Leading from vision to reality
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Chair and Founding Member
David Robertson is a Founding Member of THE COLLEGE who has helped to develop and shape the vision of this establishment, transforming its unique concept into a reality. A leader in education for over 42 years, David was Headmaster at Shawnigan Lake School in Canada for 18 years and Deputy for 7 years. He guided the transformation of Shawnigan into an internationally renowned boarding school, recreating the beautiful campus and facilities as a result of the approximately $80 million donated by parents and alumni. He retired in July 2018. Unable to resist the lure of schools, David returned into the fray at the beginning of the pandemic, taking on the Head of School role at Queen Margaret’s School in Duncan, Vancouver Island. As this school is poised to celebrate its 100th birthday, it has an exciting opportunity to set itself up as a leading educational institution for the next century and beyond. Service has always been a key focus with David who is also on the board of UNICEF Canada and helped develop the service programmes of THE COLLEGE. Progressive and completely interwoven in what education should be today – David warrants that The College will evolve and connect with leading educational establishments and real-world experiences. The exceptional opportunities provided will enable each learner to become the person that they are meant to be while receiving an education for life.
Board Secretary
The College Fellowship is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Janice Deakin to the Board of Directors. In Board Chair, Mr. David Robertson’s words: “I am thrilled that Dr. Janice Deakin is joining the TCF Board. Dr. Deakin is a proven agent of change and is highly respected by colleagues past and present. Janice brings a deep understanding of higher education along with exceptional skills in team building as well as strategic leadership and board governance so critical in the early phases of this project.” Dr. Janice Deakin, Board Member (Commencing June 1, 2021). Dr. Janice Deakin is currently the President and CEO of the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario(HEQCO) . The goal of the agency is to provide recommendations for improving quality, accessibility, inter-institutional transfer, system planning, and effectiveness in Higher Education, in Ontario. Prior to joining HEQCO, Janice served as Provost and Vice-President (Academic) at Western University, London Ontario from 2010 where her responsibilities included, senior executive oversight of 12 faculties/schools, faculty relations, the registrar’s office, institutional planning and budgeting. Prior to that she spent 24 years at Queen’s University in various academic and administrative appointments culminating in her role as Associate Vice-Principal (Academic) and Dean of Graduate Studies. As one of Canada’s foremost researchers in evaluating the determinants of expert performance in sport, Janice has published extensively within her field and has provided technical reports to such agencies as the Department of National Defence, CRA, NATO and Sport Canada. She has served as Chair of the Ontario Council of Academic Vice-Presidents, President of the Canadian Society for Psychomotor Learning and Sport Psychology, President of the Canadian Council of University Physical Education and Kinesiology Administrators and Vice-Chair of the Ontario Council of Graduate Schools. She was also a member of the Ministry of Colleges and Universities joint task force on graduate expansion and assisted with the development of performance metrics for the inaugural Strategic Mandate Agreements. Janice holds undergraduate degrees from Queen’s University, a Master of Science from McMaster and a Doctorate from the University of Waterloo. In 2014, she was named one of Canada’s 100 Most Powerful Women by the Women’s Executive Network.
Human Rights and International Law
Dr. Leonard Hammer is an academic and educator based in the USA and in Israel. He studied in the University of London, SOAS (PhD), New York University (L.L.M.), Georgetown University Law Centre (J.D.), Yeshiva University (B.A.), and Hebrew University (Post-doctorate), and conducted/taught several research projects around the theme of public international law, human rights and conflict, civil society and NGOs, governments, democracy, freedom of religion and conscience, sustainability and social entrepreneurship. He currently works with University Arizona and is a visiting professor at Central European University. He also served as court attorney in the New York Supreme Court and Israel Supreme Court in the past. Leonard has worked around the world on a host of development projects to institute governmental reform along with creating government sanctioned human rights programs at the higher education level that also have involved governmental engagement and training. His work at the Open Society Foundation as an International Expert (2005-2015) for example entailed instituting reforms through training, workshops, engagement, civil society building, and higher education programs. Four years ago, he co-created (and is the current Director of Outreach and Development) a project-oriented graduate degree program in Human Rights Practice at the University of Arizona. Being a wholly online (and affordable) graduate degree, the approach is real-world applications of human rights around the globe through the involvement of on the ground civil society actors, project work and social mobilization, and ongoing training of actors through partnerships and educational programs. He has published numerous books, chapters, and journal articles on law and human rights, has received a number of fellowships and research grants from organizations like the United States Institute of Peace and the Carnegie Council on Ethics and International Affairs, and has worked in the region in the past on issues pertaining to international law, human rights, and the environment. He is passionate about learning and traveling, and developing himself as a person. He is also eager to create ongoing projects with institutions and NGOs around the world to develop greater connectivity and understanding as well as utilize existing resources and develop capacities in an equitable and sustainable manner.
