2026 Speakers

His Majesty Kgosi (King) Leruo Tshekedi Molotlegi, King of the Royal Bafokeng Nation

Kgosi (King) Leruo Tshekedi Molotlegi is the leader, since 2000, of the 150,000 strong Royal Bafokeng Nation in Phokeng, North West Province of the Republic of South Africa. The Royal Bafokeng Nation covers some 1000 square km, and located approximately 100 km northwest of Pretoria. Kgosi Leruo is the 36th King of the Bafokeng and the 15th direct descendent of a long lineage of the Bafokeng kings. 

Under Kgosi Leruo’s leadership, the Royal Bafokeng Supreme Council has embarked on a mission to create a socially and economically enabling environment by the year 2035. Vision 2035 was derived from a Masterplan launched in 2006 in consultation with Singaporean planners. Under Vision 2035, education is the primary focus of the Bafokeng development plan. Other fundamentals of Vision 2035 are: Good governance and leadership; Stewardship of resources, being land, financial assets and infrastructure; Entrepreneurship and economic opportunity; Educated and healthy individuals. 

Kgosi Leruo served as the Chancellor of North West University for 10 years. He graduated from Hilton College in Natal and was awarded the Victor Ludorum medallion for best athlete. He holds a degree in Architecture and Urban Planning from the University of Natal. Kgosi Leruo is a fixed wing and rotorcraft pilot and served as an honorary Colonel in the South African Air Force. 

Her Majesty Te Arikinui Kuini Nga wai hono i te po – the Māori Queen

Te Arikinui, the Māori Queen, is the eighth sovereign of the Kiingitanga, the Māori King Movement, and a prominent voice for Māori rights, culture and self‑determination in Aotearoa New Zealand. Continuing a dynastic line that has defended mana motuhake (self-determination) and Māori lands and identity since 1858, she urges Māori to “walk a new path” toward economic independence and resist forces that undermine Māori initiatives. [In her address], she will discuss intergenerational leadership, Crown–Indigenous relations and Indigenous nation‑building in a shifting political landscape, offering lessons for Indigenous nations navigating their own futures.

Jennifer Cooke, Director, Small Business, Customer Care & Inclusive Trade, Export Development Canada

Jennifer Cooke joined Export Development Canada in 2010 to work directly with Canadian companies and help them succeed in international markets. As the Director for Small Business, Customer Care, and Inclusive Trade, she leads a team that is focused on helping more Canadian businesses, and especially those owned by women, Indigenous, and other diverse Canadian entrepreneurs, realize their global potential with confidence by removing barriers, creating an equitable playing field, and increasing accessibility to products and services. She’s inspired by Canadian entrepreneurs and believes strongly in the untapped potential to grow Canada’s economy and positively impact communities by empowering more Indigenous companies to scale their business and grow through international trade. She’s committed to deepening relationships, making connections, and sharing trade knowledge and expertise with businesses so they can confidently make their mark in global supply chains and international markets. 

Jennifer lives with her family in Burlington, Ontario, and are guests on the Treaty Lands and traditional territory of the Missisaugas of the Credit First Nation, lands which are rich in history and modern traditions of the Anishinaabeg, the Haudenosaunee and the Métis. A graduate of the University of Western Ontario’s Richard Ivey School of Business, she has enjoyed a variety of professional experiences working both in large multinational corporations, and as part of an entrepreneurial start-up. Jennifer’s knowledge is enriched by international work experiences across Turtle Island, including in the USA and Mexico, as well as in the UK.  

Emily Black, VP Corporate Strategy & Power, Enbridge

As the Vice President of Corporate Strategy & Power at Enbridge, Emily leads Power development and M&A, corporate-wide strategy and fundamentals and serves as Coordinating Subcommittee Chair for the National Petroleum Council’s Future Energy Systems study.  

Over her 13 years with Enbridge, Emily led significant natural gas transmission and storage investments in western Canada. Before being named to her current role, she led Strategic Projects & Partnerships in British Columbia, including the historic investment by 38 First Nations in the Westcoast natural gas pipeline system. 

Emily holds a Master of Arts from Carleton University’s Norman Paterson School of International Affairs and a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of New Brunswick. She is a recipient of the UNB Young Alumni Achievement Award and the King Charles III Coronation Medal. 

Josh Kierce, CFO, Selkirk Copper & Nations Royalty, Director of Pacific Ridge Exploration

Mr. Kierce is a Chartered Professional Accountant with eight years of experience in accounting and investment banking primarily focused on the metals and mining sector.

