Friday, June 6, 2025 

Indigenous entrepreneurs are driving exciting innovations in the Canadian transportation sector. Combining exciting ideas with initiatives that give back to their community, these business leaders are creating value for the industry in the best way possible.

In this session, attendees will get to become more familiar with some of these, Indigenous-owned businesses. Hear directly from the founders about their groundbreaking organizations, the challenges and successes they've had, and their unique insights into transportation and logistics. Attendees considering supplier diversity will leave with a glimpse at potential Indigenous business partners. 

About the moderator:

Isabel Blackbird McMurrich
Marketing & Communications Manager
PECO Pallet

Isabel Blackbird McMurrich is the Marketing & Communications Manager at PECO Pallet, where she leads marketing strategy across North America. With over 20 years of experience, she has developed campaigns that enhance brand presence and drive business results. An Anishinaabe member of Walpole Island First Nation (Bkejwanong Territory) and of European descent, Isabel brings a unique perspective and is a passionate advocate for amplifying Indigenous voices. Beyond marketing, she has played a key role in advancing PECO’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I) and ESG initiatives. Isabel thrives in PECO’s collaborative, growth-driven culture, helping solidify its position as North America’s preferred pooled pallet provider.

About the panelists:

Chris Avery
CEO
Arctic Gateway Group

Chris Avery is an accomplished executive with over 25 years of leadership experience in the transportation industry. As the former President and CEO of Canadian North and First Air, Chris led the successful merger and integration of the two airlines and guided the organization through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Under his leadership, Canadian North was named one of Canada’s Best Managed Companies and recognized as Regional Airline of the Year (2022) by Air Transport World.

Chris spent 13 years at WestJet in a variety of senior leadership roles and has also held management positions with Alaska Airlines, Canadian Airlines, and other companies in the travel and transportation sectors. He holds a Bachelor of Economics from Western University and an MBA from the John Molson School of Business at Concordia University.

Zachary McCue
Founder & CEO
REPWR

Zachary A. McCue, a proud member of Curve Lake First Nation in Ontario, Canada, has dedicated his life to advancing Reconciliation through strategic economic and corporate initiatives. As the current CEO of REPWR, Zachary is at the forefront of transforming the intermodal freight industry with innovative power solutions. His journey to REPWR began with foundational roles in his community. As an elected councillor, Zachary focused on economic development, leveraging his expertise to foster growth and opportunity. His leadership extended to chairing the Economic Development Corporation for Curve Lake First Nation, where he was instrumental in forging vital partnerships and exploring new business ventures. His diverse experience includes a significant tenure in the Renewable Energy sector, where Zachary's skills ranged from Project Development and Management to overseeing the First Nations Services Department at a multinational law firm.

Zachary's efforts have been pivotal in assisting numerous communities to establish long-term partnerships and revenue-generating agreements, significantly impacting their economic landscapes. Following his tenure at the law firm, Zachary embarked on a visionary project by founding REPWR. This wholly owned First Nation clean technology company specializes in the design and manufacture of solar-based systems for the intermodal freight industry, specifically ISO Shipping Containers. This ground-breaking technology is revolutionizing the industry by enabling transportation systems—ships, trains, and trucks—to shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources.