John Alook is the Director of Lands Estates and Membership for Bigstone Cree Nation since 2012.

His role at BCN is to manage the land in a sustainable way and to have a environmental protect plan of the land of BCN. He has Oil and Gas companies operating on reserve that are BCN owned and also other companies that are not BCN owned, there are over 170 active leases that need to be managed. BCN has over 2500 residents on reserve and the land they occupy needs to be managed properly for residential purposes.

He is the Co chair of Treaty Aboriginal Land Stewards Association for Alberta.

Carl Austin Bear is serving his 12th term as the Chief of the Muskoday First Nation. He also chairs the First Nation Lands Advisory Board and is President of the National Native Addictions Partnership Foundation. His vision of balance in all areas of personal and community life has inspired his commitment to develop a healthy and safe community which continues to undergo positive economic growth.

Dr. Daniel Millette is a Registered Professional Archaeologist, a Registered Professional Planner, and a Member of the Canadian Institute of Planners.

He is Director of Strategic Planning and Communications for the First Nations Land Management Resource Centre. Daniel has worked for approximately twenty years on reserve lands, specializing in Land Use and Community Planning, as well as Economic Development.

He has also spent twelve years teaching as Adjunct Professor at the University of British Columbia's School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture.

Brian McCosh, M.Pl., MCIP is a registered professional planner with 13 years of experience.

Brian specializes in planning with indigenous communities, local governments and other organizations through work with a variety of northern Alberta communities. His projects include community, area and land use plans, economic development, project management, planning advice and coordination. All of these involved community consultation and engagement.

Brian’s client advocacy and project delivery skills enable him to effectively facilitate community development.

Darryl is a front-line consultant specializing in strategic planning, governance, policy, public engagement and finance.

Since joining Urban last year, he has enjoyed working with some of Urban’s First Nation and other clients on a variety of projects. Darryl has over 7 years’ experience working with municipalities and industry and maintains an excellent relationship with clients through a solid commitment to finding innovative solutions for today’s challenges. Darryl is passionate about working together to build strong, sustainable and vibrant communities.

Tristina has over twenty years of experience in financial and operational management. Tristina left industry to start her own consulting company, Informed Decisions Consulting, to share the experiences that she has gained over the years.

For the past 5 years Tristina has worked primarily with First Nation communities in Alberta. There is a growing awareness that First Nations both want to and need to reduce their utilization of Trust monies and focus on Economic Development opportunities. Tristina has experience in working with First Nations to align the Nation’s values and strategic goals with those business opportunities that are going to meet those needs.

Various business ventures provide a low, medium or high risk to a Nation – how do you determine how to spread the risk and seek out the best business opportunities. Tristina will be presenting on how to work on developing an economic development investment strategy.

Troy is a Manager with MNP’s Consulting and Training Services Team. He has a Master's Degree in International Relations, holds his CHRP designation and has 9 years of experience consulting to businesses.

Troy has worked within a broad range of industries including governments, Aboriginal, oil and gas, manufacturing, retail, franchises, construction, and professional services. Troy’s primary areas of focus include Business and Strategic Planning, Human Resources, Business Coaching, and Project Management. Troy has helped various businesses attain successful organizational growth by obtaining financing, establishing customer relationship building initiatives, and achieving specific customer service goals. He takes pride in providing clients with reliable, knowledgeable advice, and helping them navigate the challenges of business through collaborative, creative solutions.

In addition, Troy has 14 years of facilitation and course design experience, is certified to facilitate the Meyers-Briggs Type Indicator, and conducts numerous business seminars and courses.

Darrell Loyer is a Lands consultant working with First Nations on various projects. He is a certified NALMA Lands Instructor and has been instrumental in delivering the NALMA Designation Toolkit instruction.

In his former life, Darrell was a Land Management Officer for AANDC (formerly Indian Affairs) Alberta Region for 18 years, and prior to that taught on reserve for 15 years.

Coyes & Associates, an independent, Aboriginal-owned consultancy located in Edmonton, Alberta, was established in 1997 & has enjoyed 17 years of successful operation.

Built on a solid foundation of knowledge of business & strategic planning concepts & practices, along with an invaluable network of contacts, Coyes & Associates is focused on working with Aboriginal clients to assist them in achieving their business development objectives. Services provided include; strategic planning, enterprise development/business planning, project management, training/coaching and feasibility/viability assessments.

Past and current clients include various sizes of private businesses from numerous industry sectors; community & regional councils; business associations; banking & government institutions. Terry Coyes, Principal Consultant, possesses a Bachelor of Commerce Degree from the University of Alberta, has obtained a Certified International Trade Professional (CITP) designation from the Forum for International Trade Training, and maintains CANDO’s Technician & Professional Level Aboriginal Economic Developer (AED) Certifications.

Errol Wilson has been employed by the Alberta Indian Investment Corporation since March 2005, where currently he is the Operations Manager, serving in a leadership role within the corporation to advocate and develop successful First Nation entrepreneurs in the Province of Alberta.

Errol has developed his extensive practical business knowledge through working in a number of management capacities aimed at developing First Nation entrepreneurs during his 29-year career in Aboriginal business development. Errol’s passion in developing Aboriginal entrepreneurs has encouraged, counselled and mentored many of his clients to believe in themselves in order to successfully achieve their business aspirations; based on his own deep-seated belief in self-reliance.

Currently he resides in the city of Edmonton. Errol also serves as Trustee of Peguis First Nation Trust fund.

Morgan works with Cando as the Program Coordinator of the First Nations – Municipal Community Economic Development Initiative (CEDI) and in this role supports and facilitates the process for First Nations and adjacent municipalities across Canada to enhance their community-to-community relationships and work toward joint community economic development strategic plans or projects.

Morgan received his BA in Native Studies (Honours) at the University of Alberta and is pursuing his MBA in Community Economic Development through Cape Breton University. Prior to his work with Cando, Morgan worked in Aboriginal adult education with the Government of Alberta, and in the non-profit sector providing programming and services for urban Aboriginal children, families and youth in Edmonton.

Troy is a Manager with MNP’s Consulting and Training Services Team. He has a Master's Degree in International Relations, holds his CHRP designation and has 9 years of experience consulting to businesses.

Troy has worked within a broad range of industries including governments, Aboriginal, oil and gas, manufacturing, retail, franchises, construction, and professional services. Troy’s primary areas of focus include Business and Strategic Planning, Human Resources, Business Coaching, and Project Management. Troy has helped various businesses attain successful organizational growth by obtaining financing, establishing customer relationship building initiatives, and achieving specific customer service goals. He takes pride in providing clients with reliable, knowledgeable advice, and helping them navigate the challenges of business through collaborative, creative solutions.

In addition, Troy has 14 years of facilitation and course design experience, is certified to facilitate the Meyers-Briggs Type Indicator, and conducts numerous business seminars and courses.

As Director of Information and Marketing, Frank is responsible for building and maintaining relationships with First Nations and providing information to First Nation Councils, Finance Staff and Members that increases awareness of the FNFA Financing, Investment and Advisory Services.

Frank is a member of the Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation and grew up in Northern Manitoba. He was educated at the University of Manitoba and has spent his professional life in the Finance Sector. In addition to working with large corporations in Canada, he also has previous experience with First Nations business, non-profits and government.