Thompson Rivers University, Faculty of Law and the International Inter-tribal Trade and Investment Organization (IITIO) is pleased to welcome JP Gladu, CCAB President to the conference line up.  He will be presenting this Friday November 11 on  the topic “Indigenous Canada is Open for Inter-tribal Trade and Investment”.

Jean Paul (JP) Gladu is currently the President and CEO of the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business (CCAB) based in Toronto.  Anishinaabe from Thunder Bay JP is a member of Bingwi Neyaashi Anishinaabek located on the eastern shores of Lake Nipigon, Ontario.  JP completed a forestry technician diploma in 1993, obtained an undergraduate degree in forestry from Northern Arizona University in 2000 and holds an Executive MBA from Queens University. JP has over two decades of experience in the natural resource sector. His career path includes work with Aboriginal communities and organizations, environmental non-government organizations, industry and governments from across Canada.

In JP’s current capacity at CCAB, he speaks extensively not only across Canada but internationally as he shares the challenges and successes of Aboriginal business in Canada today.  In 2014 he addressed delegates at the World Indigenous Business Forum, in 2015 he presented at both the Sodexo Quality of Life Conference and the Corporate Leadership Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Building a Community of Practice Conference in New York City.

Currently, JP serves on the Colleges and Institutes Canada (previously ACCC), the Northern Policy Institute, Canadian Foundation for Economic Education, is an advisory member to the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers, a committee member to the Provincial Forest Policy Committee and was recently appointed to Ontario Power Generation’s Board of Directors. In 2014, he was identified as a Diversity 50 Board Ready Candidate from the Canadian Board Diversity Council and a recipient of the Community Service Award – Transformation Awards from Diversity Magazine.

As a father to his young daughter Chloe, along with a passion for his community, his culture and traditions; JP brings the past, present and future to the table, moving non-Aboriginal and Aboriginal business toward sustainable partnerships and shared economic prosperity.