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METIS SETTLEMENTS IMPACT FUND

Actively Building A Future Of Economic Equity And Prosperity For Indigenous People

The Métis Settlements Impact Fund (MSIF) is a $100 million impact investment fund with a focus on Economic Reconciliation and Sustainability. Your investments will positively impact Metis Settlements and other indigenous communities. The Métis Settlements Impact Fund is focused on investments that advance Indigenous economic reconciliation. Investments will be selected to positively impact Metis Settlements and other Indigenous communities. The fund will act as a source of prosperity for next seven generations of Métis settlement members, led by Indigenous voices in all investment decisions.

Create Good, Do Good, Share Good! Be Part of Reconciliation to Reconcili-Action: Your investment will empower indigenous representation and decision-making.

Investment Committee

MSDC is pleased to announce the appointment of the Investment Committee for the Metis Settlements Impact Fund. The investment committee is a key partner in the succcess of the investment fund, providing experienced industry perspectives and review of investment recommendations, liasing with fund limited partners and building strong stakeholder relationships.

The committee is comprise of seven individuals, six from the private sector and one member of the MSDC board. They are responsible for reviewing investment decisions and making recommendations to the MSDC Board of Directors for Impact Fund investments.

Investment Committee Members

Rod Girard - Chair

Rod is a retired corporate executive, with a passion for building companies and high performing teams.

He served as the Chief Legal Officer of Alberta Investment Management Corporation (AIMCo) from 2016 to 2024, managing accountabilities for various functions during this period, including Legal Services, Tax, Compliance, Valuations and Internal Audit, as well as serving on a variety of committees, including the Executive Committee, Investment Committee, Valuations Committee and the Responsible Investing Committee. Rod was the first executive sponsor of AIMCo’s diversity, equity and inclusion initiative.

During Rod’s tenure at AIMCo, assets under management grew from $58B to $160B and the investment platform was diversified into a number of private and public strategies. AIMCo also launched foreign offices in London, Luxembourg, Singapore and New York.
Prior to joining AIMCo in 2011, Rod worked in private legal practice at and an infrastructure company.

Rod holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) from the University of Alberta, a Master of Arts from McMaster University, a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Toronto, a Master of Laws from Osgoode Hall and a Master of Business Administration from Cornell and Queen’s University. Rod also holds the CPA, CMA and IC.D. designations and is called to the bars of Ontario and Alberta.

Raylene Whitford - Vice Chair

Raylene Whitford is a Cree-Métis finance professional with an international career in the energy industry. She is an inaugural member of the Canadian Sustainability Standards Board and the Director of Canative Energy Ltd. She is also a member of the Young Global Leaders Class of 2024 at the World Economic Forum.
A former equity partner with Deloitte Canada and Chile, Raylene is the chair of TC Energy’s Indigenous Advisory Council. Her previous leadership positions include serving as an Executive Director of an energy company listed on the London Stock Exchange and leading a $42 billion capital efficiency project for an integrated energy company in the Middle East. She started her career in financial audit and corporate strategy with KPMG UK.
Raylene is a Chartered Accountant (ICAEW) and has an MBA from the Aberdeen Business School in the UK. She is currently completing an interdisciplinary PhD in Indigenous Studies and Business at the University of Alberta. Raylene is a citizen of the Métis Nation of Alberta and has several family members resting in the cemetery in Kikino Métis Settlement.

Matt Buchholz

Matt is the Chief Executive Officer of Mixt Energy, Executive Director of Duz Cho Equity Ventures, the Chairperson of the Boards of Directors for both the mknly Group of Companies and KDM Dental, and an Adjunct Professor at the IE Business School Master In Finance Program. In 2023, he was given an Award for Teaching Excellence by IE for the course “Private Equity Infrastructure.” Previously, he built and subsequently led Accenture’s Deal Execution Team in Canada and was the first Senior Associate hired into Berkshire Hathaway Energy when it opened its Canadian office. In 2016, Alberta Oil Magazine named him one of the “Top 35 Under 35 in Canada’s Energy Sector.” Matt received his Master of Finance from IE Business School and Bachelor of Arts from the University of Calgary. In his spare time, he loves playing hockey and golf, travelling, and studying history. Matt is grateful for his faith, family, and friends.

Kristin Richard

Born and raised in the Métis homeland and Treaty 1 territory, Kristin is a proud member of the Red River Métis Nation, currently residing on the unceded territory of the Shíshálh Nation. With extensive experience in the financial services industry, Kristin's career centres on supporting Indigenous businesses and communities. Her passion lies in unlocking access to capital and forging innovative pathways for economic growth.

Kristin is currently the Impact Fund Manager at EntrepreNorth, where she focuses on reimagining how capital is offered to entrepreneurs in ways that resonate with Indigenous worldviews, values, and ways of life. Her work is deeply rooted in upholding good relationships, ensuring community responsibility, practicing land respect, and promoting economic reciprocity.

Kristin recently graduated with an MBA in Indigenous Business and Leadership from Simon Fraser University. She is also a graduate of the Canadian Private Capital Investment School, a member of the Indigenous Leadership Circle, and serves as a board member of the Community Futures Sunshine Coast.

Tom Ogaranko

Tom Ogaranko has founded, grown, and exited multiple technology companies. He has advised governments on innovation policy and programs and structured programs and investments to stimulate innovation for public and private clients. Currently, he is a Principal at Octoco Inc., and a Director at Viresco Solutions, focusing on accelerating sustainability solutions to market. He has been instrumental in developing bio-industrial strategies, venture funds, and innovation programs that have attracted significant investments into early-stage sustainability solutions.

Shannon Pestun

Originating from the Métis homeland and Treaty 1 territory, Shannon resides in Treaty 7 territory and is a member of the Métis Nation of Alberta.
Shannon is the Senior Advisor to the Diversity Institute for Canada’s Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub and the 50-30 Challenge where she supports the development of research and strategies that advance gender equity and diversity in leadership and helps organizations accelerate diversity strategies already underway. She is also the CEO of Pestun Consulting, Co-founder of The Finance Cafe and a board member at NPower Canada.

Prior to this, Shannon worked in the financial services sector at ATB Financial for over then years where she became known for her advocacy around women's financial inclusion and empowerment and her role in setting the stage for gender equality in Canada's banking and financial services. She was later appointed to serve on Canada’s Women Entrepreneurship Strategy expert panel. Her commitment to building an inclusive economy has made her a sought-after finance consultant and trusted voice for educators, government, industry and media.

In addition, Shannon is a Reviewer and Evaluator with Emissions Reduction Alberta - As a reviewer my role is to provide strategic advice, support, oversight and assist with funding decisions. This includes working with the Technology Innovation Emissions Reduction (TIER) Fund and the The Clean Resource Innovation Network (CRIN) Strategic Innovation Fund.

Shannon also works with the Apeetogosan Métis Development Corporation (AMDI), advising on the development, implementation and delivery of a micro loan program for Métis women entrepreneurs. In 2022-23, AMDI assisted 55 Alberta Métis women access $1.1 million in loans through the Métis Women in Micro Business Program.

At the Diversity Institute Shannon is committed to bolstering Indigenous economic prosperity, driving economic growth and bringing an Indigenous-centered approach to her work.

In 2020, she created the Gifting Circle Bursary for Indigenous women entrepreneurs raising over $150,000 in support of advancing Indigenous women’s entrepreneurship in Canada.

Alison Thompson - MSDC Board Representative