Strategic Partnership Team
The Strategic Partnerships team consists of highly experienced individuals with expertise in diverse areas such as Adult Education, International Education, Employment Services, Immigration, Technology, Energy, Construction, Transportation, Management Consulting and Curriculum Development.
Our commitment to adding value to the educational opportunities available at TRU-OL through formal relationships is driven by the belief that people should have the opportunity to access quality post-secondary education in a manner that eliminates barriers to personal and professional growth and success.
Our unique combination of industry expertise, education and dedication to the Open Learning message pushes us to continually search for ways to better understand and better serve, our Partners and their stakeholders.
Don Poirier
Don Poirier brings a wide range of education and career experience to his role as a Director with Thompson Rivers University (TRU)’s Strategic Partnerships team. He has both an MA and MBA from the University of Calgary and, as part of the MBA program, attended The Asian Intensive School for Advanced Management (AISAM) program, held in Penang, Malaysia.
Much of Poirier’s career has involved business and program development in the fields of international and Adult Education in both Canada and Asia. He has also worked as a consultant with clients ranging from entrepreneurs in Mental Health to the Calgary Stampede. Poirier has served on a number of committees and boards in the areas of international business development, Adult Education and immigration.
Poirier has been with the Strategic Partnerships team since 2007 and is responsible for developing all licensing agreements in addition to building relationships with post-secondary institutions, secondary schools and private trainers.
Lloyd L. Loveday
Lloyd L. Loveday, MBA
Ph: 250-852-7193
1-800-663-1663, ext 7193
email:
lloveday@tru.caLloyd Loveday brings to his position as Director with TRU’s Strategic Partnerships team an extensive business background and over 20 years of experience working for non-profit organizations in executive and board-level positions. Lloyd has devoted much time to managing relationship with various levels of government across Western Canada, in advocacy of the non-profit sector. Lloyd completed his distance MBA with Royal Roads University in 2004 and has participated in several forums on the future of employment and education in BC, primarily in the capacity as Executive Director of Immigrant Services for the Cariboo region of British Columbia, Canada.
Lloyd was first drawn to the Cariboo region by the Douglas Lake Ranch where he was hired to operate the recreation facilities – which includes 11 private and two public lakes on which two Yurt camps, an eleven-cottage resort, two private ten-person cabins, and more, are situated on over half-a- million acres. With the birth of his children, Lloyd moved his family to Kamloops and began working for the BC Zoo.
Lloyd’s role in the Strategic Partnerships team is to build relationships with non-profit organizations, government, immigrant populations and help bridge First Nations education needs with the Open Learning Division of TRU.
Franca Zumpano
Franca Zumpano is currently an Administrator with Burnaby Adult and Continuing Education. In this position, she has secured major contracts with HRDC and the Ministry of Advanced Education. She sat on the BCIT Board of Governors for six years and was Chair of External Affairs, Audit and Internal Education.
As a BCIT Board member, Zumpano had a significant role in the development of a public/private partnership for the Downtown BCIT campus. Zumpano also sat on the SFU Board of Governors, and was a part time instructor with SFU.
As an Essential Skills Team Leader for Kwantlen University, Zumpano built partnerships with numerous businesses in the Guildford Town Centre Mall to deliver workplace training. Zumpano is also currently Vice-Chair of the City of Vancouver Board of Variance. Zumpano has a Bachelor of Education (SFU) and a Postgraduate Diploma in Education Administration (SFU).
Pam Niehaus
Coordinator External Agreements, Strategic Partnerships
Pam Niehaus joined Thompson Rivers University (TRU) in September 2005 after spending two years living and teaching overseas in Syria. Since joining TRU, Niehaus has held a number of positions including: Enrolment Services Advisor; Program Advisor; Disability Services Advisor; Faculty Instructor in the Human Service Worker program (Lillooet); Work Experience Coordinator for the Education and Skills Training program on campus(temporary); and Coordinator of External Agreements (temporary).
Recently, Niehaus accepted the ongoing position of Coordinator of External Agreements with Strategic Partnerships. Her extensive experience with the TRU-OL Enrolment Services and Advising Department along with her understanding of TRU campus services brings a wealth of experience to the Strategic Partnership team. Her academic background includes an undergraduate degree in Social Work, along with a Certificate in Human Service Work both obtained at the University College of the Cariboo now known as Thompson Rivers University.
Pam enjoys traveling and spending time with family.
Sherry Murdoch
Sherry Murdoch began her relationship with Thompson Rivers University (TRU) as a Legal Secretary student when the University operated as Cariboo College. After graduating Sherry began her 25 year career working within the public sector in the capacity of Case Assistant at the Workers’ Compensation Board of BC for approximately eight years and then Administrative Assistant for CUPE Local 3500 for approximately 17 years.
She returned to her alma mater, now operating as TRU, in the Open Learning Division in March 2006 when she accepted a position working with the Instructional Development and Research Group/Curriculum Services.
In 2009, Sherry joined the strategic Partnerships team in the position of Divisional 1 Secretary. Sherry enjoys camping in the hot Kamloops summer weather and boating on the Thompson River with her dogs and her friends.
External Agreement Coordinator
Contact External Agreement Coordinator at phone: 1-877-339-4359 or email: olpartnerships@tru.ca
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