Laura Authier is the new Director of Marketing at the University of the Fraser Valley.

Authier brings an innovative vision for the educational sector and over 20 years of marketing experience. She has experience with the complexities of the digital and social media marketing landscape and has worked in both the education and private sectors. She obtained her Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Calgary and a Master of Business Administration, Entrepreneurship from the University of Victoria.

Prior to UFV, Authier has had an extensive and diverse career that spanned the advertising and technology industries, including working at Parallel Strategies and Hewlett Packard in Calgary, as well as Myra Systems in Victoria. At her most recent role at St. Michaels University School (SMUS), she successfully created a marketing department from scratch, and was responsible for developing the strategic vision and roadmap for promoting SMUS globally, as well as engaging with the community.

The marketing team is part of UFV’s University Relations department, which falls under the direction of VP External Craig Toews.

“I am very excited to have Laura’s leadership and expertise to help us enhance our profile and reputation. With her dynamic leadership and collaborative style, Laura will be a great fit for UFV. She is persistently focused on maximizing results, using an approach that combines innovation, good market research and a strong foundation in the strategic goals of the institution. Her stewardship of brand, especially in terms of SMUS’s reputation, has been impressive. Her collective experience and success with leading change management will be a tremendous asset to UFV,” said Toews.

She recently moved to Fort Langley with her husband, Tim Parker, who is a pilot for Morningstar Air based at YVR. Laura and Tim have a 33-foot sailboat and have enjoyed cruising the coastal waters of BC together for the last 20 years. She was active as a volunteer and board member in the greater Victoria community and is looking forward to continuing that in the Fraser Valley.