Our People

Pierre Bélanger is a well-known personality in Northern Ontario and northwestern Québec.  Born in Timmins, ON in 1947, he has a varied background in both business and public affairs. In business, this ranges from a key role in manufacturing the Boler RV (1972-1982) to owning and managing a large multi-product retail RV dealership, Earlton RV (1976-2012).  For a time, from 1983 to 2002, this also included ownership and operation of the Earlton Zoo, a major northern tourist attraction.

He has maintained an interest in agriculture with Bisons du Nord, a 480 acre/200 head buffalo ranch established in 1972.  The ranch sells breeding stock and meat animals.  Pierre has served as a long time director on the Canadian Bison Association (CBA) and as founding president in 1983. His early 70's activities included the development of significant franco-ontarian cultural institutions such as the Théâtre du Nouvel Ontario (TNO) and the Coopérative des artistes du Nouvel Ontario (CANO).

His commitment to public affairs has been constant from school board to regional, provincial and national economic development councils.  He has had an active presence as president of the Collège Boréal's foundation and chair of the national RDÉE, a francophone economic development and job creation network. He has chaired the Northern Ontario Development Corporation (NODC), a provincial crown corporation, and was a board member of the Canadian Commercial Corporation (CCC), a federal crown corporation.

Mr. Bélanger has run twice as a Liberal candidate for Canada's Parliament in 1979 and in a 1982 by-election.  Other commitments include the Foire Gourmande, a successful Quebec/Ontario regional food products fair and Entre-Amis/Between Friends, a Quebec/Ontario linkage effort.  He currently chairs the Fondation communautaire du Témiskaming, a community philanthropic foundation established in 1987. In 2000, he was actively involved as a spokesperson in the widespread community resistance to the rail shipment of Toronto's municipal waste to the Adam's Mine open pit in Temiskaming. Mr. Bélanger also works on contract as a trainer and speaker on profitable management for owner-operated businesses. Since 2006, he has been a regular issues commentator for Ontario on french Radio-Canada radio.

The common thread in his public affairs involvement are his regional and francophone roots and his firm belief in sustainable community development through local effort and enterprise. In 2007, Laurentian University in Sudbury, ON awarded him a Doctor of Laws honorary degree in recognition of his contribution to his community. “I measure myself against my 20 year old self when I didn't know half measures.  I still want to be enthused and to make principled, intelligent choices.”

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Charles Cirtwill joined Northern Policy Institute (NPI) in 2013 as its founding President & CEO. NPI is Northern Ontario's independent, evidence-driven think tank with offices in Thunder Bay and Kirkland Lake. NPI's mission is to enhance Northern Ontario's capacity to take the lead position on socio-economic policy that impacts our communities, our province, our country, and our world.

Charles has worked in the private, public, and not-for-profit sectors. Over the last decade Charles has provided policy leadership in Northern Ontario on a broad range of issues including immigration, reconciliation, transportation, regional governance, and economic growth.

Through over thirty-years of public activism he has had leadership roles in organizations including Civitas, the Institute of Public Administration of Canada, Scouts Canada, the Rural Ontario Institute, the Mowat Centre, local school associations, and local homeowner's associations. He attended Dalhousie University, earning a BA in Political Science, a LLB, and a MPA with a focus on quantitative and qualitative assessment of public policy and programs.

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Eric Rutherford was raised in Kirkland Lake where he attended Elementary and High School. After attending Teacher's College he commenced his career as an Elementary School Teacher in the community of Beardmore. Further degree work was completed at Lakehead University. Following retirement as an Elementary School Principal, Eric continued to be involved as President and CEO of Beardmore Forest Products.

Eric also spent 25 years as the mayor of Beardmore followed by 10 years as a councillor with the Regional Municipality of Greenstone. He is also a Past President of the Ontario Good Roads Association, the Thunder Bay District Municipal League, and the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association. He has more recently spent six years as a Governor on the Confederation College Board of Governors. Eric also serves as a Director on the Nipigon District Memorial Hospital Board, he is also a Director of the Greenstone Victim Services Committee.

Dr. Brian Tucker is an ecologist specializing in terrestrial ecology and spatial statistics, with additional background in ecological restoration. He is a resident of Northwestern Ontario and has a strong connection to his Métis community, the traditional Métis way of life, as well as the commercial fishing, logging and trapping industries. He is currently the Manager of Métis Traditional Knowledge and Land Use for the Métis Nation of Ontario.

Brian was born and grew up in Northwestern Ontario (Fort Frances), where his traditional lifestyle fostered and maintained a close connection to the lands and waters of the north. He grew up hunting, fishing, trapping and harvesting plants as part of his Métis way of life. Before completing high school and moving away to attend post-secondary education, he worked at the family commercial fishing, trapping, and logging operations. He has also worked in the tourism industry, primarily as a fishing guide.

Brian studied at the University of Alberta in Edmonton (Ph.D. in Ecology) where he explored new methods of spatial data analysis and applied them to clonal plant ecology. During his M.Sc. research at Laurentian University (M.Sc. in Biology), Brian examined small scale (topographic) and large scale (historic smelting impact) vegetation community composition gradients using Hidden Markov Models. His B.Sc. research at Laurentian University (B.Sc. in Environmental Earth Science) comprised of examining the same gradients with the standard Markov Model. Prior to his university studies, Brian attended Confederation College in Thunder Bay (3-yr Environmental Engineering Technology). He has been an NSERC scholar throughout his undergraduate, M.Sc. and Ph.D. studies.

