FOLLOW - Key Persons
Brian is a director on CFNG's Board and brings his experience as former Chief Financial Officer for the Nisga'a Lisims Government and as past Director of Finance for NCFNG, our predecessor organization. In addition he has worked with a number of non-profit organizations with a focus on building capacity in the areas of financial reporting and forecasting.
Chris Robertson has over 18 years of experience specializing in community economic and organizational development, professional management, public communications, strategic planning, governance, lands and resources support with First Nation communities, governments and businesses. Chris, of Gitxsan ancestry, includes in his extensive experience being Executive Director for the Office of the Wet'suwet'en Hereditary Chiefs, Senior advisor to the AFN, BC Regional Chief, COO of the National Centre for First Nations Governance and Band Administrator for the Musqueam First Nation. He is a former Board Director for the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network. Chris was COO of NCFNG (National Centre for First Nations Governance), our predecessor organization.
Len has worked for many years as a communications director and consultant, providing strategic communications and web services to government, non-profit and Aboriginal organizations. He has an extensive background assisting small business start-ups and is keenly interested in social enterprise. Len's career includes over 15 years with the Government of British Columbia developing and managing in-person, call centre and award-winning online services. Len is proud of his Secwpmec ancestry.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Ahousaht First Nation
Pawatsqwachiitl Haiyupis is a member of the Ahousaht First Nation on the West Coast of Vancouver Island.Over the past 10 years Pawa has developed a diversity of professional skills from her work experience with First Nations people in relation to stewardship and the environment. Much of Pawa's work has focused on facilitating dialogues on all aspects of governance, leadership and nation rebuilding. A major focus of her work is developing and implementing emerging leadership events, workshops and think tanks for youth. Pawa is committed to the Centre's philosophy of creating new memories for our children and this philosophy guides her work at the community level. Pawa's areas of training include First Nations Studies and Environmental Science with a focus on Traditional Ecological Knowledge, Traditional Governance and Coastal Ecology.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Manitoba Métis Federation
Robin Thompson is Cree Métis and a member of the Manitoba Métis Federation. Robin has over 15 years of management experience developing governance capacity and economic development within Indigenous communities. Robin serves on our Board as a Legal Advisor. Robin holds a business diploma, an Advanced major in Social and Criminal Justice from St. Francis Xavier University and a Juris Doctor from Dalhousie University. Robin is a practicing lawyer and member of the Nova Scotia Barrister Society. In 2015 she was one of the ten participants chosen world-wide for the Indigenous Fellow Progamme with the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights. Robin is a legal consultant and an experienced facilitator with Art of Hosting training. Robin also writes Gladue reports for Indigenous offenders and is a trained Restorative Justice Facilitator.