Richard George
Secretary
Richard is a member of the Ahousaht Tribe. Since February 2023, he currently serves as Director, Health Benefits External Relations, Health Benefits & Services for First Nations Health Authority (FNHA).
Between 2019 and February 2023 he was Manager Geomatics, Allocation, Audit & Policy, Community Infrastructure Directorate for Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) BC Region. He was as a Senior Capital Advisor, Community Infrastructure Directorate for ISC BC Region between February 2017 and September 2019. Prior to 2017 and since 2002, he has served as a Funding Services Officer.
Richard holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics from the Simon Fraser University and a Financial Management diploma from the British Columbia Institute of Technology.
Prior to joining ISC in 2002, Richard spent 19 years working in the financial industry and economic development with Native organizations that include, Western Indian Agricultural Corporation, Western Indian Agricultural Producers Association and First Nations Agricultural Lending Association (formerly Western Indian Lending Association) and as Manager, Aboriginal Banking with BMO Financial Group and TD Bank Group. He has acquired experience in advising various First Nation client groups on developing and maintaining a wide variety of financial services, products that maximize their banking relationships and improved access to capital markets.
Richard is currently Treasurer/Secretary and board member of the Vancouver Aboriginal Child and Family Services Society and board member for Makola Housing Society and Makola Developments Society. He previously served as President and board member of the Vancouver Native Housing Society and Kitsotkwa Le’ Lum’ Housing Society for 20 years.
He previously served as an executive member of the Committee for the Advancement of Native Employment (CANE) in ISC – BC Region. CANE examined, explored and recommended ways to increase the number of Indigenous staff employed within ISC, and sought ways to retain these employees and improve the quality of their employment. To this end, CANE worked co-operatively with senior management, the National CANE and other levels of the Department to recommend and facilitate changes to the Indigenous employment policies and programs within the Department and to address concerns raised by Indigenous employees. CANE promoted the four cornerstones of employment for its members: recruitment, training, retention and advancement.