Tabatha is Anishinaabe, a proud member of Nipissing First Nation. As the President and CEO of Canadian Council for Indigenous Business (CCIB), she is committed to rebuilding and strengthening the path toward reconciliation and fostering a prosperous Indigenous economy for the benefit of all Canadians. With a degree in electrical engineering, Tabatha is dedicated to supporting Indigenous inclusion and diversity in Canada’s energy sector.
Tabatha’s leadership has been widely recognized. She was named CEO of the Year in 2022 by the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, one of Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women in 2023, and has been recognized as a Top 100 Lobbyist in Canada four years in a row. In recognition of her contributions to Indigenous economic development, she was awarded an Honorary Diploma from Loyalist College in Applied Arts and Technology. She has also received her ICD.D designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors, demonstrating her commitment to excellence in corporate governance and board leadership.
Serving the Indigenous community through CCIB’s commitment to supporting the Indigenous economy, Tabatha is often called upon to provide input to the federal government. She attended the 2023 North American Leaders Summit, joining delegates from Canada, Mexico, and the USA, and served on the Indo-Pacific Advisory Committee, offering recommendations on trade diversification, inclusive growth, and climate change. She was also a past member of the Government of Canada’s COVID-19 Supply Council, where she advocated for the inclusion of Indigenous businesses in Canada’s pandemic response and most recently has joined the Council on CAN-U.S. Relations.
Tabatha is a strong advocate for Indigenous economic growth through her work with various organizations, committees, and boards. She currently sits on the Board of Directors for Dexterra Group, Wigwamen Inc., Ontario Chamber of Commerce, and the Catalyst CEO Advisory Board in Canada, among others. As an appointee of the Catalyst CEO Advisory Board, she collaborates with global business leaders to help build workplaces that work for women. She is also a member of Queen’s University Dean of Engineering’s Circle of Advisors, Universities Canada’s Global Skills Opportunity Program Advisory Group, and the C.D. Howe Institute’s Energy Policy Program.
Tabatha has appeared numerous times before the Senate and House of Commons, and spoke at the World Trade Organization and in France and the UK advocating for Indigenous business issues.
She also served as a main judge on Bears’ Lair, an Indigenous TV series on APTN dedicated to fostering Indigenous entrepreneurship. Above all else, Tabatha is a proud mother to two incredible young men and is happiest cheering them on from the side of the hockey rink or lacrosse field.
