Katherine Koostachin, LL.B, is an experienced leader in Indigenous relations and public policy, bringing more than two decades of expertise at the top levels of federal decision-making in Canada. She is recognized for guiding complex, high-stakes files at the intersection of Indigenous rights, major project development, environmental and regulatory approvals, and national policy, turning politically sensitive challenges into executable decisions and durable outcomes.

Katherine served as Senior Advisor to the Prime Minister of Canada on Indigenous Policy and Litigation, advising on Cabinet-level decisions involving multi-billion-dollar settlements, complex litigation, and the federal implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (UNDA). She helped advance national reconciliation priorities while ensuring federal decisions were legally sound, fiscally responsible, and operationally achievable.

Throughout her career, Katherine has held senior roles supporting the federal Ministers responsible for Environment and Climate Change, Indigenous Services, and Natural Resources, shaping Canada’s approach to impact assessments, major resource and energy project approvals, and Indigenous partnership frameworks. She brings deep expertise in regulatory systems, risk management, Cabinet decision-making, and stakeholder strategy, aligning Indigenous rights and priorities with government processes and industry realities to move complex projects and settlements from concept to implementation.

Now Vice President of Indigenous Relations & Reconciliation at Sussex Strategy Group, Katherine advises boards, executives, investors, and Indigenous governments on projects of national and strategic importance, including multi-billion-dollar mining, energy, and infrastructure developments. Her work focuses on building durable Indigenous partnerships that advance self-determination, equity participation, and long-term economic prosperity, ensuring development proceeds through shared decision-making and lasting community benefit.

A trained lawyer with experience in Aboriginal, environmental, and natural resources law, Katherine’s legal foundation informs her practical, solutions-oriented approach to reconciliation, grounding her work in a strong understanding of rights frameworks, regulatory systems, and the agreements that underpin successful partnerships.

A proud Mushkegowuk Cree from Attawapiskat First Nation, Katherine brings lived experience and senior leadership to advancing Indigenous rights, building partnerships, and driving responsible economic development that delivers tangible outcomes for communities and projects alike.