Red Deer Polytechnic Board of Governors

Taheri, Cyrus

Dr. Cyrus Taheri is a faculty member in the School of Arts and Sciences at Red Deer College. He teaches Microbiology, Introductory Cell Biology, and Molecular Cell Biology. Dr. Taheri is a member of the Red Deer College Biosafety Committee, School of Arts and Sciences Program Development Committee, and Red Deer College Science Outreach Committee. He holds a PhD in Applied Microbiology from the University of Saskatchewan, a Master of Science degree in Biology from the University of Tehran, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from the University of Isfahan.

Hodson, Mark

Mr. Mark Hodson is the Vice President, Manufacturing with Nova Chemicals. He is a board member and Treasurer with the United Way of Central Alberta and a board member with the Regional Recreation Corporation of Wood Buffalo. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Alberta.


Competencies required for members of The Board of Governors of Red Deer Polytechnic include the core competencies of leadership and governance, and preferred competencies of finance, human resources, legal, risk management, and/or strategic planning. Mr. Hodson was directly appointed on the basis of meeting the competencies, skills, and attributes as described above.

Rattan, Paul

Mr. Paul Rattan is a partner with Warren Sinclair in Red Deer. His area of legal practice includes banking, finance, wills, and estate planning among others. He is a member of the Piper Creek Optimist Club and a past board member of the Red Deer College Alumni Association. He holds a Juris Doctor degree and a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Alberta.


Competencies required for members of The Board of Governors of Red Deer Polytechnic include the core competencies of leadership and governance, and preferred competencies of finance, human resources, legal, risk management, and/or strategic planning. Mr. Rattan was directly appointed on the basis of meeting the competencies, skills, and attributes as described above.

Wyzykoski, Shannon

Ms. Shannon Wyzykoski is a Partner with SSCR Corporate Solutions. She is the Chair of the Red Deer Regional Airport Authority and was the Treasurer with the Board of Directors of Family Services of Central Alberta. She is a Chartered Professional Accountant and holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Alberta.


Competencies required for members of The Board of Governors of Red Deer Polytechnic include the core competencies of leadership and governance, and preferred competencies of finance, human resources, legal, risk management, and/or strategic planning. Ms. Wyzykoski was directly appointed on the basis of meeting the competencies, skills, and attributes as described above.

Plante, Carmen

Ms. Carmen Plante is an Instructor in the Social Work program at Red Deer Polytechnic. She also serves on the institution’s Research Ethics Board. She holds a Bachelor of Social Work degree from the University of Calgary and a Master of Social Work degree from McGill University.

Nwachukwu, Emeka

Mr. NnaEmeka (Emeka) Nwachukwu has been on the board since 2017 and serves as Vice Chair of the board. He is a project advisor with Fortis Alberta and a member of the Board of Directors of the Danish Canadian National Museum. He holds a Bachelor of Agricultural Technology degree from the Federal University of Technology, a Master of Finance degree from Lagos State University, and a Master of Science degree from Robert Gordon University. He also holds a certificate in Construction Project Management from Mount Royal University and is a Project Management Professional.

Robinson, Scott

Mr. Scott Robinson has been on the board since February 2021. He is the Chief Executive Officer of the Red Deer and District Chamber of Commerce and part-time Chief Executive Officer of the Central Alberta Sport Authority. He holds a Master of Arts degree in Leadership from Royal Roads University, a Bachelor of Physical Education degree from the University of Alberta, and a Kinesiology diploma from Red Deer College.


Competencies required for members of The Board of Governors of Red Deer Polytechnic include the core competencies of leadership and governance, and preferred competencies of finance, human resources, legal, risk management, and/or strategic planning. Mr. Robinson was directly appointed in February 2021 on the basis of meeting the competencies, skills, and attributes as described above.

Graham, Caroline

Ms. Caroline Graham is the Design and Assessment Coordinator in the Office of the Registrar at Red Deer Polytechnic. She has held other positions with the institution since 2012, including as the Advising and Recruiting Specialist and as a Prospective Student Consultant. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from the University of Victoria, in addition to a Diploma in University Transfer Studies from Red Deer Polytechnic.

