In my role as a client liaison, I support Indigenous communities by helping bridge communication between administration, technical teams, and funding agencies. I work closely with directors and managers of Public Works, Capital Projects, and Housing departments, listening carefully to their priorities and helping ensure those priorities are clearly reflected in technical work, funding applications, and project planning.
Often, I’m invited to sit alongside community administration as a support, someone who can help interpret technical details, navigate funding requirements, and keep projects moving when things become stuck or complex. Clients have described me as a steady presence or a right hand, someone they can rely on to ask the right questions, speak up when needed, and stay grounded in what matters most to the community.
I stay involved throughout the process, helping keep communication open between consultants, funders, contractors, and internal teams. I also support communities in identifying the people and resources they need to move their ideas forward, whether that’s sourcing funding, hiring staff, or coordinating a professional team to take a project from concept to completion.
At the heart of this work is trust. I see my role as walking alongside communities, helping them move forward with clarity and confidence, while always respecting that they know best what’s right for their people and their future.
In my role as a strategic advisor, I support Indigenous communities in thinking through the big picture, how housing, infrastructure, funding, and long-term planning all connect. Much of this work involves helping communities identify opportunities, align projects with available funding streams, and build strong, clear cases for support.
Since 2015, I’ve had the privilege of working alongside communities to develop successful funding applications for housing, roads, water, and wastewater systems resulting in more than $200 million in funding through Indigenous Services Canada, Infrastructure Canada, and the Government of Alberta. I don’t take that lightly. These outcomes reflect the strength of the communities’ visions and the collective effort it takes to bring those visions forward.
My role is to support that process by helping shape strategy, write and review applications, and ensure that technical information is clearly connected to community priorities. Whether we’re laying the groundwork for a large capital project or identifying how to unlock small but critical investments, I work to help communities move forward in a way that’s practical, coordinated, and rooted in long-term goals.
In many of the projects I’ve supported, I’ve taken on a project manager role with a focus on walking alongside community staff, supporting them in leading their own projects while offering backup, structure, and technical guidance when needed. My goal in this role is not to take over, but to help build internal capacity so communities feel confident managing their projects independently, now and in the future.
This often involves coordinating both internal and external teams, supporting project planning, tracking timelines and budgets, and helping ensure that work stays on scope and aligned with community priorities. I also assist with total project budgeting, financial reporting, and liaising with funders from initial approval through to final reporting, always working to make these processes more accessible and manageable for the Nation.
I see this role as part coach, part safety net. I’m there to help when things get busy or complex, but I’m always looking for ways to keep ownership and knowledge in the hands of community staff. The most meaningful outcomes aren’t just the physical projects, they’re the growing confidence, skills, and leadership that communities carry into their next initiative.