Conference Program

Nanaimo, BC | Vancouver Island Conference Centre

Draft Updated June 16, 2025

*Program subject to change

Wednesday June 18
4:00 - 6:00pm Registration Open
6:00 - 8:00pm Opening Reception | Sponsored by Innergex
Dallas Smith, President, Nanwakolas Council
Performance - Qwam Qwum Stuwixulh School
Thursday June 19
8:00am Registration Opens
8:00 - 8:30am Morning Nutrition Break & Networking | Sponsored by West Fraser
8:30 - 9:00am Conference Opening
Opening Prayer & Conference Blessing - Elder Lolly Good, Snuneymuxw First Nation
Leonard Krog, Mayor, City of Nanaimo
Dallas Smith, President, Nanwakolas Council
Luke Schauerte, CEO, Woodfibre LNG
9:00 - 9:10am Keynote Address
Hon. Sheila Malcolmson, Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction, Government of B.C.
9:10 - 10:00am Panel 1 – Call for Power – Indigenous Participation in Wind
Panelists: Al Leonard, Executive Vice-President of Capital Infrastructure Project Delivery, BC Hydro
Chief Councillor Chris Roberts, Wei Wai Kum First Nation
Ina Gjoka, Strategist - Government Relations, Innergex
Moderator: Kwatuuma Cole Sayers, Executive Director, Clean Energy Association of BC
10:00 - 10:20am Special Presentation
10:00 - 10:20am Morning Nutrition Break & Networking | Sponsored by Engineers and Geoscientists BC
10:20 - 11:10am Panel 2 – Indigenous Partnerships Across Canada
Panelists: Alexandre Girard, General Manager of Groupe Aishkatsh, Pekuakamiulnuatsh Nation, Quebec
Dale Levesque, General Manager, Dallan LP Contracting, Fort William First Nation, Ontario
Tina Rasmussen, Chief Business Officer of Meadow Lake Tribal Council Industrial Investments, Flying Dust First Nation, Saskatchewan
Erik Blaney, Legislator, Tla'amin Nation, British Columbia
Moderator: Lana Wilhelm, RPF, Director of Indigenous Relations, Domtar
Partnership Showcase
11:10 - 11:25am Partnership Showcase 1 – Quatsino Solar Project
Panelists: Kara Wilson, Community Energy Champion, Quatsino First Nation
Mary Vasey, Project Manager, Barkley Project Group
11:25 - 11:40am Partnership Showcase 2 – Cedar Brush Site Services & Janitorial
Panelists: Corey Janvier, Founder, Cedar Brush Site Services & Janitorial
11:40 - 11:55am Partnership Showcase 3 – Shas Ti Environmental LP
Panelists: Kevin Wilson, Director, Shas Ti Environmental LP
Dwayne Martin, Binche Whuten Member & Director, Shas Ti Environmental LP
11:55am - 12:10pm Partnership Showcase 4 – First Nations Forestry Council
Panelists: Robert Manuel, Business Development Strategic Advisor, First Nations Forestry Council
12:10 - 12:25pm Indigenous Partnerships: Unlocking Capital, Alignment, and Long-term success in a Values-Driven Economy
Jaimie Lickers, Senior Vice President, Indigenous Markets, CIBC
12:25 - 12:45pm Tradeshow Networking Break
12:45 - 2:00pm Keynote Luncheon | Sponsored by Mosaic Forest Management
Lunch Prayer - Elder Sandra, Snuneymuxw First Nation
Hon. David Eby, K.C., Premier, Government of B.C.
Moderator: Dallas Smith, President, Nanwakolas Council
2:00 - 2:30pm Tradeshow Networking Break
2:30 - 2:55pm Fireside Chat: Incorporating Indigenous Knowledge in EA: Lessons from CNA and Teck
Kama Sills, Senior Coordinator, Indigenous Engagement, Teck Highland Valley
Natalie Ross, Senior Technical Coordinator, Citxw Nlaka'pamux Assembly
Moderator: Emily Milne, Director, Advisory Services, C3 Alliance
2:55 - 3:05pm Keynote Address
Hon. Lana Popham, Minister of Agriculture and Food, Government of B.C.