Throughout his career, he has been involved in financings raising over $450M for mining companies. He is currently the CFO of Selkirk Copper and Nations Royalty, and also a Director of Pacific Ridge Exploration. Previously, Mr. Kierce worked in Investment Banking at Stifel Nicolaus Canada and PI Financial Corp. (now Ventum Financial Corp.).

Mr. Kierce began his career at PricewaterhouseCoopers(PwC) and holds a Bachelor of Technology in Accounting from the British Columbia Institute of Technology.

Trevor Gardner, Head, Global Investment Banking Coverage, RBC Capital Markets

Trevor Gardner is Head of Global Investment Banking Coverage and a member of the Capital Markets Operating Committee at RBC Capital Markets.

With more than 25 years of capital markets experience at RBC, Trevor has held roles across Investment Banking and Equity Capital Markets in Toronto and Calgary. He was previously Head of Canadian Investment Banking and Co-Head of Canadian Energy Investment Banking.

Trevor brings extensive experience advising clients on a broad range of transactions, including mergers and acquisitions as well as debt and equity financing.

He is actively engaged in senior client coverage and provides advice to clients across industries.

Trevor is an executive member of RBC Capital Markets’ Canadian Diversity Leadership Council.

Beyond his professional responsibilities, Trevor is deeply involved in community initiatives, serving as Chair of Right To Play’s Canadian Advisory Board and Chair of the Board of Directors for YMCA Calgary. He is also a member of the Dean’s Advisory Council for the Lazaridis School of Business and Economics at Wilfrid Laurier University.

Originally from Saskatchewan, Trevor holds a Bachelor of Business Administration (Honours) from Wilfrid Laurier University and is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA).

Derrick Pattenden, (Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte) President, CEO, and Director of Nations Royalty 

Prior to his appointment as President and Chief Executive Officer of Nations Royalty, Derrick Pattenden served as the company’s Chief Investment Officer beginning in May 2024. 

He is an accomplished investment banker with over 15 years of experience in the mining industry, specializing in finance and mergers and acquisitions. Over the course of his career, he has completed M&A transactions with a combined equity value exceeding C$20 billion, and he has direct experience with transactions involving the creation of new mining royalties, and royalty companies, as well as the restructuring of existing metal streaming agreements. 

Mr. Pattenden began his investment banking career in Vancouver in 2009 with Genuity Capital Markets. Prior to joining Nations Royalty, he served as Director, Investment Banking at Canaccord Genuity, where he advised TSX and TSX Venture–listed companies and focused exclusively on the mineral exploration and mining sector. 

He holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in Mining Engineering from the University of British Columbia and holds a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation. 

Mr. Pattenden is a proud band member of the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte. 

Michael Peters, (Glooscap First Nation), CEO, Glooscap Ventures

Michael currently serves as the CEO at Glooscap Ventures, Glooscap First Nation’s economic development corporation. He has been with the organization since 2015. Michael started out as an Economic Development Officer with Glooscap First Nation in 2015 and eventually moved into other management roles and then to the CEO position.

In 2023 Michael graduated with his Executive Master’s in Business Administration (EMBA) from Saint Mary’s University in Halifax. Michael also attended Dalhousie University where he
studied renewable energy technologies and graduated with the Sustainable Energy Technologies Professional Certification (SEPT). Before both Saint Mary’s and Dalhousie, Michael had attended the Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC) where he studied International Business.
Before post-secondary and Glooscap Ventures, Michael was an entrepreneur with investments in the food and beverage industry.

Michael’s background is in business development where he contributed to the creation of Glooscap Landing, Glooscap Corner, Glooscap Energy, Indigenous Gaming Partners (IGP) and the Glooscap Seafood companies. Today these companies employ many community members and generate own source revenue for the community of Glooscap First Nation.

Michael is the current Co-Chair for the Mi’kmaq-Canada-Nova Scotia Triparted Economic Development Committee, Chair of the Annapolis Valley Chamber of Commerce, Board Member of the National Indigenous Connectivity Initiative, and Board Member of Wskijinu’k Mtmo’taqnow Agency (WMA) a corporate partnership owned by all 13 Nova Scotia Mi’kmaq communities. Michael also serves as the Chair of the Indigenous Gaming Partners (IGP) Board of
Directors, one of the largest entertainment companies in Canada. He is also an active member of the Council for the Advancement of Native Development Officers (CANDO), Institute of Corporate Director (ICD) and Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA). In 2025 Michael was named to the Top 50 CEOs in Atlantic Canada by the Atlantic Business Magazine.

