Thursday, February 11
My Cart9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
The opportunity cost: Indigenous-led procurement beyond the checkbox
Location: Rooms 215/216
- Architecture
- Construction & Trades
- Property Management & Building Operations
- Engineering
- Homebuilding & Renovation
- Interior Design
- Cross-Industry
Streams: Project Planning, Procurement, Management & Delivery
Tracks: Indigenous-Led Projects and Design
Building Types: Commercial, Industrial, Institutional, Mixed-Use, Residential: Multi-Unit
In 1997, RBC’s The Cost of Doing Nothing put a price on excluding Indigenous people from Canada’s economy. Thirty years later, Indigenous participation in projects is still measured through spend targets, supplier lists, and subcontracting clauses. The result is a capacity trap: Nations cannot build capacity without projects, and can’t win projects without capacity. This session asks what changes when the Nation is the owner and decision-maker rather than a checkbox in an RFP. Drawing on Sacred Waters’ experience as a development corporation of the Katzie, Kwantlen, and Semiahmoo First Nations, the panel examines where value disappears when engagement begins after scope, delivery models, and commercial terms are fixed. It then explores how ownership, joint ventures, workforce pathways, and long-term operating value can and should be structured earlier. Attendees will learn what questions to ask before the next procurement goes out and a clearer view of The Opportunity Cost of starting too late.
Speakers
Chris Hill Founder, Principal, Chris Hill Consulting
Chris is a strategic leader and construction innovator with 25+ years of experience in finance, development, mass timber, offsite construction, and sustainable building. A CPA and consultant with Sacred Waters Developments, he supports Indigenous-led projects with expertise in industrialized construction, prefabrication, feasibility, and community-centred economic development. He is principal of Chris Hill Consulting Inc. and director of business development at the CLT Centre, advising First Nations, public agencies, and developers on offsite construction strategy, capital investment, and financial modelling. He previously founded BCollective Homes, an award-winning offsite builder that delivered $20M+ in projects and achieved B Corp certification.
Chris holds a BA in Economics and is a Master Residential Builder and Certified Passive House Tradesperson. He serves on the boards of Hiy̓ám̓ Housing Society, Small Housing BC, and Safer Homes BC, and founded the Building Offsite Network.
Jason Hingey Director of Finance, Sacred Waters Developments
Jason Hingley is a real estate finance and housing development leader delivering housing, infrastructure, and community development projects in Canada and the UK. As Director of Finance at Sacred Waters Developments, he leads financial strategy, corporate structuring, capital planning, and investment modelling for large-scale Indigenous development initiatives on behalf of the Katzie, Kwantlen, and Semiahmoo Nations. Jason has overseen housing portfolios, development financing, procurement, governance, stakeholder partnerships, feasibility analysis, funding strategies, construction oversight, operational planning, and long-term asset management. His previous roles include senior housing and regeneration leadership with Manchester City Council and housing development, planning, and finance leadership with Metro Vancouver. He has worked closely with BC Housing, CMHC, lenders, municipalities and Indigenous partners. An ACA, and BFP, Jason is a speaker on housing strategy and development.
Graham Wood CEO, Sacred Waters Developments
Graham Wood, MBA, is CEO of Sacred Waters Developments and a leader in Indigenous-led real estate development, housing strategy, and community-focused economic development. With more than 25 years of experience across public, private, and non-profit sectors, he advances strategic development initiatives on behalf of the Katzie, Kwantlen, and Semiahmoo Nations. Graham specializes in Indigenous land planning, real estate development, housing strategy, and nation-to-nation partnerships. He is known for aligning economic growth with Indigenous values, environmental stewardship, and long-term community prosperity. He holds an MBA from the University of Victoria, a Diploma in Urban Land Economics from UBC Sauder School of Business, and a BA from Simon Fraser University. He serves on the Board of Directors of the BC Non-Profit Housing Association and speaks on Indigenous economic development, housing innovation, reconciliation, and sustainable community-building.
- Early
- $65
- Regular
- $85
10:30 AM – 11:30 AM
Chief Leonard George: designing with mass timber for high-performance Passive House
Location: Room 217
- Architecture
- Construction & Trades
- Engineering
- Homebuilding & Renovation
Streams: Sustainability, Decarbonization & High-Performance Buildings
Tracks: Indigenous-Led Projects and Design
Building Types: Mixed-Use, Residential: Multi-Unit
The Chief Leonard George Building is Canada’s first mixed-use tall mass timber Passive House building and an 81-unit Indigenous housing project. This intermediate-level case study explores how integrated design and early collaboration enabled high-performance, low-carbon housing through a nine-storey hybrid mass timber system. The session highlights how prefabrication across structure and façade – including CLT floors, a steel column grid, a concrete core, and robotically fabricated envelope panels – support Passive House airtightness, constructability, and quality control.
Speakers will share lessons learned on off-site manufacturing, digital coordination, and how integrated façade systems improved efficiency while reducing carbon, waste, and site disruption. Attendees will gain knowledge on delivering low-carbon, Passive House-standard housing through integrated design and prefabrication. Ideal for architects, engineers, envelope consultants, developers, and builders.
Speakers
Achim Charisius Associate Principal, GBL Architects
Achim Charisius joined GBL Architects in 2017 and leads concept and design development. A Certified Passive House Designer and LEED accredited professional, he brings 24 years of experience in towers, mixed-use projects, and urban design. His work includes the award-winning Blatchford Master Plan and True North Square. He currently leads rezoning for Heather Lands and Poco Place and is project architect for the Chief Leonard George Building, Canada’s first tall timber Passive House building.
Tobias Fast Partner, Fast + Epp
Tobias Fast is a Partner at Fast + Epp with more than a decade of experience delivering innovative structural engineering projects across North America and Europe. Before joining the firm’s Vancouver office, he worked with leading engineering firms in New York and London, as well as Fast + Epp’s Frankfurt office. He holds graduate and undergraduate engineering degrees from the University of British Columbia and was named Partner in 2023. Tobias also leads Fast + Epp’s Concept Lab, advancing research, innovation, and digital practice across the firm.
Michael Wilkinson Principal, Building Science Specialist, RDH Building Science
Michael is a Principal and Building Science Specialist at RDH Building Science Inc. He has provided consulting services across a range of building typologies with a focus on high-performance and innovative building projects including those that are Passive House, mass timber, and volumetric modular. Michael has also been involved in numerous research projects including product development and performance monitoring and is the lead author of several guideline documents for government agencies and building enclosure product manufacturers. Additionally, Michael was a part-time instructor at BCIT where he taught building science and construction technology classes.
- Early
- $65
- Regular
- $85