Ottawa, March 23, 2017 – The National Aboriginal Capital Corporations Association (NACCA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Gerry Huebner as Chief Strategy Officer. Gerry graduated from Trent University in 1983 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and went on to earn his Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Queens University in 1986.

“I’m looking forward to working with NACCA and helping Aboriginal Financial Institutions access the resources and tools needed to ensure that financial and business support services can continue to be made available to Aboriginal entrepreneurs across the country,” said Gerry. “The successes of the AFI network appears to be a well-kept secret – it’s a good news story that has to be shared more widely.”

Gerry has 30 years of experience in Aboriginal economic and business development. He has held a variety of progressive positions over his career. After graduating from university, he worked for the Royal Bank of Canada as a branch manager in Toronto, Ontario. In 1987, Gerry joined the Native Community Branch, Government of Ontario, as an economic development officer. A short time later, he assisted in the implementation of a business development program in Northern Ontario and was promoted to manager, economic development.

In 1990, Gerry moved to Aboriginal Business Canada (ABC) at Industry Canada (now known as Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada), holding positions in Toronto and Sudbury, Ontario. In this capacity, he worked directly with Indigenous entrepreneurs and First Nation communities, and developed key partnerships with a number of Aboriginal Financial Institutions (AFIs). He also worked to establish and expand third party delivery of ABC’s programming by AFIs. In 1998, Gerry moved to Ottawa to manage the development and implementation of Access to Capital programming in partnership with Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC), the Regional Development Agencies, Aboriginal CFDCs and NACCA. He remained there until ABC’s transfer to INAC in December 2006. In 2009, Gerry was seconded to Industry Canada to support the implementation of a new stimulus program under Canada’s Economic Action Plan. In 2010, he was asked to return to INAC to establish a new program, the Strategic Partnerships Initiative, to support coordination of Federal investments and increase Aboriginal participation in large economic development opportunities, such as the Ring of Fire in Northern Ontario and West Coast Energy Infrastructure in BC.

“NACCA will benefit immediately with the addition of Gerry,” said Shannin Metatawabin, CEO. “In my previous experience with ABC I worked closely with Gerry and found him to be extremely effective, thoughtful of AFI challenges and strategic in his approach.”

As Chief Strategy Officer, Gerry will focus on implementation of the strategic plan for the organization, provide input into program design and be key to re-establishing important member, government and industry relationships. In his free time, Gerry enjoys time at his cottage with his wife Kim, family visits, going to the gym, biking, and traveling.