Brian's studies have allowed him to explore and live across Northern Ontario; over the years, both Thunder Bay and Sudbury became “home” as connections and friends were made both at educational institutions and in the community. This has provided him with knowledge of the geography, the people, the issues and the opportunities across Northern Ontario. Brian's studies in Alberta provided him continued exposure to high calibre educational institutions. It also served to further broaden his understanding of the Canadian experience, both in the sense of its diversity and its consistency across space and people.

Driven by the need to return to his family roots and community in Northwestern Ontario, Brian and his family moved back to Fort Frances where he remotely completed his doctoral research at the University of Alberta. During this time he spent three years teaching a range of courses at Confederation College's Fort Frances campus. Many of these courses were distance education courses, and Brian was able to teach and learn from students from across the northern part of the province.

Over the course of the past three years, Brian has worked within the Métis Nation of Ontario in the Lands, Resources and Consultations Branch. He has served as the Manager of the LRC Branch, and he is now the Manager of Métis Traditional Knowledge and Land Use. This work has allowed him to work closely with Métis communities, industry representatives in the resource and energy sectors, and Federal and Provincial officials from various ministries on a range of projects, issues and initiatives. Brian has gained experience in government policy development and implementation, Aboriginal consultation, resource development in northern Ontario, infrastructure projects, natural resource management and northern education initiatives. Working within the MNO has also given Brian considerable exposure to Métis governance, rights, and culture. This work has also allowed him to travel across much of Ontario. Whenever possible, Brian enjoys spending time with his wife and son. He also enjoys canoeing, hunting, fishing, trapping, and literature.

Charles Cirtwill is the founding President and CEO of Northern Policy Institute.

Charles joined NPI in September 2013 after twelve years with the Atlantic Institute for Market Studies.

His published works focus on government structure and organization, business-government relations, inter-governmental relations, performance measurement and accountability. He has spoken across Canada and the United States on the role of think tanks in society, the appropriate assessment of government activities, and the use of school performance data to improve classroom practice and fully engage all education stakeholders.

He has had leadership and Board roles in multiple organizations including Civitas, IPAC, Scouts Canada, the Rural Ontario Institute, the Mowat Centre, several local school associations, and local homeowner's associations. He attended Dalhousie University, earning a BA in Political Science, a LLB, and a MPA with a focus on quantitative and qualitative assessment of public policy and programs.

Read the message from the President.

Originally from Southern Ontario, Patrick first came to Northern Ontario to study at Lakehead University—ultimately leaving with a Bachelors in Political Science in 2022. After living in Northern Ontario for four years, Patrick found himself wanting to spend more time in Thunder Bay and start a career at NPI. In his spare time, he has a lifelong passion for the game of golf: both playing and watching. 

Originally from Kerala, India, Diya's upbringing was a vibrant blend of cultures, with strong familial ties to both India and the United Arab Emirates. She followed her passion for economics, earning a bachelor's degree in economics, math, and statistics from Christ University, Bangalore, before pursuing her master's in economics at Lakehead University, Thunder Bay. It was during her academic pursuits that Diya's fascination with economics ignited her interest in public policy. Here at Northern Policy Institute Diya will balance exploring rural and remote solutions to the ongoing housing challenges with her work on finding and reporting appropriate performance measures for northern Ontario's transportation system. In her leisure time, Diya finds solace in cooking and reading. Now calling Thunder Bay home, she continues her journey, eager to immerse herself in new landscapes and communities.

Originally from Southern Ontario with familial ties in Northern Ontario, Emily spent time in both regions growing up. She earned a Joint Honours Bachelor of Social Sciences in Political Science and Communications from the University of Ottawa, with her honours seminar in Canadian politics. In her spare time, Emily enjoys spending time outdoors hiking, cooking elaborate meals, and spending time with her fur baby, Bean. Although extensive time in Northern Ontario has only been a more recent endeavour, she has come to be inspired by the people and landscape that make it so unique and looks forward to making an impact in development and sustainability within the region.

Zhexian Zhu was born in China and holds a bachelor's degree in economics and political science from the University of Alberta, as well as a master's degree in economics from Lakehead University. His research focus has been on Fiscal Policy and Macroeconomics, exploring the complexities of fiscal policy and its impact on the broader economy. Zhexian will bring his strong skills in econometrics and data analysis to bear on transportation opportunities in Northwestern Ontario. For example, he will be exploring the potential for seasonal air and charter bus services to enhance access to the many experiential and cultural tourism destinations located in the districts of Thunder Bay, Rainy River, and Kenora. Also on his research agenda is cost-benefit analysis and prioritization of the big ideas included in the 2023 report of Northern Ontario Transportation Task Force (of which NPI's President & CEO was a member).

Michael Atkins is the president and owner of the Laurentian Media Group, a diversified media company which includes a digital trade group (IT World Canada Inc.), a consumer publishing magazine group (CCMC Sports Group), a weekly newspaper company (Laurentian Publishing Ltd.), a business publishing company (Northern Ontario Business Limited), a digital design Creative Operations software business (ConceptShare Inc.) and a digital music business (Adventus International Limited).