3:05 - 3:50pm Panel 3 – Feeding the Future: Indigenous Food Security and Sovereignty
Panelists: Deputy Chief Councillor Isaiah Robinson, Kitasoo Xai'xais Nation
Leslie MacDonald, Emergency Management Advisor, BC Agriculture Council
Hon. Lana Popham, BC Minister of Agriculture and Food
Moderator: Brian Kingzett, Executive Director, BC Salmon Farmers Association
3:50 - 4:10pm Stewarding Opportunity: Indigenous Leadership in Resource Management and Community Well-Being
Chief Councillor Chris Roberts, Wei Wai Kum First Nation
Moderator: Sarah Weber, President and CEO, C3 Alliance
4:10 - 4:30pm Economic Reconciliation and Community Voices: A Fireside Chat on Woodfibre LNG
Chief Ian Campbell, Squamish Nation
Deanna Lewis, Cultural Ambassador, Squamish Nation
Moderator: Selena Basi, VP Corporate Relations, Woodfibre LNG
4:30 - 4:35pm Special Presentation
4:35 - 6:00pm Tradeshow Networking Reception
6:00 - 8:00pm Keynote Dinner
Dinner Prayer & Cultural Performance - Elder Lolly Good, Snuneymuxw First Nation
David Walkem, Sr. Manager, Strategic Partnerships, Invasive Species Council
Friday June 20
8:00am Registration Opens
8:00 - 8:30am Morning Nutrition Break & Networking | Sponsored by Capacity Forest Management
8:30 - 8:35am Conference Opening
Dallas Smith, President, Nanwakolas Council
8:35 - 9:25am Panel 4 – Indigenous Leadership in Carbon Offsetting
Panelists: Dallas Smith, President, Nanwakolas Council
Danielle Warren, Sr. Sales and Operations Manager, Great Bear Carbon Credit LP
Adria Fradley, Assistant Deputy Minister, Clean Growth, Ministry of Energy and Climate Solutions
Michael Berends, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder, Clear Blue Markets
Moderator: Paul Kariya, Acting General Manager, Great Bear Carbon Credit LP
9:25 - 9:40am Plenary Session
Steven Stark, President & CEO, TSI - Tsawwassen Shuttles Inc.
9:40 - 10:30am Panel 5 – Reflections on the last five years of the BC Environmental Assessment Process
Panelists: Nathan Braun, Partner, ERM Environmental Resources Management
Scott Bailey, Owner, Beacon Regulatory Solutions
Tamlyn Botel, Regulatory Engagement Manager, Skeena Gold + Silver
Jennifer Campbell, CEO, Two Worlds Consulting
Moderator: Sharon Singh, Partner, Co-Head, Environment and Indigenous Practices, McMillan LLP
10:30 - 11:00 Morning Nutrition Break & Networking | Sponsored by Grieg Seafood
11:00 - 11:10am Keynote Address | Sponsored by Western Forest Products
Hon. Ravi Parmar, Minister of Forests, Government of B.C.
11:10 - 11:50am Panel 6 – Stronger Forestry Partnerships | Sponsored by A&A Trading
Panelists: Hon. Ravi Parmar, Minister of Forests, Government of B.C.
Kim Haakstad, President and CEO, COFI
Chief Councillor John Jack, Huu-ay-aht First Nations
Moderator: Dallas Smith, President, Nanwakolas Council
11:50 - 12:10pm Building Indigenous Prosperity: Introducing FNBC's New Business Acquisition Loan for Indigenous Communities, Supported by BDC
Booker Cornea, Market Lead (National), Commercial Banking, First Nations Bank of Canada
Kris Smith, Lead, Community Banking – Lending Solutions, Business Development Bank of Canada
12:10 - 12:30pm Keynote Address
Michelle Carr, CEO and Commissioner, BC Energy Regulator
12:30 - 12:50pm Tradeshow & Networking
12:50 - 2:15pm Luncheon | Sponsored by University of Northern British Columbia
Lunch Prayer - Elder Sandra, Snuneymuxw First Nation
Á'a:líya (A'aliya) Warbus, MLA, Chilliwack-Cultus Lake and House Leader, BC Conservative Caucus
2:15pm Conference Closing Remarks