Carol Anne Hilton

Carol Anne Hilton, MBA, ICD.D, is a distinguished Indigenous business leader, author, and visionary strategist of Nuu-chah-nulth descent from the Hesquiaht Nation on Vancouver Island. She is the founder and CEO of the Indigenomics Institute, the Global Centre of Indigenomics, and the Global Indigenous Technology House. Hilton is renowned for pioneering the Indigenomics movement—a transformative economic framework rooted in Indigenous worldviews that emphasizes relationality, sustainability, and collective prosperity.

Hilton coined the term “Indigenomics” in 2012, evolving it from a social media hashtag into a global movement that repositions Indigenous Peoples as central contributors to modern economies. Her acclaimed book, Indigenomics: Taking a Seat at the Economic Table, articulates a bold vision for a $100 billion Indigenous economy and serves as a blueprint for economic reconciliation. The book was shortlisted for the 2021 Donner Prize and is widely regarded as a foundational text in Indigenous economic thought.

With over two decades of experience in Indigenous economic development, Hilton has advised national and international institutions, governments, and corporations. She has served on the Canadian Economic Growth Council and the BC Emerging Economy Taskforce, and currently holds directorships with the McGill University Institute for the Study of Canada, Earth Charter International, Innovate BC, and the TELUS and Bank of Montreal Indigenous Advisory Councils.

Hilton’s contributions have been recognized with numerous accolades, including the Mastercard Game Changer Indigenous Entrepreneur of the Year Award, the Nation Builder Award from the National Angel Capital Organization, and the Award of Distinction in Indigenous Business from the BC Achievement Foundation. She is also an adjunct professor at Royal Roads University’s School of Business, where she continues to mentor the next generation of Indigenous leaders.

Through her leadership, Hilton is reshaping economic narratives to center Indigenous knowledge systems, fostering inclusive growth, and building pathways for multi-generational Indigenous wealth and well-being.

Christa Big Canoe

Christa Big Canoe is an Anishinabek woman, mother and lawyer. She is from Georgina Island First Nation. Christa was policy counsel and lead for Legal Aid Ontario’s Aboriginal Justice Strategy prior to becoming Aboriginal Legal Services (ALS) Legal Director in 2011. She took a 2.5-year leave of absence to be Senior and then Lead Commission Counsel to the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. Christa has been before all levels of court, including the Supreme Court of Canada. She represents families at inquest proceedings. She has also been before various tribunals and standing committees providing Indigenous perspective and representation.

She was named a 2017 Change Maker in Canadian Lawyer’s Top 25 Most Influential in the Justice System. Christa was the first recipient of Alnoba’s Moment of Truth Award and was one of the Spirit of Barbra Schlifer Award recipients. Dalhousie’s Faculty of Management presented her with the 2022 Scotiabank Ethical Leadership Award. She was awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal in 2025 for Community contributions.

Clint Davis

Clint Davis is an Inuk from Nunatsiavut, Labrador, and CEO of Cedar Leaf Capital, Canada’s first majority Indigenous-owned investment dealer dedicated to increasing Indigenous participation in capital markets. With more than 20 years of experience working with Indigenous communities and development corporations nationwide, Clint is recognized as a national leader in Indigenous business. His contributions have been honoured with the Inspire Award in Business and Commerce and Acadia University’s Distinguished Alumni Award.

Kayla Frank

Kayla Frank is an Ininowuk woman from Norway House Cree Nation in Manitoba and a proud mother of three daughters: Janessa, Alexis, and Arianna. She is deeply committed to being a positive role model for her children, family, and Nation.

Kayla holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Winnipeg, with a double major in Aboriginal Governance and Politics. Since graduating in 2013, she has dedicated her career to advancing the rights and well-being of First Nations families through her work with the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs. Over the past 11 years, Kayla has held a range of positions within AMC, including in the Office of the Grand Chief as a Jordan’s Principle Policy Analyst and as a Senior Policy Analyst with the First Nations Family Advocate Office. She currently serves as the Director of the First Nations Family Advocate Office.

Kayla is driven by a strong commitment to dismantling systemic barriers and advancing First Nations-led approaches grounded in traditional knowledge, customs, and values. Her professional experience has enabled her to influence policy, increase awareness of critical issues, and support transformative change across systems. Guided by the principles of kindness, love, and equality, Kayla remains passionate about creating a brighter, more just future for all First Nations.

Kimberly Murray

Kimberly Murray commenced her new role as Queen’s National Scholar in Indigenous Legal Studies on January 1, 2025, after completing a federal appointment as the Independent Special Interlocutor for Missing Children and Unmarked Graves and Burial Sites Associated with Indian Residential Schools. Murray has dedicated much of her legal career to promoting reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people and advocating for Indigenous communities. She was the Province of Ontario’s first ever Assistant Deputy Attorney General for Indigenous Justice (2015-2022), where she worked to support communities revitalize their Indigenous laws, and expanded legal services and programs for Indigenous people.

In 2018-2019, Ms. Murray chaired the Expert Panel on Policing in Indigenous Communities, which produced the report “Toward Peace, Harmony, and Well-Being: Policing in Indigenous Communities.” From 2010-2015, Murray was Executive Director of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, working to ensure that Survivors were heard and remembered, and she promoted reconciliation across the country. During her previous 15-year career with Aboriginal Legal Services of Toronto, she was a staff lawyer and then Executive Director, conducting numerous law reform and public legal education activities, and appeared before all levels of court. She has also served on numerous boards, public committees, and councils; provided advocacy in high-profile public inquiries; published numerous works, position and conference papers; taught law and undergraduate students; and has been recognized with numerous awards.

