Our Board
Lambton College is a community college whose staff, faculty, and administrators provide quality post-secondary education in Southwestern Ontario.
Nationally renowned for its ability to align programs with the needs of industry, Lambton College ranks first in Canada for paid student research positions at a medium-sized college and has a newly launched Centre for Experiential Learning and Co-operative Education that will ensure 100% of academic programs are imbued with the meaningful, work-ready skills that set the College's career-focused programming apart. This emphasis on real-world experience reinforces what the College has worked hard to achieve: a supportive and innovative campus environment that bridges the gap between education and industry.
With the recent upgrade and renovation of the Centre of Excellence in Energy & Bio-Industrial Technology, the Athletics & Fitness Complex and the NOVA Chemicals Health & Research Centre, there's never been a better time to be part of the Lambton College team.
The College is governed by a volunteer Board of Governors that is responsible for setting policy, establishing strategic directions, and monitoring organizational performance. The nominating committee of the Board of Governors recommends for approval by the board, individuals committed to actively fulfilling the role of governor for a three-year term.
Learn More
More information is available about the Board of Governors below:
Board Meetings
The board meets up to eight times a year between September and June. These meetings are open to the public and take place at the College in the Lambton College Boardroom in Room C1-211 (unless otherwise stated).
2024-2025 Meeting Dates
- October 24, 2024
- December 5, 2024
- January 23, 2025
- February 27, 2025
- April 3, 2025
- June 12, 2025
2023-2024 Meeting Minutes
Sub-Committees
Members of the board also sit on sub-committees which include:
- Finance & Property
- Meets up to 8 times/year
- Programs & Services
- Meets up to 8 times/year
- Board Executive Committee
- Nomination Committee
- Executive Performance & Compensation Committee
Board Policies
- 1-001 Governance
- 1-002 Conflict of Interest
- 1-003 Confidentiality & Code of Ethics
- 2-001 President's Evaluation
- 2-002 Executive Limitation
- 3-001 Budget & Expenditures
- 3-002 Corporate Banking Resolution
- 3-003 Delegation of Signing Authority
- 3-004 Reimbursement of Expenditures Incurred by Board Members on Board-Approved Business
- 3-005 Post-Secondary Tuition & Fee Structure
- 3-006 Purchasing
- 4-001 Requests to Present to the Board
- 4-002 Policy Development & Review
- 4-003 Program Advisory Committees
- 4-004 Program Prioritization, Revitalization & Rationalization
- 4-005 Recruitment & Selection
- 4-007 Performance Evaluation
- 4-008 College Safety
- 4-009 Respectful College Community
- 4-010 Employee Conflict of Interest
- 4-011 Smoke-Free Campus
- 4-012 Employee Recognition
- 4-013 Quality Assurance
- 4-014 Honourary Diplomas
- 4-015 Integrated Risk Management
- 4-016 Investment
- 4-017 Micro-Credentials
Meet the Board
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Tania Lee ChairRe-appointed to the Board of Governors in 2022. Tania currently serves as Chair. She is currently the Vice-President of Sales at Blue Water Duty Free in Sarnia. Prior to joining the duty free, Tania worked as an Investment Advisor at CIBC Wood Gundy in London. Tania holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from the University of Western Ontario. Tania has served on many board committees including most recently the Southwestern Ontario Transportation Task Force where she co-chaired the Bridges and Tunnels Committee and the Roads and Highways Committee. Tania is a member of the board of the Frontier Duty Free Association where she is serving as President. She was appointed as the Honorary Lieutenant Colonel for the 1st Hussars Regiment of the Canadian Armed Forces, in June of 2019. She was appointed as the Honorary Colonel in January of 2024 and sits on the Regimental Council and the Cavalry Fund.
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Jason McMichael 1st Vice-ChairRe-appointed to the Board of Governors for a second term in 2024, Jason currently serves as the 1st Vice-Chair and is the Chair of the Programs & Services committee. Jason is the Director of Government Relations for the Labourers International Union of North America both in Sarnia and Windsor. He has also served for three terms as the President of the Sarnia & District Labour Council and was a Director with the Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership from 2016-2023. As well, he has served as a Director of the Bluewater Health Foundation, Sarnia Lambton Rebound, and the International Symphony Orchestra. He is a lifelong resident of Sarnia Lambton where he continues to raise his two daughters.
