From BCIT's founding until 1974 the B.C. Department of Education in partnership with an Advisory Council, chosen from business and industry, appointed the Principal as the Chief Executive Officer of BCIT.

The three divisions of Engineering, Business and Health were managed by three Directors who reported directly to the Principal. The Advisory Council formed seventeen advisory committees which met at least twice a year and advised Technology Heads at BCIT about the effectiveness of the programs being taught, opportunities for employment and updates in the industry. Recommendations went through the Principal who carried them to the main Advisory Council.

A more autonomous relationship developed between the provincial government and BCIT with the passage of the British Columbia Institute of Technology Act on July 4, 1974. The Act established a new system of governance for the Institute under a fifteen–person Board of Governors. Under Section 11 (3) of the BCIT Act the Principal was required to submit an Annual Report to the Board of Governors for the educational year. The position of Principal was expanded to encompass linking functions both between the Board of Governors and the Institute, and between the Institute and the external community. The Principal assumed the responsibility of implementing Board policy and administering the budget; she also served as the chief means of mobilizing the institute’s resources in recognizing and clarifying issues and expediting decision making. At the same time, three Executive Director positions were created in the areas of Technical Education; Administration; and Personnel and Information Services and Student Services, in order that BCIT could effectively carry on day-to-day operations while implementing a variety of administrative systems. With the Directors of the five Educational Divisions, the Bursar, the Registrar, and the Coordinator of Planning Services, the Executive Directors were members of an Executive Committee, a consultative body which advised the Principal and served as a channel of communication between the Chief Executive Officer and BCIT's staff, students and faculty.

In 1986 when BCIT merged with the Pacific Vocational Institute the title of the Chief Executive Officer of BCIT changed from Principal to President.

In 2004, BCIT's governing legislation became the College and Institute Act, RSBC 1996, ch. 5 (2). Under this Act, the President is defined as the Institute's Chief Executive Office, with the duty to “supervise and direct subject to bylaws, the instructional, administrative and other staff of the institution and exercise powers and perform duties assigned to the president by the board.” The President is to report to the Board of Governors annually on the progress of BCIT, make recommendations, and advise the Board on all matters concerning the operation of BCIT.

Individuals who have served as Principal include: Gordon A. Thom, Principal (1974-1985), Cliff McAdam, Acting Principal (July-August 1974), Dean H. Goard, Principal (1967-June 1974) d Jan 1986, E. Cecil Roper, Principal (1962-1967)

Individuals who have served as President include: Dr. Jeff Zabudsky, President (July 10, 2023-present), Paul McCullough, Interim President (July 1, 2022-July 9, 2023), Kathy Kinloch, President (2014-June 30, 2022), Chris Golding, Interim President (2013-January 2014), Don Wright, President (2008-2013), Verna Magee-Shepherd, Acting President (June 2007-March 2008), Tony Knowles, President (2000-May 2007), Brian Gillespie, President (1995-August 2000), John A. Watson, President (1989-1995), Roy V. Murray, President (1985-1988)

Between 1965 and 1974 the BCIT Student Association was primarily concerned with student’s social and recreational activities, particularly sports. Funding for Student Association activities were provided by an activity fee of $15 levied against each student. In 1966 the Association produced its first year book. In 1969 the SA successfully lobbied the provincial government for the construction of a Student Activity Centre. The construction of the Centre was completed in 1971. In 1983, phase 1 of the new Campus Centre was opened. The building was to include racquet ball courts and office spaces. Phase 2 would include a new pub and cafeteria.

BCIT Student Society executives include the following individuals:

1965-1966 Kenneth McLean 1966-1967 Eric Schultz 1967-1968 Douglas Hall 1968-1969 Brian Hall 1969-1970 Julio Russo 1970-1971 Edgar Rhomberg 1971-1972 Laurie Jack 1972-1973 Tony Schelling
*1973-1974 Grahame Fane

1984 Antoine Van Dierendonck 1985 Donald Rippon

The BCIT Educational Council was created in 1979 by a Board of Governors by-law. Represented on the Council were deans, vice-principals, department heads, Board-elected provincial representatives, alumni, students, representatives from advisory committees, unions, and associations as well as faculty and technical staff elected at large. The Board Secretary served as Secretary to the Council. The first meeting took place on October 25, 1979. Patricia Maertz served as secretary through 1988. Meetings were scheduled on the last Thursday of each month except July and August. Factual summaries of Council proceedings were published in BCIT Developments. Outlined in the by-law were the terms of reference of the Council. These included the review of: educational policies, programs and priorities of the Institute, reports of various committees established by the Council and
*the performance and effectiveness of advisory committees, as well as the establishment of a student appeals committee.
In November 1987 the Education Council approved terms of reference for Councils in the Schools of Engineering Technologies, Health Sciences, Business and Trades Training. The Schools’ Councils were to make recommendations to the B.C.I.T. Educational Council on matters relating to educational policy, programs and priorities, which potentially affected the Institute as a whole. In November 1987 the responsibilities of the Educational Council were redefined to include an annual review of the Institute’s mission statement and educational objectives, and the preparation of a report and recommendations on progress in achieving Institute objectives. In March 1995 a new Educational Council was established following amendments to the Institute of Technology Act in 1994.

