Procurement Panel

Panelists will share their experiences, successes and challenges related to the Indigenous Procurement.

  • John Giraldez, Indigenous Services Canada
  • Lorenzo leraci, Office of Small & Medium Enterprise, PSPC
  • David Acco, Acosys Consulting
  • Jeff Provost, Bird Construction
  • Mark Dokis, National Aboriginal Capital Corporations Association

 
John Giraldez
Indigenous Services Canada

John Giraldez is a Director (Business Development) at Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs. His Directorate is responsible for supporting Indigenous businesses through the Procurement Strategy for Aboriginal Business, Aboriginal Entrepreneurship Program, Article 24 and other initiatives. Previously, he was a Director at Policy Horizons Canada, a foresight organization within the Government of Canada. He was also a Senior Regulatory Adviser at the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat and the Privy Council Office where he led the development of several major regulatory policy initiatives and was part of the Red Tape Reduction Commission Secretariat. He also worked at the Regulatory Affairs group of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. In 1996, he joined the Government of Canada as an economist and was responsible for developing and running econometric models and doing environmental economics policy studies. Previously, he was a Research Associate at the University of Guelph and a Management Consultant at Deloitte. John obtained his M.Sc. from the University of Guelph and his B.Sc. from McGill University in economics.
 
Lorenzo leraci
Office of Small & Medium Enterprise
 

Lorenzo Ieraci is the Director General for the Office of Small and Medium Enterprises and Stakeholder Engagement (OSME-SE) at Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC). He has been in the position since April 2018. OSME-SE encourages the participation of SME’s in federal government procurement by providing information and training sessions. The organisation also seeks to help reduce barriers faced by SME’s by raising those concerns and advocating on their behalf within the federal public service. Prior to joining PSPC, Lorenzo worked at the Office of the Procurement Ombudsman (OPO) for more than six years, including as Interim Procurement Ombudsman for nearly two years (May 2016 to March 2018) and as Deputy Procurement Ombudsman (between January 2012 and April 2016). Having joined the Federal Public Service in 1999, Lorenzo has held a number of positions in varied organizations. He began his career at Public Safety Canada and then worked extensively at the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat as both a Senior Program Analyst and as the Manager of the Learning and Knowledge Management unit. Prior to joining OPO, Lorenzo had been a Senior Director in PSPC where he was responsible for managing a national team of criminal forensic accountants. Lorenzo holds a Master's degree in Public Policy and Public Administration from Concordia University, and obtained an Executive Certificate in Conflict Management from the University of Windsor's Faculty of Law. Lorenzo is happily married with two children. His wife and children keep him grounded by, among other things, reminding him that he’s “really not that funny”. Lorenzo enjoys reading, doing non-strenuous exercises, and routinely losing to his children in videogames.

 
David Acco
Acosys Consulting
 
David Acco is a member of the Metis Nation-Saskatchewan whose roots are tied to Cumberland House, Saskatchewan, as well as being a Red River and Peter Ballyantine Band Cree Nation descendent. He holds an International MBA from the University of Ottawa and has completed a Masters Business Analyst Certificate from the Schulich School of Business at York University. He also holds Graduate Certificate in eCommerce and Graduate Diploma in Marketing Management from McGill University and Bachelor of Arts from Concordia University. David has experience leading teams and working independently on projects varying in size and scope. He has extensive experience in Information Systems and Information Technology (IS/IT) in the telecommunications and engineering industries as a project manager, business analyst and proposals coordinator with companies such as Infoterra (Germany) – now Airbus Space and Defense, and Amdocs Management Services and many non-profit Indigenous organizations. In 2006, David with his partner, Julie Lepage, a member of the Nipissing First Nations, created Acosys Consulting Services. Acosys is a 100% Aboriginal-owned and operated business that provides professional consulting services in Information Technology (IT), Human Resources (HR) and Aboriginal Policy Development. In 2008, Julie and David created an Aboriginal Internship Program which provides the opportunity for Aboriginal talent to work and be mentored on their client projects. Their approach has been recognized by their clients, like RBC and Accenture and has earned Acosys numerous awards including the Canadian Aboriginal and Minority and Supplier Council’s Small Business Achievement Award (2011), the Toronto Board of Trade Award of Business Excellence (2012), and Council for the Advancement of Native Development Officers (CANDO) Aboriginal Private Sector Business Category (2014).
 
Mark Dokis
National Aboriginal Capital Corporations Association
 

Mark is a member of the Dokis First Nation in Northeastern Ontario and been with NACCA, since 2017. He graduated with honours from Laurentian University with a Bachelor of Arts in geography. He went on to earn academic certificates in economic development and, business administration and management. Mark has over 30 years of experience in Aboriginal economic, business, and financial services development. In April 2018, Mark was elected as a Trustee to the Okikendawt Hydro Trust to ensure the long-term sustainability of the Trust for the members of the Dokis First Nation. In his free time, Mark enjoys staying at his cottage on Lake Nipissing, hunting, fishing, and curling.

 
Jeff Provost
Bird Construction
 
As a proud Métis, born and raised in St. Boniface (Winnipeg), Manitoba, Jeff is passionate about Indigenous engagement and understanding. As a Cando Certified Professional Aboriginal Economic Developer, Jeff works to build respectful relationships and promote open communications with Bird Construction stakeholders and operations across Canada. Bird is currently Bronze PAR certified by the CCAB and is a member of their inaugural group of Aboriginal Procurement Champions. Jeff is Bird’s national lead on Indigenous relations and seeks to increase business opportunities and employment for our Indigenous partners and communities. Jeff has had the pleasure of working with Inuit, First Nations, and Métis communities across Canada to helps bridge connections and build community. Jeff’s education includes: Intro to Project Management, University of Winnipeg; Professional Aboriginal Economic Developer (PAED), Cando; Bachelor of Arts, University of Manitoba & Public Relations, Marketing & Communications Certificate, University of Winnipeg. Jeff is currently serving as Vice Chair Board of Directors on the Debwendon Inc. Steering Committee. He is also Founding National Executive Member & Past Manitoba Director & Chair of Governance Committee, Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada.