N2N WOMEN’S GATHERING

SPEAKER BIOS

April 25 & 26 , 2024 | Prince Rupert, BC

2024 Speaker Bios

Masters of Ceremonies

Karolina Wenzel

With a background in Environmental Governance and Sustainable Development, Karolina is passionate about bringing all stakeholders to the table when it comes to economic development and resource use.

Karolina's love of people and communication ensures she has a blast while building relationships and making connections with companies and individuals wishing to support the goals and visions of Nation2Nation. Karolina has experience working in adult education and employment in the North and as a translator and contractor. She is also a passionate mom, gardener and outdoor explorer.

Karolina currently works on the Nation2Nation team as the Sponsor Coordinator.

Janice Angus

A career in broadcasting brought Janice to Prince Rupert 37 years ago. Like many residents of Prince Rupert, the original plan was to stay for a year or two. Janice has lived in Prince Rupert for almost 37 years and is on a meaningful journey with her husband, Maynard, in their business, Indigenous Canada Solutions.

They have two married adult children and have recently taken on the delightful role of being grandparents. Other opportunities have led her to work with children and families as an Early Childhood Educator and walk alongside leaders in a supportive role.

She continues to use her communication skills, curiosity, and openness to support meaningful connections, mentor young women, and help many through life transitions. Janice finds great joy in meeting people and serving in many capacities.

DAY 1 SPEAKERS

DAY 1 KEYNOTE | Topic: Moving Mountains with the Spirit of Our Grandmother: The Ni'isjoohl Rematriation Story

Dr. Amy Parent

Dr. Amy Parent’s Nisga’a name is Noxs Ts’aawit (Mother of the Raven Warrior Chief named Ts’awit). On her mother’s side of the family, she is from the House of Ni’isjoohl and is a member of the Ganada (frog) clan in the Village of Laxgalts’ap in the Nisga’a Nation. On her father’s side of the family, she is of Settler ancestry (French and German). Dr. Parent is a scholar, speaker, mentor, educator, consultant, and mother. She is an Associate Professor and Canada Research Chair (Tier 2) in the Faculty of Education at Simon Fraser University (Ph.D. UBC). She is also Co-Chair of the Indigenous Research Leadership Circle with the Tri-Council Agency (Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, and Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council) and the Inaugural Associate Director for the SFU Cassidy Centre for Educational Justice. In 2024, Dr. Parent received the “Distinguished Academic of the Year” award from Confederation of University Faculty Associations of British Columbia. Please visit Dr. Parent’s website to learn more: https://amyparent.ca/

DAY 1 PANEL SESSION 1 | Topic: Growing Forward Together

Moderator

Miranda O'Krane, Workplace Wellness Coordinator, CLAC

Miranda O’Krane is the Wellness Coordinator and an Alcohol and Drug Case Manager for CLAC (Christian Labour Association of Canada), working out of the Langley, BC member Center. She has moderated numerous workshops for Mental Health First Aid educators and worked with shop stewards to help bring mental health safety and other wellness to workplace.

Her first career was working with Deaf youth and the Hearing community in career counselling. She identifies as a Metis woman (her/she) and is very involved in the Metis society. Her and her husband of 20 years have 1 daughter.

Mary Denton

Sm’algyax Name: Ama wilgoosk (meaning: thinking right, intelligent)
House: Waaps Wudiwiye
Clan: Laxgibuu
Decent: Ts’msyen, X̄a’islakʼala

Mary Denton, whose Sm’algyax name is Ama wilgoosk, is a dedicated community member hailing from Lax Kxeen (Prince Rupert). She has a strong background in communications and works as the Director of Communications at Gitxaała Enterprises, the business entity of the Gitxaała Nation. Mary brings nearly two decades of experience working with First Nations communities in Northern BC.

Abidemi Osinjolu

Abidemi Osinjolu is a highly accomplished professional specializing in supply chain management and business development, originally from Nigeria. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Banking and Finance and is currently pursuing a Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration. With a solid foundation from a private university in Nigeria, Abidemi has established herself as an expert in supply chain logistics, project management, and entrepreneurship, with a strong commitment to community engagement and empowerment.

