We are thrilled and honoured to introduce you to six Sprott Shaw faculty members who have been awarded the prestigious King Charles III Coronation Medal! Throughout their time at Sprott Shaw College, our faculty members have made a significant impact on our community by providing their knowledge and commitment to giving the best possible experience to all our students. We are excited to highlight their career background, achievements, and passion for education.
Anne Wilkes (Victoria Campus Director)
Anne has been an educator for 41 years, including 20 years with Sprott Shaw. She represented Canada in overseas assignments to Zimbabwe for five years and Vietnam for two years. Additionally, she has worked with new immigrants to Canada in the LINC program (Language Integration for Newcomers to Canada). Her achievements and commitment to excellence serve as a pillar of inspiration, and we are proud to celebrate her contributions and dedication to providing a top-tier education.
Dr. Deej James (Vice President, Operations)
Deej was a senior executive at the Sydney Opera House and was awarded the coveted International Society of Performing Arts Administrators Award (ISPAA) in New York. Following this, Deej taught at the Sydney Institute, became a published author, and co-founded a social change management consultancy with clients as diverse as the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK, Indigenous tribes and bands in Australia, the US, and Canada, and the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC). In addition to working in New York and San Francisco, Deej also worked in London on a restructuring project for the Open University, a school with over 4,000 staff and 250,000 students. After teaching and holding several head-of-school positions at both public and regulated post-secondary institutions, Deej joined Sprott Shaw Colleges (SSC), where she was promoted to Vice President in 2018. In addition to having operational oversight of SSC’s 15 campuses, Deej also serves as SSC’s academic head, chairing the Academic Review Committee (ARC) and overseeing Sprott Shaw’s 100+ programs and 270 academic staff. With a Doctorate in Education, Deej holds post-graduate qualifications from Macquarie University, Western Ontario University, and the University of Oxford. With a particular interest in healthcare education, Deej, who also holds a Master’s in Bioethics, is a member of several associations, including the Canadian College of Health Leaders (CCHL), and is a regular contributor and reviewer for healthcare professional publications in North America.
Esther Aguilar (Director of Nursing and Healthcare Operations)
Esther graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing in central California. After earning her RN and PHN, she received the United States Air Force Leadership Award and was recognized for her scholastic achievement in Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities & Colleges. Esther specialized in critical care nursing in Southern California before moving back to Vancouver, BC. After working as a registered nurse in Providence Health Care, Esther transitioned into education at Sprott Shaw College in 2011, serving as an instructor and Practical Nursing Coordinator for the Vancouver campus and subsequently the East Vancouver campus, where she piloted both the 18-month Practical Nursing generic and the PN Access programs.
In 2015, Esther became the Director of Nursing and Healthcare Operations at Sprott Shaw College, overseeing multi-campus regulatory compliance, curriculum, student practice education, and operations for healthcare programs. Other health-related programs include Primary Care Paramedic, Pharmacy, and the CCCHIM and CHIMA-accredited MOA and MOA Health Unit Clerk program. Esther serves as the liaison to BC’s Health Authorities, the BC College of Nurses and Midwives, the BC Care Aide and Community Health Worker Registry, the Emergency Medical Assistant Licensing Board, and the Canadian College of Health Information Management.
Robbie Ragiste BA, BSc, PGCE, MEd (Admissions Advisor)
Robbie initially joined Sprott Shaw College in October 2001 as an Associate Director working directly with our current President Victor Tesan at Head Office. His hiring was in direct relationship to Sprott Shaw’s aspirations to grow throughout the province of BC. Therefore, much of Robbie’s early work focused on traveling throughout the province opening new Sprott Shaw locations. Robbie’s role also required him to troubleshoot operational issues within the system.
Within 6 months, Robbie was promoted to full Director status, running numerous campuses and sometimes multiple campuses at the same time. After 10 years as a campus Director, Robbie was promoted to a Regional Director of Operations, responsible for 11 campuses, a role he continued to do for 3 years before he left in 2013.
During his 10 years away from Sprott Shaw, Robbie has held senior management positions with other private and degree-granting schools in BC. In 2023 he returned to Sprott Shaw and is now working as an Admissions Advisor for funded programs.
Robbie has several key achievements to his name. He holds three degrees in Education and is a 13-time recipient of the Sprott Shaw Club Award. Additionally, he designed the current New West Campus. His extensive experience and contributions to adult education and career colleges in Canada were recognized at the King Charles III Coronation, where he received an award for his outstanding work in the field.
Ursula Petrov (Admissions Advisor)
In 1981, Ursula was hired as a business instructor and job placement officer at the Canadian Career Centre. Over time, she advanced to the role of Campus Director, overseeing two schools in Vancouver and Surrey. Ursula played a key role in relocating students to Sprott Shaw College in 1995.
In April 1995, Ursula began her journey with Sprott Shaw College as a part-time instructor. Soon after, she took on the role of advisor for the New West Campus. At that time, Sprott Shaw College was relatively unknown, and Ursula was among the pioneers who helped raise its profile. She marketed our institution along 6th Street, built relationships with Work BC offices, attended Chamber events, and organized numerous social activities at the campus, from BBQs to holiday celebrations, adding a fun element to education. When Ursula started, Sprott Shaw College had around 50 students, and within seven years, the student body grew to over 200.
Ursula found her passion in helping students navigate the admission process and ensuring their educational experiences were positive, making them unforgettable highlights of their lives. She says, “To achieve this, it has taken a team of supportive directors, knowledgeable instructors, and efficient administrators. I have always been proud of what we have accomplished.” Ursula has enriched students’ lives both professionally and personally by being a positive influence, and this is what she values most.
Sprott Shaw College is a renowned educational institution committed to enriching lives and bettering communities by training people today for the careers of tomorrow. We take immense pride in the dedication of our faculty members, whose expertise and commitment to quality education have been recognized by the Canadian National Association of Career Colleges. This honour is a testament to the significant impact they have made, not only within the field of education but also here at Sprott Shaw College. Congratulations to these amazing individuals and a thank you to all our campus staff for the positive impact they leave on our college and our students, every day.