April Breakfast Session - Building Meaningful Partnerships with Indigenous Nations

Partnering with Indigenous Nations can take many forms — and it is not always equity-based. What distinguishes meaningful, long-term partnerships is genuine alignment of values, early engagement, and a commitment to upskilling and capacity building within communities.

This panel will explore successful partnership models from both a major project perspective and a community infrastructure lens. Panelists will share how these partnerships were initiated, how trust was established, and how relationships continue to be nurtured and strengthened over time. Attendees will gain practical insight into what it takes to move beyond transactional engagement toward true collaboration and shared outcomes.

Panelists

Ernie George is a member of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation and Chief Executive Officer of Inlailawatash Limited Partnership. He first worked with Inlailawatash in 1998 in the Indian River Watershed and returned to the Nation in 2009 after 25 years in the golf industry. Over the past decade he has served as a Director of Inlailawatash LP, Director of Treaty, Lands and Resources, and Chief Administrative Officer for the Tsleil-Waututh Nation. In 2024, he was appointed CEO of Inlailawatash, where he leads one of the Nation owned Businesses.

Vanessa Connolly is Director of Community & Indigenous Relations at FortisBC, where she leads engagement with Indigenous communities, municipalities, and stakeholders across the province. She oversees communications for major infrastructure projects and FortisBC’s community investment and socio-economic programs. Since joining FortisBC in 2007, she has held roles in external relations, Indigenous relations, major projects, and public affairs. Vanessa holds an MBA from Simon Fraser University and a BA from the University of Victoria.

Kathryn White is an Executive Assistant with the Strategic Initiatives Group at Sts’ailes, supporting leadership on capital planning and major infrastructure initiatives. She works across multiple funders to help align projects with community priorities. Kathryn is completing a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology at Thompson Rivers University and an Associate Certificate in Project Management at BCIT, with a long-term goal of advancing infrastructure and community development in Indigenous communities.

Maggie Kontonis is a Senior Infrastructure Advisor at MNP with expertise in project management, engineering, and Indigenous community development. She acts as an owner’s representative, guiding projects from planning through execution and supporting First Nations with community-led infrastructure solutions in housing, health, and community facilities. Known for her collaborative approach, she focuses on aligning regulatory, capital, and cultural priorities. With experience across Canada and Europe, Maggie brings a broad perspective and is committed to delivering infrastructure that reflects community values and long-term sustainability. 

Moderator

Jameel Sayani is MNP’s Regional Managing Partner for the Fraser Valley and Managing Partner for International and Indirect Tax in B.C. Based in Abbotsford, he leads offices across the region and serves as B.C. Director for Indigenous Services. With over 15 years of experience, he works closely with Indigenous communities to support strategic growth and advance equity opportunities across sectors, including real estate. Jameel is a CPA (CA) and Certified Aboriginal Financial Manager, and currently serves on the board of Innovate BC.