Patrick Brennan EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, INSTITUTE FOR THE STUDY OF INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT Introductory Remarks
Prior to joining McGill, Patrick Brennan worked at the Department of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada, where he served as the Manager of Multilateral Relations in the Intergov¬ernmental and International Relations Directorate. During his time at the Department, Mr. Brennan assisted with Canada's endorsement of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, initiated research for the examination of program¬ming and policy approaches taken by other countries in Aboriginal affairs, supported Canada's work in the area of the Post 2015 Development Agenda, and contributed to Canada's Strategy for Engagement in the Americas.
Brennan has also worked at the Department of Canadian Heritage on initiatives ranging from multiculturalism and citizen engagement to public service renewal and the establishment of a forum for the promotion and advancement of policy development within the department.
Cheryl Brooks PRESIDENT, INDIGENUITY CONSULTING GROUP Opening Keynote Speaker
Cheryl Brooks, an aboriginal woman from Sts'ailes, a Sto:lo community from the Fraser Valley of British Columbia has been the President of Indigenuity Consulting Group since 2000. Prior to this she worked in aboriginal commu¬nities and at a senior level in the federal government before founding BC Hydro's internationally known Aboriginal Relations Program. She was the only aboriginal woman to achieve Associate Deputy Minister status with the BC Government in its Ministry of Energy and Mines. As an Associate Professor at Royal Roads University she helped develop and taught in the Indigenous/ corporate relations program, she also developed and taught change management and leadership programs in the Justice Institute's Aboriginal Leadership Program.
Cheryl is the Vice Chair of the First Nations Safety Council, a director of the Northwest Indigenous Council and formerly served terms as President of the Provincial and National Association of Native Friendship Centres. Mrs. Brooks has published works including the book. "In Celebration of Our Survival; the First Nations of BC" and "Rights, Risk & Respect,a First Nations Perspective".
Cynthia Callison FOUNDING PARTNER, CALLISON & HANNA, Module 6
Cynthia Callison is a founding partner of Callison & Hanna with a reputation as a leading negotiator in innovative agreements between Indigenous peoples, governments, and resource developers.
Cynthia is a graduate of the Sauder School of Business and the Allard School of Law at UBC and received a Masters in Constitutional Law from Osgoode Hall Law School. She is currently the Chair of the First Peoples Cultural Council and on the advisory council of Canadian International Resources and Development Institute. Cynthia is a member of the Tahltan Nation whose territory is the Stikine River Watershed in northwestern BC.
James Clemens PRESIDENT, JWB CLEMENS CONSULTING Orientation Facilitator
James Clemens is an accomplished leadership coach and project consultant specializing in organisational culture change. He has over a decade of professional experience in executive leadership development and organisa¬tional effectiveness. Prior to becoming a management consultant, James was a manager of executive leadership programs in the Public Service of Canada as well as a Senior Policy Advisor providing strategic advice to the most senior levels of government on enterprise-wide change initiatives. James has extensive international and multicultural experience developing, leading and coaching executives and project teams to produce exceptional results.
Jim Cooney PROFESSOR OF PRACTICE IN GLOBAL GOVERNANCE, INSTITUTE FOR THE STUDY OF INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT, Module 6
Jim Cooney, Professor of Practice in Global Governance, was the Vice President, International Government Affairs for Placer Dome Inc. and also held positions in the areas of social and political risk management, government relations, sustainable development and strategic planning. He is a past Director of the North South Institute, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce and the Pacific Basin Economic Council. Representing Placer Dome as a founding member of the United Nations Global Compact with Business, he worked with U.N. agencies and civil society organizations in a project on conflict-sensitive business practices.
Shannon Gorman NATIONAL DIRECTOR COMMUNITY AFFAIRS, TELUS
A leader in corporate philanthropy, Shannon Gorman is responsible for delivering the company's innovative community investment strategies. Shannon leads a team of 15 Community Investment personnel across Canada and Internationally. She is responsible for 11 Canadian and four International Community Boards, which engage community leaders in allocating funds to address local needs. Shannon was instrumental in TELUS being the first Canadian company to be recognized by the Association of Fundraising Professionals as the most philanthropic corporation in the world.
Prior to joining TELUS, Shannon was a senior executive with the Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation for more than 13 years, where she played a key role in raising more than $30 million to increase cancer survivorship in Ottawa.
Shannon holds a Master in Business Administration (MBA), is a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE), and has certifi¬cates in Corporate Social Responsibility from both Harvard Business School and Boston College.
Dr. Michael Hawes CEO, FULBRIGHT CANADA
Dr. Michael Hawes is a professor of political science, a tireless advocate of international education, and a proud alumnus of the Fulbright program. He assumed the leadership of Fulbright Canada in September of 2001 and has had the privilege of directing the program through some very exciting times. He is Chief Executive Officer of the Foundation for Educational Exchange between Canada and the United States of America and Executive Director of Fulbright Canada. Under his direction Fulbright Canada has witnessed dramatic growth in its programs and in the number of students and scholars that the program supports.
Michael holds a Ph.D. in political science from York University in Toronto, an M.I.A. in international affairs from the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs at Carleton University, and a B.A.H in economics and history from the University of Toronto. His most recent book, with Christopher Kirkey, is Canadian Foreign Policy in a Unipolar World (Oxford University Press, October 2016).
Dr. Sharon Hobenshield DIRECTOR, ABORIGINAL EDUCATION, VANCOUVER ISLAND UNIVERSITY, Module 5
Sharon Hobenshield is a member of the Gitxsan First Nation and carries the name Ha-Youly from the Wilp Malii. Sharon has been with Vancouver Island University (VIU) for 10 years as the institution's first Director of Aboriginal Education. Sharon supports VIU's Indigenous student success; engages and collaborates with Indigenous communities and promotes Indigenous ways of knowing. She earned her Ed.D in Educational Leadership and Policy at the University of British Columbia. Sharon is a recognized leader in Indigenous education throughout the province of BC, chairing the provincial Indigenous Leadership Group and presenting at numerous provincial, national and international conferences.
