Jeff Loucks

Jeff Loucks is a retired senior executive with over 45 years of dedicated service assisting First Nations and Indigenous peoples in finding solutions to the many social, economic and cultural challenges which exist.

This commitment continued after retirement with involvement at a community level focused on helping to implement positive change and respond to the needs of future generations. Jeff worked in senior management positions in Ontario and British Columbia for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) before moving from CMHC to take on the role of Regional Director General for British Columbia with Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada (now Indigenous Services Canada). He finished his career at INAC HQ acting as the Deputy Ministers’ Special Representative tasked with addressing a number of recommendations coming from various Auditor General reports.

Post-retirement he returned home, serving eight years on Council at Hiawatha First Nation. A number of community priorities were commenced during that period with Jeff playing a role initiating their development. These included the completion of a Comprehensive Community Plan, the creation of the Bijiinago Noongom Waabang Trust, the development and ratification of a Hiawatha Land Code, the design and construction of a new Seniors Residence and the creation of Zhooniya Makak Limited Partnership.

It was also during this time on Council that he took on the role of interim Chief Executive Officer for the National Indigenous Collaborative Housing Inc (NICHI). NICHI is a national housing organization created to bring together urban, rural and northern Indigenous housing providers to address the need for safe, secure and affordable housing for those Indigenous peoples living away from their home communities. In under one year, the program and operational funding required to build and staff the organization was secured as well as an allocation process created which resulted in a budget of almost $300m being awarded to successful proponents.

When not spending time enjoying the cottage, reading a book or on a golf course, Jeff continues to serve his community sitting on a number of HFN Committees.