President

Danielle Paradis is an award-winning journalist, educator, and media professional committed to amplifying Indigenous voices and bridging traditional knowledge with modern communication platforms. A proud member of the Manitoba Metis Federation, Danielle’s work spans journalism, academia, and community leadership. With bylines in APTN, Canadaland, Chatelaine, The Walrus, and Maclean’s, she covers topics like Indigenous issues, politics, arts, culture, and true crime.

As an assistant professor of journalism at MacEwan University, Danielle brings practical expertise and a Master’s in Learning and Technology to her teaching. A sought-after speaker on topics such as Indigenous data sovereignty and reconciliation, Danielle’s work, including an award-winning profile of Dr Wilton Littlechild, emphasises the integration of Indigenous knowledge and storytelling across various media formats.

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Board Member

Billy Turner is an experienced legal and Indigenous relations consultant with a Juris Doctor from the University of Alberta and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Indigenous Studies from the University of Calgary. Specialising in natural resources, Aboriginal law, and negotiations, Billy has developed a strong foundation in legal research, writing, and advocacy. He is the founder of Bronco Consulting Ltd., where he provides government and Indigenous relations services. 

Billy previously served as the Executive Director for the Nakcowinewak Nation of Canada, where he focused on developing partnerships and reconciliation efforts with federal government agencies. He also teaches part-time at Yellowhead Tribal College, offering courses on Indigenous laws and community development. A member of the Indigenous Friends Association’s Board of Directors, Billy continues to support Indigenous communities through education, advocacy, and building positive relationships.

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Board Member
Carson Healey is a non-Indigenous ally and lawyer specialising in labour and employment law. She holds a B.Sc. from the University of Toronto and a J.D. from the University of Western Ontario.

With a deep-rooted passion for justice and community empowerment, Carson is always keen on opportunities to help and facilitate stable growth. Motivated by the belief that true progress is rooted in meaningful mentorship and community-driven solutions, Carson is honoured to contribute her skills, knowledge, and dedication to the IFA’s projects and endeavours.

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Board Member

Jeong-Wan is a non-indigenous ally and a Programmatic Marketing Lead at Google, where she works with some of the world’s largest retailers to bring digital transformation to their marketing programs. Prior to Google, Jeong-Wan built her career around building Digital Advertising Solutions and Platform Sales at Amazon and global ad agencies. She holds an MSc from the London School of Economics and a BA from McGill University.

Passionate about empowering women and students, Jeong-Wan has held industry leadership and volunteering positions at various career development organizations, including IAB Canada, General Assembly, Monday Girl, University of Toronto’s Rotman Commerce, and Girls E-Mentorship. As a non-indigenous ally, she is committed to using her perspectives and experiences to contribute to the IFA’s mission of increasing the representation of Indigenous knowledge and people within the tech industry.

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Board Member

Karen Arthurton recognizes herself as a settler on First Nation, Metis and Inuit Peoples’ Land and strives to be a co-conspirator by decolonizing mind, body and spirit. Karen is a Contract Lecturer in the School of Social Work at Toronto Metropolitan University. Her teaching strategies include participatory teaching, storytelling, spoken word; where learning is a shared experience and the expertise of both teacher and learner are equally valued. Karen's efforts have recently been recognized as Karen was awarded the Dean's Teaching Award for the second time. 

Karen has worked with youth and youth serving professionals for over thirty years and is best known for design and facilitation of workshops focusing on Anti-Oppression/Anti Black Racism.n goes here

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Board Member

Rowen Ho is a non-indigenous ally and chartered accountant with extensive experience in the Financial Services industry. She is currently the Senior Director of RBC’s Global Markets Financial Control team. Prior to joining RBC, she worked with various financial institutions, building her career predominantly with investment banks in the UK.

Rowen is passionate about giving back to her community and is honoured to co-chair RBC’s 2022 Employee Giving Campaign for the CFO Group. She strongly believes in the value of diversity and inclusion. She hopes to help IFA develop a sustainable model to continue providing Indigenous youth the capabilities to find their voice through building bridges and communities in technology-related spaces.

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Board Member

Ruth is an activist turned accidental academic. Koleszar-Green identifies as an urban Indigenous person, and is a citizen of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy. She is from the Mohawk Nation and is a member of the Turtle Clan.

Ruth is interested in Onkwehonwe (the Mohawk word for "original people") knowledges, approaches and world views. As a teacher, Ruth utilizes Onkwehonwe pedagogies including storytelling, experiential learning, and reciprocal relationship building.

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Board Member

Ryan St. Germaine is a seasoned entrepreneur, AI strategist, and advocate for Indigenous leadership in technology. As the Founder and CEO of the Indigenous Tech Circle, he established Canada’s largest Indigenous-led tech network, fostering growth, collaboration, and innovation among over 350 Indigenous founders, leaders, and changemakers. Now, as Board Chair of the Circle’s non-profit, he leads a 100% Indigenous board focused on strategic vision and impactful programming.

With a career spanning HRTech, EdTech, AI-driven insights, and social recruitment, Ryan has co-founded and led companies like BCjobs.ca and Jobcast to successful exits. His expertise includes AI, product development, marketplace innovation, and purpose-driven community building. As an Executive in Residence with Foresight Canada, New Ventures BC, and Raven Indigenous Capital Partners, he mentors founders on AI, scaling ventures, and community-driven impact. Known for building resilient tech ecosystems, Ryan empowers Indigenous professionals by connecting them to capital, mentorship, and growth.

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