Dr David Suzuki – Suzuki Foundation

Dr. David Suzuki is a scientist, broadcaster, author, and co-founder of the David Suzuki Foundation. He is Companion to the Order of Canada and a recipient of UNESCO’s Kalinga Prize for science, the United Nations Environment Program medal, the 2012 Inamori Ethics Prize, the 2009 Right Livelihood Award, and UNEP’s Global 500. Dr. Suzuki is Professor Emeritus at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver and holds 29 honorary degrees from universities around the world. He is familiar to television audiences as host of the CBC science and natural history television series The Nature of Things, and to radio audiences as the original host of CBC Radio’s Quirks and Quarks, as well as the acclaimed series It’s a Matter of Survival and From Naked Ape to Superspecies. In 1990 he co-founded with Dr. Tara Cullis, The David Suzuki Foundation to “collaborate with Canadians from all walks of life including government and business, to conserve our environment and find solutions that will create a sustainable Canada through science-based research, education and policy work.” His written work includes more than 55 books, 19 of them for children. Dr. Suzuki lives with his wife and family in Vancouver, B.C. Read more here!

Helena Norberg-Hodge – Founder Local Futures

HELENA NORBERG-HODGE is a pioneer of the new economy movement and recipient of the Alternative Nobel prize, the Arthur Morgan Award and the Goi Peace Prize for contributing to “the revitalization of cultural and biological diversity, and the strengthening of local communities and economies worldwide.” She is author of the inspirational classic Ancient Futures, and Local is Our Future (2019). She is co-author of Bringing the Food Economy Home and From the Ground Up, and producer of the award-winning documentary The Economics of Happiness. Helena is the founder and director of Local Futures and The International Alliance for Localisation, and a founding member of the International Commission on the Future of Food and Agriculture, the International Forum on Globalization and the Global Ecovillage Network.

Dr Ernesto Sirolli – Founder Sirolli Institute

Dr. Ernesto Sirolli is one of the world’ s leading consultants on the topic of economic development. Working in the field of International Aid in Africa in 1971more many years and has since worked in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the United Kingdom, Latin America and Asia in projects that promote local entrepreneurship and local self determination. Dr. Sirolli resides in California, USA where he was invited to establish the Sirolli Institute, a social enterprise that teaches:

– civic leaders to capture the passion energy and imagination of their own citizens
– corporations to empower local entrepreneurs to create local wealth
– entrepreneurs to form passionate teams capable of transforming dreams into viable enterprises..

Author of two books: “Ripples from the Zambezi” a best seller that is used by Economic Development Faculties in Universities the world over, and :”How to start a business and ignite your life”. In 2012 Dr. Sirolli was invited to give a TED TALK ; his talk :”Shut up and Listen” has been translated in 31 languages and downloaded more than 2.8 million times.

Frank Busch – First Nations Canadian and CEO at NationFUND

Frank is a member of the Nisichawayasihk (Nee-chise-away-a-see) Cree Nation and grew up in Northern Manitoba. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Indigenous Studies from the University of Manitoba, 5 certificates from the Canadian Securities Institute and a Post-Graduate Certificate in Finance from Harvard University.

As Chief Executive Officer, Frank is responsible for building and maintaining relationships with First Nations and providing information and advice to First Nation Councils, Staff and Membership that increases awareness of the Capital Markets, Private Equity and Debt Financing, and Investment Strategy as well as Financial Education.
He is a published author and past recipient of the Burt Award for First Nations, Metis and Inuit Literature. He serves on the Board of Directors of Kelso Technologies, Inc –a publicly traded, cross-border, industrial technology company and as such, is a registered “insider” on the Toronto and New York Stock Exchanges.