Calgary, AB – May 9, 2019 – Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business (CCAB) is pleased to announce that Sean Finn, Executive Vice-President Corporate Services and Chief Legal Officer of CN is the new Co-Chair of CCAB’sSupply Change initiative.
Mr. Finn succeeds Mark Little, CEO of Suncor, who served as the first Co-Chair when the initiative launched last May. The announcement was made at the Aboriginal Economic Development Conference (AEDC) being held today at the Westin in Calgary.
Supply Change is CCAB’s Aboriginal Procurement initiative that aims to create long-term sustainable opportunities for Aboriginal businesses and a meaningful advance of Indigenous participation in the economy.
“Our Supply Change initiative is undergoing unprecedented growth and much of that success is a result of Mark Little’s commitment and leadership,” says JP Gladu, President and CEO of CCAB. “We are honoured to have Sean Finn step into the Co-Chair role. Sean’s extensive knowledge, vision and passion for driving Aboriginal business growth makes him an ideal Co-Chair.”
Over the past year the number of Aboriginal Procurement Champions grew by 75% to 51 Champions. Procurement Champions are leading Canadian companies that commit themselves to increasing procurement opportunities for Aboriginal-owned businesses and pledge to motivate companies within their networks to join the movement.
Supply Change also includes Canada’s largest directory of Certified Aboriginal Businesses (CABs), which are independently certified as at least 51% Aboriginal owned and operated. In the past year, the directory grew by 97% and today there are 276 CAB companies listed.
Sean brings extensive experience in legal, government, regulatory and industry relations to his new role.
“Supply Change is all about building robust supplier networks and advancing economic reconciliation,” says Sean Finn, Executive Vice-President Corporate Services and Chief Legal Officer for CN. “I am honoured to be named Co-Chair and look forward to supporting the continued, rapid expansion of this exciting procurement initiative. The incredible success of Supply Change underscores the exceptional talent of Indigenous entrepreneurs and the power of partnerships with Aboriginal businesses.”
Supply Change includes a digital Aboriginal Procurement Marketplace through which corporations and small and medium enterprises (SME’s) with procurement opportunities can easily connect on-line with qualified Aboriginal companies.
Participation in CCAB’s Supply Change initiative is open to all corporations and SMEs with the potential to include Aboriginal-owned companies in their supplier networks.
Fifty-one corporations have joined Supply Change as Aboriginal Procurement Champions. They include: Black & McDonald, BMO, The Bouchier Group, Bruce Power, Cameco, Cascade Projects, CIBC, City of Toronto Civeo,Clough Enercore, CN, Compass Group, Cortex, ES Fox Limited, Express Scripts, Fisher Powerline Construction, Fluor, Forest Products Association of Canada, Fort McKay First Nation, Fort McKay Group of Companies,General Dynamics Land Systems – Canada, Hydro One, Imperial Oil, Industry Training Authority, Infield Solutions, LiUNA, Metrolinx, Nutrien, Ontario Power Generation, ORIGIN, Procon, RBC, Resolute Forest Products,SaskPower, Simon Fraser University, Sodexo, Stantec, Strategic Natural Resource Consultants Inc. Suncor, Syncrude, The State Group Inc., Tolko, Tuccaro, Union Gas, University of Saskatchewan, Venshore Mechanical, and VIP Powerline
About CCAB
CCAB is committed to the full participation of Indigenous peoples in Canada’s economy. A national, non-partisan association, CCAB offers knowledge, resources and programs to both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal owned companies that foster economic opportunities for Indigenous peoples and businesses across Canada.
