W. Sean Willy

Sean Willy is President and Chief Executive Officer of Des Nedhe Development, the economic development entity for English River First Nation, which includes a broad portfolio of businesses and investments that range from construction and mining to retail and communications, a role he has held since August 2017, and prior thereto he was a Vice-President of Des Nedhe Development since June 2016. From 2010 to 2016, Sean was the Director of Corporate Responsibility for Cameco Corporation, a publicly traded uranium producer. Sean is an experienced business executive, with a 25-year history of creating, developing and leading inclusive practices in the resource sector and building opportunities with Indigenous communities. In his career, Sean has developed and implemented progressive and innovative Indigenous inclusion and value-added corporate social responsibility strategies for two leading resource companies, Rio Tinto and Cameco Corporation. Sean has always worked to ensure Indigenous Peoples are seen as full partners in long-term relationships, and this has led to Sean building partnerships in Australia, the United States and throughout Canada. Sean is currently a member of the Canadian Government’s Indigenous Innovation Housing Committee. In the past, he has served as Chair of the Mining Association of Canada’s Indigenous Affairs Committee, Co-Chair of the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business, Chair of the successful Northern Career Quest and a board member of Indigenous Works. Sean holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the Edwards School of Business of the University of Saskatchewan.