Murray is a member of Kanehsatà:ke Mohawk Nation, holds an LLM and LLB from Osgoode Hall Law School, a BA from Carleton University, and honorary LLDs from Guelph/Humber, Lincoln Alexander School of Law, and the Law Society of Ontario.

Dr. Marcia Anderson

Dr. Marcia Anderson is Cree-Anishinaabe and grew up in the North End of Winnipeg with roots in Peguis First Nation and Norway House Cree Nation in Manitoba. She practices Internal Medicine, and serves as the Vice-Dean, Indigenous Health, Social Justice and Anti-Racism in the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba. Dr. Anderson serves on multiple national Indigenous health and medical education committees and is a member of Health Workforce Canada’s Board of Directors.

In October 2024, Dr. Anderson was appointed as Chair of the Board of Directors of the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority. Dr. Anderson has made significant contributions to health equity, public health, and medical education throughout her career. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she served as the Public Health Lead of the Manitoba First Nations Pandemic Response Coordination Team. The team was celebrated for supporting excellent vaccine uptake in First Nation communities in Manitoba. She led the development and implementation of the collection of racial/ ethnic and Indigenous identity during the pandemic, which improved the public health response and vaccine planning.

She has since also led the implementation of the collection of race-based data at hospitals in Manitoba, working collaboratively through complex data governance mechanisms. The collection of these racial, ethnic, and Indigenous identifiers will enable measurement of gaps in health care quality that occur due to multilevel racism, and support interventions and monitoring. Dr. Anderson has won multiple awards, including the 2022 Doctors Manitoba Physician of the Year award, the Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration, and has been twice named one of the Top 100 Most Powerful Women in Canada by the Women’s Executive Network. Dr. Anderson was invested in the Order of Manitoba in 2024.

Mike DeGagné

Mike DeGagné, C.M., O.Ont., PhD, L.L.D. (Hon) is President & CEO of Indspire, an Indigenous national charity dedicated to supporting and investing in the education of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis people across Turtle Island. He served as the President and Vice Chancellor of Nipissing University, actively contributing to the Indigenization of post-secondary education. In 1998, he became the founding Executive Director of the Aboriginal Healing Foundation, focusing on addressing the legacy of Canada’s Indian Residential School System. He is also Professor of Sociology at the University of Toronto Scarborough.

He serves on several Boards of Directors, including the Global Centre for Pluralism, and the National Council on Reconciliation. With a Ph.D. from Michigan State University on Indigenous post-secondary success and Master’s degrees in law, education, and ethics, Dr. DeGagné has had a career addressing Indigenous health, residential schools, law, reconciliation, and governance. He has received the Order of Canada, the Order of Ontario, the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal, and the King Charles III Coronation Medal, as well as honorary doctorates from Dalhousie University, Ontario Tech University, and the University of Ottawa.

He is a citizen of Animakee Wa Zhing #37 First Nation.

Niigaan Sinclair

Niigaan Sinclair is Anishinaabe from Peguis First Nation. He is an award-winning writer, editor, and professor of Indigenous Studies at the University of Manitoba, who was named one of the most influential people in Canada by Maclean’s magazine in 2022. Niigaan is a multiple nominee of Canadian columnist of the year (winning in 2018), and his commentary appears weekly on multiple platforms across Canada – from the pages of The Winnipeg Free Press to TV shows on CBC, APTN, and on his co-hosted podcast ‘Niigaan and the Lone Ranger’.

His first book Wînipêk: Visions of Canada from an Indigenous Centre (McClelland & Stewart, 2024), was a national bestseller that won the 2024 Governor General Award for non-fiction. He is a former secondary school teacher who won the 2019 Peace Educator of the Year from the Peace and Justice Studies Association based at Georgetown University in Washington, DC.

Robert Doane

Robert Doane is Senior Director of the Indigenous Office at CBC/Radio-Canada and the lead for the corporation’s first National Indigenous Strategy, Strengthening Relations, Walking Together. In this role, he advances a multi-year plan centred on Indigenous voices, expanding partnerships, language presence, content and workforce initiatives, and oversees progress reporting across the public broadcaster. Robert began his CBC career in 2006 and went on to serve as researcher, reporter, host and producer then leaving the organization in 2018 to work for a non-profit. He returned in the role of Advisor in 2020 as part of the Equity & Inclusion office, moving to the role of Senior Director of the Indigenous Office at CBC/Radio-Canada in 2024.

He holds an MBA (Leadership) from Royal Roads University and is an alumnus of CBC’s Developing Emerging Leaders program. Robert lives on Lheidli T’enneh territory, in British Columbia, where he continues to champion relationship-building with First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities and to support teams in delivering respectful, accurate storytelling.

Ronald Ignace

More information coming soon.

Shelagh Rogers

Shelagh Rogers is a recovering broadcast-journalist who made a home at CBC Radio for 43 years. For the last 15 of those years, she was the host and co-producer of The Next Chapter, an award-winning program devoted to writing in Canada. As well as featuring Canlit, it was a goal of hers to amplify and celebrate Indigenous voices. She continues that work with the very good people at Indspire, interviewing people who personify Indigenous excellence.

In 2011, she was named an Honorary Witness for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, a life-changing honour. The same year, she became an Officer of the Order of Canada in recognition of her advocacy for adult literacy, mental health, writing in Canada and truth and reconciliation.

Shelagh is Chancellor of Queen’s University and UVic’s Chancellor Emerita. Most recently, she worked with the legendary producer Kim Wheeler on Words and Culture: The Michif Episodes. She is a member of Metis Nation of Greater Victoria, with family roots in Winnipeg and Norway House Manitoba. She is deeply honoured to participate in A Day to Listen and to speak with the great Kiefer Collison.

Waneek Horn-Miller

More information coming soon.