Scott Graham is a multi-award winning planner, governance advisor and credentialed evaluator who has had the honour of working alongside many First Nations, Indigenous organizations, non-profit societies and public sector organizations to create innovative approaches for de-colonizing human care systems. Scott brings significant experience in leading assessments, strategic and operational planning, organizational development and has worked with many organizations in developing, implementing and evaluating key strategic initiatives, with a specialised focus in child and family wellbeing.
Scott’s work has included partnerships and relationships with the First People’s Cultural Council, Ministry of Advanced Education, City of Vancouver, City of Surrey, Gitksan Government Commission, Canadian Council for Social Development, Columbia Basin Trust, Fraser Basin Council, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, Vancouver Public Library, Office of the Wet’su’wet’en, Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nation, Gitxsan Hereditary Chiefs, Gitanyow Hereditary Chiefs, United Nations Development Program, College of Health Disciplines at the University of British Columbia, Taku River Tlingit First Nation, Fraser Basin Council, Vancouver Foundation, Ministry of Advanced Education, Gitanmaax Band, Ministry of Health, Vancouver Coastal Health, the Community Action Initiative of the Canadian Mental Health Association, and many others.
Scott brings the following qualifications and experiences to his role as an adjunct professor in the ICP program at SCARP:
- Excellent planning and program development skills, having secured over $100M in grant and contract funding since 2005;
- Senior executive level experience working with over 50 local/regional governments and over 100 different non-profit organizations, as well as the honour to work with over 20 First Nations and Indigenous organizations;
- Solid track record of positive collaborations having successfully managed over 500 projects since 2005;
- Credentialed Evaluator with the Canadian Evaluation Society since 2013; and,
- Bilingual with spoken and writing abilities in French and English, with moderate Spanish speaking skills.
Scott’s formal education includes the completion of a Bachelor of Education (with distinction) and a Masters in Theory and Policy Studies from the University of Toronto. Scott is keen to work with people who are committed to evidence-based planning and development processes that achieve social justice and educational equity outcomes.
Scott is a third generation Scottish-Swedish immigrant whose family initially settled on the territory of the Denesuline in northern Saskatchewan. With daily gratitude, he currently lives on the territory of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Watuth Nations and is humbly engaged in ongoing reflections, learning and actions that help de-colonize his mind, heart, and his related planning practice. He is especially grateful to Musqueam for hosting the ICP program on their homelands and serving a leadership role in supporting and celebrating Indigenous community planning and its power to create just and healthy community development.
Scott is committed to working along-side First Nations and Indigenous organizations in addressing health inequities and issues of poverty, with the goal of advancing community-driven and Nation-based priorities.
He brings extensive experience in community-based participatory action research, program evaluation, strategic planning, policy development, community development, as well as knowledge translation and exchange. He is especially interested in co-designing and co-developing social and health systems that are supportive of the resurgence of Nation-driven pathways to wellness and self-determination.
He is currently partnering with several Indigenous organizations and Nations in the work of re-thinking and re-planning how to align community-based programs and services with Indigenous ways of knowing and being. He is honoured to work with the Gitksan Government Commission and its partner communities in the re-design of social development supports to align with Gitksan ways of being. He is also grateful for his collaboration with the Office of the Wet’suwet’en in support of their efforts to bring about the resurgence of Wet’suwet’en ways of caring for families and children through the Anuk Nu’ At’en Ba’glgh’iyi Z’ilhdic (ANABIP) Program.
