. He assists organizations in the development of project management course material and has developed a number of courses for the program including the momentous Strategic Portfolio Management and IT Project Management streams.

Krishnapillai’s research explores the factors that can facilitate agility in organizations and establishes the interplay between these factors. The outcome of this study would enable senior management in organizations to adopt strategies that can facilitate agility in organizations and respond promptly to changes in the internal and external ecosystems.

Krishnapillai graduated with a Bachelor of Applied Science (B.A.Sc.) in Computer Engineering degree from University of Ottawa. He is a Licensed Professional Engineer in the province of Ontario (P.Eng.), a certified Project Management Professional (PMP), Program Management Professional (PgMP) and a Certified Management Consultant (CMC). He holds a Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) specializing in adult education from Brock University and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Executive Management from Royal Roads University (2012). Krishnapillai is also a Certified Scrum Master (CSM) and SAFe Program Consultant (SPC®).

Shelley Legin

Shelley Legin is the general manager – Corporate Services for the City of Nanaimo and has three decades of senior-level experience and innovation in all levels of government and the financial and post-secondary sectors. Legin is known for her transformational leadership skill and a track record for excellent strategic and operational outcomes.

Legin believes impact investing is a possible mechanism to collaborate across corporations, not-for-profits, the private sector, institutions and government to address significant social issues.

Legin’s research will focus on the role of the intermediary in mobilizing both the field of impact investing and higher education system actors to address low participation rates of non-traditional learners in post-secondary education in a scalable way.

Grounded in a theoretical framework based on institutional and field theories, Shelley recognizes there is an opportunity to research and construct a catalytic intermediary role to address a gap in the extant literature specifically to:

1. Elucidate the current and possible future role of the intermediary in impact investing.
2. Expose opportunities to further the institutionalization of the social impact field.
3. Detect barriers and enablers to mobilization and scale.

Legin holds a Bachelor of Administration from the University of Regina (1985), a Master of Business Administration from Queen’s University (2000) and is a Chartered Professional Accountant.

Michael Morrison

Michael Morrison is the corporate director of Public Private Partnerships with Island Health in British Columbia. As a member of the expanded executive leadership team, he is responsible for day-to-day site support operations for three hospital sites on Vancouver Island and is a part of the Operations and Support Services leadership.

Prior to accepting this role, Morrison spent more than 16 years working as a civilian for the Canadian Navy and the Department of National Defence in Victoria. He was the chief of staff at Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt, Canada’s second largest military base for the last five years of his employment in the federal public service. In 2012, Morrison was awarded the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal for leadership and service to Canada.

Experienced as an instructor and a facilitator, Morrison has covered such topics as accounting, logistics system implementation, performance measurement and information management. He has been an associate faculty member since 2008 in the Royal Roads University Faculty of Management an advisor and/or reviewer for MBA students on their final comprehensive projects.

Morrison’s  doctoral research focuses on improving accountability and cost controls in publicly funded healthcare organizations. This will be investigated through the develop a framework for decision making in day-to-day operations in acute care setting.

Morrison holds a Master of Business Administration at Royal Roads University (2007) and a Master of Defence Studies from Royal Military College (2015). He was the first civilian to complete the Canadian Joint Command and Staff College Distance Learning Programme (2013). He is a Certified Management Accountant (CMA) (2010) and a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) (2013), and has completed executive certificates in strategic leadership (2010), executive development (2011) and communication and negotiation (2013) from the Sauder School of Business at the University of British Columbia.

Morrison enjoys cycling, paddling and outdoor photography. He lives in Victoria with his wife Kerry and their children.

Karly Nygaard-Petersen

Karly Nygaard-Petersen is a brand and marketing strategist with BCAA and Evo Car Share. She partners with technology firms, designers, artists, entrepreneurs and other marketing gurus to share compelling stories in the mobility arena. After working for nearly two decades in marketing and strategic ventures, Nygaard-Petersen believes that micromobility has the potential to be the next big (disruptive) thing.

