Innovating Leadership:
Co-Creating Our Future

Hosted by Maureen Metcalf

Conversations with global thought leaders on leadership, culture, and innovation—designed for executives navigating complexity and building resilient organizations.

Leading Indigenous Clean Energy

Episode Description

Chris Henderson, a Canadian eco-entrepreneur with 40 years of experience, explores the pivotal role Indigenous communities play in Canada’s clean energy transition. He shows how renewable energy projects can advance environmental sustainability, technological innovation, and economic equity for Indigenous peoples all at once, with communities not just hosting but developing and owning the projects. Drawing on his work leading the Indigenous Clean Energy Social Enterprise, he connects Indigenous environmental stewardship to a more equitable and sustainable energy future with global implications.

Key Takeaways

Indigenous communities play a pivotal role in Canada’s clean energy transition.
Renewable projects can advance sustainability, innovation, and economic equity simultaneously.
Community ownership of clean energy projects, not just participation, drives lasting benefit.
Indigenous environmental stewardship offers valuable guidance for energy futures.
Indigenous-led clean energy initiatives carry implications well beyond Canada.

Why This Episode Matters

Executives come away seeing how clean energy leadership can align environmental sustainability with genuine economic equity, using community ownership as a model for shared value.

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Featuring

Chris Henderson, President of Lumos Clean Energy Advisors

Episode Topics

Ethics & Moral Decision Making • Organizational Transformation • Scaling Innovation

Podcast Air Date

February 25, 2020

Episode Duration

40min

Watch the episode

Season 6

Episode Number 5

Episode Content:

Indigenous voices are often left out of conversations on clean energy and climate change. Yet, their generations of environmental stewardship make them pivotal players in our energy future.

Chris Henderson, a Canadian eco-entrepreneur and community leader, discusses the role of Indigenous communities in Canada’s shift towards clean energy. In the process, renewable energy is enhancing social equity and fostering economic opportunities for Indigenous peoples.

Chris and host Maureen Metcalf delve into the broader implications of this shift, including environmental sustainability, technological innovation, and the global relevance of Canada’s approach to clean energy.

Produced in association with the International Leadership Association: https://ilaglobalnetwork.org.

Other episodes you’ll enjoy:

Non-Traditional Leadership Models for Our New Era with Nathan Eva & Nicole Ferry
When Your Path Is Unclear: Embodied Leadership & Way-Showing with Donna Marie Laskin & Chellie Spiller
Leaders in the Hot Seat with Kim Campbell

Resources:

Chris’ book, Aboriginal Power, is available on Amazon at https://amzn.to/3UmwANR.

The documentary series Power to the People has a website at https://powertothepeople.tv. Learn more about Chris’ work at the Indigenous Clean Energy website: https://indigenouscleanenergy.com. Lumos Clean Energy’s website is https://www.lumosenergy.com.

Our host, Maureen Metcalf, posts a newsletter every week on LinkedIn. You can subscribe here.

Maureen’s latest book is Innovative Leadership & Followership in the Age of AI. You’ll find details about it at https://bit.ly/LeaderInAI. The Kindle version is at https://amzn.to/44buVz8. Her other 10 books are available on Amazon here.

Books we’re reading for fun or personal development right now include:

Everyday Ubuntu: Living Better Together, the African Way by Mungi Ngomane. Hardback (https://amzn.to/48Doh6j) and audiobook (https://amzn.to/48YCRF4)
Nerve: Lessons on Leadership from Two Women Who Went First by Martha Piper & Indira Samarasekera. Paperback (https://amzn.to/3tOtzg4) and audiobook (https://amzn.to/41OYdT5)
Jilly Truit murder mysteries by Beverley McLachlin:
- Full Disclosure – https://amzn.to/46TxW6Q (paperback) https://amzn.to/46VDL3Q (audiobook)
- Denial – https://amzn.to/46YCbhs (paperback) https://amzn.to/3GJc0AA (audiobook)
Women and Leadership: Journey Toward Equity by Sherylle J. Tan & Lisa DeFrank-Cole

NOTE: As an Amazon partner, we may make a small commission from books you buy through these links.

Other episodes you’ll enjoy

Leading Sustainability: The Path to Sustainable Business and SDGs with Trista Bridges and Donald Eubank
Leading in Circles: The Inevitable Circular Economy with Christoph Hinske
B Corps Improving Our World with Anie Rouleau and Danièle Henkel

Guest(s):

Chris Henderson, President of Lumos Clean Energy Advisors

Guest(s) Bio:

Chris Henderson is a Canadian eco-entrepreneur, community leader and environmental innovator. For the past 40 years, he has led and been at the forefront of ground-breaking Canadian enterprises and local/national business, social and ecological initiatives which have global impact and resonance. Chris is a trusted and insightful commentator on economic, environment and energy issues that respect the Planet, and generate enduring outcomes for corporations, communities and Canada. Chris’ prime current role in advising and equipping Indigenous peoples and communities to develop and own clean energy projects to catalyze social development, economic opportunity and to combat Climate Change. His first book Aboriginal Power was published in 2013. Chris is the President of Lumos Energy, Executive Director of the Indigenous Clean Energy Social Enterprise, Founder of The Delphi Group, and Board Chair of the Globe Series.

Transcript