Jacqueline Jennings is of mixed heritage; Northern Cree, Anishinaabe, Métis, and European settler descent. For over a decade, she has guided entrepreneurs in the creation of impactful and purpose-driven businesses as both a coach and the designer of three Canadian start-up accelerators. Her work focuses on supporting economic sovereignty, reconciliation, and revitalization through decolonizing support for Indigenous-led businesses and leadership. Jacqueline is an Associate of Raven Indigenous Capital and the Director of the Fireweed Fellowship. She lives as an uninvited guest in the stolen unceded territory of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh people, in what is currently known as Gibsons, BC.

Candice identifies as an urban Indigenous woman of mixed ancestry, with the privilege of being white passing and the longing of someone raised outside of her territory and culture. She is Secwepemc (Bonaparte Band) and Chinese on her maternal side, and English and Irish on her paternal side.Candice grew up on Haisla territory (Kitimat); lived on the territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples (Toronto); and now resides on the unceded, traditional territory of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, səl̓ílwətaʔɬ, and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm peoples (Vancouver).

Professionally, Candice has worked within the social enterprise sector for over 10 years; starting out in Vancouver’s downtown east side, and then within the Friendship Centre movement in Ontario. She now works for RADIUS SFU, a social innovation hub with a vision of economic systems change, managing the First Peoples Enterprise Accelerator Program (FPEAP). The FPEAP partners with Indigenous-led organizations to co-create entrepreneurial programs for entrepreneurs in their community.

Christy Smith, BA. NS, MBA, K'ómoks First Nation, is a highly skilled and accomplished professional with 22 years of proven expertise in initiating strategic discussions and delivering on projects with and for Indigenous communities. She has experience in strategic planning, business development, community planning, land use planning, community consultation, negotiations, risk assessments, and development of indigenized training and curriculum. Her work is deeply rooted in reconciliation and decolonizing the approach to business and working relationships. Christy is the Project Manager for the Fireweed Fellowship.