Our Team
Laureen Whyte
Laureen is a social performance professional with over 25 years of experience as a senior practitioner, project manager, and strategist.
She supports our clients’ success in Indigenous, stakeholder, and government engagement, policy, legislative and regulatory processes, land use/land and resource management, negotiating agreements, Indigenous capacity building policy, and cultural and participatory research.
Working primarily with First Nations and in the natural resources, infrastructure, non-profit, and transportation sectors, Laureen has worked in several regulatory jurisdictions and in collaboration with team of multi-disciplinary consultants (social science, engineering, environmental, legal) on major projects in north, west and central Canada, the eastern United States, and South America.
Laureen was formerly Executive Director of Clean Energy BC, and prior to that, Acting CEO at the Association for Mineral Exploration BC. At Clean Energy BC, Laureen championed the formation of a First Nation Working Group to develop a business case for creating a BC First Nations Power Authority and negotiating with the province of BC for First Nation access to retail electricity markets and related electricity opportunities. She also developed and advanced initiatives in corporate social responsibility, Indigenous and community engagement, consultation and economic development, land use planning, environmental assessment and public policy.
Laureen is a Director on the Board of Catalyste+, which builds capacity in Indigenous communities in Canada and around the world. She was founder and Chair of the BC Aboriginal Mine Training Association, and led the creation of an Indigenous women’s leadership and mentoring program “Combining our Strength” for Minerva Foundation for BC Women. Laureen created Northern Opportunities in northeastern BC, an educational articulated (secondary and post-secondary) partnership.
Associates
Ursus Wildlands Consulting
Guiding principled and ethical stewardship.
https://www.ursuswild.com/
Ursus Wildlands is a boutique environmental consulting firm, focused on advocacy for the ethical stewardship of natural resources. Our approach to sustainability is grounded in ecological and traditional knowledge principles. We believe that the conservation of natural systems, communities and economies require strategic approaches to land and water use and the reconciliation of differing world views.
Temixw Planning
http://temixw.com/
Temixw provides consulting and advisory services to First Nation governments and organizations to plan for community & economic development and to implement these plans to enhance the quality of life of First Nations people in Canada.
Temixw Planning brings a wealth of First Nations experience to the table. We understand the challenges and demands at the community level. We are familiar with the various planning initiatives undertaken by First Nations communities, and difficulty in implementing these plans. We also understand recent legislative initiatives and choices that are now available to First Nations.
We believe that the most effective way to improve the social and economic conditions in First Nations communities is by creating an environment that facilitates responsible economic development and provides employment opportunities for community members.
Bunyaad Public Affairs
https://bunyaad.ca/
We help clients build healthy, more inclusive communities.
Your stakeholders deserve a process that asks the right questions and leverages the right tools to connect. Expectations are often high and their time is limited.
We offer clients evidence-based engagement and consultation strategies that lead to deeper connections.
On Common Ground is an international consulting company specializing in enhancing social performance and socially sustainable outcomes for the global resource sector.
On Common Ground offers a comprehensive range of services supporting social performance and socially sustainable development in the global resource sector. Our clients come to us because we are innovators and leaders in strategic analysis and program design, from policy development and corporate due diligence, through to new approaches that continuously improve socially responsible business practices.
Our approach is rooted in the belief that resource development can and should provide shared benefits to both companies and their stakeholders.
On Common Ground is comprised of a core network of highly experienced practitioners offering:
- Strategic social assistance & due diligence
- Social performance support
- Training & capacity building
cobalt strategy group
Public Engagement l Digital Strategy l Media Relations l Government Relations
https://www.cobaltstrategy.ca/
Cobalt Strategy Group is a consulting firm in Vancouver, BC created to help organizations, businesses, and individuals improve the effectiveness of their work through creative and robust policy development, responsive and engaging public relations, and smarter networking with lawmakers and public service professionals
Cobalt works with clients to improve their public presence, frame messaging, improve content, and obtain meaningful data to improve effectiveness. Whether it’s a social post, public speech, news release, press statement, web content, etc. we are here to help you succeed. We also specialize in the strategic communications around issues management and responses to public perception.
For years, we have closely worked with lawmakers, their staff, and different members of the public service at the various levels of government throughout Canada. It takes experience, carefully curated relationships, and know-how to meaningfully advocate for a cause and/or organization. Our firm has a large and growing network.
