Executive Leadership

Penny Light is the executive academic leader and provides vision in the development and promotion of an academic environment consistent with the values and purpose of CapU considering future academic trends. Her responsibilities include the overall leadership, administration, strategic planning and priorities, development, implementation, evaluation and effectiveness of a broad range of academic, managerial, administrative and operational activities related to the University’s academic plan and an executive collaborator with the University’s strategic plan.

Since joining CapU in February 2023 as dean, Faculty of Arts & Sciences, Penny Light has provided exceptional academic leadership and strategic direction, seeing continued growth through partnerships and collaborations and expanded experiential learning opportunities. Her tenure as dean is highlighted by bringing the Bachelor of Arts with a Major in Interdisciplinary Studies and Associate of Arts degrees to CapU Squamish as it starts programming this fall. 

Before arriving at CapU, Penny Light worked at St. George’s University, Grenada, West Indies, where she served as both a professor and director of the Leadership and Excellence in Academic Development division in the Department of Educational Services. Prior to that role, she served as a professor of history and the executive director of the Centre for Student Engagement and Learning Innovation at Thompson Rivers University, and associate professor at the University of Waterloo where she taught in both the sexuality, marriage and family studies and history departments and served as the director of women’s studies.  

With a PhD in history from the University of Waterloo and a Master of Arts in history from Laurentian University, her academic research has followed an interdisciplinary studies approach and focused on the social history of medicine and fostering deep learning in higher education. Penny Light has explored medical discourse on gender and sexuality in Canada and the United States in the 19th and 20th centuries, and the ways that portfolio practices and pedagogies can deepen student and faculty learning.

Penny Light also serves as president of the Association for Authentic, Experiential, and Evidence-Based Learning (AAEEBL), the international ePortfolio community of practice.

Contact Tracy Penny Light

This executive leadership role oversees financial planning and reporting, corporate services, facilities and capital projects, policy, privacy and governance and information technology for the University, and contributes strategic thinking and analysis to the University's momentum and progress towards 2030.

As chief financial officer, Bains will serve as the corporate secretary to the Board of Governors and act to ensure the current and long-term effectiveness and sustainability of all financial functions of the University and its Foundation.

Bains stepped into this position from her previous role as director, financial services, which she held since 2017.

She brings over 25 years of professional and progressive leadership experience in the public sector and has been instrumental in leading large-scale projects, including creating finance functions for new organizations, mergers, systems implementation projects, change management initiatives and business process redesigns.

Bains has held several leadership positions in her career – most notably with the First Nations Health Authority as the chief financial officer, Community Living BC as the director of accounting and contract management and Provincial Health Services Authority as a decision support consultant.

As a Chartered Professional Accountant with a Master of Business Administration in Executive Management and Leadership, Bains has also served on the boards of the Surrey Foundation and the Fort Langley Canoe Club.

With a proven track record in creating work environments that support collaborative team-based approaches that build trust, enable creativity and encourage possibilities, Bains has successfully developed a solid financial framework for the institution to ensure accountability and stewardship of resources.

Over the last five years, she has transformed the finance department into a strategic partner that supports the organization in informed decision making and effective allocation of financial resources.

CONTACT TALLY

Leading, advising and guiding key people decisions are central to this role. In this newly created position, Bharadwa oversees all human resources activities that support CapU's distinct employee experience and diverse culture.

Guided by the University's Envisioning 2030 plan, Bharadwa plays a key role in the University meeting its goal of instilling a culture of equity, diversity and inclusion throughout all university operations and outreach. It is a holistic approach the University is taking to talent strategies; recruitment; performance management; HR operations; labour relations; employee engagement, employee health and well-being.

Bharadwa's career to date has been distinguished by excellence in labour relations; talent acquisition and retention; learning and development; change management; and organizational effectiveness. Prior to joining CapU, Kartik Bharadwa served as director, human resources, operations and chief privacy officer for the BC Dental Association. His career history includes leadership and executive advisory positions at Gateway Casinos & Entertainment, The Compass Group and Sodexo.

He earned an MBA in Human Resource Management from Royal Roads University (RRU) and continues to support the success of MBA students through the RRU mentorship program. Additionally, he is an active member of the Chartered Professionals in Human Resources Management and serves on both their experience review and membership committees.

CONTACT KARTIK

In his role, Savjord promotes the implementation of the University's operational plan through sound administrative oversight and leadership of the planning, assessment and accreditation activities of the University. This contributes to CapU operating effectively as an institution, ensures CapU's compliance with policy and legislation, and coordinates both the business planning and institution-wide change initiatives to strengthen CapU's position as British Columbia's leading experiential University.

Savjord's career began as an educator and administrator specializing in outdoor recreation and adventure tourism. His experience in post-secondary extends to program creation and developing certificates, diplomas and degrees for colleges and universities throughout B.C.

Savjord's CapU employment connection dates back almost 20 years. He served as an instructor of outdoor recreation programs and adventure tourism program designer at Capilano College between 1998 and 2002. 

Savjord has served as an organizational and leadership consultant to numerous educational institutions and came to CapU from Cornerstone Developments and the Squamish Clean Technology Association, where he was the senior project manager.

Prior to this, he was the vice president, operations and development/recreation and athletics for Quest University Canada. As a founding faculty member, Savjord also contributed to the design of Quest's unique curriculum.

Active in community service, Savjord has served on numerous boards and committees including the Squamish Sustainability Corporation; Tourism Squamish; Squamish Official Community Plan Advisory Steering Committee; Coast Mountain Academy; Quest University Canada Foundation and the Squamish Nordic Ski Club.

Savjord did his post-secondary education at Capilano University (then Capilano College) and went on to complete a bachelor's degree in human kinetics and continued on with studies at the University of British Columbia.

CONTACT TORAN

Kari Wharton joined Capilano University in June 2012 as manager, development & alumni relations. Most recently, she held the position of director, university relations & capital campaigns, leading the $5-million capital campaign in support of the University's Centre for Childhood Studies. She has been the lead on several key projects, including project manager for CapU's 50th anniversary program; project lead in the restructuring of the University's communications and marketing & digital experience service areas; and the University's first asset inventory and naming framework.

In her role, Wharton will provide strategic direction to raise the University's profile, secure support for its priorities and strengthen University relationships.

Wharton is a senior executive with over 30 years of experience in government and post-secondary education. Her previous roles include director, North American operations, Golden Key International Honour Society (10 years); manager, undergraduate recruitment (domestic), UBC; and communications officer, youth and student programs, BC Yukon, HRDC (federal government). Prior to joining CapU, she also worked in corporate development for five years in the advancement portfolio of UBC.

As a volunteer for many years, her community service focused on the volunteer board of the North Shore Royal Canadian Army Cadets, 2573 6 Engineer Squadron, as well as several other North Shore grade school committees, fundraising events and UBC alumni activities.

Wharton is a graduate of UBC, with a bachelor's degree in arts, majoring in economics. She continued her lifelong learning through UBC's Sauder School of Business Executive Education program, taking courses focused on financial management, labour law and strategic planning.

Contact Kari