Jean-Paul Gladu was awarded the degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, at the 9 a.m. ceremony on Monday, June 17, in recognition of his outstanding contribution as a champion of change who has promoted a renaissance of Indigenous business in Canada, built key bridges with the non-Indigenous Canadian and international business communities, and fostered awareness and change in support of economic reconciliation.
Gladu is currently the Principal of Mokwateh and previously served as the President and CEO of the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business (CCAB) from September 2012 until April 2020. He is Anishinaabe and resides in his community of Sand Point First Nation located on Lake Nipigon, Ontario.
Gladu has over 30 years of experience in the natural resource sector. His career path includes work with Indigenous communities and organizations, environmental non-government organizations, industry and governments from across Canada and the globe.
Currently, Gladu serves on the boards of Suncor, the Institute for Corporate Directors, Broden Mining, and First Nations Major Projects Coalition Advisory Centre, and is the Chair of Canada’s Forest Trust as well BHP’s Forum for Corporate Responsibility committee. He previously served on the Board of Ontario Power Generation, Noront Resources and is the past Chair of the Mikisew Group of Companies.
He is a senior fellow with the Macdonald-Laurier Institute and served as the Chancellor of Waterloo’s St. Paul’s University College from 2017 to 2020. His achievements have been recognized by the Public Policy Forum as a prestigious 2024 Honouree.
Gladu has completed a forestry technician diploma from Sault College, obtained an undergraduate degree in forestry from Northern Arizona University, holds an Executive MBA from Queen’s University and an ICD.D from Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto.