Cheryl Eason is keeping the pension promise. In her role on the Teachers’ Pension Board of Trustees, she knows that a pension means more than just a monthly cheque; it’s dignity and security for tens of thousands of retired provincial educators.

“Your pension is managed with care, expertise and respect for the profound contribution you’ve made to our province,” she says. “It is not just a financial benefit; it’s a promise kept.”

Cheryl, who joined the board in 2018, retired as vice president and chief financial officer at Royal Roads University (RRU) in July 2022. At RRU, she helped plan major initiatives like the RRU Langford | John Horgan Campus and the new auditorium at the Colwood campus.

But for Cheryl, it’s the relationships that mattered most. “At RRU I was grateful for the chance to work with such committed staff, students and faculty,” says Cheryl.

Before RRU, Cheryl was the chief financial officer at BC Pension Corporation (Teachers’ Pension Plan’s administrative agent) and the California Public Employees’ Retirement System, the largest public pension fund in the United States.

Cheryl and her husband currently live in Nanoose Bay, northwest of Nanaimo, where Cheryl pursues her love of gardening, hiking and curling. “I love the sport of curling because it fosters team building, learning and physical benefits.”

But retirement, for Cheryl, is more than recreation. Alongside her work on the board of trustees, Cheryl volunteers on several other boards where strong financial stewardship is key. She has also pursued a designation with the Institute of Corporate Directors–Rotman Directors Education Program, which supports experienced board directors in managing complexity and driving excellence in governance.

Cheryl’s work on the board is both humbling and energizing. “When members retire, they shouldn’t have to worry about market volatility or board governance. They deserve clarity, consistency and care,” she says. “Helping to protect that is deeply satisfying. To be trusted to oversee a benefit that shapes lives and honours legacies of service? That’s no small thing.”