Team

(She/Her/Hers)

Founder and Principal

What Reconciliation means to Annie: Respectful and reciprocal relationships that support Truth, connection and healing. 

About Annie: As a purpose-driven entrepreneur and a citizen of the Métis Nation, Annie Korver is dedicated to enriching relationships between Indigenous and corporate communities. Annie founded Rise Consulting (“Rise”) in 2013 when she was inspired to respond to the call to Reconciliation and advance Indigenous inclusion.  

Championing a values-based approach, Annie creates spaces where clients can realize their strategic visions for inclusion, establish reciprocal relationships and produce impactful outcomes. Annie is a community and industry leader focused on the principles that make those relationships work: respect, relevance, reciprocity, responsibility and relationships. Under her leadership, Rise has lived up to its name — growing into a national brand over the past decade and becoming certified as a B Corporation in 2023.  

Annie holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Calgary and proudly serves as a Director with the Canadian Council of Indigenous Business and Canadian Business for Social Responsibility. She was recognized in 2024, as an EY Entrepreneur Of The Year® finalist.

(She/Her/Hers)

Associate, Translation and Strategic Communications

What Reconciliation means to Annik: Reconciliation is a chance to give everyone a voice, to undo past harms and to learn a new way forward, bolstered by humility, compassion and openness.

About Annik: Annik is a recognized digital and content marketing expert, who has gained extensive experience in translation, copywriting, marketing and strategic communications on which she relies to produce high-quality work and on-time deliverables. Annik supports Rise with translation services, offering our clients Community Relations, Workforce, Leadership, Supply Chain, Business Development, Sustainability, and Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) services in both English and French.

Over the last 20 years, she has worked for such businesses as Tremblant, Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton and Banff Lake Louise Tourism. In 2010, she created Accent Communication (then known as Attaché Communications) and quickly became an invaluable partner for her many clients, many of them advertising, branding or content agencies. Annik holds a Bachelor’s degree in Organizational Communications from the University of Ottawa and a translation certificate from the University of Montréal. She takes great pleasure in turning ideas into content that is beautiful, professional and relatable. Her specializations include marketing, advertising, financial services, tourism, web and technology.

(She/Her/Hers)

Consultant – Research and Reconciliation

What Reconciliation means to Hayley: Reconciliation means respect, recognition and continual unlearning.

About Hayley: Hayley is a non-status First Nations team member at Rise, situated on the unceded traditional territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Geography and International Development and a Master’s degree in Environment, Development, and Policy through the University of Sussex.  As a Consultant – Research and Reconciliation, Hayley applies her expertise and passion for inclusive and sustainable approaches to Reconciliation Action Planning. As a former Policy Analyst, she showcased a commitment to Indigenous sustainability initiatives, securing funding and leading research projects. Hayley excels in community engagement, communication, and policy analysis reflecting her dedication to continuous learning and making a positive impact. She is passionate about facilitating opportunities for Indigenous inclusion and creating spaces for knowledge sharing, as a means to reconcile and dismantle oppressive colonial systems.

(She/Her/Hers)

Consultant – People and Equity​

What Reconciliation means to Kyla: Reconciliation is how we care for each other. It’s recognizing the histories that have got us to where we are now and how we can all work together to ensure a supportive world for all of us. Reconciliation is following the kinship teachings of Wahkotowin–that we are all interconnected and responsible for one another. 

About Kyla: Kyla is an Afro-Indigenous (Dominican/Métis) woman born and raised in Amiskwaciwâskahikan / ᐊᒥᐢᑲᐧᒋᐋᐧᐢᑲᐦᐃᑲᐣ (Edmonton) on Treaty 6 Territory. She holds a Masters in Community and Regional Planning degree, focusing on Indigenous Community Planning from the University of British Columbia. She has worked as an educator, a community organizer, and a social planner primarily with Indigenous and marginalized communities. Her experiences and interests are centered around Indigenous engagement, cultural preservation, community health, storytelling and food justice. She is a community planner, an instructor at Concordia University in Edmonton and co-editor of Hungry Zine. Her work aims to build more resilient, just and healthier communities. 

(She/Her/Hers)

Consultant – Environment and Equity

What Reconciliation means to Mila: Reconciliation means living on the land and using the natural resources it offers in a way that is equitable and fosters a lasting legacy of inclusivity and sustainability for generations to come.

