Northwest Community College will be welcoming a new president and CEO into their midst starting in October.
Ken Burt will be coming to the college after working for seven years at Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia as the vice president of finance and administration. He also worked at Okanagan College in Kelowna as the VP of finance and corporate services.
Rhoda Witherly, board chair with the college, hopes Burt’s executive experience at post-secondary institutions around the country will bring innovation and creativity to the college.
“Ken’s experience on our east coast in Halifax and in the Okanagan will bring new perspectives and ideas to our program,” said Witherly. “We look forward to getting to know him and to introducing him to our campuses and to northern B.C.”
For Burt, the position is a chance to connect with the community and return to his roots.
“I saw the Northwest Community College assignment as an opportunity to give back more directly to the community,” said Burt. “I’m really looking forward to getting to know and to work with the faculty and staff at each of our campuses, and the leaders in the communities we serve.”
At Dalhousie University, Burt was known for balancing the budget for eight years under difficult financial circumstances, modernizing the university’s information technology services and overseeing the construction of four new buildings on campus, according to the student newspaper.
There was also debate during his tenure over capital projects. A review of the university’s finances found capital projects were funded not by borrowing, but by directing funds away from operating budgets and toward buildings.
Burt will start on Oct. 1.