To: Faculty and staff in Vancouver and the Okanagan
I am pleased to confirm that Dr. Philip Steenkamp has been appointed as UBC’s Vice President, External Relations and Communications.
Dr. Steenkamp comes to UBC from Simon Fraser University, where he was Vice President, External Relations. Prior to that, he had a long career as a senior public servant and deputy minister in several BC and Ontario ministries.
Dr. Steenkamp will take on responsibility for the existing Communications & Community Partnership portfolio – comprising Public Affairs, Communications & Marketing, Campus & Community Planning, Government & Corporate Relations, Community Engagement, Ceremonies & Events and the Learning Exchange.
He brings extensive leadership experience to this new role, both within an academic environment and several provincial ministries. He was also president and CEO of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games secretariat. He holds an MA and PhD from Queen’s University, Kingston, and a BA and BA honours from the University of Natal, Durban. His field of research and most of his teaching was in African history.
Dr. Steenkamp will join UBC on December 1, 2015.
On behalf of the Board of Governors and the UBC community, I would also like to thank the members of the search committee (http://president.ubc.ca/message/2015/09/18/thank-you-to-the-search-committee-for-the-vice-president-external-relations-communications/), which comprised a wide range of UBC stakeholders.
Thank you to all those who were involved in the recruitment and selection process for this important role.
I hope you will all join me in welcoming Dr. Steenkamp to UBC.
Martha C. Piper
Interim President and Vice-Chancellor