As CEO of Island Coastal Economic Trust, I'm working in close partnership with First Nations governments, local governments, and the Province of British Columbia to realize transformational change. Together, we are working to form a leading example of Indigenous and local government co-governance and regional economic decision-making that empowers coastal communities to invest and build a sustainable, inclusive, and resilient coastal economy that strengthens human wellbeing for generations to come.Serving over 250 communities and half a million residents, we partner with communities to develop and finance their economic infrastructure and diversification efforts through our unique structure that is led by, and accountable to, communities across Vancouver Island, the Sunshine Coast, the southern Great Bear Rainforest, and Gulf Islands regions of British Columbia, Canada.Since inception, our Trust has approved more than $64 million to economic development initiatives that has realized more than $337 million in new investment across coastal British Columbia. In this work, I am humbled and grateful to be serving communities across the ancestral and unceded territories of the Kwak̓wala, Nuučaan̓uɫ, Éy7á7juuthem, Ligwilda'xw, Pəntl'áč, she shashishalhem, Hul’q’umi’num’, diitiidʔaatx̣, SENĆOŦEN, Lekwungen, and T’Sou-ke speaking peoples.

Working for 27 coastal First Nations, I led a multi-year organizational turnaround and restructuring, including assembling a motivated and committed team, from 2012 to 2022. In just over 9 years, we grew one of BC's largest charitable foundations from $56 to $99 million and generated more than $70 million in revenue for Indigenous-led conservation. At the same time, my team and I facilitated an investment of $50 million+ into sustainable Indigenous business development across the coast. As of 2022, more than $370 million in direct new investment has been attracted to the Great Bear Rainforest and Haida Gwaii regions of British Columbia through Coast Funds.I advised on, and financed, strategic acquisitions, start-ups, and governance with Indigenous-owned and operated companies: the Haida Enterprise Corp incl. Taan Forest, Haida Wild Seafoods, West Coast Resorts, Haida House at Tllaal; Kitasoo Dev Corp incl. Spirit Bear Lodge; Haisla Dev Corp incl. Haisla Town Centre; Kitimat Valley Institute and MK Bay Marina; Metlakatla Dev Corp incl. Coastal Shellfish Corp / Great Bear Scallops; Lax Kw'alaams Dev Corp incl. Tsimshian Seafoods; Gitga'at Dev Corp.; Na̲nwak̲olas Council incl. Knight Inlet Lodge; Heiltsuk Dev Corp incl. Shearwater Resort; Gwa'sala-'Nakwaxda'xw incl. Kawatsi Dev Corp and Kwa'lilas Hotel; Nisg̱a’a Lisims Government incl. Nisg̱a’a Tourism; Coastal First Nations incl. Great Bear Essential Oils; Homalco First Nation incl. Bears of Bute Tours; and more.I also advised on the governance, start-up, and sustainable conservation finance for First Nations' Guardian Watchman and stewardship authorities across the Great Bear Rainforest and Haida Gwaii from 2012 to 2022.Managing a $100 million+ investment portfolio, I created an Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) investment strategy focused on Indigenous Rights and sustainability that is recognized across Canada and internationally as a leading model of socially responsible investment (SRI).

Under the mentorship of, and in friendship with, Coast Funds' late founding CEO Dave Mannix (Snuneymuxw First Nation), I led strategic initiatives and managed all project investments for the two organizations which comprise Coast Funds:Coast Economic Development Society, a $60 million fund that invests in projects that increase First Nations' capacity to realize diverse and sustainable economic development opportunities, including increased access to skills development and training as well as enhancing the economic infrastructure of the North and Central BC Coast.Coast Conservation Endowment Fund Foundation, BC's 12th largest registered foundation (and one of Canada's largest environmental foundations) into Indigenous-led conservation and stewardship initiatives. The fund is a permanent endowment initially capitalized with $56 million designed to ensure the ecological integrity of the world’s largest intact coastal temperate rainforests in coastal British Columbia, Haida Gwaii, the Great Bear Rainforest.

