Vice-President Administration & Chief Financial Officer

Mike High

"I am honoured to join NAIT as Vice-President, Administration and Chief Financial Officer. I am committed to ensuring that NAIT has the resources and facilities needed to continue offering exceptional student experiences and contribute to Alberta’s success.  Coming from a family of educators, I am eager to make a lasting impact in Alberta’s education sector."

Contact

Email: vpcfo@nait.ca
LinkedIn: Mike High

 

About Mike High

NAIT is pleased to announce Mike High as the polytechnic’s Vice-President Administration and Chief Financial Officer starting on January 21, 2025. 

With 25 years of international experience across private and public sectors, Mike is a collaborative leader who excels in talent development and cross-functional teamwork. As Vice-President Finance at Parkland Corporation from 2022 to 2025, Mike led a team across Canada, the US and Caribbean regions to oversee finance, accounting, risk, credit, contracts and compliance for Parkland’s Trading, Supply and Refining division, which included Canada’s largest renewable fuels producer. 

From 2005 to 2022, Mike held various leadership positions at Shell, starting as Financial Analyst in 2005 and advancing in 2018 to Chief Financial Officer for the company’s deep-water oil and gas business in the Gulf of Mexico, a role he held until 2022. Additional leadership roles focused on financial planning and analysis, strategy and business partnerships across the US and the Netherlands. 

Mike has served on the board of the Association for Financial Professionals — a global organization with over 10,000 members in nearly 90 countries — since 2018. He was elected as Board Chair in 2022, where he contributed to the association’s first CEO transition in more than 25 years and was an executive coach to the CEO select.  

Prior to his corporate career, Mike served as a commissioned US Army Intelligence Officer from 2000 to 2005 across Asia, the US, and Latin America.  

Mike holds a Master of Finance from Indiana University and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from American University. He is a Certified Management Accountant and Corporate Financial Planning and Analysis Professional. He is pursuing the Columbia Business School Chief Financial Officer Program and has completed executive education programs at Harvard and Western Universities. 

Mike has family ties in Edmonton and is eager to be part of the city’s vibrant community. 


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The Executive Team

President and CEO

Laura Jo Gunter became NAIT’s seventh President and CEO on August 24, 2020. An innovative leader, she brings extensive post-secondary knowledge and an entrepreneurial spirit to her role.

Vice-President External Relations & Chief Development Officer

Daryl Silzer joined NAIT as Vice-President External Relations and Chief Development Officer in November 2024.

Vice-President Academic

Peter Leclaire joined NAIT as Vice-President Academic in March 2022.

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