David Connelly, CD, MBA, BCom., is a proven executive and veteran who has deployed on numerous Arctic sovereignty operations.  He lives in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, where he spent the last 30 years leading strategic planning, economic development, engagement, and ESG operations with a focus on creating business, employment and training opportunities for Indigenous groups in the North.  David was Vice President of Corporate Affairs and Strategy of Cheetah Resources and Vital Metals, Canada’s only producer of rare earth products until spring 2023. Currently, he is leading a study Identifying Indigenous Development Opportunities Arising from the Lithium Boom in the NWT.  

He has structured many successful strategic alliances and led turnarounds, and helped pioneer groundbreaking Indigenous business partnerships and impact benefits agreements. He is recognized for building Indigenous, Federal, and Territorial government relationships and successfully sourcing funding for projects.  He has advised Indigenous leadership, Boards and CEOs of advanced extraction projects in Northern Canada, including Avalon Advanced Minerals, TerraX Minerals, Vital Metals, Cheetah Resources and Gold Terra Resources. 

David is a Member of the Board of Advisors and a Network Coordinator of the North American and Arctic Security and National Defense Network, and a Senior Fellow with Arctic 360, where he focuses on Indigenous economic development and critical minerals. 

He serves or has served on boards for over two dozen public companies, private companies, Indigenous development corporations, not-for-profit, quasi-judicial, and government organizations.  Until recently, he chaired the NWT United Way Wildfire Emergency Response Committee, which raised a record $3.5 million during the 2023 NWT wildfire season to help evacuated northerners.   

David began his career financing infrastructure projects and international banking in Japan, Australia, and Canada, including restructuring challenging projects for the Government of Canada. He transitioned to developing transportation, hospitality, critical mineral, communications, and energy businesses, holding increasingly senior business development and leadership positions. A constant theme has been social economic development, whether with the Export Development Corporation, Urban Transportation Development Corporation, BC Trade Development Corporation, Inuvialuit Development Corporation, and the NWT Business Development Corporation. 

One of David’s proudest accomplishments was serving as President and CEO of the Inuvialuit Development Corporation, then Canada’s largest Indigenous development corporation from 1992-1997. During this time, he led the company’s turnaround, launching new Indigenous businesses in communications, remediation, logistics, project management, training, and engineering while divesting non-performing assets. He co-authored the “Five Year Review of The Nunavut Land Claims Agreement 1993 -1998.” In recognition of his contributions to Indigenous economic development, he received the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal and the Diamond Jubilee Medal for leadership of volunteer groups and corporate social responsibility.  

As a Naval reserve officer and logistician, David served as the Aboriginal and Northern Affairs Advisor to Commanders of Joint Task Force (North). He deployed on numerous sovereignty operations in the Canadian arctic and was awarded the Canada Decoration with clasp, and commendations for meritorious actions saving civilian lives.  

From Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, he is an adventure traveller who enjoys trekking in remote areas and scuba diving. While at home, he enjoys cooking and spending time with his wife, Rebecca, and their dog, Kirby