GOOD25: Opening Speakers
Ogiima Kwe, Chief Claire Sault
Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation
Claire Sault was elected Chief on December 9, 2023, and served on the Missisaugas of the Credit Council through a bi-election since October 22, 2022. She formerly worked as the CEO of Northwind Business Development, a company wholly owned by Caldwell First Nation. Prior, Chief Sault served as the CEO for Kettle & Stony Point First Nation Administration with a large staff. During the Covid pandemic, Ms. Sault worked in a consulting capacity and prior to that, served as CEO of Noozhoo Nokiyan Limited Partnership owned by the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation. She was the President of a non-profit in California called Divine Choices and Vice President and Director of Human Resources for a large public company and its subsidiary called First American Trust. Both, in the United States.
She was born and raised on the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation with deep roots and strong ties to her mother’s First Nation (Six Nations) as well.
After returning to Canada, she functioned in various consultative capacities including working with a First Nation in Saskatchewan. Prior to moving to the United States though, she gained experience within various Aboriginal agencies, including tourism, addictions treatment, First Nation governments and various service organizations.
As President of a non-profit and services company, from 2007 through 2013; she travelled extensively promoting the mission and cause of child sexual abuse prevention through public speaking engagements, social media, and TV commercials.
She’s also an author and co-author of various papers, teaching materials and a book called “The Lie That Binds”.
Ms. Sault received a master’s degree in business administration from Simon Fraser University with her focus on Aboriginal Business and Leadership.
Her background provides a broad expertise in business and financial management and more importantly, an understanding of the Indigenous way of life.
Ms. Sault is the second youngest of a large family and resides on the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation.
Mayor Jim Diodati
Mayor, City of Niagara Falls
Jim Diodati is the mayor of the City of Niagara Falls, Canada. He is a life-long entrepreneur and leads with a passion that is relentless. Having established, owned and operated several successful businesses before being elected mayor in 2010, he has used his unrivaled innovative style of 'politainment' as he calls it, as he reinvents what it is to be mayor. He has been at the helm for critical change-driving projects which have forever transformed the face of the City and will leave a legacy for generations of people.
Prior to the last election in 2018, Mayor Jim was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma and underwent extensive chemotherapy over the course of that year. His strong track record of past achievements, a dedicated team, close knit family & friends and overwhelming support from the community saw him through to another term, in which he found himself leading the community through the challenging and critical times of the COVID pandemic.
In the face of adversity, Jim has been known to carve a path where there wasn't one before. He believed so strongly in things like GO Train coming to Niagara Falls, building a new South Niagara Hospital and putting a University Hub in downtown Niagara Falls, that he just kept leading the way and bringing people together until they became a reality.
His unparalleled zest for life is no more evident than when in the company of his family. He has 3 children - Olivia, Mya and Jimmy.
Jamie Leitch
Board Chair, GO Open Data Association
Jamie is the GIS Administrator for the City of Niagara Falls Canada. An experienced geospatial professional, his career spans over 23 years in municipal government in the Niagara Region.
Jamie holds a Bachelor of Science (Honours Earth Science and Physical Geography) from Brock University, and an Ontario Graduate Certificate in Geographic Information Systems from Niagara College. He has a strong interest in deriving community value from municipal open data and increasing citizen awareness and engagement within their community through open data. He is a member of the Niagara Open Data Consortium and participates in working groups for establishing open data standards and certification. In his off-time, Jamie enjoys spending time with his family at the cottage during the summer, and skiing in winter.
Emcee: Keith McDonald
Founder, the literacy AI project
Keith McDonald’s degree is in Communications with a long career converting complex issues into understandable and accessible language. A Presentation Specialist & Speaker Coach, Keith’s early background in teaching revealed a delightful talent for entertaining while encouraging critical thinking and inspiring others to adapt to change. He’s worked with TVOntario, Centennial College, the City of Toronto, the GO Open Data Association, Green Peace, UNICEF, the Toronto Public Library and many other private businesses. He founded the literacy AI project in 2017 to curate, unpack, ponder and workshop Artificial Intelligence issues for non-practitioner audiences including parents, teachers, students and seniors.
