A proud member of Skownan First Nation, Diane Roussin is an Anishinaabe community leader passionately committed to the pursuit of mino bimaadiziwin (the good life) for all families and children.
Working tirelessly at the local, regional and national levels to promote Indigenous People’s values and ways of knowing, being, doing and feeling, she has led many avant-garde initiatives.
Currently the Project Director of the Winnipeg Boldness Project, Diane is a driving force in establishing and leading the first and longest serving Indigenous Social Innovation Lab in Canada that seeks large-scale systems of change for children and families in Winnipeg.
Diane is a key pacesetter in the creation of a robust Indigenous Innovation ecosystem in Canada and holds many influential roles including; Chair of the Indigenous Innovation Initiative Council with Grand Challenges Canada; member of the inaugural Indigenous Innovation Advisory Council with Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies; and member of the inaugural Council of Aunties for the Fireweed Fellowship, the first national Indigenous Entrepreneurship Accelerator.
Her Board of Directors commitments are geared toward forging new ground and include: The Winnipeg Foundation where she seeks to create space for Indigenous philanthropy; the Winnipeg Art Gallery that hosts Quamajuq, the largest public collection of Inuit art in the world; North Forge Technology Exchange, Canadas largest non-profit fabrication lab; and Animikii Inc., a leading Indigenous technology company.
Diane is a TEDx speaker on the topic of Indigenous Social Innovation and is recipient of the Governor General’s Meritorious Service Medal, recognized for Outstanding Indigenous Leadership. She is a recipient of the Manitoba Women Trailblazers Award by the Nellie McClung Foundation. Diane holds both Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Social Work Degrees.