We are pleased to announce the following keynote speakers:

Wayne Potoroka has had a varied public service career, including 25 years at the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in, 17 years on Dawson City’s municipal Council, and three years with the Yukon government’s Community Services Department, where he’s currently employed. But his Yukon CV starts with three seasons washing rock at a placer mine and parts of two seasons working a muck stick on Dawson’s once-in-a-generation water- and sewer-pipe replacement project in the mid ’90s. He is keen to share insights gleaned from his experience and the path forward for responsible infrastructure development in the territory.

Jesse Johnston is a co-founder and CEO of Ahdā Views Consulting Services Inc., a Yukon-based Indigenous consulting firm supporting First Nations governments and communities in infrastructure development, capital planning, funding strategy, and project implementation. With a background as a former Yukon First Nations Capital Director, Certified Millwright, Water and Wastewater Treatment Operator, and former Paramedic/Fire Fighter, Jesse brings practical experience in public utilities, project management, and community infrastructure. His work focuses on helping rural Yukon communities transform identified needs into funded, sustainable projects.

Keynote Topic: Projects Are A Shared Journey

Drawing on experience across public utilities, emergency services, project management, and community infrastructure development, Jesse explores how organizational culture, communication, trust, and collaboration create the momentum behind successful projects. He demonstrates why preparing community projects through consultation and approvals, developing strong partnerships, and building project readiness before funding opportunities arise are often the difference between communities that react to opportunities and those that are ready to seize them.

“The projects that are most successful are the ones that have built the relationships, trust, and project readiness to act when opportunities arise.”

This keynote explores how working together extends beyond collaboration between organizations to include the everyday contributions of individuals across our communities. It illustrates how every role contributes to identifying needs, informing decisions, building relationships, and creating the momentum that transforms community priorities into lasting outcomes. Participants will leave with a deeper understanding of where they fit within the project development process and how our work strengthens relationships, prepares communities to seize opportunities, and contributes to the collective success of both their organization and the communities we serve.