Atkins is the past chair of the Northern Centre for Advanced Technology, past chair of the Laurentian University Board of Governors,  past Chair of the Canadian Business Press, past President of the Association of Area Business Publications (US), former director of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce and the Ontario Community Newspaper Association.  He is a 2004 recipient of the Paul Harris Fellow Award from the Rotary Club of Sudbury, and received an Honorary Doctorate of Letters from Laurentian University in June 2005.

He joined the board of the Northern Policy Institute in the fall of 2016. 

Johanne is an experienced leader, a forward-thinker who uses an alternative and thoughtful business approach to facilitate the diversification of traditionally resource-based industries, by cultivating the vast potential of Northeastern Ontario. Johanne acknowledges the inherent rights of Indigenous Peoples and feels privileged to work on their land.

She began her career in communications with the Canadian Armed Forces. She is twice decorated for her honourable service in Somalia (Operation Deliverance - part of a coalition peace-making deployment), and for 12 years of military service. She and her spouse Claude decided to move to his hometown of Val Rita to raise three wonderful children.

Johanne is proudly serving a third term as Mayor of the Municipality of Val Rita-Harty, a wonderful tiny bedroom community. She has initiated successful municipal infrastructure, economic development, sociocultural and recreation projects that were brought to fruition. These successes were built on relationships with the municipal TEAM, colleagues, regional municipalities, organisations, Indigenous partners, ministries, and industry.

Johanne is proudly serving the Northeastern Ontario Municipal Association (NEOMA) as President, and the Northeast Community Network (NeCN) as Chair. She has formidable experience in change management, was the lead on numerous economic development initiatives, and performed in advisory and key partnership development roles. She possesses solid organizational, operational, marketing, and human management skills. People appreciate her for her resiliency, open mindedness, and willingness to challenge the status quo.

Martin Bayer is a member of the Ojibways of Aundeck Omni-Kaning First Nation on Manitoulin Island and was raised on the M’Chigeeng First Nation. He is a Partner with Weaver, Simmons LLP in Sudbury, Ontario and is the head of their Aboriginal Law Group. He practices aboriginal law with a focus on natural resource development, land claims and self-government matters.

He has extensive experience with all legal aspects of the negotiation and drafting of impact and benefits agreements, self-government agreements and land claim settlement agreements. He advised De Beers Canada and Detour Gold in their negotiations with the First Nation and Metis communities of the James Bay lowlands which lead to Ontario’s first diamond mine and Canada’s largest gold mine. He also acts as the Chief Negotiator for the Anishinabek Nation, a political organization representing 39 First Nations in Ontario, in their negotiations with Canada to reach a self-government agreement.

He is past Vice-Chair of the board of Cambrian College and served on the Sudbury Regional Hospital, the Ojibways of Sucker Creek Economic Development Board, the Serpent River First Nation Economic Development Board, the Wabuno Fish Farms and Processors, and the Robinson-Huron Forestry Company. He was a special advisor to the Assembly of First Nation’s National Joint Task Force on Land Claims Reform. He serves as Chairman of Waubetek Business Development Corporation and is member of the board of the University of Sudbury.

He received Cambrian College’s Alumni Award in 1999 and the Ontario Premier’s Award in 2002 for his contributions to education in Ontario.  Martin holds a Three-Year Business Administration Diploma from Cambrian College, a B.A. in Political Science from Laurentian University, a J.D. from the University of Toronto and a Certificate in Mining Law from Osgoode Hall Law School’s Professional Development Program. He is working to complete his Masters of Law degree in Constitutional Law from Osgoode Hall Law School in Toronto.

Corporate Communications Manager at PUC Services Inc, Sault Ste. Marie

A ‘boomerang’ back to Sault Ste. Marie, Katie has over 11 years’ experience working in policy, communications and community development. Her interest in pairing public relations with community, economic and social development has contributed to the long-term sustainability and resiliency of northern and rural communities. She has held senior positions at Northern Policy Institute, NORDIK Institute, Parliament of Canada and Natural Resources Canada, and has completed studies in Political Science at McGill University and Public Relations at Ryerson University. Katie is the recipient of the Sault Ste. Marie Honda Community Driven Award for Leadership, 2016.

Neil Fox is the General Manager, Economic Partners Sudbury East / West Nipissing Inc.

Shane Fugere is originally a member of Pic Mobert First Nation but is now a member of Pays Plat First Nation and lives in Marathon, Ontario. He grew up in Pic Mobert in the 80's and 90's during his adolescent years but has since lived and worked in many areas of Canada, Northwestern Ontario, including Pic Mobert, Longlac, Pays Plat and Thunder Bay. 

Shane has faced many barriers trying to get into the trades from a young age due to lack of direction, role models, funding, and experience. He began to self-teach welding in 1999 and eventually decided to take a welding course with Confederation College in 2001. In 2012 Shane became a professional welder while working at Bombardier Transportation in Thunder Bay and then Lead welder for the LRV line. Since then he worked across Canada as a tradesperson, and LiUNA Indigenous Relations Representative. Further, he has done many community engagements, economic development and strategic planning sessions to promote generational change.

