Providing context: Industry partner- IBM
Mary Jane Loustel, National Aboriginal Program Executive, IBM Canada Ltd.
As National Aboriginal Program Executive, Mary Jane Loustel, leads the IBM Canada Aboriginal Strategy. This strategy is designed to advance Aboriginal participation in the technology sector with a goal of enabling and facilitating Aboriginal social and economic inclusion.
IBM has developed a National Aboriginal Strategy that is built on a foundation of partnership and collaboration. The strategy addresses four key areas of interest: human resources, business development, community relations, and community investment.
Fundamental to ensuring the success of this strategy is the role IBM plays in building relationships with Federal, Provincial and Aboriginal governments; not for profit organizations; education sector; and corporations to create a forum for collaboration to address the related opportunities and challenges faced by the First Nation, Metis and Inuit Peoples of Canada. IBM is a celebrated leader in this respect, and has maintained a gold standing as a Progressive Aboriginal Relations (PAR) company by the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business since 2009. This achievement demonstrates IBM investment in sustainable, progressive relations.
As a global leader in technology-enabled solutions, IBM recognizes the importance of increasing personal and business opportunities for First Nations, Metis and Inuit through knowledge of and access to technology. With a focus on skills development and community relations, IBM's strategy is to expand participation through employment and through the growth in Aboriginal technology businesses. Progressive Aboriginal Relations is fundamental to IBM's diversity commitment and its success in business.
IBM, along with industry partners and civic, provincial, federal and Aboriginal governments, continues to collaborate to improve accessibility, infrastructure and skills in Aboriginal communities. IBM participates in the Indspire Soaring Career Conferences and the Aboriginal Human Resource Council Inclusion Works Conference. Each of these conferences are focused on providing opportunities for Aboriginals to explore a broad range of career possibilities. Through its Corporate Citizenship activities, IBM has delivered technology camps, grant funded consulting services and learning workshops. IBM's unique methodology results in employee volunteerism, corporate collaboration and sustained community investment.
Mary Jane serves as Board Member for the Winnipeg Police Board; she is Chair of the Governance Committee and services on the Risk Management and Audit, Strategic Planning and Indigenous Liaison Committees. She is also Board Member with Ka Ni Ka Nichihk, a not for profit organization that provides Aboriginal identified programs and services focused on wholeness and wellness.
Mary Jane's past board appointments include:
o Chair of the Board, Chair of Finance Committee, Economic Development Winnipeg.
o Board Director, Travel Manitoba.
o Co-Founding Director, SheDay.
o Board Director, Chair of Finance Committee, Aboriginal Human Resource Council.
o Member, Roundtable on Workforce Skills, Human Resource Skill Development Canada;
o Member, Economic Opportunity Commission, City of Winnipeg;
o Director, Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants Risk Management & Governance Board.
Additional info:
Contact: Mary Jane Loustel,
https://aboriginalhr.ca/en/resources/promising-practices/ibm-youth-program
http://news.gov.mb.ca/news/index.html?item=28621&posted=2006-06-21
https://www.ibm.com/ibm/responsibility/downloads/profiles/2013_Profile_Canada_0813.pdf