Our Team

Matt Vickers

NNC Director & CEO

Matt Vickers is a director and Chief Executive Officer of NNC. Matt is also the Managing Director of Indigenous Engagement with Hillcore Group responsible for developing strategy and advancing new business opportunities with First Nation communities to close on these opportunities.

Matt has over 36 years of experience in a diverse range in the management consulting field. Throughout his career, Matt has had the opportunity to work in a broad base of industries including First Nations, arts and culture, financial institutions, healthcare, government and information technology. He has worked on a wide range of assignments across First Nation communities in Canada and helping Aboriginal entrepreneurs with their business and banking needs.

In addition to his consulting and banking experience, he is the successful owner and manager of three thriving businesses, and he lectures extensively across the world on issues ranging from Aboriginal economics to team dynamics, self empowerment, goal setting and building trusting business relations.

Chanze Gamble

Chief Financial Officer NNC

Chanze Gamble has 20 years of experience in senior management and executive roles specializing in economic and business development, governance and financial management, and nurturing relationships between Indigenous communities and corporations.

Chanze received his MBA in 2012, and in September 2019 he commenced a PhD program at the Gustavson School of Business, University of Victoria. Chanze is from the Beardy’s and Okemasis Cree Nation in Saskatchewan. Chanze works extensively with Indigenous, corporations, and federal and provincial governments to design and implement innovative partnership solutions that advance organizational governance and service goals. Prior to joining NorthernNations Cooperative, Chanze launched Invest Indigenous Summit Ltd., which prepares Indigenous businesses to develop and deliver professional equity finance proposals on stage to potential investors. He also held senior executive roles with New Relationship Trust, NRT Foundation, Aboriginal Peoples Television Network, National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation (now called Indspire) and Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business.

Additionally, Chanze has supported the completion of governance and business development projects with Indigenous communities such as the Business Sustainability Analysis for Northern Native Fishing Corporation and Pre-feasibility Study for Tsawwassen First Nation to enhance the Delta Port corridor efficiency.

Clifford White

NNC Board Chairman

Clifford White (Nees Ma’Outa) was elected to the BC Treaty Commission by the First Nations Summit for a two-year term beginning in March 2019. He is a hereditary leader and former elected Chief of the Gitxaala Nation.

Clifford is a facilitator and trainer with Nawaabm Enterprise and is an elder in the First Nations Court in New Westminster, where he has been involved for more than 12 years. He is chair of the First Nations Advisory Committee of BC, Executive Chair for the NorthernNations Cooperative, President of the Prince Rupert Indigenous Housing Society, a Board member for the New Relationship Trust, and works with BC’s Aboriginal Family Healing Court project.

He continues to work with the Province’s Industry Training Authority, Private Industries, Union and Non-Union trades on Indigenous workforce developments. His passion is for commercially sustainable environmental management and developments on the North Coast. Clifford studied Business and Commerce at the University of British Columbia. He is married to Lynn, has three children and four grandchildren.

Vincent Prince

NNC Director

Vince Prince is the Executive Director of the Aboriginal Business and Community Development Centre in Prince George BC, an organization that he helped establish and has been involved with for the last 25 years. In this capacity for this not-for-profit society Vince has responsibly for budgeting, planning, staffing and finances as well as negotiations and implementation of contracts with MIRR, WD, ISC, PGNAETA and other government and Non-government agencies. Former CEO of the Nak'azdli Development Corporation (“NDC”) in Fort St James, British Columbia and in this regard is responsible for the development and operational oversight of all of NDC’s owned and operating businesses.

Vince works with small businesses and other agencies in the Prince George region to encourage economic development growth within the region. Vince is also the former Chair and director of the Board of Governors of College of New Caledonia as well as a current External Advisor of the Community Development Institute of the University of Northern British Columbia.

Vince is the current President, and one of the founding Directors, of the Ulh’goh Bi’yoh Native Friendship Centre in Fort St James as well as a Director and former President of the Prince George Native Friendship Centre. Vince is also a standing member of the Indigenous Business and Investment Council for the Provincial Ministry of Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation.

Laura Hureau

Executive Director of NNC

Laura Hureau is the Executive Director of Northern Nations Cooperative and has been working with the Board and Management Team since the fall of 2019 on organizational design, governance and policy development. Laura has an MBA from Royal Roads University, and several graduate certificates in Law, Diversity and Inclusion, Leadership and Human Resources from Osgoode Law School, Cornell University and Royal Roads.

Laura grew up and raised her four children in Whitehorse Yukon where she worked with the Government of Yukon for more than twenty years advancing many initiatives in the areas of corporate affairs, housing, access to justice, family law programs, employment standards and governance.

Laura’s accomplishments include an extensive list of policy projects requiring consultation with First Nations and the public before taking a position with the Yukon Employees’ Union. In this role and her subsequent position with the Health Sciences Association of Alberta Laura was a vocal advocate for human rights, diversity and inclusion, and for individuals with mental health and other disabilities.