Advisory Board of Directors
Barry Payne
Barry Payne is a seasoned leader in Indigenous economic development and federal procurement with more than two decades of experience supporting Indigenous businesses and entrepreneurs across Canada.
As a Supply Team Leader with the Indigenous Entrepreneurship Centre of Excellence at Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC), Barry helps small and medium-sized Indigenous enterprises access federal contracting opportunities by demystifying the procurement process and providing strategic guidance. He also contributes to policy initiatives that improve accessibility and fairness in government contracting.
Prior to PSPC, Barry spent many years leading Indigenous-owned enterprises across technology solutions, professional services, and federal supply chains—giving him a firsthand understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing Indigenous businesses today. His work reflects a strong commitment to strengthening Indigenous entrepreneurship and building sustainable economic opportunities for First Nations communities.
Sanjeev Dhawan
Sanjeev Dhawan is a General Counsel with deep experience across energy, infrastructure, and institutional investments, advising on M&A, project development and construction, Indigenous partnerships, finance, technology, procurement, compliance, and governance.
He has led counsel on 25+ acquisitions, served as primary advisor on $200M–$400M in annual deal flow across private equity, private debt, and real estate, and provided legal leadership on major energy and infrastructure projects—including a 176-km transmission line and a $130M operations centre. He has also led development of Indigenous-partnered infrastructure projects exceeding $800M, with an active pipeline over $1.3B, and oversaw contract portfolios exceeding $1B annually in technology and procurement.
A strategic advisor to executive teams, Sanjeev builds scalable legal, compliance, and governance frameworks while mentoring high-performing teams. He is a recipient of the President's Award for Delivering Results and Reliability.
Sara Jane Souliere
Sara Jane Souliere is Anishinaabe from Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory with family ties to Serpent River First Nation. She is the founder of SL Indigenous Advisory Services, a 100% Indigenous-owned consulting practice with over 18 years of experience bridging Indigenous communities, government, and the corporate sector.
The daughter of two residential school survivors, Sara Jane has led Indigenous engagement on major transmission line projects, advised on Reconciliation Action Plans, and shaped Indigenous participation policies across sectors including clean energy, infrastructure, municipal planning, and economic development.
She holds a Bachelor of Law (Aboriginal law focus) and a Master of Law in Energy and Infrastructure from Osgoode Hall Law School, and is a recent graduate of Harvard Business School's Tribal Leaders Program.
Joanna Osawe
Joanna Osawe is the President & CEO of Women in Renewable Energy (WiRE), where she advances the role of women and underrepresented groups in the energy sector. Under her leadership, WiRE has grown from a single Toronto chapter into a global network of 25+ chapters, 180+ events, and a community of 7,000+ attendees and 26,000 online members.
She serves on the federal Sustainable Development Advisory Council, advising Canada's Minister of Environment and Climate Change on national and international energy policy.
With 15+ years of management experience across leading renewable and energy companies in Canada and the U.S., Joanna brings a proven track record of steering complex projects from conception to completion. She holds an Honours BA from Western University.