Governance

Shanni Eckford is President and CEO of a privately held international real estate investment company. She has extensive experience in capital planning, capital improvement execution, operational budgeting, team management and creating reporting systems that maximize operational efficiency. Shanni completed her BA and Urban Land Economics at UBC and her MBA in business strategy at the Sauder School of Business. During her tenure on the Society Board since 2018, Shanni was Vice Chair for 4 years and has been Chair of the Advancement Committee, Chair of the Properties and Facilities Committee, a member of the New Buildings Task Force and an ex-officio member of the Foundation Board for 6 years. Shanni began her tenure as Chair of the Society Board of Directors in 2023. She and her husband Michael have two sons currently attending St. George’s (’25, ’27). Her sons are the 3rd generation of her family to attend Saints, joining their father, uncle, grandfather and great-uncle as Georgians. Shanni graduated from Crofton House, so has a longstanding connection and understanding of Independent Schooling.

Seonaid Charlesworth, PhD, was elected to the Board in 2018. She currently serves as Chair of the Strategic Planning and Partnerships Committee. She leads the advisory practice of Spencer Stuart in Canada. She advises Boards of Directors and CEOs across North America on long-term CEO succession planning. With over 20 years of experience working in Chicago, San Francisco and Vancouver, she works with CEOs to develop succession for key roles through executive assessment, CEO coaching and executive team development and alignment. Seonaid earned a PhD and MA in Industrial / Organizational Psychology from UBC and a BA from Queen’s University. She and her husband, James, have a son, Finn '23, and a daughter at Crofton.

Nigel Kirkwood '83 is the CFO of Plenary Americas, a long-term investor, developer and manager of public infrastructure in North America. He is responsible for the oversight of the Group Finance, Risk, and IT functions and works closely with the CEO on corporate initiatives and other operational matters. Prior to joining Plenary Americas in 2017, Nigel was the CFO for a portfolio of small-cap, publicly-listed companies. Before relocating to Vancouver in 2009, Nigel spent 16 years in London, where he was a Director in Mergers & Acquisitions at Citigroup. Nigel obtained his Chartered Accountant designation working with Ernst & Young in Toronto and has an M.A. in Economics from Queen’s University. Nigel is a proud member of our OBA Association, as is his son, Thomas '19.

Karen Kwan is Aritzia’s Chief People and Culture Officer, overseeing all aspects of the People & Culture Department. Prior to joining Aritzia in 2017, Karen began her HR career in banking and Lululemon Athletica, where she held key global HR leadership roles. She is a Chartered Professional in Human Resources and earned a Bachelor of Arts from Simon Fraser University, majoring in English Literature and minoring in Sociology. Karen was born and raised in Vancouver, BC, and has two children, one of whom attends St. George's School and will graduate in 2033.

Mark Lewis '89 is a partner at the law firm Bennett Jones LLP, where he is Co-Head of the firm's National Real Estate Group. He has served on the Foundation's Board since 2017 and became Chair in 2023, at which time he joined the Society Board. He has been a member of the Foundation Board’s Audit & Risk Management, Properties & Facilities and Nominations & Governance Committees. Mark is a current director of the Urban Development Institute a member of the Campaign Cabinet of the Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation, and a former President and director of both BC Rugby and the Vancouver Rowing Club. Mark's son Carter graduated from Saints in 2020.

Hao Min has been serving as a Board Member since 2023. Having graduated from UBC with a Bachelor of Applied Science in Computer Engineering (2009) and an MBA (2013), Hao currently leads a team of passionate real estate development professionals at Bold Properties, focused on providing housing solutions in Greater Vancouver. Together with his wife Sabrina, they have a son, Mario ‘32, who attends St. George's School, and a daughter named Mira, who attends York House School.

Peter Wilken has been closely involved with St. George’s School as a parent to Paolo ‘13 and Jack ‘21, husband to Regina, who sat on the SGPA Board and was co-convenor of the Fair two years running, and as a Strategic Advisor to the school Leadership Team for 16 years. He is an ex-Adman, and Canada is the 11th country he has lived and worked in. He is a Brand Management Consultant, author, speaker and brand-building coach.