Philip Steenkamp began his second five-year term as president and vice-chancellor of Royal Roads University in January 2024.
He has previously held the role of vice-president, external relations, at the University of British Columbia and at Simon Fraser University and held senior leadership positions in multiple provincial ministries.
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. He is also former Chair of the Research Universities’ Council of BC (RUCBC) and The Conversation Canada. Currently, Steenkamp sits on the Board of Directors, Pacific Opera Victoria and is Chair of Universities Canada’s International Committee.
Steenkamp has seen the university through momentous changes and continues to meet the challenges of a changing post-secondary landscape. During his first term, he developed research and internationalization strategies, and formed a Climate Action Task Force whose work is solidifying Royal Roads as a climate leader among post-secondary institutions. Steenkamp also prioritizes Indigenous-led education and engagement at RRU. In 2024, he was proud to announce the largest gift in the university’s history, Bloom Castle by the Sea, on Salt Spring Island.
His vision for lasting impacts can be seen in RRU’s new campus, the John Horgan Campus, located in central Langford, BC. Driving a first-of-its-kind collaborative partnership with area post-secondary institutes, the initiative is designed to meet the diverse learning needs of Vancouver Island students for the next generation of learners.
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.
