Indigenous Gathering on Pathways in Business

To support its goal of increasing Indigenous representation in the profession, CPABC was pleased to host the second Indigenous Gathering on Pathways in Business on November 9, 2022. This virtual event, which welcomed Indigenous community members from BC and Yukon, including youth and students, aims to create an opportunity for dialogue, and to introduce and create excitement for career options that build community wellbeing, sustainability, and long-term economic prosperity. 

The event was planned and hosted in partnership with the Aboriginal Financial Officers Association of BC, Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business, First Nations Financial Management Board, and Métis Nation British Columbia, along with post-secondary institutions and firms.

Danielle Levine, director of interdepartmental new initiatives at CPABC emceed the event, which kicked off with a performance by music group The Spiritual Warriors. Next up were plenary and breakout sessions with presenters such as Charlene Taylor, FCPA, FCA, director at the Office of the Auditor General of Canada, who shared her career journey. Taylor, the first Indigenous woman to earn the CA designation in Canada, also offered insight on how to balance the demands of work, education, and personal life. Also on the agenda was an intergenerational discussion on career pathways with panellists Kamana Bikadi, CPA, trust officer at FNB Trust, Adrian Duke, founder and CEO of Health Science X Technologies, Brenda Knights, CEO at Vancouver Native Housing Society, and Suzanne Trottier, vice-president, Indigenous trust services at FNB Trust.

To make the event a safe sharing space for Indigenous participants, organizers ensured that all moderators, speakers, and panellists were Indigenous and created specific sessions for Indigenous participants only.

During the event, participants also had the opportunity to network with speakers and fellow attendees and to visit a resource centre that featured virtual booths for organizations that offer educational programs and certifications, funding sources, and/or other services specifically designed for Indigenous communities and/or students.

We would like to thank all of the event participants for attending, the members of the event’s planning committee for their contributions, and the speakers who shared their personal career journeys.