ILDI Team
Rosa Walker
President & Chief Executive Officer
Phone: 204.940.1700 | Email: rosa@ildii.ca
Rosa is the visionary behind the Indigenous Leadership Development Institute, Inc. which has been in operation for over 25 years. She started and has led the World Indigenous Business Forum for the past 16 years. Rosa is one of the founding members of the World Indigenous Business Network for the past 14 years and has been the Chair of the Canadian Chapter as well as the head of the Secretariate for all the Chapters.
Rosa was the Executive Director and part of the team for the start-up of Taking Charge! Inc., a program to transition single parents into the workforce. She was employed at the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs as Managing Director, Workplace Diversity. Rosa worked with the Bank of Montreal in the capacity of Manager, Workplace Equality for Manitoba and Saskatchewan.
Rosa served on many Boards, including the National Aboriginal Economic Development Board, Accreditation Canada, Faculty of Business and Economic Alumni Committee and Global College Advisory Council, both University of Winnipeg. Rosa is the past Chair of First People’s Economic Growth Fund.
Rosa is the recipient of the YM-YWCA Women of Distinction Award and was named one of Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women. She is the recipient of a Canadian Inspire Award and most recently, Spotify’s Top 100 Fascinating Manitobans. Rosa received a distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Winnipeg in 2024.
Mackenzie Oatway
Manager, Executive Training and Special Projects
Phone: 204.940.1700 | Email: mackenzie@ildii.ca
Mackenzie Oatway is a member of Peguis First Nation. She received a certificate for completing a 5 week intensive Get into Administration course before her employment with Indigenous Leadership Development Institute, Inc. (ILDI). At the beginning of her employment with ILDI she assisted with the enrolment process for the Introductory Carpentry Program and soon after coordinated and acted as the retention and support worker for the Skills Link Program. Currently, Mackenzie is the Manager, coordinating and managing the Executive Training courses ILDI offers. Mackenzie is also an active volunteer with Empowering Indigenous Youth in Governance and Leadership.
Amber Sumner
Project Coordinator
Phone: 204.940.1700 | Email: amber@ildii.ca
Amber is a member of Pinaymootang First Nation, Manitoba, Canada. She attained dual degrees in Indigenous Governance and Business Administration from the University of Winnipeg, as well as completed a diploma program at Red River College in Aboriginal Self-government. She has been working with ILDI from 2013 to 2020, and has recently re-joined the ILDI team in May 2023, aligning her vision and goals with ILDI’s in building capacity and empowering Indigenous communities, organizations and Individuals.
Sandra Paillal Venegas
Senior Project Consultant, Latin America
Sandra Paillal Venegas; Chilean, strong Mapuche woman, serving her indigenous people, professional Accountant-Auditor, Businesswoman/Entrepreneur, Indigenous Consultant for Latin America; Advisor to Chilean government entities such as Sercotec Inakeyu. University Professor in Business Management/Commerce at various universities in Chile; Sandra leads projects in business, social reform and revitalizing cultural identities for different indigenous peoples; connecting to the global, local and international markets.
Over 15 years working and supporting indigenous economy in Latin American countries, her passion is to help Indigenous Entrepreneurs and giving back to the community; achieving collective objectives, which have impacted families and communities in agriculture initiatives in Chile, cocoa in Ecuador, fish farming in the Amazon of Peru and communication projects in Colombia.
Sandra has held positions as President of the Chamber of Commerce in Santiago, Chile; Business Manager, and was the Lead Negotiator & Administrator for the 2017 World Indigenous Business Forum, held in Santiago, Chile.
Barb Hambleton
Info coming soon