Deborah Green (Gopher) is a proud Nēhiyaw iskwêw (Cree Woman) hailing from Kawacatoose and Piapot’s First Nations in Saskatchewan who has emerged as one of Canada's most influential and pioneering voices in Indigenous Reconciliation and Sacred Truth Telling. Her journey began many years ago with the history of her ancestors, and the intergenerational impacts of Canada’s history with Indigenous Peoples, within her family. She experienced barriers to fair opportunities, racism, intergenerational trauma, and wanted to make her life’s work dedicated to drive change for future generations. She brings over 25 years of professional and personal lived cultural expertise in Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI), with a specialization in Indigenous Reconciliation. Her career has been marked by breaking down systemic barriers and creating pathways for significant contributions in relationship building, Strategy Framework & Policy development, keynote speaking on experience, Indigenous workforce development, and Indigenous awareness training & education. Deborah is renowned for her role in developing and integrating Indigenous workforce diversity strategies aimed at enhancing talent diversity and Indigenous leadership, fostering inclusive work environments, ensuring retention and leader accountability. Her influence spans across various sectors including private, public, non-profit, and government organizations in Canada, where she has cultivated an extensive network within diversity-focused entities. Recognized as a genuine and successful subject matter expert and role model within the Indigenous community and mainstream Canada, Deborah has received notable accolades such as the 2024 City of Calgary Chief David Crowchild Memorial Award, the Urban Society of Aboriginal Youth Changemaker Award, and the Native Women's Association of Canada Esquao Award. She also serves as a board member for significant initiatives, further solidifying her commitment to advancing equity and inclusion. Her passion is evident in the changes she has driven from seeing pride in Indigenous youth, equitable Indigenous employment in Canada, and the education and awareness of all Canadians about the true colonial history of the country. Deborah has held various roles in corporate Canada including National Lead for Indigenous Workforce Development & Indigenous Awareness at Suncor Energy, Global Diversity Strategist for Shell Canada and was the founder for Corporate Cree Consulting (her Indigenous business in 2017/2018). Her passion includes working in collaboration with Indigenous communities to understand community needs, share employment and training initiatives, and identifying opportunities to strengthen candidates’ employment readiness. Deborah provided Indigenous insights, training and advice to senior leaders and teams, managed programs, and fostered relationships and collaboration opportunities with external organizations. She has successfully designed and lead two Indigenous employee networks within oil and gas companies. This included leading and advising the companies on cultural awareness activities through storytelling, sharing her lived experiences as a Nehiyaw Iskwew, advising leaders on Indigenous knowledge to guide and incorporate Indigenous worldviews and ways of knowing and into company. “A place to call home” within the corporate environment, Deborah is committed to Indigenous employees to thrive and take pride in who they are. Deborah uses her voice, empowers others, and takes action in her advocacy work for Missing, Murdered, Exploited Indigenous Peoples; is part of an Indigenous Women’s Hand Drum Group “Sings Many Songs Women” and is entrenched in many Indigenous community and urban gatherings, social justice events, celebrations, and ceremony.

Cliffton Cross, Frog Lake First Nations #121 & #122 Council Member, is currently creating waves with FLFNs inside of a third term. Cliffton is proud to say that he was born and raised, attended K-12, graduated, married, and raised a family in his home First Nation. Councillor Cross has over 20 years’ experience working with the youth of his community, and he was previously employed with the community for 10 years, as FLFNs Youth and Recreation Director. Councillor Cross has held the portfolios of Education, Daycare, Child and Family Services, Youth and Recreation, Blue Quills University, and although remaining connected to those crucial portfolios, has brought his attention and focus on Sustainability, Capacity Development, Research, Development & Innovation, Financial Planning and Execution, Capital Projects, Renewable Resource Development and the overarching push in Economic Development. Through various community programs and implementation of several commercial operations, with the FLFNs Chief and Council, Cliffton has been instrumental in advancing the community’s involvement in industry projects including progress of Food Sovereignty utilizing Agriculture in Organic High Fibre Products, Sustainable Housing Materials, Organic Hemp Textile Material Processing, the Site Reclamation Program, SAGD development, development of Green Hydrogen and Blue Ammonia plant projects, and Carbon Hub Sequestration projects. The FLFNs has established partnerships and joint ventures with multiple industry partners, post-secondary/poly-sci institutions, engineering firms and communities, and most recently, the Legacy Energy & Alternative Power (LEAP) Strategic Master Plan – with multiple (14+) large scale green energy, food and water sovereignty and sustainability projects that are all in various stages of development

Whitney Buhr is a seasoned engagement professional with a strong background in Indigenous–Canadian history and more than a decade of experience leading public participation and community engagement initiatives. As Director of Engagement at the Alberta Indigenous Opportunities Corporation (AIOC), she builds trusted relationships with corporate partners and First Nations and Métis communities across Alberta. Her leadership has supported more than $1.2 billion in successful and prospective Indigenous equity partnership. Before joining AIOC, Whitney supported Indigenous and stakeholder engagement at a midstream company, where she developed a national operational engagement framework, advanced reconciliation-focused training initiatives, and supported engagement on an Indigenous-led 50/50 partnership to acquire a major stake in the Trans Mountain expansion. Whitney holds a Master of Arts in History from the University of Victoria, specializing in Indigenous history, and has completed the CFA Institute’s Investment Foundations Certificate. She volunteers with the International Association of Public Participation (IAP2) and has supported reconciliation-focused initiatives with Young Women in Energy. Her work is grounded in collaboration, cultural awareness, and a commitment to advancing meaningful partnerships that foster economic and social opportunity.

Mary is a relationship builder, systems thinker, and advocate for meaningful collaboration with Indigenous Nations and Peoples. In her role as GHD’s Social Performance and Indigenous Partnership Leader for Canada, she brings a deep commitment to reconciliation and co-creation. With over two decades of experience across sectors—from mining and energy to water and infrastructure—Mary centres Indigenous voices and knowledge in every stage of the process. Her work is grounded in humility, curiosity, and action, and guided by the belief that trust is built through time, transparency, and shared purpose. She focuses on building relationships and co-developing pathways rooted in respect, reciprocity, and real actions that lead to shared outcomes. Mary’s academic background in Physical Geography (BSc, University of Calgary) and Environmental Studies – Anthropology (MES, Nipissing University) reflects her dedication to understanding both the physical and cultural landscapes in which projects unfold. She brings a deep respect for place-based knowledge and a belief that inclusive processes lead to stronger, more meaningful results. As a member of the Forward Summit Leadership Council, Mary is honoured to help shape spaces where Indigenous leadership, innovation, and partnership are not only celebrated—but prioritized.