Mike Gagel

President 2019-2021
Board Chair, Prince George Public Library Board
On the BCLTA board since 2016.

Mike earned his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Nursing at the University of British Columbia and worked as a nurse for almost 20 years at the BC Cancer Agency, Vancouver Coastal Health, and as a sole proprietor consultant. In the second half of his nursing career Mike progressively focused on staff education through the use of technology. Next, he worked at the BC School Trustees Association (BCSTA) where he was responsible for all of the Association’s technology needs and also supported various trustee committees. Mike currently works for Northern Health as their Regional Manager, Communicable Disease.

Rhonda Sherwood

Treasurer and Vice President, 2018-2020
Vancouver Public Library Board
On the BCLTA board since 2018.

Rhonda is a Certified Financial Planner® and licensed Investment Advisor, and brings 29 years of wealth advisement and passion to her work. Rhonda holds a Liberal Arts diploma from Simon Fraser University along with Certified Financial Planner®, Financial Management Advisor and Responsible Investment Advisor designations. In addition, she is securities and insurance licensed.

Rhonda is a passionate advocate within her industry promoting professionalism and ethics. She is actively involved with the Financial Planning Standards Council’s ‘Public Policy Ambassador Program’ and sits on their ‘Standards Panel’. Additionally, she is on the board of an industry publication ‘Advisors Edge’ and the ‘Financial Services Advisory Council’ at Douglas College.

Rhonda also mentors young adults and women through different associations.  Rhonda believes in the importance of giving back to her community. She is a trustee for the Vancouver Public Library and vice chair with the city of Vancouver’s ‘Women’s Advisory Committee’.

Rhonda cares deeply about the rights and well-being of animals, practicing veganism and vegetarianism for 27 years and devoting her time and resources to many animal advocacy projects.

Austin Uzama

Director 2018-2020
Surrey Libraries Board
On the BCLTA board since 2018.

Austin is a career teacher. He started his teaching career in Japan in 1994. Since then, he has taught K12 to post secondary students in different countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom, and now in Canada. Austin was born in Edo State Nigeria and left Nigeria at an early age for Japan and called Tokyo home until he left in 2011 after the March 11^th earthquake, tsunami, & Fukushima Nuclear Plant radiation leak.  

Surrey is now his home and where is lives with his wife and 4 daughters. Austin work as part-time teacher with Abbotsford School District and with the Catholic Independent Schools of Vancouver Archdiocese (CISVA). He is also a Sessional Lecturer and Researcher at UBC. As well, Austin volunteers as the Youth Director for the Knights of Columbus, Council #7015, where he mentors and organizes basketball workshops and free basket shooting in CISVA’s elementary schools. When he is not teaching or volunteering, Austin spends time with his wife and daughters travelling around B.C. and playing tennis.