President + Vice-Chancellor Dr. Ron Burnett to Step Down in 2018

The Board of Governors of Emily Carr University of Art + Design (ECU) announced today that Dr. Ron Burnett will be stepping down as President and Vice-Chancellor at the end of his term on July 31, 2018. Dr.Burnett has held the position since 1996.

Dr. Burnett will lead ECU through the upcoming 2017/18 school year, the university’s first at its new Great Northern Way campus.

“Over the past 20 years, Dr. Burnett has been instrumental in shaping the institution we know today as Emily Carr University of Art + Design,” says Kim Peacock, Chair, ECU Board of Governors. “His work will culminate this fall in the opening of our new campus which will place creativity and innovation at the centre of our city, our economy and our future.”

"It has been an honour to serve as the President and Vice-Chancellor of Emily Carr University of Art + Design. My hope is that I will be leaving a legacy to the students, staff and faculty of this great institution that will sustain them for many years to come," says Dr. Ron Burnett, President and Vice-Chancellor.

“Our culture, our creative economy and our citizens need a place like Emily Carr to lead in developing and preserving creativity in all its exciting forms. I am deeply grateful to the Emily Carr community for helping me transform the university into the world class institution that it has become. The future is indeed very bright."

ECU’s Board has retained Caldwell Partners to conduct a global recruitment process to find Dr. Burnett’s replacement. In September a consultation process will be launched to engage the Emily Carr community in conversations around qualification, experience, and background to define the candidate role profile.

The Board is committed to a rigorous and consultative selection process that represents a broad range of perspectives.