Governance and Leadership
It takes a village of teachers, advisors, administrators, and directors to run Claren Academy and stay true to our vision and mission. Alongside our amazing educators and staff, we have a whole team of skilled volunteers who support our school and steer our long term vision, giving their time and energy in pursuit of progressive, accessible education.
In terms of structure, Claren Academy has two charities that support the school. In addition to the directors on these two boards, we have advisors who we reach out to for input on specific areas of development.
Meet the Claren Academy Society Board
The Claren Academy Society (CAS) Board is the school’s governance authority, and is responsible for the long term growth and direction of Claren Academy. The CAS board is made up of a mix of parents and non-parents, with expertise in education, business, law, finance, and organization.
Danielle Lovell
CAS Board Chair
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Danielle Lovell is a senior executive and strategic leader with deep experience in building and scaling organizations, with the bonus of being a Claren parent as well. As Senior Director of Business Operations at Clarivate, she brings a proven track record of developing innovative systems and leading high-performing teams.
Previously, as a founding team member and SVP of Partnering Relationship Intelligence at MotionHall, Danielle built scalable systems (including sales, HR and professional services including email outreach campaigns) and led multiple strategic initiatives from conception to successful implementation. Danielle’s core skill and career theme is “trailblazing”, pairing with visionaries to bring abstract futures into a concrete draft, plan or next step, with cheer and exuberance.
Danielle has led in multiple entrepreneurial and growth stage roles in frontier technology and technology-enabled companies. She has also led complex community events like Vancouver Startup Week and the Yale Club of BC (now in the caring hands of successors).
Her experience in taking strategic plans into action, coupled with her background in psychology and passion for organizational development, positions her to contribute meaningfully to Claren Academy's next phase of growth.
Ryan Clark
CAS Board Vice Chair
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Ryan is a serial entrepreneur and an award winning video game developer. He holds a degree in Microbiology & Immunology from UBC. A self-taught programmer and game designer, Ryan knows first hand the value of “learning how to learn” and hopes to ignite that same love of learning in Claren Academy’s students.
Edwin Yau
CAF Board Treasurer
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Edwin is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) practicing at Deloitte LLP since 2005 where he provides assurance to businesses and public sector organizations on matters related to financial reporting and technology risks, with a view to improving their management and governance practices. Edwin has also contributed his experience in business and finances through his volunteering as the Treasurer at ArtStarts in Schools and delivering financial literacy courses at BC schools in his belief that childhood education should include important life skills. Recognizing that the skills required tomorrow will be different from those today given the pace of technological change, he believes that Claren Academy prepares students with a strong foundation for both personal and professional fulfillment and feels fortunate to be the parent of a child currently attending Claren.
Kathryn Sykes
CAS Board Secretary
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Kathryn Sykes is a Registered Social Worker with over 20 years of experience in non profit organizations. Kathryn is one of the founders of Claren Academy, and is an active presence in all areas of the school - except the actual teaching. Kathryn is a director on both boards, as well as part of the administrative team, working closely with the Principal and the Director of Admissions. She is a parent to two boys, and feels very lucky to watch them grow and thrive as Claren learners. She’s also a big fan of music, cats, and asking “why not?”
Josephine Kwan
Director
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Josephine brings over 15 years of commercial real estate expertise developed through significant roles at Colliers International, Conwest Group of Companies, Spire Development Corporation, and Fusion Projects, where she specializes in managing high-value assets, raising capital, acquiring value-add properties, and spearheading development projects. This experience has given her a sophisticated understanding of complex investment landscapes, including contract negotiations and optimizing asset values in multifaceted business environments.
As founder of Flow 2 Freedom Apparel, Josephine pioneered a sustainable menstrual activewear company at the forefront of environmental responsibility, creating products from recycled materials. This venture reflects her commitment to breaking barriers for women and girls in sport through menstrual education and sustainable entrepreneurship—values that align directly with Claren Academy's mission of accessibility, innovation, and preparing students to make positive contributions to their communities.
Josephine's dual expertise in strategic asset management and values-driven entrepreneurship brings a unique perspective to Claren Academy's board.
