Brian Smith

Brian Smith is a Mi’kmaq from the Glooscap community in Nova Scotia. He is a husband and a father of six children.

Brian began his career as a Financial Controller for a Nova Scotia First Nation. He moved on to work with the Royal Bank of Canada beginning as a Manager of Business Banking. Thereafter, he became the Atlantic District Manager for Strategic Markets, with a priority on Aboriginal banking. All the while, he worked closely with the economic development officers of the Atlantic, building networks, providing support and advice. After returning to school and receiving a degree in Information Technology, Mr. Smith operated a private IT business conducting surveys on Internet connectivity in First Nation communities in Nova Scotia.

After many years in the for-profit corporate world, Mr. Smith turned to the non-profit area when he opened the first Atlantic office of the Canadian Executive Services Organization and was their first Atlantic Regional Manager. In 2005, Brian returned to school and received his Executive MBA. He has since joined the executive team of the National Centre for First Nations Governance as their Director of Operations, responsible for five Regional offices across Canada.

Mr. Smith is also currently a board member with the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network. He has served as the past Treasurer and has sat on numerous committees. His past volunteer activities include working with Junior Achievement, various economic development committees and networks on training and development, the Canadian Bankers Association, the First Nations Governments Finance Committee and he has served as the past chair of the Royal Bank Atlantic District Aboriginal Banking Committee.