Cormac Russell is a social explorer, a globally respected voice in community building and a passionate advocate for community-led change. 

As the founding director of Nurture Development, Cormac has worked in over 40 countries alongside communities, governments, and organizations to help uncover and grow local strengths. His work is rooted in Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD), an approach that focuses on what’s strong, not what’s wrong, in communities. 

Cormac is also a faculty member at the ABCD Institute at DePaul University in Chicago and has worked closely with John McKnight, one of ABCD’s original founders.He’s the author of several influential books. 

Whether through storytelling, speaking, or hands-on work, Cormac inspires people to shift from a mindset of scarcity and control to one of abundance, trust, and connection. Based in Ireland, he continues to support a global network of everyday community builders committed to real, lasting change from the ground up. 

You can explore more of Cormac’s work at www.nurturedevelopment.org

Daniel Bellegarde is a respected Saskatchewan leader, facilitator, and advocate for Indigenous rights, reconciliation, and community capacity building. Daniel brings over three decades of experience working with Indigenous Nations, governments, and communities to support the resurgence of Indigenous governance, economic development, and nation-to-nation relationships.

Daniel is known for his leadership in the fields of Indigenous education, self-determination, and intergovernmental relations. He has held senior positions with Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC), the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN), and has been an active contributor to the advancement of First Nations and Métis governance structures in Saskatchewan and beyond.

His work and life are deeply grounded in a commitment to decolonization, community empowerment, and collaborative change-making. As a skilled facilitator and systems thinker, he supports processes that centre Indigenous voices and uphold traditional knowledge in the design of policies, programs, and partnerships. Rooted in both Little Black Bear First Nation and Fort Qu’Appelle, Daniel’s leadership is informed not only by formal policy experience but also by lived experience, relational ways of working, and a passion for building strong, self-determined communities.

Heather Plett is an international speaker, facilitator, and writer whose work has touched communities around the world. She’s best known for her deep and heartfelt approach to holding space, self-leadership, and community care.

Heather is the author of the widely celebrated books The Art of Holding Space and Where Tenderness Lives, both of which explore how we can create more compassionate, inclusive spaces – for ourselves and for each other. Her work invites people to show up with presence, courage, and radical acceptance, especially during times of change, conflict, or grief.

As co-founder of the Centre for Holding Space, Heather supports individuals, organizations, and communities across sectors; helping them build brave, nurturing spaces for healing and transformation. Drawing on her background in leadership, facilitation, and spiritual practice, she walks alongside others in a lifelong commitment to justice and belonging.

Grounded in both lived experience and deep personal practice, Heather leads with vulnerability, authenticity, and a fierce commitment to justice and belonging.

Originally from Manitoba, Heather now calls the BC Coast home. Learn more about her work at www.centreforholdingspace.com