In March 2020 Shane joined White Lake Limited Partnership as their Operations & Project Manager in his home community of Pic Mobert First Nation. Shane uses his perspective gained over 20 years in various roles to assist the company in its operations business development and strategic planning.

Shane Fugere regularly speaks with communities and organizations across Ontario to share his story and promote generational change.

George Graham has a long career as a hands-on forest manager, consultant, employer and business owner in Northern Ontario. The forest industry and delivery of forest practices and operations which support that industry are an important economic foundation for communities in the Great Clay Belt region. 

A Registered Professional Forester, George has lived and worked in Hearst for forty years. He graduated with a forestry degree from Lakehead University in 1978 and was recognized by the Ontario Professional Foresters Association (OPFA) for exemplary contributions to the practice in 2015.

The owner of Thunderhouse Forest Services Inc. since 1994, his team delivers forest management planning and technical services to the forest industry.  Through a major client, Hearst Forest Management Inc., George enjoys the challenge of his role as senior forester, working for a board that includes First Nations and communities. He authored and guided several forest management plans and has many years of experience working with government to deliver complicated and regulated practices on the ground.

George’s passion and experience is ensuring a future forest. He has extensive silvicultural experience both in planning and costing of future forests and 40 years in the tree planting business.  His firm has planted over 100 million trees.     

For 10 years his team delivered Forest Resource Inventories (FRI) for nine forests throughout Ontario. FRI is the building block on which the profession relies to plan forest sustainability.  His team conducted field sampling and used sophisticated photo interpretation technology to produce the data and maps required by Ontario’s Ministry of Natural Resources. 

Presently a member of the OPFA Crown Lands Forestry Committee, George also sits on the board of Nord-Aski Regional Economic Development Corporation, a Community Futures Development Corporation.  He was also on provincial teams with MNR and industry on Silvicultural Standards (1994) and Forest Management Planning Manual (1993-94), a member of the Ontario Lumber Manufacturers Association Forestry Committee (2002-2004), Northeast Regional Advisory Committee (2002-2004), and Hearst Forest Local Citizen’s Committee (1988 to present). 

George is stepping back from career work and looks forward to more time at his cottage, with family and contributing to Northern Policy Institute.

In April 2022 with the proclamation of NOSM University, Ms. Gina Kennedy’s title transitioned to University Secretary and in August she became the newest Director in the Office of the President and Vice Chancellor. Since 2006, Gina Kennedy has been the Corporate Secretary responsible for directing the activities and operations of the bicameral governance system and manager of policy and governance relations. A recipient of NOSM's Innovation Award for implementing several initiatives to maximize the effectiveness and efficiency of the governance system and in 2021 received the Modern Governance 100 Top Risk and Compliance Visionary award, globally recognized for her efforts in driving organizations towards greater diversity, sustainable practices, digital transformation, and generating sharper insights for company leadership. Appointed to the Brain Injury Association of Sudbury and District in 2018, she demonstrated her leadership in spearheading the inaugural Unmasking Brain Injury Initiative for Sudbury. In February 2019, she was appointed Vice Chair of the Accessibility Panel for the Greater City of Sudbury, a position that gives her great pride in being a part of making the City to be accessible for all. Since 2006, she has been a member of the Canadian University Board Association and in October 2020 she was appointed to the Association of College and University Policy Administrators Board.  As a Toastmaster Gina has held a number of high-profile leadership positions and attained the Distinguished Toastmaster designation—the highest level of educational achievement in the organization in 2016 and 2020. She continues to serve in various capacities for the local organizations she hopes her advocacy and community involvement will help foster awareness and empower individuals to make change. She lives by the quote by Stella Young “the only disability in life is a bad attitude”.

Winter Dawn is a member of Wauzhushk Onigum Nation and was born and raised in Kenora, ON. She is a recent graduate from Mount Allison University, with a B.A. (Hons) in International Relations and Economics. Winter Dawn was recently traditionally selected to serve on the Treaty #3 Youth Council and holds the Economic folder; she is also a former Policy Intern of the Northern Policy Institute. During her undergraduate, Winter Dawn’s research focused on Indigenous populations across the world and studied the health and economic outcomes within them. She is passionate about community development and the impact of policy on Indigenous populations. Winter Dawn is excited to return to Northern Ontario and enjoys taking her dog exploring the North.

George C Macey, DDS graduated from the University of Toronto Dental Faculty 1968 and practices full time with his spouse Krystyna in Marathon Ontario. He has 2 adult children and 3 shihtzus. He was made a Fellow of Lakehead University in 2005 and was a recent recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Medal.  George Macey has been a community activist and involved in public policy through the Chamber of Commerce movement and party politics for 30 years.

His experience includes holding positions as President of Northwestern Ontario Associated Chambers of Commerce, President & Chairperson of The Common Voice Northwest, Chair of the Marathon Development Commission and as a Board Member with the Northwestern Ontario Technology Centre.

John Okonmah – Executive Director Wakenagun Community Futures Development Corporation.

John has been with Wakenagun CFDC since 2018, he holds a postgraduate degree in international economics and an MBA (IESE, Spain). A resident of Timmins, Ontario since 2010, he has also worked in Timmins Economic Development Corporation and Mushkegowuk Council.

Wakenagun Community Futures Development through funding from FedNor and other programs, supports ten First Nation communities along the Western James Bay coast; providing business financing and grants, business counseling and community economic development initiatives creating jobs, improving income levels and living standards for community members.