In 2015, she was a key driver in the launch of Evo Car Share – North America’s fastest growing car share. An experiential marketing specialist, she has garnered partnerships with major brands and events such as Lululemon’s SeaWheeze and Skookum Music Festival. Nygaard-Petersen is a celebrated leader within the BCAA team, her work contributing to winning the BCAMA Marketer of the Year in 2016.

Passionate about mobility and a serial innovator, Nygaard-Petersen’s doctoral research focuses on primary factors in micromobility adoption in urban populations. She aims to understand what will drive long-term adoption of new mobility modes in urban centres, ultimately aiming to support cities globally to become better equipped in implementing strategies for first and last mile transit options that are both smart and truly zero emissions.

Nygaard-Petersen holds a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature and Visual Arts from Simon Fraser University (2006) and a Master of Business Administration from Royal Roads University (2015).

Scholarships awarded

• British Columbia Graduate Scholarship
• Doctoral Entrance Award
• Mitacs Accelerate

Publications

Nygaard-Petersen, K. Book review: Lazy, Crazy, and Disgusting: Stigma and the Undoing of Global Health. Organization. [IF: 2.619] (October 23, 2020)

Prasad, A., & Nygaard-Petersen, K. An opt-out organ donor system could address Canada’s shortage of organs for transplant. The Conversation (Canada) (9 September).

Nkem Onyegbula

Nkem Onyegbula is an independent consultant and principal with CYNKON Inc. He is responsible for providing change management, project management and business strategy services on change initiatives to his clients to generate positive return on investment. He has strong experience in organizational development, strategic change, business analysis and strategy, change and communication strategies, training strategies and competency frameworks.

Prior to becoming an independent consultant, Nkem worked in Edmonton, Canada for Deloitte as a Manager in the Human Capital Division. He also worked for the City of Edmonton as a Project Manager, Change Initiatives. Prior to moving to Canada, he worked in Tampa, Florida for Vista Hill Management as a Project Manager, and for Sykes Enterprises as an Organizational Development research analyst.

Onyegbulas’ doctoral research leverages his professional experience and explores ways of enhancing change management models by understanding the intrinsic and irrational motivational behaviours of individuals via cognitive and social psychology to drive the adoption of IT applications. He believes this will be relevant for change practitioners during IT system implementations. He intends to address this by leveraging a comparative analysis study and incorporating a qualitative approach, which will generate robust evidence. He intends to also leverage John P. Kotter’s Eight Steps of Change Model.

Nkem wrote an article about effective leadership competencies during the COVID-19 pandemic, that has been published on CERIC.CA. In 2020, Nkem was appointed for a three-year term to serve as a public member on the Mortgage Broker Industrial Council by the Alberta Minister of Service.

Nkem holds an MBA from the University of Tampa (2004) and a Bachelor of Science (Geophysics) from the University of Lagos (1998). He is a Certified Management Consultant (CMC) with the Canadian Association of Management Consultants, a Change Management Specialist (CMS) with the Management and Strategy Institute and is Prosci certified in Change Management.

He enjoys playing soccer and cherishes spending quality time with his wife and three children, who all live in Edmonton, Alberta.

Peter Rasquinha

Peter Rasquinha is a programmer analyst and instructor in Computing Science at the University of the Fraser Valley in Abbotsford, BC. As an instructor, Rasquinha teaches in the Bachelor of Computer Information Systems program. As a programmer, Rasquinha assists the Office of the Registrar manage the student information system. Rasquinha believes that by using best pedagogical practices, students are actively engaged, trained for academic success and provided practical skills for employment. Rasquinha also believes that by applying current thinking in organizational institutionalism, the Information Technology Services department at the university can be provided with a framework to decrease conflict within the IT staff and thus provide efficient services to university stakeholders.

His doctoral research interests are in institutional logics framework and microfoundations of institutions with a focus on developing a framework that can be used to improve service. The framework will help in analysing the behaviour of the IT staff and overcome conflict when delivering services. Rasquinha believes that by having this framework, conflicts among the IT staff can be avoided resulting in efficient service delivery.

Rasquinha is a certified Project Management Professional, a certified Information Systems Auditor, and a Chartered Professional Accountant. He holds a Master of Science in Computers from the National Institute of Technology (1995) and a Master of Business Administration from the University of British Columbia (2006).