Our Team

Board

Jacqueline Jennings

Candice Day

Aaron Joe

Team

Ben Wells

Program Director, Shxw’ow’hamel First Nation

An entrepreneur-turned-project manager, Ben’s career is oriented towards systems-change and creating equitable economies. In 2011 he co-founded the social enterprise Shift Delivery, growing the team to 22 people doing some 60,000 all-electric deliveries annually over his 8 year tenure. Returning to higher education, Ben earned a BA in Psychology at UBC, followed by a three-year contract at UBC, activating a project on bringing decolonial and Indigenizing practice into the business school. His skills as a facilitator, mentor and program manager have been essential to the development and delivery of unique learning on Indigenous topics and business at UBC Sauder, bringing training experiences to over 80 senior staff and faculty. He will also complete an MBA from UBC Sauder later in 2025. His experience as an entrepreneur and participant in multiple accelerator programs informs his work at The Fireweed Institute, an important integration woven into the foundational business skills developed in the B-school environment. Ben has also served on a number of non-profit Boards, and has been a Futupreneur mentor for many years.

Jacqueline Jennings

co-founder and Executive Director, Nehiyaw / Red River Métis (MMF)

Jacqueline (she/her) an impact investment professional, entrepreneur, and Indigenous innovation strategist. She has worked with Microsoft, Lululemon, and Aritzia and led the creation of national venture accelerators, The Fireweed Fellowship and The Next Big Thing and program development for regional initiative EntrepreNorth.

Previously a Venture Partner at Raven Indigenous Capital, Jacqueline now serves as Investor In Residence at Roanhorse Consulting where she co-leads the Rematriating Economies Apprenticeship. She is also a visiting professor at SFU Beedie School of Business, a 2024 Echoing Green Fellow, and a Boston Impact Initiative Fellow. Jacqueline sits on the boards of Community Futures Sunshine Coast and the Salish Regenerative Society, contributing to regenerative economic transformation through both capital and land-based systems change. She is a mother and horsewoman and enjoys connecting to culture through learning traditional craft like hide-tanning.

Charlene SanJenko

Storytelling & Research Lead, Splatsin

Charlene SanJenko (she/her) is an Indigenous Storyteller, Impact Producer, and an Intuitive Media Visionary who works in the space of social impact and inclusive innovation.

She is a two-time founder, author, filmmaker, and speaker with 25-year commitment to expanding human potential: “Our imagination reconnects us to the truest essence of who we are; as we SEE possibility, we BELIEVE more deeply.”

Charlene believes in the power of impact-first storytelling to regenerate hope and wholeness in society as we return to the sacred art of storytelling.

Agnes Seaweed Wisden

Program Manager, Kwakwaka’wakw

Agnes is a Na̱mg̱is artist, educator, and community leader with over 15 years of experience creating culturally grounded programs rooted in Indigenous knowledge and mentorship. Founder of Sea Wisdom Design, her jewelry has been showcased internationally—including at the Emmy and SAG Awards. Agnes brings a powerful blend of entrepreneurship, youth mentorship, and curriculum design, developed through roles in post-secondary education, K–12 systems, and employment programs.

Sam Badiei

Director of Finance

Sam Badiei is proud to have stepped into the role of Director of Finance at The Fireweed Institute — a new chapter that carries deep personal and professional meaning.

Sam graduated from Simon Fraser University with a degree in business administration and later earned her Chartered Accountant (CA) designation through one of Canada’s largest accounting and advisory firms. Over the years, she’s built a diverse career spanning both the corporate and non-profit sectors, holding leadership roles such as Controller and Director of Finance at such places as the HR. MacMillan Space Centre, the Chinese Canadian Museum and Caloah Private Equity.

But this role is more than just a career milestone — it’s a personal mission. As an Afghan refugee and woman of colour who has experienced the disconnection from her cultural roots, Sam feels deeply honored to contribute to an organization grounded in Indigenous values and vision. She’s inspired by the opportunity to support tradition, champion innovation, and help strengthen Indigenous leadership in today’s economy.

Dakota Fayant-McLeod

Administrator, Peepeekisis Cree Nation

Born and raised in Saskatchewan on Treaty 4 Territory, Dakota’s home communities are Peepeekisis First Nation and the Qu’Appelle Valley Métis community. She has over fifteen years of experience working and volunteering in community-based non-profits across Canada. Her varied experiences, ranging from two-spirit advocacy, working with immigrant and refugee youth, to front-line harm reduction service delivery, gives her a diverse, and truthfully, random set of skills that sets her up to be adaptive and varied in her professional life. She has a professional background in administration and communications and a bachelor’s degree in Women and Gender Studies from First Nations University of Canada.