John’s experience portfolio includes the following:

• NACCA / Harvard Business School Leadership program - 2022
• Project coordinator – Mushkegowuk Council / Ontario Resource Revenue Sharing agreement table – 2018
• Director Economic Development, Mushkegowuk Council – 2014 - 2018
• Setting up the Mushkegowuk Development Corporation, a regional for profit economic development corporation. - 2017
• Former member Mushkegowuk / Ministry of Indigenous Affairs Treaty Relationship Table - 2016
• Timmins Economic Development Corporation: Timmins Local Immigration Coordinator – 2010 - 2013
• Former member Cochrane District Social Planning Council
• Former board member Timmins YMCA
• Partner Philips Consulting: Strategy Group
  • Project lead: Telecoms corporate strategy project - 2002
  • Project lead: Bank M&A, integration project - 2005

Bill was born and raised in the Niagara peninsula and received his Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Political Science from Wilfred Laurier University in 1975, and yes, he was there when it was called Waterloo Lutheran University.

Bill and his wife Dr. Susan West D.V.M. relocated to Parry Sound in 1986 when his then employer answered their prayers and offered a move out of the GTA. Since 1988 Bill has been a part of the Parry Sound Area Community Business & Development Centre, the Community Futures (CF) office for West Parry Sound most recently (1999) as their General Manager. Building the small business employment base through counseling and development lending has and continues to be a rewarding experience for anyone involved in the CF program... "Always look for a way to say yes".

Locally Bill served as President of the Parry Sound Area Chamber of Commerce and sat on the West Parry Sound Health Centre and Georgian Bay Biosphere Boards. Provincially he served as President of the CF Ontario Board (2009/10) and Chaired the Deposit Insurance Corporation of Ontario (2006/06). 

Dr. Sue and Bill raised 3 children in their Nobel home, now spoil 4 1/2 grandchildren and remain at the beck and call of a dog and 2 cats, all very fortunate rescue pets.

Dr. Hugo Asselin is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Human and Social Development at Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue. In 2008, he was awarded the Canada Research Chair in Aboriginal Forestry. He has since supervised the work of more than 30 graduate students. His research interests include northern development; land and resource management and governance; social acceptability; aboriginal knowledge, and research ethics. Since 2011, he is Co-Editor-in-Chief of Ecoscience, an international peer-reviewed journal in ecology. Since 2007, he serves as a board member of the Association of Canadian Universities for Northern Studies (ACUNS). He is frequently interviewed by the media and had a weekly popular science column for 2 years (2012-2014) on the morning show of the French CBC in Abitibi-Témiscamingue. 

Dr. Clark Banack is the Director of the Alberta Centre for Sustainable Rural Communities and an Adjunct Professor of Political Studies at the Augustana Campus of the University of Alberta.  Clark has a PhD in Political Science from the University of British Columbia and is the co-editor of Building Inclusive Communities in Rural Canada (University of Alberta Press, 2023), the co-author of Faith, Rights, and Choice: The Politics of Religious Schools in Canada (University of Toronto Press, 2023) and the author of God’s Province: Evangelical Christianity, Political Thought, and Conservatism in Alberta (McGill-Queen’s University Press, 2016).  He has also authored several academic articles and book chapters related to Alberta politics, rural issues, religion and politics, education policy, and populism in Canada. He is currently working on research projects related to rural economic development, rural mental health supports, social service delivery in rural communities, green energy transitions in rural communities, and political opinion in rural Canada.

Riley Burton currently works as the Academic Chair of the School of Business, Hospitality and Media Arts at Confederation College in Thunder Bay.

Riley has held many different positions within Confederation College including Program Manager for Contract Training, Chair for the School of Engineering and Director of the Teaching and Learning Centre. With a commitment to education Riley has held contract teaching positions within the diploma programs of Forestry and Business. He has also taught numerous courses on contract with Oshki-Wenjack Education Institute. Prior to serving the College system, he worked as a Professional Forester for private enterprise and a Communications and Project Management consultant for both public and private clients within Northwestern Ontario.

Mr. Burton is passionate about Northern Ontario issues and always works to align his endeavours with the College system to regional initiatives. As such, he is a current community elected director with the Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce Board. Mr. Burton also serves as a plan governor for the CAAT Pension Plan, is a past board director for the Ontario College Administrative Staff Association and past internal governor for the Board of Governors of Confederation College.

Riley holds an Honours Bachelor of Science in Forestry degree from Lakehead University, a Master of Arts in Applied Communication from Royal Roads University and a Business Fundamentals certificate from the Harvard Business School Online. He remains a registered professional forester in the province of Ontario and is also a certified Project Management Professional with the Project Management Institute.

Kim Falcigno, OCT, MEd, MBA, has served as Vice President of Oshki-Pimache-O-Win: The Wenjack Education Institute since 2020, and previously as Academic Director as the Indigenous Institute has grown steadily the past six years. Her dedication to improving the economic prosperity of First Nation communities, particularly in geographically remote Nishnawbe Aski Nation communities through access to education has contributed to Oshki-Wenjack’s growth. She brings her own background and experiences forward to help motivate staff to become more knowledgeable about Indigenous ways of learning, pedagogy, culture and tradition, and how braiding Indigenous education models with Western models to balance curriculum and perspectives.

