Dr. Philip Steenkamp began his second term as President and Vice-Chancellor of Royal Roads University in 2024. A respected leader in public service and post-secondary education, he has served as vice-president, external relations at the University of British Columbia and Simon Fraser University.

Steenkamp has held senior positions in multiple provincial ministries. In BC, he served as deputy minister for aboriginal affairs, tourism, culture and the arts, economic and skills development, and advanced education, where he led one of the province’s largest post-secondary expansions. In Ontario, he served as deputy minister for training, colleges and universities and education, implementing a $6.2 billion investment in higher education.

Steenkamp has contributed to numerous organizations, including the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the Dr. Peter AIDS Foundation, the Immigrant Employment Council of BC, and the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research. He is former Chair of the Research Universities’ Council of BC (RUCBC) and currently chairs Universities Canada’s International Committee and The Conversation Canada.

Having earned a PhD in History from Queen’s University (1989), Steenkamp has held academic appointments at Queen’s University, the University of Namibia, and the University of Victoria. He received Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal in 2003 and was awarded a 2024 King Charles III Coronation Medal in recognition of his significant contributions to Canada.