UBC Reports | Vol. 46 | No. 17 | November 2, 2000

Educator, Ballard chair join UBC's Board of Governors

Two are latest appointed to 15-member group

A former head of the B.C. Teachers' Federation (BCTF) and the leader of a local alternative energy company have joined UBC's Board of Governors, each for a three-year term.

Elsie McMurphy served the BCTF for 15 years in a variety of capacities, including vice-president, president and executive director.

A teacher with almost 20 years' experience in B.C. public schools, she pursued teacher training at UBC. She received undergraduate and graduate Education degrees from the University of Victoria.

She has also taught at the University of Victoria, in Thailand and St. Vincent.

Firoz Rasul is chair and CEO of Ballard Power Systems, Inc., a company that is widely acknowledged as a world leader in the development and manufacture of fuel cells for use in zero emission passenger vehicles, portable power generators and all stationary power applications.

His community service includes presidency of the Aga Khan Ismaili Council for Canada. He previously chaired Focus Humanitarian Assistance Canada, an international emergency relief agency, and served on the boards of BC Telecom Inc., Royal Bank Capital Corp. and Science World of British Columbia.

An industrial engineering graduate from the University of Hertsfordshire in the United Kingdom, Rasul holds a master's degree in Business Administration from McGill University.

UBC's 15-member Board of Governors comprises the chancellor, the president, eight persons appointed by the lieutenant-governor, two faculty members elected by faculty, two full-time students elected by students and one person elected by and from the full-time employees of the university who are not faculty members.

By legislation, the board is responsible for the management, administration and control of the property, revenue, business and affairs of the university including the appointment of senior officials and faculty on the recommendation of the president.

The governors represent diverse backgrounds which provide valuable input during board deliberations. Decisions are made in support of UBC's mission to be the best university in Canada and one of the world's finest public universities.