Indigenous Financial Management Conference
2025 Speakers
Adam Taylor, MNP
Partner, Enterprise Risk Services
Adam Taylor is a Partner with MNP’s Enterprise Risk Services team. Based out of the Victoria office, Adam provides risk management, consulting, internal and value for money audits, and assurance services to private and public organizations, helping them improve governance, processes and reporting.
Prior to joining MNP, Adam served the B.C. government for 15 years in a variety of roles, including Chief Financial Officer and Executive Director of Technology Initiatives. Adam has extensive experience in helping organizations maximize opportunities, reduce risk exposures and optimize operations. His expertise also encompasses program and project governance, including IT governance, procurement and negotiation support.
Adam earned a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Economics from the University of Victoria in 2001. He is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA), qualifying as a Certified General Accountant (CGA) in 2010.
Brent Serediak, Claims Pro Inc.
FCIP, FRM, B.Admin, Executive General Insurance Adjuster
20+ years of progressive adjusting experience focusing on Commercial Property, Manufacturing Risks, substantial Strata losses, Resource Sector, Utility Providers, Environmental Impairment, Course of Construction and Inland Marine claims.
Buffy Mills, Acera Insurance
Director of Indigenous Relations and Initiatives
Buffy Mills is a First Nations woman from the Syilx Nation in south-central BC. As an Indigenous employee benefits consultant with Acera Insurance, she is dedicated to supporting Indigenous communities through culturally grounded and community-focused benefits solutions.
Buffy specializes in bridging the world of insurance with the unique needs and values of Indigenous organizations. With a deep understanding of cultural context, she develops benefits plans that honour community traditions while meeting modern standards and long-term goals.
Her work is rooted in collaboration, equity, and inclusivity. Buffy is committed to ensuring that every benefits plan she helps design reflects fairness, respect, and the cultural richness of the communities she serves.
Passionate about building strong, prosperous futures, Buffy continues to work alongside Indigenous organizations and partners to create benefits solutions that truly resonate and make a meaningful impact.
Celeta Marie Cook, First Nations Health Authority
Executive Director, Public Health Response
Celeta Marie Cook is the Executive Director, Public Health Response at the First Nations Health Authority (FNHA), where she has worked since 2016. She was born and raised in Deseronto, Ontario, and is of mixed Kanien’kehá:ka and settler ancestry, with roots in Tyendinega. She currently resides on unceded Snuneymuxw territory on what’s commonly known as Vancouver Island.
Celeta’s time with FNHA has involved work in community health and wellness services, including mental health and wellness, toxic drug response, and health emergency management. Celeta is a PhD candidate at the University of Victoria, in the Social Dimensions of Health program. Her research direction includes Indigenous-specific racism, structural and systemic violence, medical colonialism, and decolonizing evaluations. She has a Master’s in Dispute Resolution from the University of Victoria, with a focus on assessing the provision of culturally safe care in primary care settings. She enjoys spending time on the land, and when not in the woods she can be found crafting, beading, and enjoying time with her family.
Chelsea Siler, BC Securities Commission
Manager of Investor Education & Engagement
Chelsea Siler is a research-driven marketing professional with a strong background in digital and social media. She currently helps British Columbians feel confident in their investments by using research and insights to empower investors to recognize and report fraud.
Previously, she helped Canadians feel connected to their national public broadcaster by sharing traditional media content in fresh and innovative ways. Through creative social campaigns — including getting Canadians to voluntarily wake up at 2 a.m. to cheer for Team Canada (#UpWithCBC) — she helped build national engagement and pride.
Over the years, she has interviewed celebrities, won awards, and consistently gone the extra mile(s) to create meaningful, high-impact work.
In her spare time, she can often be found running up and down mountains — sometimes for days at a time.
Cori Maedel, Jouta Performance Group
Founder
For nearly two decades, Cori Maedel led Jouta Performance Group with heart, humour, and a deep belief that culture and people-centered leadership are the true foundations of strong organizations. Her journey has been shaped by the trust of Indigenous Nations and the enduring support of AFOABC, where she first spoke in 2008.
Now stepping into a new chapter of life beyond consulting, Cori returns to this stage not as a consultant, but as a woman of gratitude — here to honour the relationships that shaped her path, say a heartfelt goodbye, and share a few reflections on what it all meant.
