Chief Financial Officer
Alberta First Nations Information Governance Centre
320-295 Midpark Way SE
Calgary, AB T2X 2A8
Tel: 403-519-4488
Ayoabdul@gmail.com

Tel: 780-983-4458
pjacobk@yahoo.com

Regional Program Development Team Leader, Child and Family Services
Indigenous Services Canada
Edmonton, AB
Tel: 780-984-6108
bpickett@telus.net

Financial Controller
Samson Management (2009) Ltd
Samson Condo Warehouse
Maskawacis, AB T0C 1N0
Tel: 780-200-7831
regmi@ualberta.ca

Financial Controller
Whitefish Lake First Nation #128
Box 271
Goodfish Lake, AB T0A 1R0
Tel: 780-547-5241
makaitaz@yahoo.com

CFO
Penticton Indian Band
841 Westhills Drive
Penticton, BC V2A 6J7
Tel: 250-493-0048
Fax: 250-490-2282
cfo@pib.ca
pib.ca

Biography
I have worked as an accountant since the mid 1980’s, when I started in the corporate world in Vancouver. Since 2003, I have focused on serving BC First Nations working as a Director of Finance and CFO at the Heiltsuk Tribal Council, Westbank First Nation, and most recently, the Penticton Indian Band. I work to bring transparency, trust, understanding and capacity to the community I serve through sound financial management, ethical practices, and open communications.

Bringing good financial management to a community does not solve every challenge or problem, but it does allow the community to have the freedom to choose and respond on its own terms; whether it is new housing, better infrastructure, enhanced education, better social programs, or a deeper understanding of traditional culture, values, and identity. Self-determination and self-sufficiency are the keys to a better present and brighter future for First Nations.

Controller
Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada
800-333 Seymour Street
Vancouver, BC V6B 5A6
Tel: 604-351-1028
joe@indigenoustourism.ca
indigenoustourism.ca

Biography
Joe migrated to Canada from Indonesia in 2004. He studied law before becoming an accountant. Passionate about finance and accounting, he holds a CPA, CMA professional designation as well as CAFM in Canada.

Joe had previously worked at University of British Columbia as a Senior Financial Specialist and then moved to FinTech Company, Hyperwallet, as a Risk Fraud Analyst. He has been working for Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada since 2017, and currently works at the Organization as a Controller. He enjoys implementing his interdisciplinary experience to develop strategy to solve complex problems, drive organizational growth, and deliver value to stakeholders.

One of his accomplishments during his works for ITAC was managing his Finance Team to administer and deliver the COVID-19 Stimulus Development Fund payments to 678 Indigenous tourism businesses with the total amount of $16.21 million as non-repayable contributions and accomplishing required reports and documents in a timely manner for the Federal Government via Indigenous Services Canada. This stimulus grant funding as part of their ongoing efforts to help Indigenous tourism operators recover and build resiliency from the devastating impacts of COVID-19.

Joe loves travelling, culinary experiences and music. He is grateful to be working for an Indigenous Corporation, so he has a chance to support a bright future for Indigenous and non-Indigenous people together.

CEO
ZN Advisory Services Inc
308-207 West Hastings Street
Vancouver, BC V6B 1H7
Tel: 604-227-376
Fax: 604-757-4690
zain@zn-advisory.com
zn-advisory.com

Biography
Born in a hard-working Ismaili family in Karachi, Pakistan, Zain Nayani’s interest in numbers and curiosity about commerce led him to gaining a B.Sc. in Applied Accounting and experience working in internal audit, finance, and administrative departments of various organizations. In 2011, Zain relocated from Pakistan to Coast Salish Territory (Vancouver) to pursue his Master of Business Administration at Simon Fraser University. After moving to Canada and witnessing Indigenous peoples living with the consequences of colonization and ongoing systemic oppression, he was deeply affected, especially as someone from a previously colonized country himself.  To gain better understanding of the issues and be part of the solution, Zain immersed himself as an intern, working with T’eqt”aqtn’mux (Kanaka Bar Band). Driven by his passion to work with communities who want to become self-sufficient while challenging the status-quo in the wake of climate crisis, Zain established ZN Advisory in 2013, a consulting practice that partners with Indigenous communities and organizations, to build organizational resilience through offering governance, strategy and planning, management, and capacity building services.

