Chair - David Gabriel Tuccaro is a member of the Mikisew Cree First Nation in Fort Chipewyan. He is president and CEO of five successful companies which create opportunities for Aboriginal people. Mr. Tuccaro was on the board of the Alberta Chamber of Resources and the National Task Force on Oilsands Strategies. He co-chaired the 2004 Arctic Winter Games Committee, and was active as a director of the Aboriginal People’s Television Network in its early development stages. Dave Tuccaro was instrumental in the formation of Northeast Alberta Aboriginal Business Association (NAABA) in 1994, and was the Founding President.  Mr. Tuccaro received the National Aboriginal Achievement Award in 1999 in the field of Business and Commerce. In April 1998, Mr. Tuccaro was honoured with his inclusion as one of Financial Post Magazine’s “Top 40 under 40”.  Venture Magazine, also honoured him in their July/August 2000 issue, as one of Alberta's 50 Most Influential People.

Vice Chair - Jean Teillet is a well-known Métis advocate, member of the Bar in Ontario, NWT, B.C. and Manitoba, and has been involved in numerous aboriginal law cases before the Supreme Court of Canada. She is a published author in scholarly journals and in the 2^nd Edition of Great Questions of Canada.  She speaks often in Canada and internationally about aboriginal rights, identity and access to justice.  Ms. Teillet is currently a member of the Canadian Judicial Council Chairperson’s Advisory Group and is a partner in the law firm of Pape Salter Teillet with offices in Vancouver and Toronto.  Ms. Teillet has been on the NAAF Board since 2006.

CPO2 Debbie Eisan is an Ojibway Anishnabee Kwi from Batchewana First Nations, and was born in Sault Ste Marie, Ontario. Since joining the Canadian Forces on 5 Dec 1975, Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class Eisan, has served numerous tours of duty, highlighted by her involvement in the close out operation of the United Nations Base in Rwanda, Africa, and her posting to the HMCS Iroquois, which saw her spend one year in the Arabian Sea supporting the War against Terrorism. Chief Eisan is now the National Aboriginal Recruiting Advisor based out of Halifax. In 2004 Eisan was the recipient of the National Aboriginal Women in Leadership Foundation Award of Distinction.

Lillian Hvatum-Brewster was appointed Vice-President Northern Development for ATCO Electric in January 2011 and is responsible for identifying business opportunities related to hydro development and opportunities that complement existing electric services and joint venture projects in the North. Lillian began her career with ATCO over 20 years ago as Senior Manager Aboriginal programs with Frontec and in 2005 as VP Aboriginal Business with ATCO Frontec then ATCO Structures & Logistics developing partnerships and joint ventures with many Aboriginal groups and businesses across the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Yukon Territory,  Nunavik, Labrador and Alaska. Lillian has participated on numerous boards over the years including Northwestel Board of Directors and Compassion House Foundation and is a member of the NWT Chamber of Commerce.

Len Flett is a member of the Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug First Nation at Big Trout Lake, Ontario. He has an extensive 42-year background in retail management with the Hudson’s Bay Company and as a vice-president of the North West Company, from which he retired in 2005, he was responsible for Store Development and Public Affairs. Mr. Flett is past president of the Board of Me-dian Credit Union and currently sits on the Board of the Ombudsman for Banking Services and Investments.

Peter J. Lukasiewicz is a senior commercial litigator who counsels and represents domestic and global clients in complex commercial disputes.  He is the managing Partner of Gowlings’ Toronto office. Mr. Lukasiewicz is a graduate of the Institute of Corporate Directors. He is the former chair of the Board of Governors of Ryerson University.  Mr. Lukasiewicz chairs the Foundation’s Investment Committee and its Audit and Finance Committee.  He has served on the boards of numerous community organizations.

Dr. James Makokis, M.D., born and raised on Saddle Lake Cree Nation, Alberta, graduated Medical School from the University of Ottawa in 2010.  He is currently a Resident in the Aboriginal Family Medicine Program in Victoria, BC and will complete this program in 2012. Dr. Makokis also holds a Master’s degree in Health Science-Community Nutrition from the University of Toronto.  He was previously the National Spokesperson for the National Aboriginal Health Organization’s “Lead Your Way” youth role model program (2007-2009), promoting healthy lifestyles amongst Indigenous youth and communities across Canada. As a committed volunteer, Dr. Makokis has been involved in a number of community programs, working with street people in Edmonton, and supporting gays, lesbians and two-spirited Aboriginal youth. Dr. Makokis was the 2007 National Aboriginal Achievement Award Youth Recipient.  His medical interests lie in health promotion and disease prevention, and working with Traditional Indigenous Knowledge holders to provide more holistic patient care.