Pelletier, Guy

Mr. Guy Pelletier is the Vice President, Red Deer Region with Melcor Developments Ltd. He previously served two terms as a public member on the Board of Governors of Red Deer College and was a community member on the Red Deer College Alumni Association and the RDC Foundation Board. He has also served as Central Alberta Chapter Chair for the Urban Development Institute and as board member and President on the Homebuilders’ Association – Central Alberta Chapter. He holds a Business Administration diploma from Red Deer College and a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Calgary.


Competencies required for members of The Board of Governors of Red Deer Polytechnic include the core competencies of leadership and governance and the preferred competencies of finance, human resources, legal, risk management, and/or strategic planning. Mr. Pelletier was directly appointed in August 2019 on the basis of meeting the competencies, skills, and attributes as described above.

Oliver, Julie

Ms. Julie Oliver is a Partner in MNP's Red Deer office specializing in assurance services to non-profit, government, and private enterprise. Ms. Oliver is a current and past board member on the Downtown Business Association and served on its Finance Committee. She is the Co-founder and leader of the Professional Women’s Networking Group and a board member with the Caroline and District Chamber of Commerce. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree (with Distinction) from the University of Calgary and is a Chartered Professional Accountant.


Competencies required for members of The Board of Governors of Red Deer Polytechnic include the core competencies of leadership and governance and the preferred competencies of finance, human resources, legal, risk management, and/or strategic planning. Ms. Oliver was directly appointed in August 2019 on the basis of meeting the competencies, skills, and attributes as described above.

Burke, Tammy

Ms. Tammy Burke has held the position of Elected Councillor for the Town of Rocky Mountain House from 2013-17 and became the town’s elected mayor from 2017-21. She is an active community and experienced board member, having served as a member of the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association’s Environment and Sustainability Committee. She is currently serving on the Recycling Council of Alberta and Campus Alberta Central.


Competencies required for members of The Board of Governors of Red Deer Polytechnic include the core competencies of leadership and governance and the preferred competencies of finance, human resources, legal, risk management, and/or strategic planning. Ms. Burke is being directly appointed on the basis of meeting the competencies, skills, and attributes as described above.

Rebman, Brenda

Ms. Brenda Rebman is President and Chief Executive Officer of Futures Resource Partners Inc. She is also a chartered professional in human resources and a certified consultant and executive coach. Previously, she worked in several executive leadership positions, including Associate Vice-Chancellor and Chief Human Resources Officer at the University of California, Vice-President of Talent Management Strategies at Alberta Health Services, and Vice-President of People and Clinical Services at the Interior Health Authority in British Columbia. She holds a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Calgary, a Bachelor of Administration degree from Athabasca University, and two Health Care Administration Certificates from the University of Saskatchewan.


Competencies required for members of The Board of Governors of Red Deer Polytechnic include the core competencies of leadership and governance and the preferred competencies of finance, human resources, legal, risk management, and/or strategic planning. Ms. Rebman is being directly appointed on the basis of meeting the competencies, skills, and attributes as described above.

Bast, Erin

Ms. Erin Bast is in her second year in the Legal Assistant Diploma program at Red Deer Polytechnic. She was elected President of the Students’ Association of Red Deer Polytechnic for the 2023/24 academic year. She currently serves as Chair of the Students’ Association Mental Health Committee and as a mentor on the International Student Mentorship Program. She is also a Director with the Red Deer Polytechnic Alumni Association Board and is a member on the Curriculum Committee, Honorary Degree Subcommittee, Academic Council, and the Students’ Association Bylaw Amendment Review Committee.

Rudd, Tiara

Ms. Tiara Rudd is enrolled in the Business Administration Diploma program with a major in Human Resources at Red Deer Polytechnic. She is the elected Students’ Association representative for The Board of Governors of Red Deer Polytechnic for the 2023/24 academic year. Ms. Rudd holds a Licensed Practical Nurse Diploma from NorQuest College and also is a Licensed Practical Nurse in the Child/Adolescent Mental Health and Addictions unit at Red Deer Regional Hospital.

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