Kim has had a 30-year career spanning multiple roles across the education sector, from teaching, researching, developing, to leading, at many levels of education in Ontario ranging from K-12, through to College and University PSE, to Continuing Education, and Adult Literacy sectors. Periodically, throughout this journey Kim has published curriculum, conducted numerous commissioned research/field development projects, published in conference proceedings, and was the Editor for the Canadian Association of Geographer’s Annual Directory for over 15 years. Kim is from Thunder Bay and holds undergraduate degrees in Geography and Education, and master’s degrees in Education and Business, all from Lakehead University.

Dr. Heather Hall is one of the leading scholars on innovation and economic development in rural and northern regions in Canada. She grew up in Northern Ontario and has a professional and personal interest in researching issues that are important to the North, including: the impacts of new technologies in the mining sector; the community impacts of large-scale industrial projects; and innovation and economic development policy, planning and practice. Her work has been recognized nationally and internationally, and has informed government policy in Canada, Northern Ontario, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Sweden. Dr. Hall is the co-lead of the University of the Arctic’s Thematic Network on the Commercialization of Science and Technology for the North. She is also the lead researcher for Remote Controlled, a national project exploring the impacts of new technologies in the mining sector.

Dr. Katie Hartmann is an Adjunct Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist in the Agricultural Education and Studies Department at Iowa State University. Her work focuses on equity and access in formal and informal agricultural education settings, and the systemic barriers faced by marginalized communities to education. Specifically, her research has focused on inclusive and decolonizing pedagogies, community development through culturally responsive programming, and assisting educators and institutions build collaborations with diverse communities. She is particularly interested in Cooperative Extension’s collaborations with Indigenous communities, the sociohistorical context of the Land Grant System, and decolonizing methodologies and practices.

A proud member of Fort Albany First Nation, Carolyn first joined Sault College in 1999. Having worked in a number of departments throughout the institution, Carolyn became the Director of Native Education in 2005, taking on the Employment Ontario Literacy and Basic Skills portfolio in 2010 and in 2017 was appointed to the position of Dean of Indigenous Studies and Academic Upgrading. Currently the Chair of the Indigenous Peoples Education Circle representing all 24 Colleges in Ontario and Vice-Chair of Colleges and Institutes Canada’s National Indigenous Advisory Committee, Carolyn is a passionate advocate for education who is committed to fostering and strengthening the interconnections and collaborations needed between Indigenous and non-Indigenous educators, communities and industry in meeting the future demands of a qualified Indigenous workforce.  

Dr. Hollings completed his Ph.D. at the University of Saskatchewan in 1998 where he investigated the geochemistry of the 2.7-3.0 Ga Uchi Subprovince from Red Lake to Pickle Lake. During a two-year NSERC funded postdoctoral fellowship at CODES Dr. Hollings participated in a multi-disciplinary research project investigating the genesis of giant copper-porphyry deposits in Chile. As a faculty member at Lakehead University since 2001, Dr. Hollings is continuing his research into the relationship between igneous petrogenesis and mineralisation in Northwestern Ontario, the Philippines and S America. He has published more than 100 peer-reviewed papers on these topics. Hollings is currently the Chair of the Department of Geology and Director of the Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Mining and Exploration, both at Lakehead University. He is an Associate Editor of Mineralium Deposita and Acta Geologica Sinica.

Brittany Paat was born and raised in Sault Ste. Marie where she completed her BA from Algoma University. She went on to complete her MA from the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs where she focused her studies on Northern Ontario health policies. Brittany’s research interests  include rural and remote public health policies, social and economic determinants of health, health equity, evidence-based and evidence-informed decision making, and education policies. 

Dr. Prentice is a Professor of Supply Chain Management, at the I.H. Asper School of Business, University of Manitoba and the former Director (1996-2005) of the Transport Institute. His major research and teaching interests include logistics, transportation economics, urban transport and trade policy. Dr. Prentice holds a degree in economics from University of Western Ontario (1973) and graduate degrees in agricultural economics from University of Guelph (1979) and University of Manitoba (1986).

Dr. Prentice has authored or co-authored more than 250 research reports, journal articles and contributions to books. His scholarly work has been recognized for excellence in national paper competitions and awards. In 1999, National Transportation Week named him Manitoba Transportation Person of the Year. Through the Transport Institute, Dr. Prentice has organized national and international conferences on sustainable transportation (Railways and the Environment), supply chain logistics (Planes, Trains & Ships), agribusiness logistics (Fields on Wheels), the potential use of airships for northern transportation (Airships to the Arctic) and food trade between Canada and Mexico (La Cadena de Frio). In 1999 and 2003, he received University of Manitoba Outreach Awards. In 2009, Dr. Prentice was made an Honourary Life Member of the Canadian Transportation Research Forum.

Dr. Prentice was instrumental in founding a major in transportation and logistics within the B.Comm. (Hons.) program at the I. H. Asper School of Business (fall 2003). Since that time a new Department of Supply Chain Management has been formed, and in 2006 a M.Sc. program in supply chain management was initiated.

