The winner of this year’s Michelle Pockey Leadership Award is Martha Manuel, senior adviser, Indigenous relations, at New Gold (TSX:NGD).
The award is named in honour of the memory of prominent lawyer and community activist Michelle Pockey, who dedicated herself to making a positive difference in the world – from energy, mining, environmental and Indigenous issues to increasing the economic success and impact of women. Pockey worked tirelessly for 20 years advancing women in business, law, First Nations and non-traditional sectors. She was an inspiration to others every day of her life until her death from cancer in June 2016.
To help support her legacy and advance other women along their leadership paths, Business in Vancouver and Minerva BC, supported by Vancity, have partnered to recognize an exceptional female leader each year through the award.
The award gives first priority to an Indigenous woman and single parents, and second priority to women pursuing law, justice, Indigenous or environmental studies. The award is intended to support the successful nominee’s tuition, housing or child care in the pursuit of post-secondary education.
This year’s award will help Manuel, a member of the Secwepemc Nation and a resident of Chase, B.C., achieve her goal of pursuing the executive MBA Indigenous leadership program at Simon Fraser University.
The award and a donation cheque will be presented at BIV’s Influential Women in Business Awards on March 8 at the Fairmont Waterfront Hotel. For ticketing and full event information, visit https://biv.com/iwib.
