Engaging the Academic & Indigenous Business Community to Accelerate Canada’s Innovation Agenda

In January 2025, 44 leaders representing Indigenous business, academics, business school deans, post-secondary presidents, and NGO leaders gathered at Luminary’s first Indigenous Innovation Summit in Phoenix, co-hosted with our partner Northern Arizona University.

✨ Now, we’re bringing that conversation to you.

Join Terri Lynn Morrison (Executive Director) and Kelly Lendsay (Chief Transformation Officer) as they facilitate a powerful discussion with four Phoenix Summit leaders. 

📌 Together, they’ll share insights and ideas from Phoenix—and how Luminary is translating them into real programming and engagement strategies.

The OECD has long affirmed that innovation drives economic advancement and wellbeing. For Indigenous peoples, enlisting research and innovation is essential to transform economies, employment, and community outcomes. Yet Canada lags behind, scoring a “C” on the Innovation Report Card and ranking 15th in the 2023 Global Innovation Index. Persistent socio-economic gaps remain, as noted by the National Indigenous Economic Development Board.

💡 This webinar will explore:

• How academic and Indigenous business collaborations expand student and research talent
• Opportunities to foster research partnerships that create tangible impacts
• Action strategies and investments needed to accelerate Indigenous Innovation

👉 Don’t miss this chance to hear directly from leaders advancing a new wave of Indigenous-led innovation in Canada and beyond.