Dr. Prentice has served on the Boards of Directors of several transportation organizations: National Transportation Week (President, 2001 and 2003), Honourary President of the Canadian Institute for Traffic and Transportation (2001-3) and the Canadian Transportation Research Forum (Past President, 1997). Dr. Prentice is the President of ISO Polar Airships that he co-founded in 2005 as a not-for-profit research institute to promote the use of airships as sustainable transport for the northern latitudes. He is Associate Editor of the Journal of Transportation Research Forum. In addition, Dr. Prentice has served on Winnipeg Airports Authority, Inc. (1998-2003), Winnipeg TransPlan 2010, the Mid-Continent International Trade Corridor Task Force, the Rapid Transit Task Force, expert committees, and is frequently asked to speak on the topics of trade and transportation.

David Robinson, PhD, is an economist. As a leading expert on Northern Ontario economic development, he was the first person to identify and promote the Northern Ontario Mining Supply and Service sector as our leading sector. He was also the first person to propose Northern Ontario School of Architecture. He has consulted for forest-dependent communities and written on the economics of community forestry. He is best known publicly for monthly columns in Northern Ontario Business Magazine, and in Sudbury Mining Solutions, the trade journal for the local Mining Supply and Services sector which he helped found. He does frequent interviews in broadcast media, has been a guest on TVO’s Agenda several times, and is often a featured speaker at conferences and events. He is particularly concerned with the economics of climate change. David teaches Game Theory, Natural Resource Economics, Statistics, and Econometrics. 

Dr. David Zarifa (PhD) is Professor of Sociology and Canada Research Chair (CRC) in Life Course Transitions in Northern & Rural Communities (Tier 2) at Nipissing University. In 2017, he spearheaded the establishment of the Nipissing University Statistics Canada Research Data Centre (RDC) and has served as Academic Director of the RDC since its inception.

Dr. Zarifa is currently leading and co-investigating several large-scale SSHRC- and ONCAT-funded research projects that investigate the education and career pathways of northern and rural Canadians. Dr. Zarifa’s research focuses on issues relating to postsecondary access, educational choices, student mobility, transfer pathways, school-work transitions, labour market outcomes, skill proficiencies, brain drain, and migration patterns.  His work frequently appears in high-impact Canadian and international journals and has been featured in numerous local, national and international media outlets and organizations.

Celisse Bibr is a second year Ph.D. student in the Interdisciplinary Rural and Northern Health program at Laurentian University, and a recent M.A. graduate from the Interdisciplinary Health program. Her current research centres around Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, exploring efforts for education and awareness in Northern Ontario.

As founder and CEO of a global cyber security firm, David Bruno specialises in anti-fraud and anti-corporate espionage systems for banks and financial institutions worldwide. Through his company, Secure Swiss Data (now SafeSwiss®), he provides financial sector solutions for the digital and interactive e-commerce sectors. For 20 years he has worked to provide security protection to the masses. After completing his MA in International Relations & Communications in Spain, he was hired by a telecom company for their new office, working out of both Barcelona and Montreal as a business development manager. It was here that his career advocating for fraud prevention systems began. He has since taken a number of courses in topics including DDoS, identity theft, anti-money laundering and combating terrorist financing.

Zoe Higgins is a second year PhD student in the Interdisciplinary Rural and Northern Health program at Laurentian University and a pediatric speech-language pathologist at the Laurentian University Speech and Language Clinic. I have a Master of Health Science in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Ottawa. My research interests are speech and language assessment practices with First Nations children, literacy and bilingualism.

Fenfang Li moved to Thunder Bay from China in 2015, and graduated from Lakehead University with a Master’s degree in Economics in 2017. She is a former data analyst for NPI. Her educational background and work experience have inspired her to apply economic theories to real life problems. Her experience living and studying in Thunder Bay provides her with a solid base of knowledge regarding Northern Ontario policy issues, and she is excited to apply her knowledge to help the local community.

Mr. MacKinnon is a frequent commentator on Canadian fiscal issues. He has spoken to audiences across Ontario and his work has appeared in the Globe and Mail, the Toronto Star, the National Post and many local newspapers across Canada. He has also been a guest on The Agenda on TVO, the BNN and other national  public affairs programs.

Mr. MacKinnon is a native of Prince Edward Island. He was awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree (honours economics) from Dalhousie University and an MBA from York University. He was also awarded a Centennial Fellowship by the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce and York University to study at York, Harvard and Oxford Universities as well as the European Institute of Business Studies.

Mr. MacKinnon served as Director, Planning and Economics and Executive Director, Development Strategy in the Nova Scotia Department of Development from 1977 to 1981. He later served in several senior capacities in the Ontario Ministry of Finance, the Bank of Montreal and as CEO of the Ontario Hospital Association from 1996 to 2003. He was also CEO of the Ontario Development Corporation, Ontario’s major economic development agency, from 1986 to 1993.

He is a Past Chair, West Park Healthcare Center, a Toronto rehabilitation hospital and currently serves as a Director and Chair of the Finance Committee at the Canadian Standards Association. He is a former member of the Patient Relations Committee of the Ontario College of Physicians and Surgeons, after serving on the governing council of that organization for six years.

In 2012, Mr. MacKinnon joined the board of the Quinte Health Care Center, a community hospital with sites in Picton, Belleville, Bancroft and Trenton.

David and his wife Betsy moved to Prince Edward County in 2010 after sailing in county waters for fifteen years.

