UFV’s first Executive-in-Residence focuses on Indigenous economic reconciliation

The University of the Fraser Valley is welcoming Byng Giraud as its first Executive-in-Residence, focused on supporting practical approaches to economic reconciliation through work with Indigenous nations and organizations.

As UFV transitions from reconciliation as a concept to ‘Reconcili-action’ as a tangible reality, the president of Vancouver-based Sedgewick Strategies will work towards bridging the gap between academic learning/institutional policy and real-world partnerships, with a focus on Indigenous businesses.

Supported and hosted by UFV’s Faculty of Business and Computing (FBC), Byng’s role will include:

Providing office hours for students, faculty, and alumni to discuss project de-risking, Indigenous procurement, and ethical economic development. Byng will be ‘In Residence’ twice per semester, maintaining a consistent presence that enables deep relationship-building.

Advising UFV leadership on initiatives that support economic reconciliation (e.g., land use, partnerships, and Indigenous-led environmental assessments).

Acting as a neutral table for external industry leaders, Indigenous communities, and government officials to explore collaborative economic models.

“The creation of an Executive-in-Residence related to ‘Reconcili-action’ marks a pivotal step in our mission to integrate ethical economic development into the heart of UFV,” said Chris Schinckus, Dean of UFV’s Faculty of Business and Computing. “Through this initiative, FBC is proud to provide our community with direct access to expertise in economic reconciliation, promoting better practices for better sustainability of non-Indigenous and Indigenous businesses.”

Byng is tailor-made for the role. He founded Sedgewick Strategies in 2019 and was also a founding member of the BC Assembly of First Nations-BC Business Council Champion’s Table, a body dedicated to breaking new ground in economic reconciliation.

Sedgewick Strategies specializes in risk management, and obtaining approvals for major projects in the industrial, natural resources, and infrastructure sectors.

One year ago, his company gathered 38 First Nations in B.C., collectively investing $715 million in Enbridge’s Westcoast natural gas pipeline system. Through that historic partnership, Stonlasec8 Indigenous Alliance Limited Partnership now owns 12.5 per cent of the pipeline.

As a case study , he believes there’s much that UFV students can learn that will assist them in the future as they engage with Indigenous businesses/groups.

Through his work with UFV, Giraud will explore how those conversations can move from theory into practice, particularly for students and local organizations navigating these relationships for the first time.”

“How do you turn engagement from performative – just saying nice things like land acknowledgements and recognition – to practical benefit for all parties,” Byng says. “Or conversely, how do you turn something that is purely transactional into a meaningful relationship.

“In between transactional and performative is a space that I think many companies struggle to identify.”

Shirley Hardman, UFV Associate Vice-President, Xwexwílmexwawt, says it is remarkable the care and commitment that Byng brings to reconciliatory economic development, to ensure the benefits of the work are respectful and reciprocal.

“What we realize when we undertake models like those that Byng promotes is the access to economic opportunity for Indigenous peoples,” Shirley says. “This spawns Indigenous autonomy and well-being. It leads the way to not only honour our ancestors but to open the world to our children and grandchildren.”

Byng loves working with young people and has many on board at Sedgewick. He laughs when he talks about his love of whiteboards, and a teaching style that has proven to be very effective.

“Every room in my office has to have a whiteboard,” he says. “We start with a problem and use it to map out all of risks and potential solutions.”

Byng believes it’s essential to have several solutions for one issue. When he worked on the Enbridge project, there were many variables to be accounted for and questions to be answered, and many people/groups with varying motivations.

“I don’t actually know ahead of time which solutions are going to work, but you need to develop lots of methods and pathways because one of them is likely to succeed,” he explains. “Nothing’s guaranteed, but if you analyze each one of the risks and develop plans to address those risks – like chapters in a book, eventually you’ll get to the end of the story.”

Byng’s method has proven successful time and time again.

Other highlights of his work at Sedgewick include:

Obtaining federal, provincial, and Indigenous approval of the Woodfibre liquid natural gas exporting facility in Squamish.

Negotiating and helped Squamish Nation implement the first -ever Indigenous environmental assessment process in Canada.

Negotiating the first-ever agreements between operating mines and First Nations in British Columbia including agreements with five First Nations at two separate projects.

Leading the corporate affairs and Indigenous consultation processes leading to the 2012 re-opening of the Huckleberry Mine in northern British Columbia.

Leading the Northwest Powerline Coalition, a coalition of companies, Indigenous groups and individuals that successfully lobbied the BC government to build the Northwest Transmission line along Highway 37 – thereby opening the region to mining and power projects which have been key to empowering local First Nations.

Recognizing his work in the field of Indigenous economic reconciliation, and nominated by three First Nation’s Chiefs, the province awarded the Order of British Columbia to Byng in 2023.

Eric Welsh — eric.welsh@ufv.ca