Arash Tavakoli
Director
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Arash Tavakoli is a Principal at Dicata Group. Prior to Dicata Group, Arash was a Project Manager at The Circadian Group of Companies, a real estate development company specializing in land acquisition, concept planning, construction, project marketing, and asset management. In this role, he oversaw project execution, coordinated project timelines, and managed project resources. He contributed to project success by maintaining control throughout the development process. Earlier in his career, Arash gained experience in construction site management at Tava Construction, progressing from Site Assistant to Project Coordinator. Arash brings a thoughtful, measured and experienced voice to the Claren board, always asking the right questions to help plan our long term governance strategy.
Ryan Black
Director
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Ryan Black is a seasoned tech lawyer at DLA Piper, one of the world's largest law firms. His practice focuses on a wide range of legal matters, including M&A, employment, intellectual property, startups, and commercial contracts, primarily for video game, consumer, and other child-facing clients. A former adjunct professor at law school and a sought-after speaker within the legal community, Ryan is a champion of future-focused education models that foster resilient learners. He's a firm believer in Claren Academy's mission to make quality education accessible to all, regardless of background. In addition to serving as a director at Claren, Ryan holds leadership roles at his firm. He sits on the National Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Advisory Committee, co-founded the firm's Emerging Growth and Venture Capital group, and co-leads the Gaming and Gambling pillar of the Media, Sports, and Entertainment sector. He also holds board positions with the Video Game Bar Association and the Vancouver Fireworks Festival Society. When he's not immersed in these roles, Ryan is an avid gamer, early tech adopter, and film aficionado. He enjoys sharing these interests with his family—his wife Yolanda, their daughter Liara, their cat Kitty, and their 86TB Steam-streaming media server Gandalf. Though primarily an indoor enthusiast, Ryan does venture outside to appreciate the wonders of Greater Vancouver now and then.
Beverley von Zielonka
Director
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Dr. Beverley von Zielonka’s professional background includes a longstanding educational commitment to place “all learners” at the fore and create practices to ensure relevant, rigorous, and relationship-rich learning opportunities. These opportunities are focused to optimize learners’ growth, pursuit of excellence in all endeavors, and empower global citizens eager to find membership as learners, leaders, and people of character and service.
With over 3 decades of leadership experience to establish dynamic, high achieving, day, boarding, girl-centric, co-educational, and globally focused academic institutions in Canada: British Columbia and Ontario, South Korea, the United States and Germany, and 5 years of doctoral dissertation research conducted at a prominent K-12 independent school, Beverley is honored and eager to offer her service to Claren Academy.
Dr. von Zielonka led the implementation of International Baccalaureate Programmes in three schools now recognized as full IB World Schools. One school most recently received the International School of the 2021 Year Award. Another is cited for Excellence with Distinction for student growth by the U.S. Department of Education. As a school administrator and adjunct professor, Beverley forged collaborative school-university partnerships and programs with Harvard Graduate School of Education, the University of Toronto Rotman School of Management, and renown STEM focused National Korean Universities.
Dr. von Zielonka received her Doctor of Education: Administration, Training, and Policy Studies from Boston University after completing undergraduate studies at Harvard, Oxford Brookes, and Simon Fraser Universities. As a learner, educator, administrator, team and professional development leader, she believes that “children grow into the life that surrounds them.”
Beverley affirms two key achievement principles: Keep our students and their learning as our top priority and build on the power of relationships.
Beverley continues to work with schools to develop institutional Vision, Mission and Strategic Plans to empower students and to extend school’s position on the global stage. She maintains a commitment to life-long learning, reaching out to knowledge bases, and educational excellence.
Nolan Peterson
Director
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Nolan and his family are long time Vancouver residents who have had a lifelong commitment to education. Nolan has worked in the mining industry for nearly 20 years as an engineer and finance professional. He is the CEO of a Junior mining company with projects in Newfoundland, overseeing strategic planning, financing, marketing and investor relations. Before that he spent a number of years in FP&A for publicly traded mining companies working on short and long-term planning and financial oversight of large scale mining operations. Nolan is a professional engineer and also has an MBA and is a CFA charterholder. He enjoys long-term financial planning, strategy and operational oversight.