Josée Malette is a current 4th-year medical student at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine who was born and raised in Thunder Bay. She holds a B.A.Sc. in Chemical Engineering and an Honours B.Sc. in Biochemistry from the University of Ottawa. Lover of the outdoors, she enjoys fishing, canoeing, hiking and spending time with family. She is currently the Chair of the provincial student-led
Northern Ontario and Rural Medicine Committee. Apart from northern, rural and remote medicine, her interests in the field revolved around access to French-language services, critical care, acute care and wilderness medicine. She is delighted to be pursuing a career as an Emergency Medicine resident starting July 1, 2020. She looks forward to providing care to patients in her hometown and the rest of Northwestern Ontario in the future.

Jamie McIntyre's given name is Mashkiki Kwe, and she belongs to makwa doodem (bear clan). She has a mixed background of settler Scottish and Anishinaabe from Batchewana First Nation. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Community Economic and Social Development at Algoma University, and was most recently the Resource and Partnership Developer at NORDIK Institute based in Sault Ste. Marie. She has also received an Ec.d and Council for Advancement of Native Development Officers TAED certification through Algoma University. Her interests include cross-cultural relationship building and knowledge sharing, as well as sustainable development practices. 

Curtis was born and raised in Sherwood Park, Alberta. He has recently graduated from Queen’s University with a BAH, majoring in applied economics and minoring in political studies. During his time at NPI as a Research Analyst, Curtis was able to apply qualitative and quantitative techniques of analysis to make a positive impact on the unique policy environment of Northern Ontario. Some research interests of his include policy implications of business cycle dynamics, and the importance of natural resource development as it relates to economic growth. Currently, Curtis works as a financial advisor with Scotiabank. 

Christina McMillan Boyles RN, MScN is a Registered Nurse and an Assistant Professor in the School of Nursing at Laurentian University. Concurrent with her MScN degree, she completed a Type II diploma in Health Services and Policy Research. Currently, she is a PhD student in Interdisciplinary Health in the School of Rural and Northern Health at Laurentian University.  She is an active member of the Ontario Respiratory Care Society (ORCS). She serves as the ORCS Regional Representative for Northeastern Ontario, and is a member of the ORCS Provincial Committee and the Research and Fellowship Committee. She is also a member of the Canadian Respiratory Health Professionals Association (CRHPA), the Canadian Association of Health Service and Policy Research (CAHSPR), and the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) and the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario (RNAO). She served as a development member for the RNAO Best Practice Guideline (BPG) for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Some of her research interests include chronic disease, COPD, health services, health policy, nursing education, and qualitative research methodologies.

Dr. Moazzami has taught Economics and Econometrics at Lakehead University since 1988. He is well known for his research activities particularly related to Northern Ontario. He has written many reports on Northern Ontario’s economic development challenges and opportunities. He was commissioned by the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines to undertake a comprehensive study of Northern Ontario’s economy as a part of the research conducted for the Growth Plan for Northern Ontario. Included in the study were the identification of growing, declining and emerging industrial clusters in the region. Professor Moazzami has also written extensively on Northern Ontario’s Aboriginal people and Northern Aboriginal economy. Dr. Moazzami’s expertise and influence reaches beyond Lakehead University and Northern Ontario. He has been a regular guest speaker at the University of Waterloo’s Economic Development Program.

Dr. Sarah-Lynn Newbery, completed medical school at McMaster and postgraduate family medicine training in Thunder Bay in the Northern Ontario Medical Program. A fellow of both the CFPC and the SRPC, she has been a rural physician in comprehensive community practice in Marathon since 1996 and she is currently the Chief of Staff of the North of Superior Health Care Group. She has been on the board of the Ontario College of Family Physicians since 2008 and is a past President of the OCFP. She has been the
VP Clinical for the Northwest LHIN and is chair of the Northern Physician Resources Task Force. She is on several provincial health related committees and is chair of the OCFP’s Rural Mentoring Network and Leadership in Primary Care Mentoring Network. She has been an active community teacher and faculty member at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine since its inception and is currently the Assistant Dean of Physician Workforce Strategy.

Alex Ross was born and raised in Sudbury, Ontario. After graduating from Laurentian University with a B.A. (Hons) in Economics in 2010, he completed a Masters Degree in Economic Policy from McMaster University. Alex is a former NPI senior data analyst after working as a trust officer in the wealth management industry, and he has past non-profit experience as well as international teaching experience in Thailand. Alex’s areas of interest include environmental economics and sustainability, labour economics, education, and community growth. In his spare time, Alex enjoys hiking, exploring Northern Ontario, cooking, and travel. Alex is the business development officer for arts, culture and film at the City of Greater Sudbury.

Nabina Sharma is a second year PhD student in the Interdisciplinary Rural and Northern Health program at Laurentian University. She has a Master of Public Health from Nepal and experience working with the rural and Indigenous communities of Nepal. Her research interests are global health, aging population, dementia and health policy.

Christina Zefi is a former Research Analyst at Northern Policy Institute. She has an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Criminology from the University of Toronto as well as a Graduate Certificate in Public Administration from Humber College. Her research interests include immigration reform and policy related to Indigenous Affairs, the environment, and mental health. Prior to her role at NPI, Christina worked at TD Canada Trust as a Financial Advisor.

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