Our Board of Directors
The current Board Members of First Pension Plan & Benefits Co-operative Ltd. were announced on 30 November 2009.
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Dennis Meeches, Long Plain First Nation
Specialty: Economic Development
Dennis is currently Director of Aboriginal Health Care & Business Solutions for Four Rivers Medical Clinic. He formerly served as Chief of Long Plain for over 10 years, and is highly respected by First Nation and Government leaders. Previously, Dennis gained national attention for governance initiatives and transparency, served as Commissioner of the Manitoba Gaming Control Commission, as Director of the Aboriginal Financial Officer’s Association (AFOA), was the winner of the 2005 Economic Developer of the Year Award for Long Plain First Nation from the Council for the Advancement of Native Development Officers (CANDO), and was instrumental in the development and success of Arrowhead Development Corporation.
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Rodney Nelson, C. Dir. PhD., Anishinabe (from Ottawa)
Specialty: Board Governance, Chair of the Board
Rodney is currently CEO and Principal of the Global Governance Group in Ottawa. He also serves on the Faculty Board at Carleton University, is a former Senior Manager at the Conference Board of Canada, is a former Director of Evaluation at the Public Works & Government Services Canada, holds the Chartered Director Designation from The Directors College at McMaster University, is a member of the Institute of Corporate Directors of Canada, and is a member of the Ethics Practitioners Association of Canada. Rodney has also Rrepresented Canada at the APEC Symposium on Pandemic Influenza in 2008, and is a member of the Anishinabek First Nation Economic Development Committee, a think tank of national Aboriginal leaders committed to the strategic direction for the economic development plan for the Anishinabek Nation.
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Sam Murdock, Fisher River Cree Nation
Specialty: Government Relations, Human Resources
Sam is currently the Director of Operations for his home community. In this capacity he will oversee development of Fisher River’s 88-lot cottage development on Lake Winnipeg, among other duties. Sam has worked closely with Indian Affairs, Health Canada and the provincial government in Manitoba. Previously, he served for six years as Chief of Staff for the Southern Chiefs’ Organization, was Chief of his community as well as a Councilor for 18 years, was Chair of the Freshwater Fish Marketing Board for two years, and then President and CEO for three years—he is now with the Manitoba Commercial Inland Fishers Federation. Sam also still holds his fisher’s license for Lake Winnipeg and works his own quota every year.
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Robert Selkirk, Fisher River Cree Nation
Specialty: Financials, Investments & Insurance, on Board Audit Committee
Robert is currently the Finance Officer at Fisher River Cree Nation. A Business Administration graduate with eight years of personal banking management experience at RBC Royal Bank, six years of financial officer experience at Ochekwi-Sipi Economic Development Corporation, a former role as Bank Manager at RBC Royal Bank at Peguis First Nation, Robert also has experience as a Registered Mutual Funds salesman through the Investment Funds Institute of Canada (IFIC). He has also actively marketed Life Insurance & Disability Insurance, and played a key role in On Reserve Mortgages, working hand-in-hand with local economic development corporations regarding lending to small businesses. Robert completed Co-op Developer’s Training and Co-op Board Governance Training in 2008, and is a member of the Aboriginal Financial Officers Association (AFOA).
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Sharon Ostberg, Pic River First Nation
Specialty: Human Resources
Sharon is currently a Project Development Manager with Parks Canada, Lake Superior National Marine Conservation Area. A Senior Executive Manager for 10 years, she holds over 20 years of experience in management of Federal Government programs within Parks Canada, organizational design, and program development (specializing in service management and client satisfaction processes). Sharon is adept at delivering multiple concurrent projects, managing expectations, building trust and aligning goals. She has been formally recognized by the ADM for Service Excellence, Ontario Director for Business Planning development, and Innovative Human Resource Planning. Sharon has completed numerous Public Service Commission courses in Human Resource Development and organizational design (including Career Planning, Recruiting, Retention and Training) is experienced in conducting various exit interviews, grievance processes, harassment training, is familiar with the use of various computer programs, and knowledgeable regarding most financial management practices.
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Erwin Redsky, Shoal Lake #40 First Nation
Specialty: Business Development, Governance
Erwin is currently Band Manager for Shawanaga First Nation near Parry Sound Ontario. A graduate of the University of Manitoba’s Management Program in Community and Economic Development, he went on to become the trainer and coordinator for the Southeast Tribal Council Economic Development Officer Training program in Manitoba. Erwin has formerly served as Chief of his community for two consecutive terms, before which we was a Councilor for two consecutive terms holding responsibility for the Finance Portfolio (previously to he had held the position of Finance Administrator for three years). Erwin is focused on helping First Nations achieve good governance, self-determination, and economic self-sufficiency, and sits on the Networking Committee for Governance for Ontario First Nations.