Leadership

David Carrière-Acco, is a member of the Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation in Saskatchewan. He holds an MBA (International Business Concentration), as well as graduate degrees in Marketing, eCommerce and Business Analysis. Since launching Acosys in 2006, David has established himself and Acosys as a premier Indigenous-led consulting firm specializing in facilitating constructive and respectful Indigenous engagement on behalf of governments, corporate clients, and non-governmental organizations. David has worked with Indigenous communities and organizations across Canada, garnering extensive experience in the design, implementation, and facilitation of successful Indigenous engagement initiatives.

In 2008, David, together with Julie Lepage, created an Indigenous Internship Program, which provides the opportunity for Indigenous people to work and be mentored on their client projects. This has earned Acosys numerous awards and newsworthy media articles. The program has been very successful to create opportunity to Indigenous people but also bring greater workplace diversity. David believes that the critical part of Canada’s path to reconciliation with its Indigenous people is dependent upon inclusion in the Canadian economy and workforce within a spirit of Nation-to-Nation relationship.

In August 2023, David joined McGill University as an Assistant Professor / Academic Program Coordinator for the Certificate in Indigenous Business Management at the Management and Entrepreneurship Domain, School of Continuing Studies. 

While 2025 saw him complete the prerequisites for his doctorate degree, in January 2026, David officially started the research for his doctorate thesis at the University of Otago in New Zealand, with a focus on Economic Reconciliation and Shared Value Creation.

David is passionate about the use of technology combined with Indigenous Traditional Knowledge to develop environmental protection and climate adaptation solutions for all of Canada and continues his work to build Indigenous capacity, especially in STEM professions. He is a proud member of the Canadian Armed Forces Reserves as an officer in the Air Cadet program, promoting the development of Canada’s youth and interest in aviation and aerospace.

Julie Lepage, a member of the Nipissing-Ojibway First Nation, graduated from the University of Ottawa Common Law and Civil Law Programs and is a member of the Law Society of Upper Canada.

She is a co-founder of Acosys Consulting Services Inc., which leverages an entrepreneurial business model to pursue a social mission for Indigenous Inclusion and Capacity Building at the professional level. Acosys provides professional consulting services, primarily in the three sectors of business solutions, technology integration and talent management.

Julie is fully bilingual and specializes in providing services in talent management. She has mainly worked in the private sector, where she acquired her experience in HR. She has also worked as a policy analyst for Indigenous non-governmental organizations.

Julie’s combined legal and human resources experience has allowed her to gain extensive insight in finding solutions in human resources issues and management development to create a cutting-edge workplace.