Weaving Two Worlds

Christy Smith is a member of K’ómoks First Nation living in her traditional territory on Vancouver Island. Being bicultural has allowed Christy to authentically navigate both Indigenous and non-Indigenous worlds while working in the resource sector for over twenty-five years. Engaging and building good relationships are at the core of what Christy does as a changemaker, mentor, liaison, project manager, and engagement expert. She has facilitated workshops, presented at national mining conventions, instructed at universities, de-escalated complex situations, mentored Indigenous entrepreneurs, negotiated countless benefits agreements, advocated on behalf of First Nations governments and industry proponents, and built capacity within every organization of which she has been a part. Christy currently serves as a partner and vice president, Indigenous and Stakeholder Relations, with Falkirk Environmental Consultants Ltd. of Vancouver and vice president, Sustainability, with TDG Gold Corp.

Michael McPhie is an executive with more than twenty-five years of experience in the Canadian and international resource industry. Over his career he has been a CEO, chairman of the board, founder, partner, and officer of public and private companies. Michael currently serves as a founding partner and co-chair of Falkirk Environmental, where he acts as a senior advisor to resource companies, governments, and communities and is on the board and an officer of several Canadian public mineral exploration and mining companies. He is also a member of the Board of Advisors of the Washington, DC–based non-governmental organization Resolve. Michael is former chair of the boards of Ridley Terminals
Inc., the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT), and the Association for Mineral Exploration BC (AME). He is also former president and CEO of the Mining Association of British Columbia. He lives in Vancouver, BC.