Welcome

List of 8 members.

• 

  Joanna Robinson 

  Executive Director Advancement & Community Engagement

  250-743-6206

  Bio

  Joanna Robinson has extensive experience in the field of Advancement and team management. Joanna served as Shawnigan Lake School's Director of Development for two years before stepping into the role of Executive Director, Advancement & Community Engagement and a member of the Senior Leadership Team. She is leading the School’s engagement and fundraising activities with parents, alumni, staff and friends of Shawnigan Lake School, focused primarily on raising resources to deliver our strategic plan Project Future’s initiatives including capital projects, scholarships and endowment. Key achievements include broadening the Advancement & Community Engagement Department’s relationships with new and current parents and re-establishing the School’s presence in Asia post-pandemic.

  
  Joanna brings over 20 years of experience in the non-profit sector, with a strong commitment to philanthropy and children's access to education and health. Selected examples from her professional background include managing the UK-based Children's Investment Fund Foundation's (CIFF) $50 million investment under the Accelerating Children’s HIV/AIDS Treatment (ACT) initiative, an ambitious $200 million public-private partnership with the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief across 9 countries in sub-Saharan Africa, and overseeing the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation's (EGPAF) multimillion-dollar private donor funding portfolio, including awards from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Johnson & Johnson, and Abbott Fund. Joanna has worked throughout the world - in Zimbabwe, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, India, China, Georgia, Macedonia, Poland, Romania and Russia. 

   

  Joanna offers expertise in donor stewardship, relationship management, project management, program reporting, and financial oversight. She is known for her strong interpersonal and communication skills, diplomatic approach, and experience working with diverse stakeholders including governments, multilateral organizations, private corporations, foundations, community partners, non-profits, and universities.
  
  

  Joanna received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Mount Allison University and earned her Master of Science from the London School of Economics and Political Science, with a specialization in international development and child rights. She is married to Rob Armstrong, Shawnigan's Ice Hockey Program Skills Coach, and mother to two teenage boys (Emmitt and Sidney) who are students of Shawnigan Lake School.
• 

  Greg Stevenson 

  Campaign Director

  250-743-6487

  Bio

  Greg was born in Sherbrooke, QC and attended Bishop’s College School, an independent school with similar roots as Shawnigan, and McGill University.
  
  Where he completed his Bachelor of Commerce with distinction and competed as a championship Varsity rower before moving to Vancouver Island to train with the national rowing team. A two-time Olympian, Greg represented Canada at the 1992 Barcelona and 1996 Atlanta Games and subsequently worked in amateur sport fundraising as VP Corporate Development for Foundation 2000Plus. Concurrently volunteering in the public school system near Victoria, BC, Greg worked with his wife Corinna to develop sport and outdoor education programs with a focus on youth at risk. Together, they went on to establish the Outreach Adventure Society and CanAdventure Education Ltd, organizations that engaged hundreds of struggling youth in healthy outdoor pursuits, experiential education, and life choices while maintaining progress toward graduation. Through his work and Corinna's Métis heritage, Greg has become a passionate Indigenous ally, environmentalist, and advocate for cultural awareness, respect, and diversity.
  
  

  In 2013, as their son Dakota reached high school age, the Stevensons returned to Bishop’s College School, where Greg took up the Director of Advancement role. Missing the beauty of their Vancouver Island home, however, they transferred to Shawnigan Lake School in 2017, where Greg now serves as Executive Director of Advancement & Community Engagement.
  
  Greg is eager to connect those that are passionate about Shawnigan with the exciting plans in place for the School. A deep believer in the positive impact that philanthropy can have on future generations, he is eager to support the development of Shawnigan’s programs, scholarships and financial assistance, endowment, and beautiful campus through the support and contributions of so many in the School community.
  
  Please reach out to Greg if you would like to learn more about Shawnigan’s ambitious plans, and how you can get involved: gstevenson@shawnigan.ca or 250-743-6487.
• 

  Rhodri Samuel 

  Director of Alumni Relations

  250-743-6229

  Bio

  Originally from a coal mining village in Wales, Rhodri completed his undergraduate degree at Cardiff University, Wales, and his post graduate teaching degree at Exeter University, England. He taught biology and chemistry in England and in Wales.

