Her Leadership Journey

Thursday, February 5, 2026

Join us for an unforgettable evening honouring the women whose leadership has shaped industries, communities, and conversations across Canada. Her Leadership Journey is an inaugural keynote dinner that brings together trailblazers who have carved their paths through resilience and unwavering vision.

Our keynote speaker, Roberta Jamieson, O.C., I.P.C., LLB, LLD (Hon), is a national icon for Indigenous rights and transformative leadership. She will share powerful reflections from her remarkable journey - stories of breaking barriers and elevating voices across the country.

Following the keynote, Chamber CEO Dianna De Sousa will lead an intimate fireside conversation featuring:

Roberta Jamieson
Nicole Bouchier, CEO & Co-Owner, The Bouchier Group
Shelley Powell, Senior Vice-President, Suncor

Together, they will explore the pivotal moments that shaped their rise, the obstacles they overcame, and the mentors and allies who helped propel them forward. This thoughtful dialogue will highlight the reality of leadership: the courage it demands, the impact it creates, and the responsibility it carries.

This evening is more than a celebration. It is a call to action. A space to honour the voices of women who lead, lift, and inspire. A reminder that leadership is a journey we shape through determination and collaboration.

Be part of this powerful, inspiring experience. Reserve your seat today.

Inspiring Voices of the Evening

Roberta Jamieson, a Mohawk leader, has achieved numerous historic firsts, including being the first First Nations woman in Canada to earn a law degree, Ontario’s first woman Ombudsman, and the first woman elected Chief of the Six Nations of the Grand River Territory.

A recognized expert in alternative dispute resolution and ESG governance, Roberta currently serves on the boards of the Royal Bank of Canada (Risk and Governance committees) and Deloitte Canada and Chile (Governance and Quality committees), and advises Deloitte’s Global Board. She previously served on the boards of Ontario Power Generation and Hydro One and was appointed by Prime Minister Trudeau to the inaugural G7 Gender Equality Advisory Council.

As President of Indspire, Canada’s largest Indigenous charity, she oversaw an eightfold increase in bursaries and scholarships, earning national recognition from Charity Intelligence, Maclean’s, and the Financial Post. Roberta continues her philanthropic leadership as a Founding Visionary of the Prosperity Project and a board member of the Rideau Hall Foundation, where she Co-Chairs a national initiative to increase the number of Indigenous teachers to more than 10,000.

Roberta has received 32 honorary degrees and numerous awards, including the Indigenous Bar Association’s IPC designation, the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business’ Indigenous Women’s Leadership Award, and induction into the WXM Hall of Fame. She is an Officer of the Order of Canada.

Shelley Powell was appointed Senior Vice President, Operations Improvement and Support Services at Suncor in 2023. In this role, she leads all operated and non-operated exploration and production assets across Northern Alberta, Canada’s East Coast, and Libya. Her portfolio also includes responsibility for Suncor’s support services and the organization’s mandate to drive operational excellence and improved business performance.

Shelley began her Suncor career in 1995 as a Process Operator at the Sarnia Refinery. Over nearly three decades, she has held progressively senior roles in Operations, Maintenance, Reliability, and Process Engineering. Her leadership experience includes serving as Vice President, Extraction; Vice President, Operational Excellence and Technical Services; and Vice President of the Commerce City Refinery, where she oversaw all Suncor Energy USA activities. Most recently, she served as Senior Vice President, Base Plant, ensuring the safe and reliable operation of one of Suncor’s largest assets.

Beyond her operational leadership, Shelley is deeply engaged in community and industry governance. She serves on the boards of the Alberta Cancer Foundation, Canada Powered by Women, and Vista Ridge, contributing her expertise to initiatives that advance health, leadership, and community well-being.

Shelley holds a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the University of Ottawa, as well as two master’s degrees from the University of Michigan — an MBA and a Master of Science in Finance.

Nicole Bourque-Bouchier is an accomplished CEO, entrepreneur, and proud Mikisew Cree woman whose leadership has helped reshape Canada’s business and social landscape. As Co-owner and CEO of Bouchier, she leads one of the country’s largest Indigenous-owned companies, recognized for its operational excellence and deep commitment to Indigenous inclusion.

With more than 30 years of experience in the energy sector — including senior roles at Shell Canada and TrueNorth Energy — Nicole blends operational discipline with strategic vision and values-driven leadership. Since becoming CEO in 2014, she has guided Bouchier through major growth, diversification, and capital investment, expanding its workforce to include employees from over 90 Indigenous communities across Canada.

Beyond business achievement, Nicole is deeply committed to social impact. Through the Bouchier Family Foundation and extensive community partnerships, she has championed philanthropy in education, wellness, leadership development, and female empowerment. She also launched internal initiatives such as the Female Empowerment Initiative and high-performance leadership training to foster an inclusive and engaged workforce.

Nicole’s influence extends nationally through her governance roles, including serving as Board Chair of the Wood Buffalo Community Foundation and previous positions with Indspire, Keyano College, the Northeastern Alberta Aboriginal Business Association, and the Alberta Apple Schools Foundation. Her contributions have been recognized with numerous honours, including the Order of Canada, the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal, RBC’s Canadian Women of Excellence CEO of the Year, and the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business Indigenous Women in Leadership Award.

Discover how your organization can be part of this inspiring event - partnership opportunities are now available.

Visionary Partner