Dawn Madahbee Leach

Dawn Madahbee Leach, an Anishinabe-Kwe and member of Aundeck Omni Kaning First Nation, is currently the General Manager of Waubetek Business Corporation, a leading Indigenous financial institution that provides financial services to Indigenous entrepreneurs across Northeastern Ontario, Canada. She is also the Founder and President of Indigenous Business International, which assists Indigenous people and companies internationally with economic sector strategies and project reviews.

Ms. Madahbee Leach is the Chair of the National Indigenous Economic Development Board, providing advice and guidance to the federal government on issues related to Indigenous economic policy and programming. In collaboration with more than 20 national Indigenous organizations, she chaired the development of the first-ever National Indigenous Economic Strategy for Canada, published in June 2022.

Ms. Madahbee Leach also serves on the boards of Peace Hills Trust (since 2012), Des Nedhe Group (since 2024), TC Energy (since 2024), and Fiera Capital (since 2026). She also serves on the First Nations Procurement Authority Board of Directors and is a member of the Asian Business Leaders Advisory Council and the Indigenous Centre of Excellence for Mineral Development. She serves as a Patron of Indigenous Women in Industry, an international organization that promotes export opportunities for Indigenous women entrepreneurs and is on Indigenous advisory committees for Global Affairs Canada and companies in the manufacturing, mining, and energy sectors. She has also served on her First Nation’s elected council and as Chair of the Northern Ontario Policy Institute.

Ms. Madahbee Leach has an extensive network across Canada and has spoken internationally to promote Indigenous businesses in Singapore, Taiwan, the Philippines, Ecuador, Australia, Chile, New Zealand, Sweden, Germany, the United States, and the United Kingdom.

Ms. Madahbee Leach is the recipient of the 2023 Business Lifetime Achievement Award from the Canadian Council for Indigenous Business, as well as the 2020 Indspire Award for Business and Commerce, one of the highest honours among Indigenous Peoples in Canada. She was also recognized as one of Canada’s Most Powerful Women in 2018. Ms. Madahbee Leach graduated from the University of Waterloo’s Economic Development Program and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and Law from Laurentian University.