   

  Rhod moved to Canada in 1984. His first eight years in Canada were at St Michael's University School, Victoria, where he was a housemaster and a science teacher. Rhod and his family came to Shawnigan in 1993 where he very happily ran Ripley's House for 17 years. During his tenure at Ripley's, he taught science and ran the rugby program. After house directing he moved into administration where he oversaw tone and discipline at the school. Rhod is now involved with the gap and intern program, Alumni Relations and Admissions. He is married to his childhood sweetheart Gaynor, who runs the Admissions team at the school. They have two sons, Dafydd (Ripley's '08) and Owain (Ripley's '09). In his spare time, Rhod enjoys hiking and pottering around the garden.
• 

  Shannon Drew 

  Director of Development

  Bio

  A dynamic community leader with over 20 years of diverse experience, Shannon has worked in the independent school, charitable, government, corporate and media sectors. Skilled at relationship building, program development, community engagement and public relations, Shannon is a results-oriented, proven strategist with a driven positive attitude.  

   

  A graduate of the University of Grenoble (France), the University of British Columbia (Vancouver) and Mount Royal University (Calgary), Shannon's early career roles included Manager, Community Investment for BC Ferries, and Sponsorship and Promotions Manager for CTV affiliate, CFCN, in Calgary, Alberta. Shannon’s passion for facilitating philanthropy was fostered as the Director of Marketing and Communications at the Victoria Foundation and years later, as Executive Director, leading the revitalization of the Courtnall Society for Mental Health, a family foundation established by brothers Geoff, Russ and Bruce Courtnall. Her independent school experience includes travelling the globe as an Associate Director of Admissions and spearheading a vital Community Engagement process with the goal of a middle and senior school campus renewal. 

   

  A relentless connector of people, Shannon enjoys aligning donors' interests and passions with the needs of the School and bringing community members together from around the world. In her spare time, Shannon loves to travel, focus on fitness, hike with her dog Kodiak, and spend time with family and friends. Shannon's volunteer experience includes the City of Langford Economic Development Committee, the Greater Victoria Sports Tourism Commission Committee and Golf for Kids Charity Classic.
• 

  Gemma Atkinson 

  House Director - Copeman's, Associate Director Annual Fund & Data Management

  250-743-0498

  Bio

  Born and raised in New Zealand, Gemma is a proud New Zealand Maori.  She relocated to Shawnigan Lake with her wife Carly in 2016 to be a part of the first Female Hockey Team. Gemma is the House Director for Copeman's house and also the SOGI regional lead and a member of Shawnigan's Be A Jedi committee. In her free time Gemma enjoys chasing her young sons, Charlie and Joshua, hiking, exploring BC and spending as much time as she can with her family and friends.
• 

  Erin Hutchison 

  Advancement Associate

  250-743-6267

  Bio

  Erin has been in the field of advancement and donor relations for over 14 years. Her expertise ranges from managing donor relationships; leading events; project management; planning, creating and delivering impact reports; database management; and building and implementing donor recognition and acknowledgment programs for not-for-profit organizations.

  
  

  Most recently, Erin spent seven years working with a boutique consulting company working with several non-profit organizations to create sustainable fundraising and advancement programs, processes and systems. Erin also worked with the University of Calgary for over four years providing strategic, proactive leadership in planning, developing and implementing plans, tools, structures,, policies, procedures and information management relating to recognition and stewardship practices across campus. During her time at the University of Calgary, Erin led a team who oversaw the institutional stewardship program with a focus on delivering events and impact reports for the Principal Giving level donors.
• 

  Owain Samuel 

  Advancement Associate

  Bio

  Owain Samuel is an Advancement Associate and the lead of Shawnigan Lake School's Legacy Giving Program. Alumni engagement is an important aspect of his work, as he helps foster connections that celebrate Shawnigan’s values and strengthen its global network. A proud alumnus of Ripley’s House ('09), Owain’s connection to Shawnigan runs deep, shaped by his time as a student and as a member of the School’s rugby and hockey teams. His experiences at Shawnigan instilled in him a strong sense of community and a desire to give back to the institution that played such a formative role in his life.
  
  Owain brings a background in relationship management and strategic planning, developed through his professional experience in business development and leadership roles. At Shawnigan, he focuses on cultivating meaningful relationships with alumni, parents, and supporters to help strengthen the School’s legacy and build connections across generations.
  
  Grateful for the opportunities Shawnigan provided him, Owain is dedicated to supporting the School’s mission and engaging its vibrant alumni network. When he’s not working, he enjoys spending time with his young family, staying active, walking his dog, Elton, and traveling as much as possible.
• 

  Danielle Robb 

  Assistant House Director - Groves', Advancement Coordinator