Visionary Conversations: Has Manitoba put the right value on post-secondary education?

What should Manitobans expect from their post-secondary education system and who should pay?

Featured Panelists: Wednesday, February 24, 2016

Michael Barkman
Chairperson, Canadian Federation of Students (Manitoba)

Michael represents over 45,000 post-secondary students from the U of M, U of W, Brandon U and l’Université de Saint-Boniface. He also serves as the only student representative on the Minister of Education’s Advisory Committee on Advanced Education, advocating for affordable, accessible and high-quality post-secondary education. He is currently studying Political Science and Urban & Inner-City Studies at the U of W.

Gervan Fearon
President and Vice-Chancellor, Brandon University

Dr. Fearon holds a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Western Ontario, an M.Sc. in Agricultural Economics from the University of Guelph, and a Chartered Professional Accountant designation. He has served as the Executive Assistant to the Deputy Minister of the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food and Rural Affairs, Senior Analyst with the Treasury Board Division (Ontario Minister of Finance), and has held several academic positions.

Kevin Settee
Local 8 Representative, Canadian Federation of Students (Manitoba)
Vice President, External Affairs for the University of Winnipeg Students’ Association

Originally from Fisher River Cree Nation and Matheson Island, Kevin was born and raised in the west end of Winnipeg. In his role at the UWSA he advocates on behalf of students to the provincial and federal government. Kevin is actively involved in anti-violence campaigns, cultural revitalization and intergenerational empowerment through organizing ceremonies and is currently studying Urban and Inner City Studies and Geography.

Jeremiah Kopp
President, University of Manitoba Students’ Union

In his role with UMSU, Jeremiah represents over twenty-five thousand undergraduate students and oversees an eighteen million dollar organization. He has worked on all three levels of government. He has served as President of the Young Liberals of Canada – Manitoba, Manitoba youth chair in the Liberal Party leadership campaigns of Bob Rae and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and has worked on election campaigns at all levels of government. Jeremiah is currently finishing his undergraduate degree at the University of Manitoba.

Annette Trimbee
President and Vice-Chancellor, University of Winnipeg

Dr. Trimbee was Deputy Minister of Service Alberta where she oversaw the department’s delivery of citizen-centred service and standardized shared services to government ministries, until July 2014. Dr. Trimbee has also served as the Deputy Minister of Treasury Board and Finance, Treasury Board and Enterprise, and Advanced Education and Technology in Alberta. She holds a PhD in Ecology from McMaster University, an MSc in Botany from the University of Manitoba, and a BSc in Biology from the University of Winnipeg.

Heather Tulk
Chief Customer Officer, MTS

Heather has over two decades of leadership experience in the Information and Communications Technology industry in Canada. A director of the Canadian Marketing Association, Heather is actively involved in numerous community organizations. She has been recognized by Canada’s Top 40 Under 40™, WXN Canada’s Most Powerful Women Top 100, and the Canadian Board Diversity Council Diversity 50. Heather has a B.Comm from Memorial University, an MBA from Queen’s University and holds the ICD.D designation.

Alex Usher
President, Higher Education Strategy Associates

An internationally recognized expert in student financial aid and quality measurement in post-secondary education, Mr. Usher has authored numerous ground-breaking studies in higher education. In addition to his years of work on higher education in Canada, his recent work spans Asia, Europe and Africa as well. He holds degrees from McGill University and Carleton University.

Paul Vogt
President and CEO, Red River College

Paul holds a B.A. (Honours) in Political Studies at the University of Manitoba. He earned a Rhodes Scholarship and pursued graduate studies at Oxford University (MPhil, Politics) and at Princeton University. He helped establish the province’s new Advisory Committee on Advanced Education. He is the recipient of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal for Public Service (2013), the Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration (2014) and the U of M’s Distinguished Service Award (2015).

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