Michael is a proud member of the Mi’kmaw community of Glooscap First Nation. He lives in the small town of Hantsport with his wife Audrey, daughter Faye and pug Darwin.

Kristan H. Straub, P.Geo., President and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Indigenous Loan
Guarantee Corporation.

Over the course of nearly 30 years, Kristan has cultivated a remarkable career spanning
mineral exploration, operations, and executive management across diverse international
landscapes. His profound expertise has led him to hold significant positions, including his
current role as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Indigenous Loan Guarantee Corporation, as Non-Executive Director for Wyloo and recently as CEO, Canada for Wyloo, working in partnership with several communities for the advancement and development of some of Canada’s most important strategic mineral deposits. Prior to this, Kristan served as a valued member of Glencore Nickel’s executive team as Vice President of Exploration. His global leadership also includes his tenure as President of Koniambo Nickel SAS in New Caledonia, a 51:49 percent JV majority owed by the local Kanak population.

Demonstrating a commitment to safety, operational excellence and collaborative partnerships, Kristan held the role of Vice President of Glencore’s Raglan Mine in Nunavik from 2014 to 2018. During his tenure Raglan achieved record safety performance, being recognized both provincially and nationally for safety leadership. Leading teams that increased annual production over 25%. Kristan also lead the team that re-negotiated with the Inuit of Nunavik the historic Raglan Impacts and Benefits Agreement, Canada’s first.

Many of these changes and improvements continue on today. His dedication to the advancement of the mining sector extends beyond his corporate responsibilities. Kristan currently serves on the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors for both the Mining Association of Canada and the Mining Association of Ontario, contributing his strategic insights to the industry’s growth and sustain ability.

Adding to his distinguished profile, Kristan is a proud band member of Henvey Inlet and French River No. 13 First Nation, underscoring his strong ties to his community and heritage. Kristan (Hon. B.Sc. Geology ‘98) (Doctorate of Law honoris causa ‘25), both from Laurentian University. Kristan is married to Dr. Jennifer Straub, the proud father of Mackenzie, and Eriksen.

Booker Cornea, (Saskatchewan Métis Nation) Associate Vice President – Market and Shareholder Engagement, First Nations Bank of Canada. 

Booker is a proud Citizen of the Saskatchewan Métis Nation and currently resides with his family on Treaty 4 Territory in Regina, Saskatchewan. He brings over 20 years of experience partnering with Indigenous communities and businesses. He has been instrumental in launching FNBC’s $100M Infrastructure Lending Program with the Canada Infrastructure Bank, and the $100M Business Acquisition Financing Program with the Business Development Bank of Canada, both designed to increase access to capital for Indigenous communities across the country. 

Booker is passionate about empowering Nation Builders and advancing Indigenous economic growth.  As he puts it: “We do the financial part of Nation Building.” 

Connect with Booker on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/booker-cornea. 

Jon Davey (Lower Cayuga, Six Nations of the Grand River), Managing Director, Indigenous
& Government Advisory – Investment Banking, Scotiabank.

Jon is a member of the Lower Cayuga of the Six Nations of the Grand River and the Managing Director of the Indigenous & Government Advisory practice within Scotiabank’s Global Banking & Markets. He recently served as the Chief-of-Staff to the CEO of Scotiabank and for several years was the Vice President of Indigenous Financial Services at Scotiabank. Before joining the bank, Jon was a Federal Crown Counsel and Special Advisor to the Assistant Deputy Minister responsible for Indigenous Affairs within the Department of Justice Canada.

Jon also serves as a Captain in the Canadian Armed Forces primary reserve and is an Aide de Camp to the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario. He sits on the boards of the Canadian Council for Indigenous Business and the Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital.

Jon holds a Master of Public Administration degree from Cornell University, a Juris Doctorate from Osgoode Hall Law School, and an honours B.A. from Brock University. He has been named as one of Canada’s Top 40 under 40 and was recently awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal in connection with his military service.

Robert Brant, Partner & Co-head of McCarthy Tétrault’s Indigenous Projects & Transactions Group.

