Chair - Leonard G. Flett is a member of the Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug First Nation at Big Trout Lake, Ontario. He has an extensive 42-year background in retail management with the Hudson’s Bay Company and as a vice-president of the North West Company, from which he retired in 2005, managing that company’s capital assets. Mr. Flett is currently president of the Board of Me-dian Credit Union in Winnipeg.

Vice-Chair - Dave Tuccaro is a member of the Mikisew Cree First Nation in Fort Chipewyan. He is president and CEO of five successful companies which create opportunities for aboriginal people. Mr. Tuccaro is on the board of the Alberta Chamber of Resources and the National Task Force on Oilsands Strategies. He co-chaired the 2004 Arctic Winter Games Committee, and was active as a director of the Aboriginal People’s Television Network in its early development stages. Mr. Tuccaro received the National Aboriginal Achievement Award.

Bill Shead is a member of the Peguis First Nation. A graduate of Dalhousie University and the CanadianForces Staff College, Lieutenant-Commander (Ret’d) Bill Shead, CD served 36 years in the Canadian Navy. In 1975 he was seconded to head the Office of Native Employment to increase the participation of Aboriginal people in the Public Service of Canada. Later serving as Mayor of Selkirk, Manitoba from 1980 to 1983; Prairie Regional Director General for Veterans Affairs from 1986 to 1992; and Chief Executive Officer of the Aboriginal Centre of Winnipeg from 1993 to 1996; Mr. Shead is currently the Chair of the Aboriginal Centre of Winnipeg and Vice-Chair of the Centre for Aboriginal Human Resource Development.

Dr. Ronald T. Scrimshaw, is a member of the Peguis First Nation, and born in Prince Albert, and raised in North Central Saskatchewan, Ron Scrimshaw obtained a B.Sc and a Doctor of Education from Brigham Young University and an MBA from West Texas State University. In his career Dr. Scrimshaw has held senior positions with Mount RoyalCollege, Old Sun College, Fairview College and the Government of Saskatchewan. In addition he has held management positions Foothills Pipelines, NOVA Corporation and CIBC. Active in community service, Ron has served on numerous boards and communities, some of which are; Alberta Human Rights Commission,  Alberta Curriculum and Student Evaluation Committee, Northern Saskatchewan Economic Development Committee, Apeetogosan (Métis) Development Company and currently sits as CEO of the Kee Tas Kee Now Tribal Council.

Cindy Kenny Gilday is a member of the Deline Dene Band, Treaty 11, Great Bear Lake, NWT, and lives with her family in Yellowknife where she is manager for Aboriginal Relations for Diavik Diamond Mines. For many years, she was international communications coordinator for Indigenous Survival International. Ms. Kenny-Gilday was co-chair of the National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy, and served as the first indigenous representative on the World Conservation Union. She received the 1994 Aboriginal Achievement Award in recognition of her work on aboriginal rights and environmental issues.

Peter J. Lukasiewicz is a senior commercial litigator who counsels and represents domestic and global clients in complex commercial disputes.  He is the managing Partner of Gowlings’ Toronto office. Mr. Lukasiewicz is a graduate of the Institute of Corporate Directors. He is chair of the Board of Governors of Ryerson University.  Mr. Lukasiewicz chairs the Foundation’s Investment Committee and its Audit and Finance Committee.  He has served on the boards of numerous community organizations.

Paul Tsaparis is President and CEO of Hewlett-Packard (Canada), a position he has held since 1998. He holds an MBA degree from York University.  Mr. Tsaparis currently chairs the Board of Governors of the Information Technology Association of Canada and is a member of the Board of the International institute of Telecommunications. He is also a member of the Dean’s Advisory Council of the Schulich School of Business. 

Ian Sutherland is chair of The North West Company and MCAN Mortgage Corporation, and sits as a director of several corporations. His former work was as a senior officer in banking and insurance.   

Mary Simon was born in Kanqirsualuuijuaq, Nunavik (Northern Quebec). She was Canada’s Ambassador for Circumpolar Affairs from 1994-2003, and concurrently Canadian Ambassador to Denmark (1999-2001).  She served as Chancellor of Trent University (1994-1999).  She was elected president of Inuit Tapinit Kanatami in 2006. Ms. Simon is a recipient of a National Aboriginal Achievement Award, as well as the Gold Medal of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society and the Order of Canada.