About Mila: Mila holds an undergraduate degree in Environment and Sustainability Geography from the University of British Columbia and is in the process of completing a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Calgary. Mila has worked in environmental education for nonprofit organizations and parks agencies and loves projects that involve sustainable energy development, social impact and youth. She is deeply passionate about helping businesses operate with reconciliation, sustainability and equity at the forefront. Mila spends her spare time playing squash and padel, skiing, camping, reading thrillers and court room dramas and going on adventures with her husband and her dog Ola. Mila is a non-Indigenous member at Rise and she lives on Treaty 7 territory and the Traditional Territories of the Blackfoot Confederacy (Siksika, Piikani and Kainai First Nations), Tsuut’ina First Nation and the Îyâxe Nakoda (Chiniki, Bearspaw and Goodstoney First Nations) and the Calgary Elbow Métis District, Battle River Territory.

(She/Her/Hers)

Sr. Consultant – Supply Chain and ESG

What Reconciliation means to Najah: Living my Canadian dream as an immigrant does not come at the expense of the quality of life for Indigenous Peoples.

About Najah: Najah is passionate about finding common ground where everyone can prosper. She believes that good business that respects people and resources can provide abundant opportunities for all. Najah has over ten years of experience working in the supply chain in both the public and private sectors across multiple industries. Najah completed her MBA in 2021 where she focused on data analysis and sustainability. She is a Project Management Professional and Certified Supply Chain Professional.  Najah was born and raised in Syria. In her early twenties, she moved to Canada and studied economics with a minor in computer science at the University of Calgary. She knows firsthand the effect that conflicts, and poverty have on societies, and she believes that we all have a responsibility to improve the lives of our fellow humans and supply chain is a great instrument to offer fair business opportunities for all.

(She/Her/Hers)

Sr. Consultant – Transformational Learning and Engagement

What Reconciliation means to Naomi: Reconciliation is about relationships. At the foundation of relationship-building is respect, courage to listen and unlearn, accountability, humility, and trust. It is where Indigenous identities, cultures, languages are valued and celebrated. It is where Indigenous sovereignty is honored, and communities and Nations define their own pathways for success. 

About Naomi: As a settler with Ukrainian and German heritage, Naomi is grateful to be living and working on unceded Coast Salish territory, including the territories of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.  

Naomi’s experience spans over fifteen years in community development, project management, educational design and facilitation, and research and evaluation. She has been honored to work with First Nation and Inuit communities including leadership, Elders, families and youth towards strengthening community wellness, economic independence, cultural vibrancy, and land stewardship. She holds a Master degree in Adult Education and Community Development from the University of Toronto. Using this education, it is her aim to engage in meaningful knowledge sharing and encourage relationship-building rooted in trust and reciprocity.  

(She/Her/Hers)

Sr. Consultant – Research, Learning and Equity Systems

What Reconciliation means to Patti: The People are my direct report. As such, I express gratitude to be in kinship with Siksikess’tsuhkoom (Blackfoot Lands) and to be contributing to the resurgence of Siksikaitsitapii, Cree, Algonquin and Toisnot Skaru:re values, language, knowledge, and ceremony in the communities where I have been invited to do so. I am humbled by the Aawaahskataikiksi, ceremonialists, scholars, peers, and friends who have shared nitsitapissini, teachings, and guidance, for close to 30 years. I was taught to share what I know, to be generous intellectually, physically, spiritually, and emotionally. Fulfilling my obligations includes working with reciprocity and commitment to Indigenous futurity.

About Patti: Patti is a non-Indigenous team member at Rise, situated within the unceded traditional territories and waterways of the scəw̓ aθən məsteyəxw (Tsawwassen), xwməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam) First Nations and hən̓qə̓min̓əm̓ First Nations. She is also honoured to be neighbours to the citizens of the Surrey Delta Métis Association Region 2. Her commitments include supporting action in response to Reclaiming Power and Place: The Final Report of the National Inquiry Into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, work at the xʷc̓ic̓əsəm Garden at UBC, and contributions to the Indigitalization Lab at Simon Fraser University. Patti joins Rise with 25 years of experience as an educator and working with and for Indigenous communities, organizations, and programs. She works from a place of unsettling colonial memory while following the guidance and local ethics of Indigenous communities where she is called to do so. 

She completed a Master of Education (M.Ed) at the University of British Columbia where she studied human ecology and the impact of land kinship on the restoration of family integrity. She earned a Master of Arts (MA) in Peace & Conflict Studies from Royal Roads University, working with educators and Muslim, Sinhalese, and Tamil youth on adolescent peace circles during the war in Sri Lanka.