Headshot of David Byng

David Byng

Governor and Special Advisor to the President, Royal Roads University

Dave Byng is currently on Royal Roads University’s Board of Governors and is a Special Advisor to the President. In addition, Dave provides strategic advice to a variety of public sector, not-for-profit, and corporate clients. Dave recently concluded a 37-year career with the Province of British Columbia, most recently as the Ministry of Education’s Deputy Minister. In that role he oversaw British Columbia's $6.5 billion K-12 education system.

Dave has over a decade of experience in senior executive roles with the Province of British Columbia, including positions in the Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training, Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, British Columbia Railway Company, British Columbia Public Service Agency, and the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands.

During his time with the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, Dave chaired the Pacific Gateway Alliance – a collaboration of senior executives representing the transportation industry and government partners. There he supported the strategic expansion of Western Canada’s transportation network serving Asia, facilitating the planning and delivery of an integrated $22-billion capital infrastructure investment program. Dave subsequently led the development and delivery of the Pacific Gateway Transportation Strategy 2012-2020, Moving Goods and People, continuing the implementation of major capital infrastructure investments in Western Canada’s transportation network with Asia.

During his tenure as the Deputy Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training, Dave was responsible for leading British Columbia’s International Trade and Foreign Investment strategies. Dave has led five international trade missions to British Columbia’s top trading nations in Asia, including three for the Premier of British Columbia.

Dave has been granted a Master of Arts in Leadership degree from Royal Roads University, a Certificate of Intercultural Studies from University of British Columbia, and a Certificate of Advanced Project Management from Stanford University. In addition, the Institute of Corporate Directors and the University of Toronto, Rotman School of Management awarded Dave the ICD.D designation, as a qualified board director.

He is a recipient of British Columbia’s Premier’s Award of Excellence and the Royal Roads University Founder’s Award. In addition to being a Distinguished Fellow with the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, Dave also holds Fellowships with the Royal Canadian Geographical Society in Ottawa, the Royal Geographical Society in London, and the Explorers Club in New York City.