Marlena Joseph, Orca Bay First Aid

Milligum Xsgaak

Cultural Leader, Knowledge Keeper, Entrepreneur

Marlena has been a Cultural Leader for over 25 years with the Gitmaxmak'ay Nisga'a Dancers. Further, Nisga’a women cannot hold a talking stick unless given permission by a Chief. Simooget Kwasuuw bestowed the honour upon her to be a holder of a talking stick while she leads the dancers. Marlena is also a recipient of a National Aboriginal Role Model Award for her Leadership qualities. She and her husband, Glen, are owners Orca Bay First Aid Ltd where she works as a Level 3 First Aider. They are the proud parents of their beautiful daughter, Meadow.

DAY 1 GUEST SPEAKER | Topic: Overcoming barriers and staying true to who we are in our path

Mary French

Mary is a Coast Salish connector, communicator, and relationship builder with deep public and private sector ties across many regions of Canada.

Originally from Homalco First Nation on Vancouver Island, Mary has had a distinguished career in law enforcement serving as an RCMP police officer, where her work had a particular focus on community, family and children’s safety.

Mary has also served and advocated as an outreach worker within the school system, supporting children at risk in finding educational success. Most recently, Mary has played a strategic role in a major Canadian energy project, where her work focused on enhancing community safety, Indigenous engagement, and Indigenous economic opportunity for many Indigenous communities in Western Canada. In all contexts, Mary is a fierce advocate for Indigenous partnerships, engagement, and building forward-looking and practical solutions that enhance future opportunities for Canadian communities and workers.

Mary’s commitment to her family is and always has been a priority.

DAY 1 WORKSHOP 1 | 3 Powerful Keys to Building Rock Solid Confidence

Tarey Walles

Tarey is a highly skilled and passionate Transformational Wholistic Health Practitioner and Life Coach. With an extensive background in health, wellness and personal development, Tarey is dedicated to helping clients achieve profound transformation and holistic well-being through her unique approach of looking at the physical, mental, spiritual and emotional aspects of her client’s lives. Tarey combines various modalities and techniques to support individuals on their journey towards healing in her group coaching sessions, which are designed to provide a supportive and collaborative environment where participants can tap into their inner wisdom and access their full potential. Whether individuals are struggling with confidence, a divorce, a life transition or trauma, Tarey’s clients will gain invaluable insights, cultivate self-awareness, and develop empowering strategies to navigate life's challenges. By creating a space for deep transformation, Tarey empowers her clients to live authentically, create meaningful change, and lead fulfilling lives.

Whether you're looking to enhance your overall well-being or seeking guidance in specific areas of your life, Tarey is committed to helping you achieve lasting and positive transformation. Embrace the journey towards holistic growth and connect with Tarey to start your transformational journey today.

DAY 1 WORKSHOP 2 | Strategies for Work-Life Balance

Manon Joice

Meet Manon, the Founder of Skeena Coach, a seasoned professional with a rich background in nursing, population health, and community development. With a passion for empowering individuals and organizations, Manon’s expertise in coaching and consulting extends to areas such as business planning, feasibility studies, and workshop facilitation.

Manon graduated from St. Lawrence College and pursued advanced studies in preventative medicine, global public health, and Management of Multinational and Cross-Cultural Teams. Driven by a belief in the transformative power of service, her leadership is marked by a commitment to advocacy and community support.

As a former deputy mayor, published author, and speaker, Manon seeks to not only improve the lives of others but also ignite a spark of inspiration that drives meaningful action. She believes fully that greatness comes to those who transform their history into purpose, and this purpose emerges through our acts of service.

DAY 2 SPEAKERS

DAY 2 GUEST SPEAKER | Topic: The power of story, the power of speaking up, and the power of change.

Angela Sterritt

From a homeless street kid to a scrappy radio journalist, to a high-profile TV personality, to a national bestselling author, Angela shares her inspiring personal story of overcoming with curiosity, compassion, and courage. By discovering her own internal gifts and finding purpose, she was able to move past any obstacle. She shares how being of service to others, even in the most difficult times can teach us about community, love, and never giving up on ourselves. Angela’s focus on raising Indigenous voices through her writing and reporting taught her the power of healing through storytelling.

DAY 2 PANEL SESSION 2 | Topic: Women in Leadership Roles

Moderator

Shaneen Robinson, Program Director & Morning Show Host, CFNR

Shaneen is a multi-award-winning broadcaster who’s been on Canada’s media scene for more than two decades.

She’s worked at CTV News Winnipeg as a daily news reporter where her stories aired on CTV Newsnet/News Channel, CTV National News, and CNN.

