University of the Fraser Valley – UFV’s first Executive-in-Residence focuses on Indigenous economic reconciliation – Education News Canada
May 7, 2026
The University of the Fraser Valley is welcoming Byng Giraud as its first Executive-in-Residence, focused on supporting practical approaches to economic reconciliation through work with Indigenous nations and organizations.
Supported and hosted by UFV’s Faculty of Business and Computing (FBC), Byng’s role will include:
- Providing office hours for students, faculty, and alumni to discuss project de-risking, Indigenous procurement, and ethical economic development. Byng will be In Residence’ twice per semester, maintaining a consistent presence that enables deep relationship-building.
- Advising UFV leadership on initiatives that support economic reconciliation (e.g., land use, partnerships, and Indigenous-led environmental assessments).
- Acting as a neutral table for external industry leaders, Indigenous communities, and government officials to explore collaborative economic models.
“The creation of an Executive-in-Residence related to Reconcili-action’ marks a pivotal step in our mission to integrate ethical economic development into the heart of UFV,” said Chris Shinckus, Dean of UFV’s Faculty of Business and Computing. “Through this initiative, FBC is proud to provide our community with direct access to expertise in economic reconciliation, promoting better practices for better sustainability of non-Indigenous and Indigenous businesses.”