Jean Teillet is a member of the Bar in Ontario, NWT, B.C. and Manitoba, and has been involved in numerous indigenous law cases before the Supreme Court of Canada. She is a well-known author of professional articles, and a speaker regarding Métis history and rights.  Ms. Teillet is currently a member of the Canadian Judicial Council Chairperson’s Advisory Group.

Dr. Cornelia Wieman of the Anishnawbe Nation is Canada’s first female Aboriginal psychiatrist. Currently she is co-director of the Indigenous Health Research Development Program and an assistant professor in the Department of Public Health Sciences at the University of Toronto. She has served as chair of the Vision 2020 initiative to train more aboriginal physicians. Dr. Wieman received a National Aboriginal Achievement award in 1998 for her work in improving the physical and mental health of Aboriginal Peoples.

James Makokis, born and raised on Saddle Lake Cree Nation, Alberta, will be graduating from Medical School at theUniversity of Ottawa in 2010. Mr. Makokis is a Registered Dietitian and holds a Master’s degree in Health Science-Community Nutrition from the University of Toronto.  He is currently the national spokesperson for the National Aboriginal Health Organizations “Lead Your Way” youth role model program, promoting healthy lifestyles amongst Indigenous youth and communities across Canada. As a committed volunteer, Mr. Makokis has been involved in a number of community programs, working with street people in Edmonton, and supporting gays, lesbians and two-spirited Aboriginal youth. Mr. Makokis was the 2007 National Aboriginal Achievement Award Youth Recipient. 

Gordon R. Peeling has been President and Chief Executive Officer of the Mining Association of Canada since December 1997.  With over 30 years of mining policy experience in both private and public sectors, Mr. Peeling has been involved with numerous organizations including the Government of Canada’s Advisory Group on Corporate Social Responsibility, the Mining Sector Sustainability Table and several advisory bodies to various government departments.  He is also a board member of the Mining Association of Canada and the Canadian Mining Hall of Fame.  Mr. Peeling has a BSc (Geology) degree from Queen’s University and an MSc (Geology) and BA (Economics) from CarletonUniversity.

Lillian Hvatum-Brewster is Vice-President Aboriginal Business Relations for ATCO Frontec and resides in Inuvik N.T. Ms. Brewster joined ATCO Frontec in 1988 since its inception participating in the growth of the company in pivotal roles which include business development relations, media relations, cross cultural training, employment and development, proposal development as well as advisory roles to a multitude of projects with ATCO Frontec and within the ATCO Group of Companies. Ms. Brewster’s background in education and training has been an important asset to developing relationships and programs for the many joint ventures of ATCO Frontec across the northern regions which include N.T., Nunavut, Y.T. Labrador and Nunavik.

Debbie Eisan is an Ojibway Anishnabee Kwi from Batchewana First Nations, and was born in Sault Ste Marie, Ontario. Since joining the Canadian Forces on 5 Dec 1975, Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class Eisan, has served numerous tours of duty, highlighted by her involvement in the close out operation of the United Nations Base in Rwanda, Africa, and her posting to the HMCS Iroquois, which saw her spend one year in the Arabian Sea supporting the War against Terrorism. Chief Eisan is now the National Aboriginal Recruiting Advisor based out of Halifax. In 2004 Eisan was the recipient of the National Aboriginal Women in Leadership Foundation Award of Distinction. 

Gerald McMaster, one of the most significant figures in contemporary Native art in Canada, is an artist, writer, and curator. A Plains Cree from Red Pheasant, Saskatchewan, Mr. McMaster has studied fine art at the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico, attained a Master of Arts in Anthropology from Carleton University which led to a doctorate at the University of Amsterdam’s School for Cultural Analysis. As an artist, his work has been extensively exhibited throughout Canada as well as art institutions in Europe and Asia. As an author, his writings are widely published. As an art curator, his leading edge exhibitions have been presented in museums and galleries throughoutCanada, the US and Europe. Since 2005, Mr. McMaster has been the Curator of Canadian Art at the Art Gallery of Ontario in Toronto. He was the 2005 National Aboriginal Achievement Award Art and Culture Recipient.