New Board Chair announced at VIU

Mike Brown is the new Chair of the Vancouver Island University Board of Governors effective September 1.

Brown, a Nanaimo resident for 15 years, has served the Board for the past two and a half years. He completed a two-year term as the Board’s Vice-Chair before stepping up to his new post.

“I am indeed proud to have been given the opportunity to lead the Board, and to continue working with decision-makers at VIU in their quest to ensure that our region has access to quality education programs and services,” Brown said.


Brown’s love for education and passion for making a difference in his community encouraged him to accept this position.

“The local community has been very supportive of me and my family,” he said. “This is a wonderful opportunity for me to give back to the community.”

“This is an exciting time to be involved with VIU and with the Board although we will face a number of challenges,” Brown added. The main challenge relates to budgetary matters particularly in light of the recent economic downturn and the resulting government financial challenges.

“The changing demographics in the local communities and the VIU student body will also require VIU to be prepared to do things in new creative ways. As a new university, I believe VIU has considerable flexibility and opportunity to do so.”

Brown’s attachment to VIU began 13 years ago and he’s been an advocate for the institution ever since. Initially, he was involved in the Festival of Trees Steering committee, and later was a member of the VIU Foundation, eventually serving as Chair.

Brown practices in the areas of Business Law, Real Estate Law, Wills & Estates, Civil Litigation and Immigration Law with Geselbracht Brown, law firm.

Within his community, he has been actively involved in the Boards of Directors of the VIU Foundation, the United Way, the Nanaimo Dragon Boat Festival Society and Crime Stoppers. He has also been active in the Nanaimo Rotary Club and the Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce.

Brown is a graduate of the Faculty of Law at the University of Ottawa, he was admitted as a member of the Law Society of Alberta in 1981 and British Columbia in 1995. He continues to practice in both Alberta and BC.

Brown resides in Nanaimo with his wife Betty. They have two sons, one of whom attends VIU.

Also elected to the Board was Lantzville resident Barb Carle-Thiesson, assuming the role of Vice-Chair. She is a Senior Partner with Tyce Carle-Thiesson Chartered Accountants and is an Institute-Certified Corporate Director.

In addition to her governance work with VIU, Carle-Thiesson serves as a board member of the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants and sits on the Investment Committee of the First Nations' Cultural Foundation. She has served as a director on the board of the Nanaimo & District Hospital Foundation, the Board of Evaluators of the CICA and as Chair of the Chartered Accountants of BC.

Carle-Thiesson has a Bachelor of Science (Mathematics) from Brandon University and is a Chartered Accountant. She has lived in Nanaimo for nearly 20 years and has served on the Board of Governors of VIU for 2 1/2 years, having been appointed at the same time as Board Chair Mike Brown.

“I am honored to sit on the Board of VIU and to assume the role of Vice Chair,” she said. “I can testify that VIU provides an exceptional learning environment for it students.”

President Ralph Nilson said he looks forward to working with both Brown and Carle-Thiesson. “Mike’s work on the VIU Foundation has been exceptional. His experience working with us over the past 13 years is a tremendous benefit to the institution. Barbara’s experience is also substantial, and together as Chair and Vice Chair, they will make an excellent leadership team.”

Nilson also commended former Board Chair John Phillips for his dedication and commitment to VIU over the past several years.