Reporting to Christine Little in the Ministry of Jobs, Tourism, and Skills Training, I worked closely with the managing directors of BC's overseas trade and investment offices. In this role, I managed and prepared reports for Treasury Board and Cabinet on the Province’s pipeline of over $240 billion in prospective investment and export development projects.Served as British Columbia’s private sector liaison to the World Bank and multi-lateral development banks, working with Canadian embassy staff, development agencies, international financial institutions, and BC companies seeking to assemble financing for projects via development loans.Prepared all briefings to Cabinet, Treasury Board, and the Minister for the Crown’s Service Plan, Annual Report, and Government’s Letter of Expectations for BC Forestry Innovation Investment Ltd. (BC FII) in collaboration with the crown corporation's senior management team.Managed all aspects of the Western Economic Partnership Agreement between the Government of Canada (Western Economic Diversification) and Province of British Columbia to fund BC companies’ international trade missions and the Province’s overseas trade and investment initiatives under the BC Jobs Plan.Led project management and prepared all briefings for the Premier’s trade mission to Hong Kong, Beijing, and Tianjin for the World Economic Forum in September 2012.

Mentored by founding CEO Janine North, I directly facilitated over $45 million in economic investments while fostering strong relationships with local governments, First Nations, business leaders, and elected officials throughout British Columbia during the start-up period of this $300 million+ regional economic trust.Designed Northern Development's funding programs, due diligence policies, and business processes for reporting all aspects of projects, loans, and funding partnerships.Created the Trust's brand and website including its grants database (www.northerndevelopment.bc.ca). I further engaged citizens by launching the Trust's social media strategy integrating Facebook, Twitter, and Youtube.Formed and led a partnership of seventeen local governments and First Nations by creating the award-winning Invest in Northwest BC initiative to attract investors, suppliers, and skilled workers.Supported the Northwest Powerline Coalition (https://tinyurl.com/rdukak2j) with marketing and proposal writing. We were successful in securing $130 million from the federal Green Infrastructure Fund which was the key to realizing the Northwest Transmission Line: one of the largest public infrastructure projects in modern BC history. The project has since empowered the Tahltan First Nation and private industry to develop large-scale renewable energy projects at Forest Kerr, McLymont Creek, and Volcano Creek and a generational gold and copper mine at Red Chris.Created and delivered the Capital Investment and Training Rebate (http://bit.ly/YtR8j5), incentivizing manufacturing companies to invest over $162 million in productivity and training, creating over 1,023 direct new jobs within 3 years.Managed the $30 million Community Adjustment Fund (http://bit.ly/XFniuQ). Led a professional team performing due diligence on $690 million in business plans.Created Northern Development's internship program (https://tinyurl.com/2xf2ebum).

Working under the leadership of Carolyn Rogers (current Senior Deputy Governor of the Bank of Canada), Chuck Croft (the former chair of Ritchie Brothers), Juergen Puetter (founder CEO of Renewable Hydrogen Canada Corp. and past Chair of the Sustainable Development Technology Canada), managed all aspects of international marketing for this clean technology company.Developed sales proposals and responded to requests for proposals, secured multi-million contracts from Fortune 500 companies including STX Europe, Royal Caribbean Cruises, BF Goodrich, JFK Airport, and multinational food processing companies.Developed international partnerships, export sales, and distribution channels including a product licensing agreement with Degrémont Technologies (a division of Suez Environment).Provided leadership to engineering and supply chain teams, cross-department coordination, and team building.Communicated, made presentations to, and met with customers, distribution partners, and media. Secured speaking opportunities and represented the company at international conferences incl. the Water Environment Federation's Technical Exhibition and Conference (WEFTEC).

Collaborated with technical sales and product development teams for CAE Forestry Products Ltd. (Newnes Manufacturing, Salmon Arm, BC) to develop marketing programs for new products, product upgrades/enhancements, and training programs for leading-edge sawmill and planermill optimization, curved cant sawing, linear edger, sorter, and stacking systems.Produced marketing collateral directly supporting industrial equipment sales to Canadian Forest Products (Canfor), Babine Forest Products, West Fraser Timber, Weyerhaeuser, Tolko Industries, and other major BC forest product companies.