She also worked for many years as an announcer on NCI FM and as a correspondent for APTN National News where she garnered much attention for her award-winning series about The Sacred Sundance.

She is proud of her final journalistic work with the network, Breaching the Sacred—a 22-minute investigative piece exploring the tragic reality of Indigenous women living with addictions and using while pregnant.

Sarah Zimmerman, Creative Communications & Councillor for City of Terrace

Sarah Zimmerman is a journalist turned communications consultant with 18 years in the field of public relations. Owner of Sarah Zimmerman Creative Communications, Sarah works with corporate, public sector and small business clients across western Canada providing strategic communications solutions. She is a longtime community volunteer, connector and public speaker - she's also an elected City Councillor for the City of Terrace. Sarah lives in Terrace, raising her family on the traditional territory of the Ts'msyen people, in particular Kitsumkalum and Kitselas.

Carmine Hendren, Maintenance Manager Trigon

Carmine Hendren is Maintenance Manager at Trigon Pacific Terminals responsible for all aspects of terminal maintenance and continuous improvement at Prince Rupert’s largest bulk export terminal.

Having worked across Canada and the United States, Carmine brings more than 25 years of engineering, project and maintenance experience within industrial operations as well as on major infrastructure development projects to her activities at Trigon.

Carmine is a strategic and results-driven professional with keen focus and proven success in elevating operational standards to improve overall team and business performance, and holds a bachelor’s in mechanical engineering from the University of Victoria.

Yulanda Leighton, General Sales Manager at CFNR

Hltaaxuuland Dllga Gyaangang, of the Juus Xaaydaga Clan of the Haida Nation is a proud Indigenous Woman of both Haida and Tsimshian ancestry.  Mother, wife and Nanaay are her most cherished roles.

Michelle MacNeill, Business & Community Leader

Michelle is a veteran of the Financial Services and Business sectors and is passionate about seeing her community provided with superior financial advice and believes that financial literacy is one of the most important life skills. Michelle focuses on a clear, kind and emotionally intelligent leadership style and seeks to foster a positive and collaborative work environment. Michelle was President of the Prince Rupert & District Chamber of Commerce in 2019/2020 during the beginning of the pandemic. Michelle was born and raised in Prince Rupert and after pursuing life and career in other corners of the province made the move back to her home community in 2013.

DAY 2 LUNCH & LEARN | How to Eat For Hormone Health

Dr. Patricia Mills

Dr. Patricia Mills is a Specialist in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation practicing Functional Medicine (a.k.a. root-cause medicine). She was previously a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of British Columbia (UBC) and a researcher with over 23 published studies. Dr. Patricia obtained her Master’s degree in Health Care and Epidemiology at UBC, her M.D. at the University of Toronto, her medical specialty training at UBC, and certified in Functional Medicine through the Institute for Functional Medicine (U.S.A.). She is a public educator and you can find her content on the YouTube channel ‘Dr. Patricia Mills, MD’, Instagram account @dr.patriciamills, Facebook ‘Wild Wisdom for Women with Dr. Patricia Mills, MD’, LinkedIn, and Podcast ‘Wild Wisdom with Dr. Patricia Mills’. She offers online health promotion programs for women and an MSP-covered 8-week group medical program ‘Food as Medicine’ for all residents of the Bulkley Valley. When’s she’s not helping people transform their gut and hormone health, she enjoys spending time with friends, family and nature, staying active with hiking, snowboarding, and surfing, or curled up by a fire with a good book. 

DAY 2 WORKSHOP 3 | Women In Leadership : What’s Holding Us Back?

Ja’-elle Leite

Ja’-elle is a Métis woman who started her career in Oil & Gas in 2003.

Storytelling through data was always an integral part of her world view. Spotting trends and inconsistencies helped her develop her analytical skills early on and lead to many efficiencies and communication improvements throughout her career. 

Ja’-elle will also be moderating Panel 3.

DAY 2 WORKSHOP 4 | The Ohpikiwin Series - Indigenous Entrepreneurship

Melissa Gladue, Business Development Manager, Indigenous Entrepeneur Startup Program, Futurpreneur

Melissa is the current Business Development Manager for Futurpreneur, supporting Indigenous Young Entrepreneurs who reside in Alberta, British Columbia, the Northwest Territories & the Yukon.

