United Northern Developments Limited Partnership has appointed Judy (Jude) Ducharme as its new chief administrative officer, effective May 4.
The appointment was announced June 16 in Peace River, Alta, according to a media release from UNDLP.
In her new role, Ducharme will provide executive leadership across administration and operations, the release says.
According to UNDLP, Ducharme’s work will support the partnership’s strategic direction through governance practices, financial stewardship and service-focused organizational management.
Chief Ivan Sawan, UNDLP director and Loon River First Nation chief, says the appointment is part of strengthening UNDLP’s leadership as it works on its priorities.
“This appointment is an important step in strengthening UNDLP’s leadership as we move forward on key priorities — especially our work with partners and Alberta Transportation and Economic Corridors to establish the Highway 686 planning committee,” Sawan says in the release.
Sawan says Ducharme brings experience, professionalism and a community-minded approach to the role.
He says UNDLP needs those qualities to deliver on its mandate and keep its work moving forward with accountability and results.
Ducharme says she is honoured to join UNDLP at what she described as an important time.
“My focus will be on strengthening day-to-day operations, supporting accountable decision-making, and helping teams deliver results that reflect UNDLP’s mandate and the priorities of the communities it serves,” Ducharme says.
Ducharme has more than 30 years of experience in administration, Indigenous engagement, governance, non-profit leadership, operations and project delivery.
She currently serves as vice-president of the Peace River Restorative Justice Association.
With the justice association, she leads the organization’s governance subcommittee, according to the release.
She is also a director with the Peace River Agricultural Society and a long-standing member of the Peace River Aboriginal Interagency Committee, the release says.
Ducharme has worked in the public and private sectors, including as Indigenous engagement co-ordinator with Egis Canada, according to UNDLP.
In that role, the release says, she supported engagement primarily related to the Highway 686 project.
The release says Ducharme has served in leadership roles with for-profit and non-profit organizations over the past three decades.
As chief administrative officer, Ducharme will work with UNDLP leadership and partners to support administrative and financial systems, internal policies, reporting, staff capacity, operational planning, stakeholder co-ordination, strategic initiatives and service commitments, according to the release.
UNDLP is a partnership established by Loon River First Nation, Peerless Trout First Nation and Bigstone Cree Nation, the release says. The partnership is involved in the extension of Highway 686 to Fort McMurray, which the release says aims to create a new economic corridor in northern Alberta.
According to UNDLP, the project is designed to improve access to goods and services for communities and businesses across the region and provide an additional emergency route for people in the area.
The partnership is working with the Government of Alberta Transportation and Economic Corridors to establish a planning committee that will review the proposed project and identify economic opportunities for communities along the corridor, the release says.
Sara Driedger
Lakeside Leader