About the Case Study Authors
Editor
Josie is the project manager for the SERT Initiative and an advisor on the open education team at BCcampus. At BCcampus, she works to support and grow open educational practices in British Columbia, with a specific focus on critical and equitable practices
Author
name: Shared Educational Resources and Technology Initiative
The Shared Educational Resources and Technology (SERT) initiative aims to support the B.C. post-secondary system identify and implement models for developing, delivering, and sustaining shared educational technologies and curriculum and course materials. The initiative is funded by the Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills as part of the implementation of the British Columbia Post-Secondary Digital Learning Strategy. BCcampus manages the project with guidance from the SERT Advisory Committee.
Contributors
name: BC Electronic Library Network (BC ELN)
website: https://bceln.ca/about
BC ELN is an award-winning consortium of 34 public and private post-secondary libraries in B.C. and the Yukon. BC ELN’s purpose is to develop and support system-wide mechanisms that allow post-secondary libraries to meet the expanding information needs of learners, educators, and researchers at the lowest possible cost.
name: Michelle Brailey
institution: Open Education Alberta
Michelle is the Open Publishing and Open Education Librarian at the University of Alberta. Her role supports OER publishing, institution-wide program development, awareness, and sustainability for open education. As an open education advocate, Michelle is active with local open education committees, advocating for OER alongside her students union. She has been active in the development of the Open Education Alberta community since its inception in 2018.
Josie is the project manager for the SERT Initiative and an advisor on the open education team at BCcampus. At BCcampus, she works to support and grow open educational practices in British Columbia, with a specific focus on critical and equitable practices
Spencer Kahler is a librarian, an educator, and a writer, but he is first and foremost an inquisitive mind. His work at The Rebus Foundation encompasses oversight of the day-to-day operations of the organization’s programs, lending a hand wherever he can to support Rebus’s diverse network of staff, program facilitators, program participants, partners, and clients. Prior to joining Rebus, Spencer had the distinct pleasure of working on eCampusOntario’s Open Library Team, providing reference services to instructors at Ontario post-secondary institutions, driving research that informed strategic planning, and delivering creative and engaging webinars. Spencer earned his Master’s of Library and Information Science from Western University.
Scott Leslie is a technologist and passionate advocate for openness on the Internet. Prior to joining the BC Libraries Cooperative in 2013, Scott worked in educational technology, first in the 90s at the Banff Centre and Mount Royal University in Alberta, then later in BC at the Center for Curriculum, Transfer, and Technology and its successor, BCcampus, where he was instrumental in helping to launch the BC Open Textbook Project as well as early iterations of the Educational Technology Sandbox project. Scott lives in Victoria, BC.
Hugh McGuire has been innovating around open content, communities, and open source software for two decades. He is the founder of Pressbooks, an open source platform for creating interactive digital books, widely used in higher education to create open educational resources. He is the co-founder of the Rebus Foundation, a non-profit organization that delivers professional development and coaching for open education projects; and the founder of LibriVox, a global community of makers of free public domain audiobooks. He lives in Montreal.
name: Matt Simpson
Matt Simpson is a passionate technology leader with over 21 years of experience shaping the digital landscape of Canadian higher education. Passionate about leveraging technology to enhance teaching and support administration, he is dedicated to building engaged, high-performing teams that develop innovative solutions to empower and inspire the communities he serves. His leadership philosophy is grounded in collaboration, creativity, and a deep understanding of both the technical and human aspects of technology.
As a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), Zend Certified PHP Engineer, and professionally trained graphic designer, Matt blends technical expertise with creative problem-solving to drive meaningful digital transformation. Throughout his career, he has been a champion of community-driven innovation, fostering collaboration and developing software that advances medical education at universities around the world. Balancing hands-on development with strategic leadership, he remains deeply connected to his technical roots, ensuring that every decision aligns with real-world needs and industry best practices.
James is a Service Manager at EDINA, the University of Edinburgh, where he leads on the development of Noteable, an innovative educational platform. With a background in academia and technology services, James focuses on delivering impactful solutions that enhance data literacy and promote collaborative learning. His leadership in service management emphasises strategic project sustainability and user-centered innovation