Dr. Gerald McMaster, one of the most significant figures in contemporary Aboriginal art in Canada, is an artist, writer, and curator. A Plains Cree from Red Pheasant and a member of the Siksika Nation, Dr. McMaster studied fine art at the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico, attained a Master of Arts in Anthropology from Carleton University which led to a doctorate at the University of Amsterdam’s School for Cultural Analysis. As an artist, his work has been extensively exhibited throughout Canada, the US and Europe. As an author, his writings are widely published. As an art curator, his leading edge exhibitions have been presented in museums and galleries throughout Canada, the US and Europe. Since 2005, Mr. McMaster has been the Curator of Canadian Art at the Art Gallery of Ontario in Toronto. He was the 2005 National Aboriginal Achievement Award Art and Culture Recipient and, he is a member of the Order of Canada.

Gordon R. Peeling has over 35 years of experience in the public and private sectors in mining.  He had an extensive career with the Federal Government in the Department of Natural Resources interspersed with time in the private sector with Inco Ltd. and Gulf Minerals Canada Ltd.  He served on many government advisory boards over the years and most recently was a member of the Government of Canada's Advisory Group on Corporate Social Responsibility.  He retired from the Mining Association of Canada in May 2011 after 13 and a half years as President and CEO.  He is currently a Director of Great Quest Metals Ltd. and a member of the Global Advisory Board of Alexander Proudfoot, a management change consultancy.  He continues to serve as a member of the External Advisory Panel to Inmet Mining Corporation on matters of corporate social responsibility.  He is a past Director of the Mining Association of Canada and the Canadian Mining Hall of Fame.  Mr. Peeling has a B.Sc. (Geology) degree from Queen's University and an M.Sc. (Geology) and a B.A. (Economics) from Carleton University.

Wm. (Bill) Shead is a member of the Peguis First Nation. A graduate of Dalhousie University and the CanadianForces Staff College, Lieutenant-Commander (Ret’d) Bill Shead, CD served 36 years in the Canadian Navy. In 1975 he was seconded to head the Office of Native Employment to increase the participation of Aboriginal people in the Public Service of Canada. Later serving as Mayor of Selkirk, Manitoba from 1980 to 1983; Prairie Regional Director General for Veterans Affairs from 1986 to 1992; and Chief Executive Officer of the Aboriginal Centre of Winnipeg from 1993 to 1996; Mr. Shead is currently the Chair of the Aboriginal Centre of Winnipeg and Vice-Chair of the Centre for Aboriginal Human Resource Development. 

Mary Simon, OC, QC, is the President of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, the national organization representing Inuit in Canada. She was born in Kangiqsualujjuaq, Quebec, and has devoted her life to achieving social justice for Inuit and other Aboriginal peoples nationally and internationally. Among her many responsibilities she was the Canadian Ambassador for Circumpolar Affairs, and to Denmark and Chancellor of Trent University. She is an Officer of the Order of Canada, and has been awarded the National Order of Quebec, the Gold Order of Greenland, a National Aboriginal Achievement Award, the Gold Medal of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society, and the Symons Medal, and she has been inducted into the International Women’s Forum Hall of Fame. Most recently, she was awarded the Governor General’s Northern Medal. Mary Simon has also received numerous honorary doctorate of law degrees.

Ian Sutherland is chair of MCAN Mortgage Corporation, and is also a director of several corporations. His former work was as a senior officer in the trust and retail industries.

Paul Tsaparis was appointed Vice President of Technology Support of Hewlett-Packard Company in March 2010. Prior to his current role, Mr. Tsaparis was President and Chief Executive Officer of Hewlett-Packard (Canada) Co. from September 1998 to April 2010. He holds an MBA degree from York University. Mr. Tsaparis is Past Chair of the Information Technology Association of Canada (ITAC) and Past Chair of the ITAC Board of Governors. He is also a past member of the Canadian Council of Chief Executives, and Past Chair of Third Brigade, a security software company.  Mr. Tsaparis is a member of the Dean’s Advisory Council of the Schulich School of Business and a past recipient of Canada’s Top 40 Under 40 Award.

Dr. Cornelia Wieman, M.D. of the Anishnawbe Nation is Canada’s first female Aboriginal psychiatrist. She was previously a Co-Director of the Indigenous Health Research Development Program and Assistant Professor in the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto. She currently provides psychiatric and consulting services to various mental health and social service agencies in downtown Toronto. Dr. Wieman received a National Aboriginal Achievement award in 1998 for her work in improving the physical and mental health of Aboriginal Peoples.