Since its formation in 1979, the Educational Council has established a number of committees to deal with specific issues relating to educational policy and procedures. Over the years these have included committees on education, program evaluation, policy and planning, educational standards, programs and priorities, staff development, student services, student appeals, agenda, nominating, ‘set concept’, as well as ad hoc committees.

In 1962, shortly after assuming the Office of Principal, Cecil Roper called a meeting with senior staff at the UBC library to discuss how the library needs of BCIT students could be best met. Together with Sophie Laddy, Head of Science and Technology Division of the Vancouver Public Library an Advisory Committee was formed. The first meeting of the Committee was held on December 17, 1962. In 1964, Joan Jorgensen was appointed Head Librarian.
The library originally occupied a 4375 square foot space room in the main building of the Burnaby Campus. Basic materials were housed for general courses such as Physics, Mathematics, English and Chemistry with the intent to expand the collection to include materials on technologies taught at the Institute such as engineering, electronics, and business, forestry, medical and mining technologies. By 1966, the library had outgrown its allocated space. The Advisory Committee, under the leadership of Basil J. Stuart Stubbs, Head Librarian at UBC, submitted plans that were eventually approved, for the construction of a new library building.
The new building officially opened for service in August 1968. The new premises occupied two floors of 19,000 square feet each, providing adequate space to seat 500 students and to have a collection of 100,000 volumes. Provision was also made for a student lounge, a fully equipped student typing and calculating room, a microfilm reading room and a faculty reading room.
That same year Robert Harris succeeded Jorgensen as Head Librarian. The following year the service of providing audio-visual aids and equipment was incorporated into the library as the Audio-Visual Department. The Information Resource Centre was thus formed and came under the direction of Harris. Harris resigned in 1975 and was succeeded by Jos Carver. Under Carver, the automation of library operations began. By 1979, 75,000 records had been converted to microfiche. In 1983, IBM’s integrated library system DOBIS was purchased to meet the library’s needs. BCIT was the first academic library in Canada to have a computer database of resources.
In 1985, following administrative reorganization of the institute, Paula Pick was selected as Institute Librarian for the new multi-campus library, which consisted of the amalgamated facilities, staff and collections of the former Pacific Vocational Institute and BCIT Library. The two institutes merged officially on April 1, 1986.
The position of Institute Librarian has been held by the following individuals:

• Joan Jorgensen - 1962-1967
• Robert Harris - 1968-1975
• Jos Carver - 1976-1985
• Paula Pick - 1985-1993
• Brigitte Peter Cherneff - 1993-2007
• David Pepper – 2008–2015
• James Rout – 2016-2018
• Alison Nussbaumer - 2018-present

On April 1st, 1978, Pacific Vocational Institute (PVI) assumed its official status as an independent crown corporation. PVI was to function under one board of industrial representatives who would maintain direct financial control, planning and operation of the institution.
Appointed by cabinet, the following individuals were named to the board of governors:
Mr. Leslie R. Redford, Frank Redder, Don Fearey, Jake Wyman, Donald Doyle, E. A. Killough, T. Wyman Trineer, T. Stuart Mathieson, and Nadine Sherwin.
The PVI Board of Governors had three senior officers:
L.R. Redford 1978-1981
T.W. Trineer 1981-1984
F. Sondergaard 1985-1986

By 1983, the school registered about 23,000 students a year. Classes consisted of accounting, aviation, business administration, clerical, marketing, construction, building service, painting and decorating, food training, graphics, photography, industrial safety, instructor training, personal development, mechanical, piping, plumbing and gas, steel, welding, drafting, electrical, industrial electronics for electricians, industrial mathematics, non-destructive testing, and refrigeration.

Henry Justesen was the sole Principal of PVI, 1978-1986.

BCIT Archives exists to acquire, preserve, organize and provide access to the materials that uphold the legal and historical record of BCIT and the BCIT community. The need for establishing an Archives at BCIT was acknowledged and argued for by Library and Records Management staff starting in 2002. The BCIT Archives was first professionally staffed in 2005.

The Centre for Applied Research and Innovation (CARI) is the home of BCIT's three dedicated research groups: MAKE+, Natural Health and Food Products Research Group (NRG) and Smart Microgrid Applied Research Team (SMART), supporting labs. Formerly known as the Technology Centre, it has been a hub of multi-disciplinary research and development projects for business and industry since 1989. Research activities at CARI focus on product and process development and evaluation; Smart Microgrid research; and product quality and process improvement relating to natural health and food products. CARI is also home to the Applied Research Liaison Office (ARLO), which supports faculty, researchers, students across BCIT and their industry partners.
MAKE+ is a group of multidisciplinary research staff focused on product and process development, evaluation, applied research projects, and education. The MAKE+ sub group PART (Product and Process Applied Research Team), is the only academic product development group in Canada registered to IS0 13485 (Medical Devices) Quality Management Systems.

Michael Franklin Harcourt (b. January 6, 1943) served as the 30th Premier of the province of British Columbia in Canada from 1991 to 1996, and before that as the 39th mayor of BC's largest city, Vancouver from 1980 to 1986.