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Rob Dawson 2nd Vice-ChairAppointed to the Board in 2022, Rob serves as the 2nd Vice-Chair and is the Chair of the Finance and Property Committee. A serial entrepreneur, Rob is currently the Founder and CEO of Vensuris Group of Companies. He has successfully founded or acquired, scaled, and operated several multi-million-dollar companies across Software as a Service (SaaS), technology and real estate while driving results that matter. Philanthropically minded, Rob strives to grow businesses with impact, disrupting industries with superb innovation and embedding a tried and true proprietary entrepreneurial process. Rob holds a Masters of Science in Sports Administration degree from Canisius College and a Bachelors of Sport Management from Brock University.
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Rob Kardas President & CEORob Kardas is the President & CEO of Lambton College. He has accrued over 23 years of progressive leadership experience at the College, exhibiting an unwavering dedication to student and community success. Rob has worked tirelessly to increase access to the College's world-class education and student life experience, helping to create a diverse and inclusive student body. Rob is also a great champion of the Sarnia-Lambton community, facilitating close working relationships with business and industry to address workforce needs and to help graduates become future ready. He lends his trusted voice, experience and expertise to numerous local and provincial boards. Rob holds Master of Human Kinetics and Bachelor of Human Kinetics degrees, both from University of Windsor. He and his wife, Heather, live in Sarnia and are proud parents of two daughters, Fayth and Mackenzie.
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Jennifer Ziegler Internal GovernorAppointed to the Board of Governors in 2024, Jennifer serves as a member of the Program and Services Committee. Jennifer is the Director of Human Resources and is serving as the Internal Administrative Staff Governor. Before joining the college in 2022, Jennifer worked at Woodstock Hospital as the Director of Human Resources and Health and Safety. Jennifer was a member of the 100 Women who Care Club in Sarnia and enjoys travelling. Jennifer holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Windsor and is currently working towards her MBA in Consultant Leadership at the University of Fredericton.
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Beth Ann Wiersma Internal GovernorAppointed to the Board of Governors in 2023, Beth Ann is a member of the Program and Services Committee. Beth Ann is a Communications faculty member at Lambton College serving as the Internal Academic Governor. Beth Ann joined Lambton College as an adjunct professor in 2001. She took a full-time position in 2008. Beth Ann has been active in the college community in a variety of capacities including Chair, Research Ethics Board; Coordinator of English and International; Program Quality Assurance Lead; and a one year secondment to Learning Innovation and Online Education followed by an additional year as the Director of Quality Assurance in which she led our College Quality Assurance Audit Process (CCAAP). Currently, Beth Ann is the chair of the College Advisory Council. Beth Ann holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Education from Redeemer University. Additionally, she holds a Masters of Education from Western University. Beth Ann has served as the chair of the parent group at her children's elementary school as well as a board member of the Sarnia Rapids swim team. For the last nine years, Beth Ann has been the leader of women's ministries at her church.
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Cassie Monteith Internal GOvernorAppointed to the Board of Governors in 2024, Cassie Monteith serves on the Programs and Services Committee. Cassie is the Office Assistant over Online Placements in the Flexible Education department at Lambton College. She has been with Lambton College for four years, working in multiple academic Schools and the Office of the Registrar. Before her tenure at Lambton College, Cassie spent many years in the retail industry as a Customer Experience Manager. In addition to her professional responsibilities, she is an active delegate on the Sarnia District Labor Council. Cassie holds an Office Administration – Health Services diploma from Lambton College and is completing a Bachelor of Applied Business Management at BYU.
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Raj Ashar Internal GovernorRaj Ashar, a second-year student in the Financial Planning and Wealth Management Program at Lambton College, was elected as the Student Governor in 2024 and serves on the Finance and Property Committee. With a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Mumbai University and leadership experience as a Rotaract Club Director, Raj balances his studies with part-time work and his interests include outdoor sports such as cricket and football as well he was a competitive swimmer.
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Jane Mathews External GovernorAppointed to the Board of Governors in 2023, Jane Mathews serves on the Programs and Services Committee. Jane has been with Bluewater Health since 1990, beginning as a staff nurse, moving to leaderships roles and is the current Chief Nursing Executive and Vice President Clinical Services. Jane is a graduate of Lambton College’s Nursing program and has continued her education now holding a Doctor of Nursing Practice: Executive Leadership degree from Post University, Waterbury, Connecticut, a Masters of Science Nursing: Nursing Management and Organizational Leadership degree and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, American Sentinel University, Colorado. Jane is also a certified Project Management Professional (PMP). She is a current member serving on the College of Nurses Discipline and Fitness to Practice committees and is a past Board member of the Canadian Mental Health Association - Lambton Kent Branch.