Craig Moore, Rider Ventures
President
raig Moore is the President of Rider Ventures and an emergency management professional with over 20 years of experience in wildfire management, structural firefighting, and flood response. He began his career as a structural firefighter, advancing through the ranks to Lieutenant, Captain, and Training Officer before joining the Ministry of Forests’ Wildfire Management Branch, where he served as a Crew Leader for both Initial Attack and Unit Crew teams.
Craig holds Incident Command 400 certification and is a Certified Task Force Leader, Strike Team Leader, and Instructor for the Ministry of Forests. He regularly trains fire departments, First Nations groups, contract crews, and local agencies, and brings extensive expertise in helicopter and medivac operations.
He is deeply committed to sustainable land stewardship, FireSmart practices, and fuel reduction work, leading crews that complete roughly 600 hectares of mitigation each year. Craig collaborates closely with Indigenous communities, local organizations, and provincial partners to support community resilience and responsible land management.
Under his leadership, Rider Ventures has expanded its capabilities to include wildfire crews, structural protection teams, danger tree assessors, fallers, medics, chainsaw crews, and flood response teams. Known for his hands-on approach and strong community relationships, Craig brings a holistic blend of traditional and modern practices to emergency management.
He firmly believes that wildfire preparedness is everyone’s responsibility and continues to advocate for safe, healthy forests and communities across British Columbia.
Jenn Schofield, MNP
MBA, CPA, CA, CAFM Partner, Indigenous Services
Jenn Schofield is a Partner and MNP’s Financial Services Director for Indigenous Services. In this role, Jenn leads the Indigenous ease External Financial Advisory and cloud accounting program for Indigenous communities and organizations across Canada. She brings more than 15 years of experience in program management and financial administration with Indigenous communities to her role.
Jenn graduated from the University of British Columbia with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in political science in 2007 and from Vancouver Island University with a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in 2009. She is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA), qualifying as a Chartered Accountant (CA) in 2014. She is a Certified Aboriginal Financial Manager (CAFM) (2016) and holds a CFO as Navigator certificate (2019) from CPA BC and an Organizational Leadership certificate (2023) from Harvard Business School Online.
Justin Jimmy, Urban Cree Consulting
CEO
Justin Jimmy Cree from Onion Lake Cree Nation in Saskatchewan and a leader in accounting, finance and governance dedicated to advancing economic reconciliation and capacity building in Indigenous communities. As CEO of Urban Cree Consulting, Justin brings over a decade of experience in executive leadership, board governance, and financial management.
Holding the CPA (Chartered Professional Accountant), CAFM (Certified Aboriginal Financial Manager), and ICD.D board governance certification, Justin has served in senior roles across corporate, non-profit, and Indigenous organizations including SERVUS Credit Union, AFOA Alberta, Métis Settlements Development Corporation, and Siksika Group of Companies.
Justin integrates lived experience with professional expertise to empower leaders navigating complex governance and financial landscapes.
Beyond finance, Justin is passionate about education and knowledge sharing evident by also being a licensed flight instructor and an advocate for creating pathways for Indigenous youth in aviation and business.
Kathy Ferguson, First Nations' Emergency Services Society
Fire Service Officer
My name is Kathy Ferguson, and I’m a Fire Service Officer with FNESS. I’ve been in the fire industry for over 25 years, and I’m grateful to bring that experience into my role supporting and training our First Nation communities in fire safety.
My family is from Esketemc First Nation, and I currently live on Vancouver Island, where I work remotely and travel throughout the province. When I’m not working, I love spending time with my family, going hiking, and enjoying the ocean.
Ken Gracey, BC Securities Commission
Manager of Corporate Communications
Ken Gracey is the Manager of Corporate Communications at the BC Securities Commission, where he works to strengthen public understanding of the BCSC and better connect the organization with those who can benefit from its role in the capital markets. With a focus on clear, strategic communication, Ken is dedicated to helping investors and stakeholders access the information they need to make confident, informed decisions.
Leslie Varley, Interior Health Authority
VP, Indigenous Partnerships
Leslie is a passionate advocate for Indigenous wellness and reconciliation with over 25 years of experience leading systemic change across the health and non-profit sectors. A proud member of the Nisga’a Nation, she has served as Executive Director of the BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres—where she launched the MBA in Advancing Reconciliation with the Gustavson School of Business—and led the Fraser Region Aboriginal Friendship Centre.
Her extensive work in the health sector includes advancing Indigenous health priorities across 18 tertiary care agencies and seven health authorities, mentoring Indigenous leaders, and strengthening cultural safety. She collaborated closely with BC Regional Health Authorities and the First Nations Health Authority to improve health outcomes for Indigenous peoples.
