FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

OTTAWA, Ont., Feb. 3, 2025 – AFOA Canada is sending 40+ Indigenous professionals to Harvard Business School from March 24-28, 2025, to take part in a unique program focused on Indigenous governance and community investments that was created through a collaboration between AFOA Canada, the Harvard Business School, and the Native American Finance Officers Association (NAFOA).

Leading People and Investing to Build Sustainable Communities is the only program of its kind in North America. The week-long certificate program has participants studying investment governance, entrepreneurial finance, negotiations and change management. It is aimed at senior administrators, executive officers, elected leaders and senior managers working in Indigenous communities and organizations.

“I am incredibly honored to have been accepted into the HBS Executive Program. This opportunity to engage with other leaders from Indigenous communities will allow me to grow both personally and professionally,” says Gail Tupper, a Councillor for Glooscap First Nation in Nova Scotia. “Good governance practices are essential in every aspect of leadership—whether it’s for strategic investments, negotiations, or fostering stronger relationships within our communities. I am confident that the insights and tools I gain from this program will help me become a more effective leader, empowering me to better serve and uplift my community.”

This is the seventh cohort of the program. Since its start in 2017, over 300 people have attended through AFOA Canada. 

“This program is designed to enhance the skills and knowledge of professionals working in Indigenous communities, empowering them to create lasting impact,” says Terry Goodtrack, President and CEO of AFOA Canada. “By strengthening expertise in these critical areas, we are equipping leaders to drive meaningful change and build a stronger future for Indigenous peoples.”

About AFOA Canada

Now in its 25^th year as an Indigenous Institution, AFOA Canada is the center for excellence and innovation in Indigenous management, finance, and governance.  It is the only organization in Canada that focuses on the capacity development and day-to-day needs of those Indigenous professionals who are working in all areas of management, finance, band administration, leadership, and program management. AFOA Canada’s premise is that one of the keys to successful self-determination, creating a better life for Canada’s Indigenous people and a better future for the next generation lies in improving the management skills of those responsible for the stewardship of Indigenous resources.

Media Inquiries:

Toni Baggos
Acting Director, Marketing and Communications
tbaggos@afoa.ca
613-722-5543