Our Leadership Team
Our leadership team is committed to serving First Nations across Ontario. Drawing upon their collective experience and diverse backgrounds, our leadership team works strategically to develop and deliver the best technical advisory services for our communities. Our passion is fostering an environment of collaboration and innovation across our organization, to set up our employees, and most importantly our First Nations, for success!
Melanie Debassige, MBA, ICD.D
Executive Director
Melanie Debassige, MBA, ICD.D is an Anishinabek Kwe from the M’Chigeeng First Nation. She currently serves as the Executive Director of the Ontario First Nations Technical Services Corporation. Melanie was appointed to the Ontario Clean Water Agency Board of Directors in October 2013 where she serves as a Board Director and Chair of the First Nations Committee. In March 2018, she was appointed to the Board of Reconciliation Canada where she holds the position of Director/Treasurer. Melanie completed the Director’s Education Program at the Rotman School of Management and is a certified corporate director which complements her Master’s in Business Administration.
Melanie was recognized in 2015 by the Canadian Board Diversity Council in the Diversity 50 which is a list of highly-qualified board candidates. In 2018, Melanie undertook the role as strategic advisor to the National Energy Board of Canada on Indigenous issues. In August 2019, she was appointed to the Board of Directors of the Canada Energy Regulator on August 22, 2023 she was appointed to the role of Vice Chair. In 2019, she was recognized in Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100. She also served on the Ontario Provincial Sectoral Audit Committee, Community Services. Most recently she was appointed in January 2023 to the Legal Aid Ontario Board of Directors.
