Kim Baird was the elected Chief of the Tsawwassen First Nation for six terms, from 1999-2012. Kim was the first woman, who was not an MLA, in British Columbia history to address the BC Legislature on October 15, 2007 when the BC Treaty Legislation process was initiated. She had the honour of negotiating and implementing British Columbia’s first urban modern treaty on April 3, 2009. This first urban treaty in BC has provided unprecedented benefits and opportunities for First Nation’s. Her management has ensured that Tsawwassen First Nation has been one of the most progressive First Nations in the country. She has since overseen numerous economic and institutional development projects for TFN. Furthermore, her involvement as a BC Hydro board member and consulting in the LNG sector has given her a strong foundation in relation to energy development in BC.
Kim’s main focus as then Elected Chief was to lead her community to developing a sustainable future through replacing the application of the Indian Act with self-governance. She has had experience with economic development under the Indian Act, First Nation Land Management Act, and self-government frameworks. She has had the unique experience of challenging infrastructure projects impacting her community territory as Chief for her community and being on a board that advanced major infrastructure projects in conjunction with many First Nations. She also faced criticism based on Tsawwassen First Nation’s economic development plans from a land use and environment perspective. She initiated the development of the Tsawwassen Mills project, a commercial real estate development, on Tsawwassen First Nation lands, currently estimated to be a 780 million dollar project.
Kim has received a number of prestigious awards, including Order of British Columbia, Indspire Award, Member of the Order of Canada, a Honourary Doctorate Law Degree from Simon Fraser University, Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, Kwantlen Polytechnic University Distinguished Alumni Award, Canada’s Top 40 Under 40 Award, the National Aboriginal Women in Leadership Distinction Award, Vancouver Magazine’s Power 50 Award, and Canada’s Most Powerful Women Top 100 Award.
Kim is currently a board member of Canada Infrastructure Bank, Vancouver Board of Trade, UBC Sauder Dhillon Centre Business Ethics Advisory Board, SFU Faculty of Environment External Advisory Board, Order of Canada Advisory Council, Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian, Canada Public Policy Forum, Clear Seas Centre for Responsible Marine Shipping, Upper Nicola Economic Development Corporation, and Chief Joe Mathias Scholarship Foundation.
Kim has been appointed to the Premier’s Aboriginal Business Investment Council. She is also a “Spark” mentor for the Girls Action Foundation. She believes strongly in supporting professional and leadership development of young women. Kim is a proud mother of three young girls and her ancestral name is Kwuntiltunaat.
Kim is the owner of Kim Baird Strategic Consulting. Her continued goal in her consulting practice is to improve the quality of life for Indigenous people through her services in relation to First Nation policy, governance, and economic development; as well as First Nation consultation, communication, and engagement issues. Kim is proficient in communication, negotiation, and facilitation, and has extensive public speaking experience. Kim currently has First Nation and industry clients on a range of issues. In addition to her consulting business, Kim has joined Hill + Knowlton Strategies as a senior advisor on public, media, and intergovernmental relations including First Nation relations.