Founding Member and Senior Adviser
The Board of Directors of THE COLLEGE FELLOWSHIP is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Ian Deakin as Senior Advisor of THE COLLEGE. Mr. Deakin’s appointment brings to an end an extensive search that included some truly exceptional candidates. Mr. Deakin’s passion for international education, curiosity about learning and commitment to excellence, along with his extensive experiences with school start-ups and school improvement practices made him our choice for Senior Advisor. Mr. Deakin personifies the values that are at the heart of THE COLLEGE giving the Board confidence in his abilities to be an inspirational leader, an influential role model, and an exceptional ambassador for the communities we serve. The Board was particularly impressed by his desire to advance the college’s mission as well as his vision for the future. Mr. Deakin presents an impressive academic and professional resume. He holds a Master of Education in Educational Administration, a Master of Business Administration, a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and a Bachelor in Education along with a professional teaching license and Principal ‘s Qualifications from the Province of Ontario in Canada. Mr. Deakin’s first decade in education was at Ashbury College in Canada where he served as Teacher , Coach, Program Coordinator and Boarding Housemaster. Ian spent the next twenty years leading schools in Singapore, Indonesia, and the United Arab Emirates. After a brief appointment in higher education in Canada, Ian has returned to international K-12 education and is currently serving as Deputy Head of School and Dean of Faculty at The Affiliated High School of Peking University’s Dalton Academy in Beijing China. Ian comes with exceptionally strong recommendations from each of his previous posts. In addition to his experiences opening new schools, Ian has led a number of ‘visiting teams’ for program accreditation as well as school inspection, which speaks to his thorough understanding of what it takes to start, then grow, international schools and school operations as well as his commitment to programs for continuous improvement. Ian’s passion, and experience make him an excellent appointment. The Board is convinced of his leadership capabilities and is confident he will lead The College through this critical start-up phase with intelligence, integrity, generosity and empathy.
Senior Fellow
A leading expert in the field of higher education working with affiliations and appointments to many of the world’s leading universities, think tanks and scholarship granting foundations Robin currently serves as the Regional Director of Fulbright West and Senior Advisor to the President and CEO of Fulbright, one of the world’s largest and most prestigious scholarship and research granting organizations with more than 160 offices in in 52 countries. Prior to Robin’s current roles, he was leading the Province of British Columbia's work on social Innovation as its Executive Director of Social Innovation. Prior to that role, he served as the Head of Research and Strategy at The MasterCard Foundation – a private foundation with assets of more than USD 25B that supports some of the world’s leading universities through its University Scholars Program. Before joining the MasterCard Foundation, Robin was the Executive Director of McGill University’s Institute for the Study of International Development – one of McGill University’s largest programs with more than 1200 students. He also worked for more than a decade at Canada's International Development Agency (Global Affairs Canada) as its Director of Research and Director of Democratic Institutions and Conflict. Before his work at CIDA, he served as the Executive Director of Harvard University’s Native American Program, one of Harvard’s 10 Interfaculty Initiatives. He has held senior level positions with the Federal Government and also served as the Senior Advisor to the Executive Director of the APEC 97 Organizing Committee overseeing the relationship with key trading partners and served as the Senior Liaison Director for the delegations from New Zealand, Brunei and Malaysia. Robin also headed up of the Government of Canada’s School of Public Service’s Pacific and Yukon Regional Office and directed the Canada School’s International Partnership Program. Robin works very closely with the Business Council of British Columbia and their network of corporate partners and he is still very active in his family’s businesses that are tied closely to the tourism and construction sector.
Senior Fellow
Mr. Patrick Brennan is currently serving as a Special Advisor to the President of Vancouver Island University and is the Chief Executive Officer of Advanced Professional Training Centre, where he applies decades of leadership experience in diplomacy, program and policy development, mentorship and Indigenous affairs. From 2014 to 2018, he served as the Executive Director for McGill University's Institute for the Study of International Development, where he ran executive training programs, built strategic partnerships with key institutions including government departments, UN Agencies, the World Bank, and the Inter-American Development Bank, and supported the Institute's research programmes in collaboration with leading global think tanks, universities, foundations, NGO’s and the private sector. Prior to McGill, Mr. Brennan served as the Manager of Multilateral Relations in the Intergovernmental and International Relations Directorate of the Department of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada. During his time at the Department, Mr. Brennan assisted with Canada’s endorsement of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, initiated research for the examination of programming and policy approaches taken by other countries in the area of Aboriginal affairs, supported Canada’s work in the area of the Post 2015 United Nations Development Agenda, and contributed to Canada’s Strategy for Engagement in the Americas. Mr. Brennan has also worked at the Department of Canadian Heritage on initiatives ranging from multiculturalism and citizen engagement to public service renewal and the establishment of a forum for the promotion and advancement of policy development within the department. Prior to joining the Department of Canadian Heritage, he worked for six years at the Department of Foreign Affairs in support of international indigenous issues and was the Deputy Director of the Haiti Program at Foreign Affairs and assisted in writing Canada’s bilateral strategy for engagement in the country. Mr. Brennan has also worked as a program specialist at both the United Nations World Food Programme and at the Canadian International Development Agency. He was posted with the United Nations in Haiti from 1997-1998. Mr. Brennan holds a Master of Arts in International Relations from the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs at Carleton University in Ottawa and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Concordia University in Montreal.
Founding Member and Human Rights
Ram Kumar Bhandari is an activist researcher, trainer and educator based in Nepal and in Portugal. He joined NOVA University of Lisbon as a PhD Researcher (2016 -2020) after long years of filed experience in Nepal and in South Asia. He has led the struggle to secure justice for victims of Nepal’s conflict for over a decade. His first university degree was in development studies, majored in sociology, economics and environment education. He earned two Master degrees in Human Rights and Democratisation (Italy and Germany) and in Sociology (Nepal), and has attended various training in Nepal India, Bangladesh, Germany, USA, Tunisia, Indonesia, Spain, Portugal, Thailand, Cambodia, Sri Lanka and the Philippines. He has over a decade experience working with marginalised communities and their network (specially the families of the disappeared, victims of conflict, ex-combatants youth, ethnic minorities, rural women groups) to facilitate participatory action research, develop campaign models and advocacy strategies that advance truth-telling, justice and social transformation. His involvement with the victims’ movement began when his own father disappeared in 2001. In the years since he has pioneered many of the techniques of grassroots activism, mobilisation, campaigning and networking. He has helped to launch the community Radio station, network of families of the disappeared (NEFAD), the Committee for Social Justice, the Conflict Victims Common Platform for transitional justice and the several community groups, and the international network of victims and survivors of serious human rights abuses (INOVAS). He has also led petitions to the UN Human Rights Committee, the UN working group on enforced and involuntary disappearances, and the Nepali Supreme Court. Ram has spoken on the issue of enforced disappearance, grassroots movement and transitional justice at countless public forums, including the United Nations, European Parliament, Germany and the UK parliamentary group of South Asia. He has written extensively on disappearances, victim movement, transitional justice, human rights and nonviolent conflict in English and Nepali, and has a range of published and unpublished papers. In September 2021, The Global Campus of Human Rights 2021 Alumni Award was presented to Ram Bhandari. Ram has a variety of knowledge and experiences ranging from local to international educational forums, attended dozens of speaking tour in the universities in the USA, the UK, the Europe and in the Asia Pacific. He is a recipient of Global Justice Makers Award and Global Goodwill Ambassador. Ram is passionate about international exchanges, localizing knowledge, social entrepreneurship and advancing teaching-learning methods for youths. Ram also serves as policy analyst with local governments in Nepal and affiliated with NOVA University in Lisbon, University of Leuven in Belgium and online guest lecture at the University of Arizona, USA. His favorite activities (hobbies) are reading (history, philosophy and politics) in the lap of Himalayas and in cafes, meditation and trekking.