Robert Brant is a partner and the Co-head of McCarthy Tétrault’s Indigenous Projects &
Transactions Group. He is an experienced corporate and commercial lawyer, focusing his
practice on mergers & acquisitions, capital markets and projects work as they
relate to Canada’s Indigenous people.
Having spent more than 20 years as the Managing Partner of the firm’s London, England office,
few Canadian lawyers have as much international experience or as many international contacts
to draw upon in crafting solutions to meet the growing needs of Canada’s Indigenous economy
for our Indigenous and non – Indigenous clients alike.
Mr. Brant’s experience extends to a number of different sectors with a focus on all forms of
energy and natural resources. He advises many of our Canadian and foreign corporate clients
including banks and pension funds as well Indigenous-led corporates and the economic
development arms of various Indigenous communities across Canada.
Rob is member of the board of directors of the Canadian Council for Indigenous Business and a
past Chair of both the Canada-UK Chamber of Commerce and the Maple Leaf Trust where he
remains a director of both.
He is a regular speaker on a broad range of economic development issues as they relate to
Indigenous communities and is a proud member of the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte, a Kanyen’kéha (Mohawk) community and territory located halfway between Toronto and Montreal.

Stuart Chambers, Chair, Anglo American

Stuart Chambers chairs Anglo American Plc and is also a Visiting Fellow of the University of Oxford.  Stuart graduated from University College London in Physics in 1977 and started his career with Shell as a chemical engineer. After 10 years with Shell he spent 10 years with the Mars Corporation and joined Pilkington Plc in 1996, where he was appointed Group Chief Executive in 2002. Pilkington was acquired by Nippon Sheet Glass in June 2006 and Stuart became Group Chief Executive of the new combined Group from which role he retired in March 2010.  Stuart was Chairman of Travis Perkins plc from 2017 to 2021, Rexam PLC from 2012 to 2016 and ARM Holdings Plc from 2014 to 2016 and served as a non-executive director on the Boards of Tesco Plc, Tesco Bank, Manchester Airport Group, Smiths Group Plc and Associated British Ports Holdings Plc.  He also served as member of The Takeover Panel from 2016 to 2023. Stuart is married with 3 children and enjoys sport of any kind, but predominantly sailing and rugby.

John McKenzie, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), TMX Group.

Mr. McKenzie is a member of the TMX Group Board of Directors and also a member of the Board of Directors of several TMX Group subsidiaries.

Prior to his appointment as CEO on August 17, 2020, Mr. McKenzie served as TMX Group Chief Financial Officer and was responsible for corporate strategy, corporate development, investor relations and the financial management of the company as well as for the administrative oversight of TMX Group’s Capital Formation business.

Working with TMX for over 20 years, Mr. McKenzie’s career has included senior roles within Corporate Strategy and Development and Corporate Finance. He has led financial and strategic
planning efforts and managed various TMX acquisitions, including the Maple transaction, the acquisitions of Montréal Exchange and Trayport, as well as the resulting integration initiatives.

From July 2015 to August 2016, he served as President of CDS, Canada’s equity and fixed income clearing house and a wholly-owned subsidiary of TMX Group. Prior to that he was the Chief Operating Officer (COO) and CFO of CDS.

Mr. McKenzie is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CMA) and has an MBA from Edinburgh Business School, Heriot-Watt University and an Honours BA from Wilfrid Laurier University. He has served on a number of boards, and currently is a member of The Accounting Standards Oversight Council and a Board Member for the Hamilton Health Sciences Foundation.

Mark Podlasly, CEO of FNMPC

Mark Podlasly, a member of the Nlaka’pamux Nation in British Columbia, serves as Chief Executive Officer at the First Nations Major Projects Coalition (FNMPC). Mark has been integral to the development and growth of FNMPC since its inception, driving engagement and advocacy for greater economic participation for member nations in major projects across Canada. Mark also led the coalition’s policy and research initiatives as the Chief Sustainability Officer.

Mark also chairs the First Nations Limited Partnership (pipelines), serves as a Trustee of the Nlaka’pamux Nation Legacy Trust, and sits on the boards of CIBC and Hydro One. In 2017, he received the Governor General of Canada’s Meritorious Service Medal; recognized for his contributions to Indigenous economic development. A graduate of the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, Mark is a regular speaker at global business and governance events, sharing his expertise at global forums and in boardrooms across Canada.

