Philip Steenkamp

Chair of Universities Canada’s international committee

Biography

Dr. Philip Steenkamp, President and Vice-Chancellor of Royal Roads University, is a galvanizing leader with broad experience.

Spanning a 17-year career in public service, Steenkamp held senior leadership positions in multiple provincial ministries, including Deputy Minister from 1997 to 2011.

As President and Chief Executive Officer of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games Secretariat, Steenkamp held provincial oversight and management of the largest event, at that time, in the world.

Recent positions include Vice-President, External Relations at the University of British Columbia and Simon Fraser University.

He has served on numerous boards and committees, including the Dr. Peter AIDS Foundation, the Immigrant Employment Council of BC and the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research. Currently, Steenkamp is Chair of Universities Canada’s international committee, Chair of the Research Universities’ Council of BC (RUCBC) and Chair of The Conversation Canada.

His academic roles have included Adjunct Assistant Professor at Queen’s University, Research Fellow at the University of Namibia and Assistant Professor and Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of History at the University of Victoria, with a focus on African history.

Steenkamp holds a PhD in History from Queen’s University (1989), a Master of Arts in History from Queen’s University (1986) and a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) from the University of Natal, Durban (1983).

In 2003, he was named a Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal recipient for outstanding public service to the people of British Columbia. In 2024, he received the King Charles III Coronation Medal, recognizing those who have made significant contributions to Canada and their home provinces.