Operational Incentives
Ms. Aileen Lee is the Chief Strategy Officer at the Education Group of Peking University Schools (PKUS) where she develops and scales programs and operations for a variety of campuses. Other current roles include the Deputy Head of Weiming Academy’s International Program, a member of a University of Chicago’s advisory board, and the Executive Director of College Counseling. Aileen previously served as the Deputy Head of School at PKUS’ Dalton Academy, in addition to the Director of College Counseling and Head of Admissions & Development. She is the 2020 recipient of the International Association of College Admissions Counseling’s Rising Star Award that acknowledges her work in college admissions. Aileen also recently received an Opportunity Grant that will go towards Tawjihi test preparation materials to help refugees in Jordan access higher education. During her six years in Beijing, Aileen founded the Beijing Western Consortium; an initiative to create a professional learning community that promotes educators across the city to work together and share resources to better support diverse school communities. She helped spearhead and established China’s first and only high school access scholarship program for refugees in Jordan. Prior to moving to China, Aileen founded NidoNeighbours, a platform that aided international families’ transition to life in Santiago. It offered a safe space for members to ask and answer questions about culture, seek help, or provide support and services to each other and the community. Aileen’s fundraising experience with not-for-profits like Diabetes Canada and The Heart & Stroke Foundation afforded her a position at York University’s Alumni & Advancement department. She holds a Master’s of Education in Leadership from The College of New Jersey, a Bachelor’s of Human Resources Management from York University, and a College Counseling Certificate from UCLA X. Her true passion lies within pushing the boundaries of education reform, authentic student-centered learning, and progressive educational leadership. Her absolute favorite past time activity is soaking in the sun, reading non-fiction books on the beach or by the pool. China is the 6th country that Aileen has lived in and is definitely not the last.
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Educational Design
Ted Spear has spent over 25 years as a teacher and administrator in public and independent schools. He is the founder of Island Pacific School in British Columbia, Canada and co-founder of a second high school on Vancouver Island. His book, Education Reimagined: The Schools Our Children Need, offers a timely exploration of the future of schooling, which includes a long-overdue reformulation of student assessment practices plus a captivating snap-shot of a re-engineered high school.
Programmer and Leadership Development
A former teacher, school administrator, and leadership development executive with Apple education, Brad’s work has taken him to Europe, Australia, China, and across North America, giving him a global perspective on the way culture shapes how people live and learn. He now focuses his work on leadership development, curriculum building, and a deep study of the learning process. He is an experienced storyteller, public speaker and has presented internationally as a dynamic keynoter and workshop leader.
Cynthia Guyer
Senior Advisor
Cynthia's wealth of expertise, highlighted by her tenure as Executive Director at Global Dignity from January 2017 to February 2021, coupled with her current role as Senior Advisor, will fortify The College and propel the project to new heights. Her professionalism, keen insights, unwavering passion, and relentless drive are invaluable assets to our endeavour. Cynthia's career commenced in the American South, where she dedicated her efforts to civil rights advocacy and the revitalization of rural communities. Her journey began at the Highlander Center, a pivotal hub during the Civil Rights Movement, frequented by prominent leaders, activists, musicians, and artists. Later, she served on Highlander's Board, an honour that allowed her to collaborate with iconic figures like Rosa Parks and Septima Clark, who initiated the renowned Freedom Schools across the South. Notably, Cynthia founded and led the Portland Schools Foundation in Oregon for a remarkable 12 years. During her tenure, she skilfully orchestrated a diverse coalition comprising parents, teachers, youth leaders, minority organizations, businesses, and elected officials. Under her guidance, the organization achieved seven consecutive campaigns, raising a staggering $850 million in public tax funds for the state's largest and most diverse school system. The Schools Foundation played a pivotal role in supporting school leaders, educators, and parents in transforming high-poverty schools in the city into thriving, dynamic learning communities. Cynthia's dedication also extended to her roles as Board Chair and Board Member for foundations championing economic and social justice in the United States. Prior to her role at Global Dignity, Cynthia served as the inaugural Director of External Affairs for the Rubin Museum of Art in New York City. There, she led the development of the museum's first strategic plan, spearheaded a successful rebranding effort, oversaw all internal and external communications, and played a pivotal role in recruiting and engaging the museum's Board. Furthermore, Cynthia's fundraising prowess contributed to the establishment of a permanent $120 million endowment for the museum. Cynthia's upbringing in New Delhi, where her father initiated the U.N. Mission for India and Pakistan, instilled in her a passion for global betterment. She hails from a large, extended family, all deeply committed to various facets of making the world a better place. Cynthia is the proud mother of two children and currently resides in Lisbon, Portugal.