Sean Willy, CEO, Des Nedhe Group

Sean Willy is the CEO of Des Nedhe Group, the economic development corporation of English River First Nation. Since taking over the role Sean, a member of the Deninu Kue First Nation in the NWT, has taken Des Nedhe to a national & international stage, growing & diversifying into new business sectors and regions all while maintaining high levels of Indigenous employment.
In 2026 Des Nedhe was awarded the Skookum Jim award from the Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada for leading edge Indigenous support for the Saskatchewan resource industry.
In his career, Sean has developed and implemented the most innovative Indigenous Inclusion, ESG & Socially Responsible strategies for resource companies such as Rio Tinto and Cameco Corporation.
He has championed Indigenous peoples to be seen as a full partner in long-term relationships value added relationships.
Sean is a board member for TELUS Corporation & the Nuclear Waste Management Organization. He is a past board member of Green First Forest and the Ronald McDonald House Saskatchewan. Sean has also been past Co-Chair of the Canadian Council for Indigenous Business (CCIB) and has previously sat on the Canadian government’s Indigenous Innovation Housing Committee and the Indigenous Advisory Committee on Small Module Reactors.
Sean is a graduate of the University of Saskatchewan, holds his ICD designation he was honoured with the King Charles III Coronation Medal in 2024, and in 2026 was awarded the CCIB’s Lifetime Achievement Award for his progressive strategies and support of Indigenous businesses.
Sean has two children and lives with his wife Melissa in Saskatoon.

Angel Ransom, Stewardship Technical Lead, Firelight

Angel Ransom is a Stewardship Technical Lead with Firelight and a member of Nak’azdli Whut’en First Nation (Northern BC). She brings over 15 years of experience supporting Indigenous- led land-use planning and impact assessment across local, provincial, and national contexts. Her work focuses on advancing Indigenous rights, cultural integrity, and community well-being through Indigenous-designed planning and assessment processes.
Prior to joining Firelight, Angel held senior leadership roles with the First Nations Major Projects Coalition, where she led the development of Indigenous-designed Impact Assessment Standards and the Spirit of the Land Indigenous Cultural Rights and Interests Toolkit. She was awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal in 2025 in recognition of her leadership and service.

Bill Lomax, LL.B., MBA, (Gitxsan Nation) President and CEO First Nations Bank of Canada

Bill Lomax is the President and CEO of the First Nations Bank of Canada (FNBC) and a member of the Gitxsan Nation. Bill grew up in Terrace, B.C. and studied in Vancouver before heading south to spend 22 years working on Wall Street and in Private equity in the United States.

As a graduate of UBC’s law school, Mr. Lomax began his career as a lawyer facilitating land claim negotiations for the British Columbia Treaty Commission. After obtaining his MBA at Columbia University, he later worked for the Canadian Federal Department of Justice before entering the investment sector in the United States, working for firms such as Merrill Lynch and Goldman Sachs.

Lomax believes the First Nations Bank of Canada will be a catalyst to create economic growth that is inclusive and sustainable in Indigenous Nations and communities. His deep experience in the US will serve him well. He worked with Native American Tribes across the US and was entrusted with managing multi-billions in Indigenous assets over the course of his career.

The First Nations Bank of Canada is a federally chartered bank, with decades of experience serving Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples throughout Canada. FNBC has over 20 locations in six provinces and three territories and more than $1B in holdings.

Sharleen Gale, Executive Chair to the Board of Directors, FNMPC

Sharleen Gale has served as the chair of the board of directors for the First Nations Major Projects Coalition (FNMPC) since 2017, overseeing a tremendous period of growth for the organization in which she has carried FNMPC messages on the economic inclusion of First Nations to the regional, national, and international stage. As an experienced community leader, Sharleen was elected to the council of Fort Nelson First Nation, serving 15 years with 8 of those years as Chief.

She is the grand-daughter of Fred Burke and Madeline Needlay. Her roots run deep in the lives of her people and she enjoys being on the land with her family exploring the territory and teaching her son the traditional ways on the lands and how to hunt, fish, and gather medicines and berries.  

Sharleen’s experience as a community leader is furthered by her corporate experience in the oil and gas, renewable energy, and forestry sectors. During the 2020 Global Pandemic, Sharleen served the Province of BC as a member of the Premier’s Economic Recovery Task Force. In 2023, she was appointed to serve on the Canada Electricity Advisory Council. In 2024, Sharleen was appointed to serve as the Indigenous member of the International Energy Agency’s Global Commission on the People-Centred Energy Transition.   

Sharleen is a recipient of the King Charles III Coronation Medal awarded to her in recognition for her dedication to public service and leadership in economic development.