Aboriginal Consultation Expertise for Resource Development

We employ an integrative approach in our work that recognizes that each of the party’s organizational goals, structure, and resources are interdependent. Our strategies are tailored to the specific requirements of our clients and the nature of the challenge.

Good Synergies is currently a Calgary, Alberta based firm providing professional services in consultation, mediation, facilitation, advising and coaching in relations to resource development in Aboriginal relations within Canada.

Michelle Goodkey is the founder of Good Synergies Inc.

Michelle Goodkey is a Registered Professional Forester (RPF) with the Association of BC Forest Professionals (ABCFP). With over 15 years of experience in natural resource management within northern British Columbia, Michelle understands the complexity of overlapping development, unsettled land claims, social and environmental concerns of the surrounding communities. Of those 15 years, Michelle spent six years with the BC Government working in Aboriginal Affairs at the local, regional, provincial and some federal levels becoming proficient in Aboriginal law, provincial permitting, consultation and Aboriginal policy within BC.She also spent 14 months coordinating engagement of a small team working on 27 projects while negotiating Aboriginal Community agreements within Northeast BC for a major national infrastructure development company.

While with the provincial government Michelle successfully coordinated a team that piloted the coordinated consultation for 14 authorizations from 5 difference government resource agencies for a single major development project. The team won the Regional Premier’s Award in Promoting Innovation and Excellence, and the learnings from this project have been used in developing the 2010 provincial consultation guidance documents to assist in future major developments.

Specialties

Mediation, advising, coaching, natural resource development, government relations, aboriginal relations, industry relations, process and program development, coordinating engagement/consultation, cross-cultural awareness (industry/government/First Nations)