Draft Preliminary Conference Program

Nanaimo, BC | Vancouver Island Conference Centre

Draft Updated May 5, 2025

*Program subject to change

Wednesday June 18
4:00 - 6:00pm Registration Open
6:00 - 8:00pm Opening Reception
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
8:30 - 8:50am Conference Opening
Opening Prayer & Conference Blessing - Elder Lolly Good, Snuneymuxw First Nation
Leonard Krog, Mayor, City of Nanaimo
Dallas Smith, President, Nanwakolas Council
Speaker Announcements Coming Soon!
8:50 - 9:00am Keynote Address
Speaker Announcements Coming Soon!
9:00 - 9:10am Keynote Address
Honourable Adrian Dix, Minister of Energy and Climate, Government of B.C.
9:10 - 10:00am Panel 1 – Call for Power – Indigenous Participation in Wind
Panelists: Chief Robert Michelle, Stellat'en First Nation
Chris O'Riley, President and CEO, BC Hydro
Honourable Adrian Dix, Minister of Energy and Climate, Government of B.C.
Moderator: Kwatuuma Cole Sayers, Executive Director, Clean Energy Association of BC
10:00 - 10:20am Morning Nutrition Break & Networking |
10:20 - 11:10am Panel 2 – Domtar – Forestry Reconciliation Across Canada
Panelists: Speaker Announcements Coming Soon!
Partnership Showcase
11:10 - 11:25am Partnership Showcase 1 - Quatsino Solar Project
Panelists: Kara Wilson, Quatsino First Nation
Yuho Okada, 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 - 11:55pm 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
11:55 - 12:10pm Partnership Showcase 4
Panelists: Steven Stark, President & CEO, TSI - Tsawwassen Shuttles Inc.
12:10 - 12:25pm Partnership Showcase 5
Panelists: Robert Manuel, Business Development Strategic Advisor, First Nations Forestry Council
12:25 - 12:45pm Tradeshow Networking Break
12:45 - 2:00pm Keynote Luncheon
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 - 3:45pm Panel 3 - Food Security
Panelists: Hon. Lana Popham, Minister of Agriculture and Food, Government of B.C.
Moderator: Speaker Announcements Coming Soon!
3:45 - 4:05pm Keynote Address
Chief Chris Roberts, Wei Wai Kum First Nation
Moderator: Sarah Weber, President and CEO, C3 Alliance
4:05 - 4:30pm Mineral Tenure Act
Panelists: Speaker Announcements Coming Soon!
Moderator: Speaker Announcements Coming Soon!
4:30 - 4:50pm Fireside Chat
Speaker Announcements Coming Soon!
5:00 - 6:00pm Reception
6:00 - 8:00pm Keynote Dinner (Ticketed)
Dinner Prayer & Cultural Performance - Elder Lolly Good, Snuneymuxw First Nation
David Walkem, Sr. Manager, Strategic Partnerships, Invasive Species Council of BC
Moderator: Speaker Announcements Coming Soon!
Friday June 20
8:00am Registration Opens
8:00 - 8:30am Morning Nutrition Break & Networking
8:30 - 8:35am Conference Opening
Dallas Smith, President, Nanwakolas Council
8:35 - 9:25am Panel 4 – Indigenous Leadership in Carbon Offsetting
Panelists:
Merv Child, Chief Executive Officer, Nanwakolas Offsets Corporation
Danielle Warren, Sr. Sales and Operations Manager, Great Bear Carbon Limited Partnership
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 Co LP
9:25 - 10:15am Panel 5 – Reflections on the last five years of the B.C. 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, McMillan LLP
10:15 - 10:45am Morning Nutrition Break & Networking
10:45 - 10:55am Keynote Address
Honourable Ravi Parmar, Minister of Forests, Government of B.C.
10:55 - 11:45am Panel 6 – Stronger Forestry Partnerships
Panelists:
Honourable. 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
11:45 - 12:05pm FN Bank
Panelists: Speaker Announcements Coming Soon!
Moderator: Speaker Announcements Coming Soon!
12:05 - 12:25pm Keynote Address
Michelle Carr, CEO and Commissioner, BC Energy Regulator
12:25 - 12:45pm Attachie Project
Panelists: Speaker Announcements Coming Soon!
Moderator: Speaker Announcements Coming Soon!
12:45 - 2:15pm Luncheon
Lunch Prayer - Elder Lolly Good, Snuneymuxw First Nation
Moderator: Speaker Announcements Coming Soon!
2:15pm Conference Closing Remarks