BRITISH COLUMBIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
BCIT appoints Cynthia Petrie as Vice President, External

The British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) is pleased to announce the appointment of Cynthia Petrie as the Vice President of External at the Institute.

In this permanent role, Cynthia will champion the Institute's vision and mission, providing executive leadership to a broad portfolio of departments including Advancement, Marketing and Communications, Stakeholder Relations, and Indigenous Initiatives and Partnerships - whose unified goal it is to enhance the Institute's profile locally, nationally, and globally. As the strategic connector between BCIT and its stakeholders, Cynthia will continue working to nurture and cultivate the Institute's relationships with all levels of government, industry, donors, alumni, Indigenous communities, and relevant strategic partners.

Cynthia is no stranger to the BCIT community, serving as Interim Vice President of External since September 2023 and previously as Executive Director of Stakeholder Relations for over eight years. In these roles, Cynthia's advocacy work was instrumental in securing industry and government investments towards applied research projects, academic program expansions, and the enhancement of our learning and teaching spaces. Additionally, her leadership oversight has advanced cross-collaboration between departments and strengthened the capacity of teams to forward the Institute's priorities, including those outlined in the Indigenous Vision and the Sustainability Vision. Cynthia is also lauded for her highly effective interpersonal communication and people-centric leadership, as was demonstrated through her leadership and guidance of Institute communications and external relations endeavors during the COVID-19 pandemic.

With over a decade of executive-level experience and strategic leadership, Cynthia brings extensive expertise in stakeholder engagement and management in the realm of public affairs and government relations. Prior to joining BCIT, Cynthia held various management roles with the Province of British Columbia. Cynthia is currently completing a Master of Arts in Leadership from Royal Roads University.

Cynthia's commitment to BCIT, along with her wealth of expertise, will continue to be invaluable to the Institute's continued growth and success.

Congratulations, Cynthia!