Zain has held senior leadership and management positions in various Indigenous organizations. He is a Visiting Lecturer at the Beedie School of Business (SFU) and served as member of British Columbia’s Indigenous Climate Adaptation Technical Working Group. Zain is an Affiliate of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) and has been a Fellow since 2017. He is also a Member of Chartered Professional Accountants of BC and Canada and a Certified Aboriginal Financial Manager through AFOA Canada.

Director of Finance
Shuswap Indian Band
3A-492 Arrow Rd
Invermere, BC V0A 1K2
Tel: 250-341-3678
Fax: 250-341-3683
dof@shuswapband.ca
shuswapband.net

CEO
Indigenous Management Group Inc
616-294 Portage Ave.
Winnipeg, MB R3C 0B9
Tel: 204-284-9255
Fax: 204-425-6830
scbear@indigenousmanagement.ca
indigenousmanagement.ca

Biography

Stanley Bear, is a member of Peguis First Nation, has an MBA from Queen’s University, holds a Project Management Professional (PMP) designation, and holds a Certified Aboriginal Financial Manager (CAFM) designation.   Mr. Bear has over 30 years of experience in First Nation business and organizational development.  Since 1989 Mr. Bear has owned and managed a management consulting company (Indigenous Management Group Inc.).  Prior to working in the private sector, Mr. Bear has over 15 years of experience with the Federal Government, managing programs at the senior level with Industry Canada.  Indigenous Management Group Inc. (IMG) is a private company that provides specialized financial and project management services.  IMG team is made up of qualified professionals with various credentials including: Chartered Professional Accountants (CPA); Certified Aboriginal Financial Managers (CAFM); Project Management Professionals (PMP); Masters’ of Business Administration (MBA); Masters’ of Economics (MA); Chartered Manager (C. Mgr.); Human Resource (HR) Professionals; and Financial Analysts.

Capacity Development Manager
First Nations Financial Management Board
850-125 Garry St.
Winnipeg, MB R3C 3P2
Tel: 204-575-1227
priscille_buors@fnfmb.com
fnfmb.com

Financial Advisor | Accountant
Winnipeg, MB
Tel: 204-451-9803
gmaxfield@shaw.ca

Biography
Gina Maxfield is a Certified Professional Accountant (CPA, CMA) and has a Bachelors of Commerce (Hons) Degree from the University of Manitoba in Business Administration and Marketing with a Psychology minor and has taken courses in economic analysis, financial management, corporate finance and project management.   Ms. Maxfield also holds two designations — a Certified Aboriginal Financial Manager (CAFM) from AFOA Canada, and a Certified Aboriginal Professional Administrator (CAPA) from AFOA Canada.

Ms. Maxfield has more than 30 years experience in the finance and accounting business. Her current role is as a first nation band manager.  Previously, she was a financial advisor.  Ms. Maxfield is involved in business strategy, marketing, financial and management controls and operational management, where beginning to end solutions are provided. As the Financial Advisor, Ms. Maxfield is responsible for providing accounting & advisory support services in the areas of accounting/CFO services, financial planning, forecasting, reporting, policy development and analysis, financial and debt management, capacity-building, Financial Administration Law, Financial Performance, and business consulting.

Ms. Maxfield has experience in financial management and accounting which includes preparation of management account statements, financial analysis, budget preparation, account reconciliation, analyzing and evaluating operational risk and internal controls, finance and process improvement and automation.

Ms. Maxfield’s previous experience included working for IMG as a financial advisor, and for the Health Sciences Center as Finance Director in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Kenora, ON
Charlene_bird@outlook.com

Human Resources Officer
Aamjiwnaang First Nation
978 Tashmoo Ave
Sarnia, ON N0N 1C0
Tel: 519-336-8410 ext. 235
Fax: 519-336-0382
afisher@aamjiwnaang.ca

Capacity Development Manager
First Nations Financial Management Board
170 Laurier Ave W, Suite 608
Ottawa, ON K1P 5V5
Phone: 613-319-8012
margaret_harding@fnfmb.com