William Nikolakis, PhD, LLB, BBus practices law in British Columbia, and practiced in Australia. His focus is on the intersection between Aboriginal rights and natural resources law. William is also a Research Fellow in the Department of Forest Resources Management, Faculty of Forestry at the University of British Columbia, Canada.
Since 2000, William has been working with Aboriginal organizations, governments and corporations in Australia and Canada to help achieve their objectives, including gaining greater control over their economies and natural resources, and designing governance mechanisms to support these objectives. William's work has been published in leading peer reviewed journals, including the Journal of Hydrology, International Public Management Journal, Water Policy, Canadian Journal of Forest Research, Organization and Environment, Journal of Water and Climate Change, and Community Development.
William recently co-edited a book published by Routledge, entitled "Forests and Globalization: Challenges and Opportunities for Sustainable Development." He is also the Deputy Coordinator for the International Task Force "Resources for the Future: Sustainable Transformation in Forest Use", International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO).
Tyson ?ikaatius Atleo is the next in-line to hold a 27th generation hereditary Chief seat for the Ahousaht First Nation from the west coast of British Columbia, Canada. Passionate about supporting the spiritual, social and economic well being of Indigenous peoples he has been raised as a leader to respect Nuu-chah-nulth cultural values.
Tyson has enjoyed a successful career providing professional economic and governance development, strategic communications and community engagement services to Indigenous governments and communities, not-for profit organizations, the Government of Canada and private industry.
Tyson volunteers his time with a number of not-for-profit organizations and holds a Bachelors of Arts in Professional Communications from Royal Roads University.
Ngaio’s team supports Indigenous-led initiatives to develop economies focused on stewardship of lands and waters. She has worked with representatives from Indigenous, federal, provincial and local governments, industry and non-government organizations to generate ideas and plan for action. She was the founding President of the Vancouver Urban Farming Society and has written for the Globe and Mail, the Vancouver Sun, The Province and several other publications. Ngaio has also worked as an environmental consultant and policy analyst in the private and non-profit sectors and as a researcher and instructor at the University of British Columbia.
She completed a Bachelor of Science in Biological Science at the University of Guelph, a Post-Graduate Diploma in Environmental Engineering Applications at Conestoga College and a Master’s degree in Food and Resource Economics at the University of British Columbia. She is currently pursuing a doctorate degree at the University of British Columbia, looking at how trust is created in the context of collaborative natural resource governance involving Indigenous communities, and is accredited as a Professional Biologist with the Alberta Society of Professional Biologists (ASPB).
Alanna helps to conduct research and develop reports on sustainable livelihood initiatives involving Indigenous Peoples, analyzes relevant economic data, and liaises with GVS partners.
Alanna holds an economics degree from UBC’s Vancouver School of Economics, and grew up in coastal British Columbia. Her passion for economic policy that is effective and people-focused brought her to GVS. When she’s not working Alanna can be found running, sailing or painting.