Dr. Ken Coates
Ken Coates is one of Canada's foremost analysts of the challenges and opportunities facing the country. Raised in Whitehorse, Yukon, his northern informed views of Canada bring original and creative insights into contemporary realities. He works extensively on the impact of science and technology on society, particularly related to the world of work. He has deep insights into the issues facing rural and small towns in Canada and, conversely, the rise of the economically dominant city states in the country. Ken has also written extensively on Indigenous rights and economic development and has worked with Indigenous groups across Canada and internationally. He is a leading commentator on Arctic affairs and northern development. Author of many books and articles, Ken contributes extensively to debates on television, radio, newspaper and social media. He is Chair in Indigenous Governance Degree, at Yukon University.
Cadmus Delorme
Cadmus Delorme, a Cree and Saulteaux, is a citizen of the Cowessess First Nation. Mr. Delorme was Chief from 2016 to 2023. Mr. Delorme achieved a Institute of Corporate Director designation, received a Master of Public Administration from the Johnson-Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy and a Bachelor of Business Administration along with a Certificate in Hospitality, Tourism and Gaming Entertainment Management from the First Nations University of Canada (FNUniv). In 2023 Mr. Delorme received a honorary degree from the Saskatchewan Polytechnic Institution.
Mr. Delorme served in several capacities while a student in highschool and university, including vice-president and president. In 2012, he was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for his student leadership and the hospitality he showed to King Charles III and his Queen Consulate Camilla when they visited FNUniv in 2012. Mr. Delorme has been named one of CBC Saskatchewan’s Future 40, which celebrates the province’s new generation of leaders, builders and change-makers under the age of 40. During Mr. Delorme's time as Chief, his focus was on political sovereignty, economic self-sustainability, and cultural rejuvenation. In April 2023 Mr. Delorme decided to not run for a third term and now is Partner to Flowing River Capital Group which focuses on enhancing Truth and Reconciliation Call to Action #92, Business and Reconciliation.
Mr. Delorme lives with his wife Kimberly, brother-in-law, daughter and two son's on the Cowessess First Nation.
Dr. Leyton Schnellert
Dr. Leyton Schnellert is an Associate Professor in UBC’s Department of Curriculum & Pedagogy and Eleanor Rix Professor of Rural Teacher Education. His scholarship attends to how teachers and teaching and learners and learning can mindfully embrace student diversity and inclusive education. Dr. Schnellert is the Pedagogy and Participation research cluster lead in UBC’s Institute for Community Engaged Research (ICER) and co-chair of BC’s Rural Education Advisory. His community-based collaborative work contributes a counterargument to top-down approaches that operate from deficit models, instead drawing from communities’ funds of knowledge to build participatory, place-conscious, and culturally sustaining practices. Dr. Schnellert has been a middle and secondary school classroom teacher and a learning resource teacher K-12. His books, films, and research articles are widely referenced in local, national, and international contexts.
Dr. Jordan Tinney
Dr. Jordan Tinney is recently retired as Superintendent of one of Canada’s largest school districts in Surrey, BC. Serving previously on three other Boards, he knows places large and small, rural and urban. With a Ph. D. in curriculum, a Masters in Leadership, and a Certified Evidence-Based Executive Coach, Jordan now serves leadership and education as a strategic consultant. With a deep interest in leadership and ways to support effective governance, Jordan is currently working across Canada in numerous jurisdictions to support quality learning for all children. He recently led a two-year project to renew leadership competencies for system leaders in BC and is an external advisor on Manitoba’s rewriting of leadership standards for school leaders. He also recently worked to author a series of case studies on global leadership competencies and these papers were presented to the UN in November. Jordan now lives in Kelowna with his wife and son who is in grade 12, he enjoys getting out on his dirt bike with his son and also trying to improve his golf swing.