Nicole McLaren is an Indigenous community and economic development expert with extensive experience designing and implementing innovative engagement and business management plans for large industrial projects as well as start-ups. Starting her career as a project geologist, Nicole gradually shifted her focus to communities. Having worked with both junior explorers and large operators like BHP and Teck Resources, she has designed engagement, community development and investment programs to support economic development in rural, remote and Indigenous communities. She is also experienced in driving tangible improvements in E&S management systems and company socio-economic performance, such as first-of-its-kind reporting mechanisms and wholesale changes to Indigenous procurement practices. An accomplished and results-oriented Indigenous entrepreneur herself, Nicole is CEO of Raven Reads, Chair of the Indigenous Women’s Business Network and an Advisory Council Member with British Columbia’s Centre of Training Excellence in Mining.

Nicole has an B.Sc. and B.A. and expects to receive an MBA from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2023. She is based on Logan Lake, BC, Canada.