Jim began his career in education as an elementary school teacher, then as a manager at The Banff Centre's School of Management Studies. After completing an MBA at Stanford University he has worked as a management consultant, and as a senior executive in the fields of newspaper publishing and forest products. He is a graduate of the Directors Education Program offered by the Institute of Corporate Directors. Jim is a Director of the Prince Rupert Port Authority and is Vice Chair of the Provincial Health Services Authority. He and his wife Mary live in Vancouver where they are active in boating and a number of other outdoor activities.
Blake is the President of Benefic Group Inc. which develops innovative funding strategies and specialized administrative services for foundations and charitable organizations. As the founder of Benefic Lawyers, Blake works almost exclusively on charitable and tax planning matters and has set up and registered more than 600 foundations and charitable organizations. Blake spends approximately one-quarter of his time on international issues, advising charities that operate in many countries on tax and legal issues relating to the international transfer and utilization of charitable funds. He has advised governments in many countries on the drafting of laws governing the rights and tax privileges of social organizations. Blake is a prolific writer and speaker who has lectured at Oxford University, UCLA, London School of Economics, University of Toronto, Beijing University, UBC, and Swinburne University.
Basil has an accomplished academic background in chemical engineering, but when he moved his family to Vancouver from his native South Africa in 1974 he opted for a career change and has become expert in all facets of real estate. He started as a licensed salesman and advanced into project and financial management, where he was responsible for the financing and long-term planning of some $250 million in property developments in both Canada and the U.S. He has served as a consultant project manager for a variety of major clients. In South Africa, Basil completed a Chemical Engineering degree at Johannesburg University before starting work on a uranium plant. He then returned to the university via a scholarship from the Atomic Energy Board, Vienna, and completed his Ph.D. in Nuclear Engineering. He later obtained an M.B.A. in International Marketing from the University of South Africa, Pretoria, which also included business studies at Stanford University. Prior to immigrating to Canada, Basil became the youngest Director with the third-largest chemical group in South Africa. A former noted field hockey player, Basil is now "of a certain age," yet displayed remarkable physical prowess in December 2005 when he and his son, Steve, ascended Mt. Kilimanjaro, at 5,895 metres, Africa's highest peak.
(see biography under University Leadership)
Ian graduated from the University of British Columbia with an LLB in 1995 and has practised law in the fields of tax and estate planning since his call to the Bar in 1996. In the course of his practice, Ian advises clients in personal and corporate tax planning, corporate reorganizations, estate planning, charitable gift planning and international tax and trust planning. This work also includes advising clients on tax issues arising in connection with the acquisition or sale of a business, divorce, separation, variations of trusts and wills, and flow-through share financings. Ian has successfully represented clients in courts of all levels, including the Canadian International Trade Tribunal, the Tax Court of Canada, the Supreme Court of British Columbia, the Federal Court—Trial Division, the Federal Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Canada. He is currently secretary of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (Canada) (STEP). Ian is an enthusiastic cyclist and hockey player, and is active in coaching his children in hockey.
Quest University Canada © 2009
3200 University Boulevard Squamish, BC Canada V8B 0N8
Email: | Phone: 604.898.8000 | Fax: 604.815.0829
