Starting the Discussion

The presentation provides a brief overview of the culture and history of Indigenous people in Canada and engages the participant to examine their own views and conceptions of the Indigenous people. The discussion provides a context to understand current Indigenous issues and invites deeper personal reflection on how reconciliation may be addressed.

Speaker

Robert Andrews, CPA, CMA, MBA

Robert Andrews is the Executive Director of the AFOA Alberta and is the Chair of Indigenous Business, and Assistant Professor within the Faculty of Business, Athabasca University. He is a member of the Blood Tribe. Robert has developed and delivered management programs to Indigenous organizations across Canada and has authored numerous teaching case-studies. He designed a culturally relevant management program for First Nations’ senior management and co-developed the curriculum for Harvard Business School’s executive certificate - Leading People and Investing to Build Sustainable Communities for Indigenous Leaders. He innovated management undergraduate instruction to Indigenous people to address systemic barriers to success with Athabasca University and co-developed their Indigenous major within the Bachelor of Commerce program, as part of the No Limits initiative with the CPA Education Foundation.

Robert is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CMA), holds an MBA with Distinction from Cornell University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from the University of Calgary where he is currently a doctoral student at the Haskayne School of Business. His research interests focus on understanding the role and efficacy of managerial training within First Nation administrations and the socio-spiritual and economic impacts on community members.