PFM Executive Search is excited to announce that Michael Hitch has accepted the role of Dean, Faculty Sciences with the University of the Fraser Valley, effective September 1, 2023. Dr. Hitch will also hold a faculty appointment in the School of Land Use and Environmental Change.
Dr. Hitch joins UFV from Curtin University where he is the Head of School for the Western Australia School of Mines: Minerals, Energy & Chemical Engineering. He has also held appointments at Tallinn University, University of New South Wales, and the University of British Columbia.
Dr. Hitch brings a blend of academic and research leadership, plus experience in corporate development and operational roles in industry. He has worked tirelessly to develop partnerships with industry that create undergraduate experiential learning programs and he has funded chairs to attract world class researchers.
Dr. Hitch has partnered with school districts to promote STEM subjects and to help educate younger high school students about the mining and resource sectors. He brings a strong commitment to, and experience with, Indigenization from his time in Australia and in Canada. His work with Indigenous peoples in the Arctic helped negotiate an impact agreement in Nunavut.
Dr. Hitch has an extensive publication record that includes 74 peer reviewed journal articles, 52 conference presentations, a published book about his work in Nunavut, and numerous grants totalling in the millions of dollars. We look forward to welcoming Dr. Hitch later this year.
On behalf of PFM Executive Search, congratulations Michael!
PFM Executive Search is recognized as a leader in executive search and has been working with some of the most prominent Canadian private, public, and not-for-profit clients over the past 30-years. We are known for our ability to recruit senior leaders from around the world to top management positions.