Summit Voices

Centred around workforce and economic development, Forward Summit has attracted several Canadian leaders in Indigenous Relations and Economic Development. By lending their voices to this momentous Summit, they are shaping an inclusive, cross-industry discussion that will actionably move our country and our economies forward.

All voices are welcome at Forward Summit. If your organization has a story to tell about Indigenous successes, get in touch.

Co-Chairs

Rod Miller

President & CEO CPHR Alberta

JP Gladu

President & CEO Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business (CCAB)

Chief Charles Weaselhead

Former Blood Tribe (Kainai) Treaty 7 Grand Chief

Speakers

Doreen Bergum

Knowledge Keeper Métis Nation of Alberta Region 3

Krystal Abotossaway

President Aboriginal Professional Association of Canada

Marlena Anderson

Community Relations Supervisor Teck Resources

Holly Atjecoutay

Indigenous Buisness Facilitator Business Link AB

Elizabeth Auceda

Supplier Diversity Manager Sodexo

Mathew August

Executive Managing Director Animus Capital Partners

Jorge Avilés

Manager, Stakeholder & Community Relations CWL Energy Management Ltd.

Stephanie Beaulieu

Branch Manager Spirit Staffing

Mel Benson

President Mel E Benson Management Services Inc.

Randall Benson

Owner and CEO Gridworks Energy

Lauren Bishop

Training and International Solutions’ Client Development Manager, Indigenous SAIT

Heather Black

Founder Creative Spirit Solutions

John Blanchette

Indigenous Engagement Manager Mammoet

Chief Jim Boucher

Chief Fort McKay First Nation

Amber Boyd BSc., EPC

Senior Business Development & Account Manager Spirit Staffing

Chad Bresnahan

Regional Sales Manager, Prairies Bluewave Energy, A brand of Parkland Fuel Corporation

Gwen Bridge

Principal Gwen Bridge Consulting Ltd.

Deanna Burgart

President Indigenous Engineering Inclusion Inc

Leith Cardinal

Trust Manager Onihcikiskowapowin Business Trust

Rob Cardinal

Board Member IndigeSTEAM

Christine Channer Auguste

Manager of Training Services Ballad Consulting Group

Alex Cook

Manager, Inuit Employment Programs Qulliq Energy Corporation

Holly Cooper

Director Indigenous Relations ATB Financial

Chief Lee Crowchild

Xakiji (Chief) Tsuut'ina First Nation

Noreen Demeria

Manager, National InSTEM Program ACTUA

Jean Dube

Indigenous Community Engagement Liaison SAIT

Alicia Dubois

Market Vice-President, Indigenous Markets CIBC

Joseph Duperreault

President First Renewable Energy Partners

Michael Eddy

Manager of Indigenous Relations LNG Canada

Niilo Edwards

Executive Director First Nations Major Project Coalition

Jason Edworthy B.Sc.

Director, Community and Indigenous Affairs BluEarth Renewables Inc.

Myrtle Engram

Principal Project Controls Specialist and Indigenous Strategy Lead Fluor

Steven Fleckenstein

Managing Director Fixed Income National Bank Financial Markets

Rachel Forbes

Coordinator, Reconciliation and Responsible Investment Initiative SHARE

Billie Fortier

Associate MLT Aikins LLP

Christine Foster

Corporate Social Responsibility Specialist Tata Consultancy Services

Norman Fraser

Leader, Indigenous Initiatives Teck Resources

Teara Fraser

CEO Raven Institute & Iskwew Air

Balaji Ganapathy

Head of Workforce Effectiveness Tata Consultancy Services

Chief Jason Gauthier

Missanabie Cree First Nation

Chief Shane Gottfriedson

Former Band Councilor, Chief, Tribal Chief, Regional Chief of British Columbia Tk'emlups Indian Band

Deborah Green née Gopher

Indigenous Workforce Development Advisor Suncor Energy

George Greene

Founding Chair Stratos Inc.

Geoff Greenwell

CEO 2G Group of Companies

Buffy Handel

Director of Business Development Running Deer Resources

Melissa Hardy-Giles

Owner Origin Inc.

Jenn Harper

Founder Cheekbone Beauty

Martin Heavy Head

Kainai Nation

Rodrick Hunter

Elder

Mahesh Jayaraman

Manager, International Capacity Development and Training University of Calgary

Dr. Robin Johnstone

General Manager, Community & Indigenous Affairs Teck Resources

Jordan Jolicoeur

President & CEO Carvel Electric

Ken Kachmar

Director, Human Resources CIVEO

Chelsie Klassen

Director, Indigenous Engagement Hatch

Winona Lafreniere

President Indigenous Innovative Solutions Inc.

Sandip Lalli

President & CEO Calgary Chamber

Janet Lane

Director, Human Capital Centre Canada West Foundation

Janice Laroque

President & Founder Spirit Staffing

Heather Lastiwka

Head of Talent, Leadership & Performance People & Culture ATB

Robert Lavigne

Indigenous Advisor Canadian Propane Association

Heather Lawrence

Manager, Indigenous Affairs Teck Resources

Ryan Legary

President FountainStone Solutions Inc.

