AFOA Canada to Host 1,100 Worlwide Indigienous Business Leaders at Its Inaugural International Conference in Vancouver, BC

MEDIA ADVISORY

AFOA CANADA TO HOST 1,100 WORLDWIDE INDIGENOUS BUSINESS LEADERS AT ITS INAUGURAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE IN VANCOUVER, BC

On October 2-5, 2017, AFOA Canada will host its Inaugural International Conference to discuss “Building Sustainable Communities by Strengthening International Networks“. The Vancouver Convention Centre will be home to over 1,100 prominent Aboriginal business and elected leaders from around the world.

A sustainable community is the goal of meeting the needs of current and future generations through environmental, social, cultural and economic prosperity. There are many parts to fully achieving such a goal including strengthening local community governance, developing much needed human capital and balancing social and economic goals. Internationally we can learn from each other by strengthening our internal networks. We can share best practices and call upon each other to discuss new strategies that address similar issues. We can also find a way to open the economic door and further promote Indigenous trade.

AFOA Canada will be hosting three main conference plenaries:

Tuesday Plenary: COMMUNITY GOVERNANCE:  PEELING THE GOVERNANCE ONION

A community’s policies, practices and decision making should be aligned with a community’s governance practices. How does community governance differ from corporate governance or other types of institutions? How does traditional governance play a part in the manner in which a community governs itself? Do the different models of decision making affect the legitimacy of a community’s governing body? How have other countries dealt with governance structures to better achieve their economic and social goals?

Part 1 – Keynote Address
Keynote: Former National Chief Ovide Mercredi, Canada

Part 2 – Panel Discussion

Panelists: Michell Hicks, CPA, President, Chief Strategy Group Inc., USA
Rod Little, Co-Chair, National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples, Australia
Christian Lugnan, Regional Manager, Coffs Harbour, Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations and Advisory committee member, Indigenous Accountants Australia, Australia

Former National Chief Ovide Mercredi, Canada
Elder and Chief Phil Tane, Nga Kaitatau Maori o Aotearoa, New Zealand
Moderator:  Harold Tarbell, Facilitator, Tarbell Facilitation Network

Plenary sponsored by: First Nations Financial Management Board

Event details are as follows:
Date:  Tuesday, October 3, 2017
Time: 8:30am to 10:30am
Location: Vancouver Convention Centre, Vancouver, British Columbia.

Wednesday Plenary: Economic Prosperity: Hitching the Economic Horse to the Social Wagon

A suggested end goal for many communities is economic prosperity. However, there may be other considerations of a community being prosperous which may include social and cultural elements. In the push towards economically sustainable communities, what have other communities around the world learned in terms of what went well and what were the challenges? How can an international network of Indigenous professionals work toward Indigenous trade?

Part 1 – Keynote Address
Keynote Speaker: Hinerangi Raumati-Tu’ua, Executive Director of Operations, Te Wananga o Aotearoa, New Zealand

Part 2 – Panel Discussion

Panelists: Luis Felipe Duchicela, Global Advisor for Indigenous Peoples, The World Bank, USA
Lacey Horn, Treasurer, Cherokee Nation, USA
Robert Louie, LL.B., OC, Hon. Dr. LL. B, Proprietor, Indigenous World Winery and Former Chief, Westbank First Nation, Canada
Hinerangi Raumati-Tu’ua, Executive Director of Operations, Te Wananga o Aotearoa, New Zealand
Benson Saulo, Group Indigenous Opportunities Manager, Australian Unity, Australia
Moderator:  Harold Tarbell, Facilitator, Tarbell Facilitation Network

Plenary sponsored by: Peace Hills Trust

Event details are as follows:

Date: Wednesday, October 4, 2017
Time: 8:30am to 10:30am
Location: Vancouver Convention Centre, Vancouver, British Columbia.

Thursday Plenary: CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT: UNLEASHING

INDIGENOUS POTENTIAL

To achieve community goals, there needs to be an investment in human capital. This panel will discuss how they have pursued capacity development at an individual and institutional level. What differences exist in the approaches by different countries? What are the key elements of developing this type of plan to ensure that a community has the human capital that can achieve its strategic goals? How can a community ensure it can retain this skill level into the future?

Part 1 – Keynote Address:
Keynote Speaker: Amanda Young, Chief Executive Officer, First Nations Foundation, Australia

Part 2 – Panel Discussion

Panelists:

Bill Lomax, Vice President, Goldman Sachs, USA
Chief Nathan Matthew, Simpcw First Nation, Canada
Elizabeth Richards, Chair of Nga Kaitatau Maori o Aotearoa, Accountants Australia and New Zealand
Amanda Young, Chief Executive Officer, First Nations Foundation, Australia
Moderator: Harold Tarbell, Facilitator, Tarbell Facilitation Network

Event details are as follows:

Date: Thursday, October 5, 2017
Time:  8:30am to 10:00 am
Location:  Vancouver Convention Centre, Vancouver, British Columbia

A media release with further details on the Inaugural International Conference will be available at the event.

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For further information and interview requests, please contact:

AFOA Canada

Wanda Brascoupé-Peters
Manager, Public Relations
Bus: (613) 722-5543     ext. 103
Email: wbrascoupe-peters@afoa.ca
Web: www.afoa.ca