Leslie also established San’yas Indigenous Cultural Safety Training, the first province-wide anti-Indigenous racism program in BC’s health sector and a national standard for cultural safety education. Her leadership continues to support Indigenous-led health strategies, anti-racism initiatives, and improved wellness outcomes.
She holds an MBA in Aboriginal Business from Simon Fraser University, has training in historic art conservation and conflict resolution, and is a published author. Leslie serves on the boards of the Central City Foundation and the Victoria Forum.
Lucas Davenport, Alliant Risk Control Consulting
Risk Control Consultant
As a Risk Control Consultant for Alliant Risk Control Consulting
Services, Lucas works with Alliant clients to provide risk control
services and resources needed to identify and manage risks
associated with their entity.
Lucas has a 17-year career as an independent consultant providing
risk control services to commercial and public entity clients across
a wide variety of industries and interests. Since 2020, Lucas has
provided his expertise in safety consultation, property assessment,
claims analysis, and risk control to pooling and public entity clients
across the United States. Prior to joining Alliant, Lucas was a
Senior Risk Control Consultant for a public entity pooling program
with a major national broker.
Lucas began his career as an independent Risk Control Consultant
in 2005 during recovery efforts in the Gulf South following
Hurricane Katrina. Over the course of his career, Lucas has been
responsible for implementing general risk control services and
initiatives in a very diverse set of work environments. Lucas has
consistently assisted clients in minimizing the health and safety
risks of their employees and customers and the risks of damage to
their facilities and property.
Matt Nelson, First Nations' Emergency Services Society
Integrated Fire Management Supervisor
Matt Nelson is from the Lil’wat Nation in Mount Currie, BC, where he grew up. He joined FNESS in August 2023, initially starting as a Wildfire Specialist on the Mitigation team before transitioning into his current role as Integrated Fire Management Supervisor.
Matt brings extensive field experience, having worked 11 years as a Type 1 Wildland Firefighter. Throughout his career, he served on three different unit crews, most notably as the Crew Supervisor for the Salish Unit Crew.
Morly Bishop, Acera Insurance
Co-National Practice Lead – Indigenous Practice Group
Partner, Senior Client Executive
Morly Bishop is a cornerstone of the Acera Commercial Insurance Indigenous Practice Group, providing strategic oversight and collaborative leadership alongside our team of broker and skilled advisory assistants.
With over a decade of experience as a licensed insurance broker and extensive expertise in serving Indigenous organizations, Morly is among the industry’s most accomplished professionals. His proactive approach to risk management is rooted in deep industry knowledge and strategic relationships, ensuring his clients benefit from innovative loss prevention strategies.
Neal Thunder Chief, JS Held
B Mgt, BA, CPPA, WRT, FSRT,
Regional Lead, Technical Services - Building Consulting
Neal Thunder Chief specializes in the construction and restoration industry and the cost analysis and damage quantification of property claims. With over 15 years of experience in the Construction Industry, Neal provides consulting and expert services for a broad array of Public and Private Sector clientele. He has been involved in new, design-build and restoration projects throughout Canada.
Prior to joining J.S. Held, Neal spent numerous years in the construction industry where he built his understanding of project management and estimating experience of commercial, institutional, residential, and agricultural buildings. Neal holds a combined Bachelor of Management and Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Lethbridge.
Scott Saunders, AFN Insurance Brokers Inc.
Vice President
BIO
Tim Leech, Alliant Consulting/Tribal First
First Vice President, Risk Control Consulting
BIO
Yogesh Bhathella, Doane Grant Thornton LLP
Partner, Tax Services
Yogesh is passionate about helping family businesses reach their financial goals and preserve their legacy across generations. With over 20 years of experience, he provides expert tax, estate, and business succession planning advice to family-held businesses across a wide range of industries. He brings deep knowledge in advising Indigenous organizations, private businesses and high net worth families on complex tax and business matters, including wealth preservation, business reorganizations, gift and inheritance tax planning, trust and estate tax services, and guidance related to acquisitions and divestitures.
Beyond his client work, Yogesh is active in his professional and local communities. He regularly shares his expertise through presentations and educational courses, including as an instructor for CPA BC and as a speaker for the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) and the Canadian Association of Gift Planners (CAGP). He also devotes his time to non-profit work and currently serves as past chair of STEP’s Vancouver branch, while contributing to the Tax Technical Committee for STEP Canada.
Tim Leech, Alliant Consulting/Tribal First
First Vice President, Risk Control Consulting
BIO