Richard Lemaire

Industry Workforce Partnerships Ministry of Labour, Workforce Initiatives Branch

Melody Lepine

Director, Government & Industry Relations Mikisew Cree First Nation

Guy Lonechild

CEO First Nations Power Authority

Bill Loutitt

Chief Executive Officer McMurray Métis

Gregor Macintosh

Senior Director - Standards Sustainable Forestry Initiative

Gary Maclean

Consultant, Indigenous Business Development

Delilah Mah

Owner BravHer Consulting, Mah Art & Photography

Dr. Patricia Makokis

Indigenous Awareness Educator Servant Leader

Jeremy Makokis

Apprentice Retention Officer Trade Winds to Success Training Society

Preston Manning

Founder Manning Centre for Building Democracy

Chief Bernice Martial

Cold Lake First Nations

Brian McGuigan

Manager, Aboriginal Policy Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers

Dione McGuinness

Manager, Engagement BRITT Land & Engagement

Howard McIntyre

Vice President Supply Chain and Field Logistics Suncor

Charmaine McCraw

Project Manager ORIGIN Inc.

Shannon Monk

CEO Sakatay Global

Samantha Morton

Project Manager Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business

Allan Murphy

Vice-President, Government Relations Canadian Propane Association

Stephen Nairne

Chief Investment Officer Raven Indigenous Capital Partners

Karen Ogen-Toews

CEO First Nations LNG Alliance

Marla Orenstein

Director, Centre for Natural Resources Policy Canada West Foundation

John Pantazopoulos

Vice President Corporate Financial Services ATB Financial

Shannon Pestun

Director, Women's Entrepreneurship Business & Agriculture ATB Financial

Richard Piche

President Cascade Projects Ltd

Sarah Pittman

Policy Analyst Canada West Foundation

Helen Platis

Director Client Services QUEST

Denise Pothier

Vice President, Indigenous Relations Stantec Consulting Ltd.

Ken Price

Mosaic Forest Management TimberWest

Jeff G. Provost, BA, PAED

Indigenous Business Relations Manager Bird Construction

Qi Qin

Manager, Technology Department China Railway First Survey & Design Institute Group

Laurence Riel

Senior Advisor, Aboriginal Initiatives & Workforce Planning Pembina Pipeline Corporation

Ryan Robb

Senior Advisor in Stakeholder & Aboriginal Relations Suncor

David M. Robinson

Executive Director The Techknowledgey Group

Paul Robitaille

Manager, Indigenous & Youth Relations Sustainable Forestry Initiative

Rob Rollingson

General Manager Indian Business Corporation

Kirsten Ryder

Director of Training and Development Stoney Tribal Administration

Melrene Saloy

Owner Native Diva Creations

Peter Salusbury

Senior Vice President, Practice Services Stantec Consulting Ltd.

Kiruba Sankar

Director, Corporate Social Responsibility RBC Global Procurement

Jamie Saulnier

CEO Running Deer Resources

Robin Sidsworth

General Council Teck Resources

Max Skudra

Director, Research and Government Relations Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business

Crystal Smith

Chief Councillor Haisla Nation

Kim Smith

Senior Manager, Community Partnerships for Business & Agriculture ATB Financial

Robert St. Denis

Contract Manager Community Futures Treaty Seven

Cam Stewart

Acting Manager - Communication, Education and Engagement Alberta Human Rights Commission

Councillor Vickie Thomas

Ktunaxa Nation Council

Aditi Trehan

Senior Manager, Workforce Effectiveness Tata Consultancy Services

Jessica Vandenberghe

Indigenous Community Consultant | Project Engineer | Public Speaker | Outreach Volunteer Urban Systems Ltd.

Colleen Verville

Partner, Labour & Employment | Aboriginal MLT Aikins

Dr Harrie Vredenburg

Professor & Suncor Chair in Strategy & Sustainability University of Calgary, Haskayne School of Business

Yvonne Walsh

Director of Community and Indigenous Affairs Teck Resources

Shawn Whalen

Business Development Representative – Power Generation Superior Propane

Chief Clifford White

Chief Councillor Gitxaala Nation

Pat White

VP Talent Suncor

Luanne Whitecrow

Director, Progressive Aboriginal Relations Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business

Vickie Whitehead

Director, Indigenous, British Columbia Deloitte

Raylene Whitford

Director Canative Energy

Ian Wilson

Business Unit Manager for Environmental Remediation Saskatchewan Research Council

W. Brett Wilson

Chairman Canoe Financial

Jezelle Zatorski

Socioeconomic Advisor – Indigenous Community Relations Imperial Oil

Ye Zhao

Manager Marketing Department China Railway First Survey & Design Institute Group

Leadership Council

Co-Producers

Hal Eagletail

Owner Eaglestar Enterprises Ltd.