Nolan is interested in joining the board as he has a passion for putting his skills to use in the community and wants to help grow Claren to be a world class organization.
Meet our Claren Academy School Advisors
We are fortunate enough to have picked up friends and experts along the way who are intrigued by our school vision, and offer their input and perspective to improve our teaching, organization, and purpose.
Charles Fadel
Academic Advisor
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Charles Fadel is the Founder and Chairman of the Center for Curriculum Redesign, and has many affiliations including Harvard’s Graduate School of Education where he is a Visiting Practitioner exploring curriculum redesign concepts. He is a global education thought leader, futurist, and expert, author and inventor. His latest book, Four Dimensional Education – The Competencies Students Need to Succeed has been greatly influential for governments, parents, and schools.
Andy Krawczyk
Academic Advisor
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Yong Zhao is a Foundations Distinguished Professor in the School of Education at the University of Kansas. His research interests include educational policy, computer gaming and education, diffusion of innovations, teacher adoption of technology, computer-assisted language learning, and globalization and education. He explores these subjects in over 30 books, including World Class Learners, which is a must-read for parents and teachers interested in curriculum reform.
John Lok
Communications Advisor
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John is an educational leader and senior administrator with over 10 years of experience in developing and sustaining non-profit educational organizations. He has headed and served as advisor in schools with diverse settings and curricula. With a passion for individual learning needs, John volunteers in extra-curricular teaching and parent education. John has been involved in Claren Academy since its founding, and contributes valuable expertise in communications and admissions.
Rob Peregoodoff
Academic Advisor
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A Math and Language Arts teacher by training in such diverse locations as Eswatini (Swaziland) and the Kainai Reserve in Alberta, Rob's career turned 90 degrees into administration while working in the United Arab Emirates when Ramadan crept into his teaching practice. Upon returning to Canada, he joined the UBC Sauder school of Business first as Manager of Learning Technologies and then as Director of Learning Services where he gladly took on the challenge of teaching and learning innovation for a research-intensive business school into the paradigm of the new B-school reality for 14 years.
He now offers consultation and strategic planning for senior leaders of educational institutions the world over, with a focus on digital assessment and how to leverage A/I as an advantage, not a threat.
Yong Zhao
Academic Advisor
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Andy is an international education consultant, based in West Vancouver. He retired from the Vancouver School Board in 2010, having worked in public education in BC for 36 years, starting off as a History and Economics teacher. He became a curriculum consultant with the Vancouver School Board, and in the concluding 15 years, serving in the capacity of Secondary School Principal at three VSB high schools. Andy has also served on numerous educational Boards including the Canadian Multicultural Education Council and the International Board for International Baccalaureate. In his capacity as consultant, Andy has worked with a number of educational organizations, including the IB, as well as school districts, and private education networks in the field of curriculum and educational leadership. In a volunteer capacity, Andy also serves on numerous Boards in his community. He brings his expertise to Claren Academy on the High School Planning Committee.
Zoe Si
Arts Advisor
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Zoe Si is a cartoonist and illustrator with a lifelong passion for laughing at her own jokes. She believes in the power of words, but also that wherever words fail, a cartoon can usually succeed.
Zoe holds a Juris Doctor degree (2013) from the University of British Columbia and practiced law for a number of years. She now spends her days making children’s books, cartooning and writing funny articles for The New Yorker, and drawing comics of everything in sight. She lives in Vancouver, British Columbia with her husband and a fluffy dog. In her spare time, she enjoys climbing mountains and petting other people’s dogs. Instagram: @zoesees
Josh Crone
Fitness Advisor
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Josh Crone, a proud First Nations, has over 20 years of coaching, martial arts, and strength and conditioning experience with a foundation in team sports- hockey, lacrosse, basketball and volleyball. Among Josh’s most notable sports achievements are founding Vancouver’s Flow Martial Arts academy, winning the Canadian national championship for field lacrosse as team captain, league all-star, and scoring champion and being an inductee in the city of Cambridge, Ontario (hometown) sports hall of fame. Josh is presently a second-degree black belt in Shotokan karate and a brown belt in Brazilian jiu jitsu. In his free time Josh enjoys snowboarding, mountain biking and surfing and spending time in the mountains.