Catherine Palmer has been working in the field of Indigenous relations for 30 years, and has been an independent consultant since 2003. Catherine has worked for industry, government and Indigenous communities on a range of issues. She has designed Indigenous relations policy frameworks, developed and implemented engagement processes, and researched and written numerous reports. Some of Catherine’s recent projects include: independent review of the BC Treaty Commission on behalf of the Principals to the process; local government and stakeholder needs assessment on Indigenous reconciliation agreements for BC; land use strategy for the Nisga’a Village of Gitwinksihlkw; Indigenous engagement for Woodfibre LNG and Shaw Communications; and Project Manager for the team that developed an Urban, Rural, and Indigenous Housing Strategy for the Aboriginal Management & Housing Association.

Catherine has worked for industry (Woodfibre LNG, BG Group, Progress Energy, Enbridge, Spectra, Stikine Energy, Bralorne Mines, BC Hydro, Collings Johnston Inc., and the Canadian Energy Pipeline Association); federal, provincial governments and municipal governments; and Indigenous communities and organizations.

Prior to working as a consultant, Catherine was a treaty negotiator for the Province of BC, a Band manager for the T’Sou-ke and Malahat Nations, and a Land and Community Coordinator for Westcoast Energy (now Enbridge). Catherine also has broad-based national experience through her work with the Assembly of First Nations during the Charlottetown Constitutional Negotiations.

Catherine holds a Masters degree in Public Administration and a BA in Political Science from the University of Victoria.