BC Scholarship Society Board of Directors

Firas Abbasi

Firas spent over a decade working for the BC Investment Management Corporation (BCI). There, he was responsible for the materials sector within the internally managed active Canadian equities portfolio. He also provided tactical and strategic sector investment strategies for multiple portfolios totaling ~$11 billion. In 2018, he started his portfolio management consultancy practice, where he advised discretionary portfolio managers with ~$300mm in AUM on asset allocation and fundamental investment processes.

Following his role at BCI, he worked in business development within the NGO sector, partnering with UNEP, UNIDO and the National Resource Defense Council to develop sustainable small-scale gold mining projects in nine countries as part of the planetGOLD program funded by the Global Environment Facility.

In 2021, he joined Qwest Investment Fund Management and is now serving as the Portfolio Manager, overseeing a series of short-duration investment portfolios.

Firas holds an MBA from UBC’s Sauder School of Business and is a Chartered Financial Analyst.

Troy Barnes

Troy is a member of the Klahoose First Nation on his father’s side and has connections to Homalco First Nation on his mother’s side. He recently accepted a position with Provincial Health Services Authority joining their People & Culture Indigenous Recruitment & Employee Experience team as an Advisor. Most recently he was with Island Health where he worked in a similar role, connecting with Coast Salish and Nuu-chah-nulth (central Vancouver Island) communities, and advocating for systemic change. He holds a Bachelor’s degree with a major in First Nation Studies and a minor in history from Vancouver Island University. Troy has also worked with North Island College as an Indigenous Educational Advisor. During his tenure at NIC he helped students develop education plans, explore career paths, and assisted Indigenous students with their transition to college.

Nate Bello

Nate Bello is an educator.  His career started as an elementary teacher for the Central Coast School District in the Wuikinuxv Nation (Rivers Inlet), then became the Aboriginal Education Coordinator and afterwards Principal of Alternative Education for Quesnel School District. He served on the Board of Governors for the University of Northern British Columbia including time as vice-chair. He also was an instructor at the College of New Caledonia for a season.

Nate was active in anti-racism education as well as multiculturalism throughout his career.  He was also a force in many non-profit societies including the Social Planning and Research Council of BC, the Northern Development Trust Initiative, the Columbia Institute and the Vancouver Island Workability Society. He was instrumental in the creation of a permanent post-secondary facility in Quesnel, the North Cariboo Community Campus, which houses UNBC and CNC.

He was also active in civic politics serving three terms as city councillor and two terms as mayor of the city of Quesnel and also was the town’s representative to the Cariboo Regional District.

He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from Fordham University in New York City. Nate immigrated from the United States in 1970 and became a Canadian citizen in 1975.  He holds a Teaching Diploma and a Masters of Education in Curriculum Studies from the University of Victoria.

Monica Cox

Although the majority of Monica’s family live in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Monica was privileged to grow up in Victoria on the beautiful traditional territory of the Lekwungen speaking peoples of the Esquimalt and Songhees Nations. After spending several years at the University of Calgary completing graduate work, Monica returned to Victoria where she worked with local First Nations and urban Indigenous organizations to develop and deliver community driven projects.  For the past twelve years Monica has worked for the provincial government and held positions at the ministries of Children & Family Development, Municipal Affairs and Housing, Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation and Public Safety and Solicitor General).   In her most current role, Monica is the Executive Director of Indigenous Policy & Engagement at the Ministry of Advanced Education, Skills and Training.

Allan Coyle

Allan Coyle is an accomplished communications and marketing professional and an experienced post-secondary administrator.

From 1998 until 2021, he served as a member of the executive of Okanagan College, and Okanagan University College.

He completed his tenure at Okanagan College as Associate Vice President External and Strategic Initiatives with responsibility for institutional communications, media relations, government relations, branding, and marketing. During the latter years of his College career, he also served as interim Vice President Students (2019-20), Acting Director of Student Services (2017) and Regional Dean (2018).

From 2019 until retirement, he served as the chair of the BC Colleges Communications Leads committee and as advisor to the President of BC Colleges. He also served as a member of the Government Relations Committee of Colleges and Institutes Canada.

Coyle also served eight years as director of the Kelowna YMCA until 2013. Other volunteer roles included being a director of the Kelowna Yacht Club Board of Directors (1992-94), a member of the Public Relations Committee, the Campaign for Cancer Care (1994-96), and as a director of the Okanagan Summer School of the Arts (1992).

Coyle ran a successful public relations, marketing and media relations consultancy from 1996 until 2000, with clients including the regional office of Human Resources Development Canada (and its 40 associated service providers), municipal governments and a major magazine publisher. He also served as a contract trainer for Thomson Newspapers, specializing in editorial development.

Coyle’s successful business venture followed on the heels of a 15-year career as a journalist and editor, working for a range of newspapers and magazines starting in Medicine Hat with Southam Newspapers and concluding in 1996 in Kelowna as the Metro Editor for Thomson Newspapers’ Daily Courier. He edited seniors magazines, and a successful business magazine. He was also a freelance writer with several feature-length stories published in Beautiful BC Magazine and other national publications.

He has a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Victoria (1980), and attended Fraser Valley College from 1976-1978.

Chad Hoskins

Chad Hoskins is the Executive Director of StudentAid BC with the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Training (AEST).  StudentAid BC helps students with the cost of post-secondary education through student loans, grants, and scholarships. Chad joined the public service in March 2009.  Prior to accepting a position with AEST, Chad was an Executive Director responsible for the Province’s Freedom of Information (FOI) requests and has worked in other roles at the Ministry of Citizens’ Services and the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General.  Before a career in the public service, he was part of the Corporate Governance team at Vancity Credit Union.  Chad is passionate about post-secondary education, policy development, and leadership.  Born and raised in Victoria, Chad holds a Bachelor Arts (History) and a Master of Arts (Political Science) from the University of British Columbia.  Outside of work, he is very involved with the Victoria soccer community as a coach, player and club board member.

Katrina Iuvancigh

Katrina has over 15 years of experience in the field of education. She lives in Kelowna on the unceded territory of the Syilx Okanagan People. Since 2016 she has worked at UBC as an International Student Recruiter and Advisor, guiding and supporting international students from both Asia and Europe as they prepare for their studies in Canada.  Prior to UBC, Katrina worked as an English Language teacher in Spain helping to launch a secondary school English Bilingual Program and at Langara College as a Financial Aid Advisor.  As a Financial Aid Advisor she administered  hundreds of scholarships, grants and bursaries to students each year and developed student focused events and supports including financial literacy workshops and education.   She is fluent in Spanish and holds an Honors Bachelor of Arts degree from Brock University.  Her interests in diversity, inclusion and intercultural studies motivated her to complete the UBC Certificate in Intercultural Communication in 2020. Katrina also currently serves as a Board member and Treasurer of Project Grow (Ghana Rural Opportunities for Women) . In her spare time she enjoys hiking, backcountry camping and exploring the Okanagan by bike.

Ryan Kelly

Ryan is a senior manager with the accounting firm Grant Thornton LLP, located in Victoria, BC. Ryan obtained a Bachelor of Business Administration from Simon Fraser University and is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA).

Ryan has over 14 years of experience working in public accounting with a diverse range of clients from auditing large public and private companies and NPO’s to supporting owner managed businesses in meeting their personal and business goals. Ryan has found the owner managed business space the most rewarding and has devoted his professional time for the last 10 years in assisting clients in this space.

Ryan was born and raised in Victoria and although he left Victoria to pursue his professional goals, he returned to take advantage of the lifestyle Victoria affords its residents and raise his young family in the city.

Lindsay LeBlanc

Lindsay is a partner with the law firm of Cox Taylor, located in Victoria, B.C. Lindsay obtained a Bachelor of Commerce (Hons.) from U.N.B.C. and her Law Degree from the University of Victoria.
Lindsay maintains both a solicitors and litigation practice focused on property development, municipal and administrative law and corporate structuring.
Lindsay is appointed to the Attorney General’s Supreme Court Rules Committee, a committee formed to provide advice on Rules reform; the Law Foundation of British Columbia which funds projects and programs throughout British Columbia in the areas of legal education & research, legal aid, law reform and law libraries; and is appointed as a member of the Law Society of British Columbia’s Hearing Panel which adjudicates on disciplinary matters, application for enrolment in articles, call and admission and reinstatement as a member of the Law Society.
Lindsay was appointed as a Governor to the University of Victoria and completed the maximum term of 6 years in July, 2017. Lindsay continues to sit on the University of Victoria’s Property Board. Lindsay has also served on other boards in British Columbia, including the Canadian Bar Association Aboriginal Law Student Scholarship Trust Committee and the Vancouver Island Sexual Health Association. Professionally, Lindsay is a member of the Law Society of British Columbia, the Canadian Bar Association and the Victoria Bar Association.

Kelly McConnan

Kelly McConnan is an Executive Director with the BC Ministry of Advanced Education with responsibility for corporate planning, international education and intergovernmental relations.   Kelly joined the BC public service in February 2008 after six years working in Ottawa in a number of federal departments, including Human Resources and Social Development and Privy Council Office.   After three years and two provincial budgets at Treasury Board Staff in the Ministry of Finance, Kelly accepted a position in the Ministry of Advanced Education where she has led international education and intergovernmental relations files for the past five years.  Prior to accepting her current position, Kelly completed a temporary assignment as the acting Executive Director of child and youth mental health policy at the Ministry of Children and Family Development.  Born and raised in Victoria, Kelly holds a Bachelor Arts (Political Science Major) and a Masters of Public Administration from the University of Victoria.

Kendra Underwood

ÍY SȻÁĆEL HÁLE. Kendra Underwood is a First Nations adult educator from Tsawout First Nation. She holds a Master of Adult Education from St. Francis Xavier University and an undergraduate degree from the University of Victoria. For the past eleven years, Kendra has worked as Director of the Saanich Adult Education Centre (SAEC), which is part of a larger organization, the W̱SÁNEĆ School Board, located on Tsartlip territory in Brentwood Bay, BC. The SAEC offers numerous courses and programs to serve the local community including early literacy, adult upgrading, post secondary programming, onsite childcare services and a hot lunch program.

Prior to being the SAEC’s Director, Kendra worked as the W̱SÁNEĆ School Board’s Post Secondary Adviser. In addition to her role with the SAEC, she sits on the Board of Directors for British Columbia’s First Nations Education Steering Committee (FNESC), and has served a term on their Executive as Vice President. Currently, Kendra is Chair of FNESC’s Post Secondary Sub Committee. She has also served on the Board of Directors for Literacy Victoria. Kendra finds the opportunity to focus on First Nations education at both the local and provincial level to be invaluable. HÍSW̱KE HALE.