DAY 2 AFTERNOON FIRESIDE CHAT | Topic: Life's journey and holding space for change

Mindy Henyu, Infinitely Iskwew Consulting Ltd.

Mindy Henyu is a proud Tahltan and Cree woman with an extensive background in social performance, consultation, business partnering, and workforce development with First Nation governments, the energy sector and the BC provincial government. Mindy is the founder of Infinitely Iskwew Consulting Ltd. and is the elected representative for her traditional family group for the Tahltan Central Government; additionally, she is a member of the Indigenous Advisory Committee for the Northern Development Initiative Trust and the Indigenous Advisory Council for the Forward Summit West. Mindy grew up in Fort St. John, BC,Treaty 8 Territory, and now resides in Okotoks, AB, Treaty 7 Territory of the Blackfoot Confederacy. 

Tahirih Goffic, Artist

Lisa Mueller, Founder & Creator of N2N and Councillor for District of Houston

Lisa Mueller from the Tsilhqot'in Nation is the founder and creator of the Nation2Nation Forum in Terrace, BC. She is a First Nation consultant, community builder and workshop facilitator recognized as a young, upcoming voice and connector in the First Nation Community in BC.

DAY 2 PANEL SESSION 3 | Topic: Education, Training, Mentorship & Entrepreneurship

Shannon Bahm, BC Construction Association

Shannon joined the STEP program in April 2022. Born and raised in Prince Rupert, she has a deep connection to the city and its people. Shannon comes from a background in employment advising, workforce development and community and employer engagement. She is excited to be a part of the STEP team and help play a part in the booming construction industry of Northwest BC. In her spare time Shannon enjoys camping and many other outdoor activities.

Kristi Farrell, Opa Sushi

As an entrepreneur, I am driven by a passion to design and implement my own success with a commitment to the community in which I live, work, play and raise my family. My background in the hospitality and property development industries has led me to own and operate my own businesses in the northwest with a commitment to job creation. Additional experience in the fields of education have shaped my personal and professional ethics where I believe success cannot be independent of the people, resources and strengths of our local rural community which must be showcased and valued.

In the past twenty years, I have established two successful restaurants in Prince Rupert- Opa Sushi and Cowbay Café, as well as developed a food product line distributed through two national grocery chains. I am also an Educator with Coast Mountain College working in the field of Business Administration with an International student body.

Yvonne Campbell, Genetics Fitness

There are many roles that I have such as bookkeeping, member intake, making protein shakes, teaching people how to exercise. There’s also janitorial work, and troubleshooting equipment when they break down, advertising... Oh my gosh the list is --- longer than I thought!

I believe that fitness is character building and one of the key ingredients to quality living. Characteristics such as discipline, focus, hard work, consistency… to be fit in all the genres of sports, you have to have these characteristics as you grow. 

Academically, I’ve received a couple diplomas in college (Criminal Justice studies and office administration). However, for fitness I’ve had my Master-Trainer Certification with the International Sports Sciences Association since 2016.

On a more personal note, I’m a mom of three beautiful teens and we’re proudly from the Nisga’a Heiltsuk Nations. I’ve lived on the north coast my entire life and moved to Prince Rupert in 2012 to raise my children.

Kaleena Lewis, Holly and Oak Design Co.

Kaleena Lewis is the talented designer and communications professional behind Holly and Oak Design Co. With a background in business and strategy, Kaleena is passionate about supporting small businesses and local creatives. She has spent years honing her skills and now gets to help business owners like herself build their dreams every day.

With a personal touch, Kaleena believes in connecting with her clients to understand what makes their business unique. She takes the time to build a thoughtful brand with an authentic voice, curating every element based on her clients' visions and the strategies she develops. For Kaleena, a brand truly comes alive when everyone involved is like-minded and aligned in their beliefs.

About Women’s Gathering

This two day gathering will feature 2 keynotes speakers, 2 guest speakers, 12 panel speaker discussions, 4 workshops, networking opportunities and 8 vendor booths.

Our focus will be on creating opportunities for personal and professional development, and making connections to share skills, and get mentored.

“Growing Forward Together” 

In today’s fast paced and ever changing landscape, building resilience is more important than ever. How do we recover from setbacks, adapt to change, and keep going in the face of adversity? Let’s gather as we continue our journey of growing forward together, and keep the conversation going on the topics important to women. 

“No matter the starting point, she will leave conferring strength, wisdom and clarity of purpose”

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