Matt Ladner – Indigenous & Community Engagement and Energy Sector Leader

Matt Ladner is a seasoned energy sector professional with more than 20 years of experience spanning large‑scale project development, Indigenous and community engagement, and corporate affairs. His career has been dedicated to helping complex infrastructure and renewable energy projects succeed by aligning business objectives with Indigenous rights, community priorities, and long‑term sustainability.

Most recently, Matt served as Head of Indigenous & Community Affairs at Northland Power, where he led the company’s global strategy for building and sustaining relationships with Indigenous and non‑Indigenous communities across the full project lifecycle—from early development through construction, operations, and decommissioning. In this role, he worked closely with senior leadership, internal project teams, and external partners to ensure engagement practices were culturally respectful, strategically aligned, and consistent with corporate values, helping to reduce risk while strengthening social license and project outcomes.

Prior to this role, Matt founded and operated his own consulting firm for nearly five years, advising clients on Indigenous engagement, stakeholder relations, regulatory strategy, and project execution. He also served as Canadian Vice President of Corporate Affairs at GDF Suez (now Engie), a global independent power producer and asset management company, where he supported major infrastructure initiatives and corporate activities across Canada.

Throughout his career, Matt has played key roles in major infrastructure and renewable energy projects. His experience includes leading due diligence for large corporate and project transactions, securing regulatory approvals across multiple jurisdictions, acting as Project Manager for a $280 million wind farm, and coordinating more than 100,000 acres of private land options for renewable energy development. He was also instrumental in the growth of AIM PowerGen Corporation, supporting the development, construction, and operation of more than 900 MW of renewable energy projects nationwide.

Known for his strengths in contract negotiation, stakeholder engagement, and project delivery, Matt brings a practical, trust‑based approach to every engagement. His work is distinguished by a strong focus on collaboration, mutual respect, and the integration of Indigenous and community best practices into infrastructure and energy development at every stage.