Simon Fraser University has appointed Philip Steenkamp as its new vice-president of external relations.
Steenkamp has had a long career as a senior public servant and deputy minister in several B.C. and Ontario ministries.
“SFU feels privileged to have recruited a candidate of Dr. Steenkamp’s stature to this important role,” said SFU President Andrew Petter. “His knowledge and expertise will be invaluable in assisting SFU to extend its international reach and to build upon its reputation as one of Canada’s leading comprehensive research universities.”
Steenkamp, 49, will head up the key areas of SFU’s external relations and communications, including community relations, international relations, government relations, public relations, and marketing. He succeeds the late Warren Gill, who was vice-president of university relations.
“I am delighted to be joining the dynamic team at Simon Fraser University and look forward to working closely with local, national and international partners to promote the mission of this great university,” said Steenkamp.
Steenkamp’s 17-year career in public service includes a number of posts as deputy minister in B.C. and Ontario. In B.C., he has been deputy minister in the ministries of regional economic and skills development, of tourism, culture and the arts, of Aboriginal affairs, and most recently of advanced education. In Ontario he had concurrent responsibilities as deputy minister in the ministry of education and the ministry of training, colleges and universities.
He was also president and CEO of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games secretariat, co-chair of the finance committee of VANOC (the Vancouver Organizing Committee of the 2010 Winter Olympics in BC) and chair of BC’s deputy ministers’ committee on the games.
Steenkamp began at SFU July 1.
