Sam brings over a decade of experience in financial services, with strengths in risk assessment, operations, and award-winning customer service delivery. His governance and leadership background includes nine years as a nonprofit director of fundraising and communications, where he optimized the organization’s CRM system and grew membership from 400 to more than 4,000. He has served as a citizen member on the City of Langford’s Finance Committee and as Secretary of the Porsche Club of America, Vancouver Island Region, where he helped plan large scale events such as scenic driving tours across mainland BC and the United States and major fundraisers including Blackrock in Ucluelet.

Sam’s son is in the Lower Elementary program at Westmont.  As the Board President, Sam is committed to mission aligned governance, transparent processes, and supporting a collaborative, accountable board culture that serves students, families, and staff.

Ardys is a legally trained executive with extensive experience in public policy and legislation development in the Government of British Columbia.  A strategic, creative, and analytical thinker, Ardys excels at building relationships across diverse organizations and leading change in complex and dynamic environments.  She is compassionate and empathetic, modelling the behaviour she seeks to foster across leadership teams.

Over her career, she has advanced major legislative reforms and supported executive and Cabinet-level decision-making on complex, high-stakes issues. Called to the BC Bar, she began her career as a civil litigator, grounding her work in strong client relationships.

In addition to her professional leadership, Ardys brings governance experience through her service on the board of a nonprofit society for four years, including as board chair, where she supported strategic planning, bylaw modernization, and effective organizational oversight.

Ardys is the parent of three children at Westmont, where her family has been part of the community since 2021. She is deeply committed to the school and its Montessori values. Outside of her professional and volunteer roles, she enjoys spending time with her family, including dog Sparky, exploring the natural beauty of Metchosin and the surrounding areas.

Kris is the owner and founder of Cascade Custom Homes Ltd., a small custom home builder and real estate developer focusing in the Calgary and Canmore areas. For the past 15 years, he has been involved in numerous single family residential and multifamily projects from land acquisition, design, development and sale. Prior to starting Cascade, he spent 10 years after university working in the banking and investment industry focusing on personal and commercial lending, personal and business banking, portfolio management, and structuring private debt and equity placements.

Kris holds a BMgt degree with a double major in Finance and International Management from the University of Lethbridge. This degree directly relates to his focus on all the financial aspects of his businesses, as well as the management and integration of all the other soft skills and aspects that really makes businesses thrive.

Kris’ daughter is in the High School program and son in Early Years at Westmont. Moving to the island for this opportunity, while very difficult, has been one of the best decisions for the family’s well being and growth. He feels it is extremely important to ensure a happy, healthy and stable environment for his two children at this school.

Cat Brooksbank has been a teacher for 18 years and has 15 years teaching experience in UK independent schools. Her strength throughout her teaching career has always been building positive relationships with children, parents and staff, and supporting each individual child’s own learning journey.

Their family relocated from the UK, specifically to find a school community that values holistic development, innovation and a forward-thinking approach to education. They were very grateful to land upon Westmont and beautiful Vancouver Island, and are thoroughly enjoying life on the west coast! Cat currently has 2 children in Middle and High School.

In addition to her teaching background, Cat has a degree in Psychology and a particular interest in how to create systemic change in education and foster healthy sustainable learning environments.  At a time when schools face increasing complexity and challenges, Cat believes strong governance is rooted in listening, collaboration and a shared commitment to what student success looks like in a rapidly evolving world. She is keen to help preserve the strong Montessori values and deep rooted ecosystem that makes Westmont special, whilst helping to facilitate the change needed to see the K-12 vision grow and flourish.

Mackenzie has been in the IT and Cybersecurity fields for the better part of 20 years, with multiple certifications and accreditations to his name; spending time as the CTO of a medical clinic, Administrator for an international school, and manager for a large wholesale distribution company.

While newer to the Westmont community, he offers a wide and deep skillset that encompasses staffing, hiring, finance, and personnel management, to an impeccable Kermit The Frog impression, and ability to foresee problems that many would naturally not consider.

His philosophy is that every problem has a solution if you’re willing to listen with a clear mind and open heart.

Matt has a background in real estate development and sales and has been a Westshore resident for over 20 years. With one of his sons at Westmont, Matt hopes to use his experience to help the school flourish as a first-rate educational environment for his children and others to come.