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Daniella Mancusi External GovernorAppointed to the Board of Governors in 2023, Daniella Mancusi serves on the Programs and Services Committee. Daniella is an Ontario Certified Teacher and is a principal for the St. Clair Catholic District School Board (SCCDSB) at St Patrick's Catholic High School. Prior to becoming principal Daniella was a classroom teacher and system level consultant for fifteen years. Daniella holds a Master of International Education from Charles Sturt University, as well as a Bachelor of Education and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Windsor. Daniella serves on the Catholic Principals Council of Ontario, SCCDSB Executive, as the Vice-President and enjoys volunteering with community organizations: she was a coach for Sarnia Girls Soccer and a dryland facilitator for the Huron Lakers Basketball organization.
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Jarvis Nahdee External GovernorJarvis Nahdee was re-appointed to the Board in 2023 for a second term. Jarvis is a member of the Lambton College Indigenous Education Council as well as the Programs and Services Committee. Jarvis has many years of experience in education beginning his career as a teacher in the Toronto District School Board eventually retiring from the Board as a Principal. Recently, he retired from being the Director of Lifelong Learning in his community of Bkejwanong Territory, Walpole Island First Nation.
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Dave Park External GovernorRe-Appointed to the Board of Governors in 2022, Dave serves on the Finance and Property Committee. Dave is the Operations Manager and Partner at Parkland Farms. As the Operations Manager, Dave has hands on experience with farming and the management and operations of the majority of grain marketing for Parkland. As well, Dave was a Board member of the Grain Farmers of Ontario from 2014-2019. Dave has an Associate Diploma in Agriculture from the University of Guelph and a partial credit Bachelor of Applied Science from Olds College, Alberta.
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Dean Pearson External GovernorRe-Appointed to the Board of Governors in 2022, Dean serves as a member of the Finance and Property Committee and Nomination Committee. Dean is the Facility General Manager at Cabot Canada. Dean holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemistry from McMaster University, with a minor in History. As well he is designated by the Board of Canadian Registered Safety Professionals as a Canadian Registered Safety Professional and completed Occupational Health and Safety Law, Accident Theory and Analysis at Ryerson University.
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Kelly Provost External GovernorRe-appointed to the Board of Governors in 2024 for a second term, Kelly Provost serves as a member of the Finance and Property Committee and Nomination Committee. Kelly is the Director of Economic Development with the City of Sarnia. Prior to joining the City in 2021, Kelly worked for more than 10 years in Economic Development in the Niagara Region. She is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) and is an Honours graduate of Brock University and Niagara College. Kelly is a member of the Economic Development Association of Canada and the Project Management Institute. She also serves as a member of the board of Tourism-Sarnia Lambton and Community Futures Lambton.
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Ryan Straus External GovernorAppointed to the Board of Governors in 2023, Ryan serves on the Finance and Property Committee and is the Governor liaison to the Lambton College Foundation Board. Since 2006, Ryan has held various roles at NOVA Chemicals, most recently as the Production Director, Manufacturing East, and he currently serves as the Strategic Venture Director, Corporate Innovation at NOVA Chemicals. Ryan holds a Bachelor of Engineering, Chemical from McMaster University and enjoys volunteering with the Lambton College Foundation Board and Huron Shores Optimist Club.
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Mike Denomme External GovernorRe-appointed to the Board in 2024 for a second term, Mike serves as a member of the Programs & Services Committee. Mike retired in 2024 from Montrose Environmental Group Ltd. As well, he was a co-founding member and President of LEHDER Environmental Services. In 2013 he was presented with the Matthew S. Devito Award by the Source Evaluation Society for "exemplifying the highest levels of quality, integrity and safety" in the industry. Mike attended Fanshawe College in London, Ontario and graduated in 1981with a diploma in Environmental Technology. He later taught environmental courses as a part-time instructor at Fanshawe from 1992 to 1999.
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Tim Edgar External GovernorAppointed to the Board of Governors in 2024, Tim currently serves on the Finance and Property committee. Tim is the Branch Manager for TD Canada Trust, Christina Street Sarnia. He has over 10 years of experience on non-profit boards, most recently appointed to the Inn of the Good Shepherd Board. Tim holds Several Financial certificates and is a graduate of George Brown College with a diploma in Retail Management.
Contact the Board
Lianne Birkbeck
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT, PRESIDENT