Laurie Sterritt is a values-based leader with over 25 years’ experience in the fields of Indigenous, government and community relations; business planning & strategy; organizational & leadership development; and, executive search. She has managed teams, both large and small, and brings positive energy and empathy to all her work. In 2018, Laurie formed a non-profit association to launch the first-of-its-kind Indigenous Women’s Leadership Summit (IWLS). The mandate of IWLS is to inspire and uplift Indigenous women throughout their personal and professional journeys. Prior to that, Laurie developed and implemented the Indigenous Employment and Business Development strategy for BC Hydro and led the start-up and growth of the Aboriginal Mentoring and Training Association (AMTA) and its subsidiary social enterprise, First Resources Impact Ventures (FRIV). AMTA provided life-changing education, training and mentorship programs to more than 2700 Indigenous candidates and successfully transitioned more than 1050 trainees into full-time employment in the mining, energy, forestry and industrial construction industries. FRIV was dedicated to assisting First Nation communities to build their own sustainable businesses within the natural resources sectors. Active in her community, Laurie is a Director for the (new) Canadian Centre for Arts and Technology (CANCAT) and a Council Member on the Real Estate Council of BC. She was previously a Director for the Industry Training Authority and Governor and 1st Vice-Chair of the British Columbia Institute of Technology. A member of the Kispiox Band of the Gitxsan Nation, Laurie holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of British Columbia and a Certificate in Professional Fund Raising from the University of Indiana. Laurie has been recognized for her commitment to creating respectful and inclusive workplaces and, most notably, was a nominee for the 2013 YWCA Women of Distinction Awards.