Bob Goulais presently serves as President & Senior Principal of Nbisiing Consulting Inc., a First Nation-owned and operated company dedicated to providing professional advice and service to industry and Indigenous communities that contributes to collaboration, mutual success and economic prosperity. Goulais recently served as Chief of Staff to the National Chiefs Office at the Assembly of First Nations and Vice-President, Communications & Public Affairs for Ishkonigan Inc.

As a public servant, Bob served as the founding Director of Aboriginal Relations for the Ontario Ministry of Transportation from 2011-2013. In establishing this new Branch, he was responsible for improving relationships between the ministry and First Nations and Métis communities across Ontario. This includes enabling increased Aboriginal engagement by the Ministry, and increasing the inclusion of Aboriginal communities in transportation policy and planning as well as provincial highways management.

Bob previously served as the Director of Government Relations and Business Development for the OI Group of Companies and as the Manager of the Culture Policy for the Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture & Sport. At MTCS, he was responsible for the development and implementation of government policy in six different areas: Archaeology, Heritage, Museums and Libraries, Aboriginal Affairs, Cultural Planning and the Ministry’s role in Renewable Energy.

From October 2004 until June 2009, Goulais served as Executive Assistant to Grand Council Chief John Beaucage, and Chief-of-Staff of the Anishinabek Nation Political Office. The Union of Ontario Indians is a political advocate for 40 member First Nations across Ontario and is the oldest political organization in Ontario and can trace its roots back to the Confederacy of Three Fires, which existed long before European contact.

In 2009, Goulais served as Campaign Manager for John Beaucage for AFN National Chief.

A professional communicator, Goulais also worked as Senior Communications Advisor for the Ontario Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs and as Communications Officer for the Union of Ontario Indians. During his time at the UOI, Goulais was responsible for media relations for the Grand Council Chief’s office and was a designated spokesperson for the Anishinabek Nation.

A practicing journalist, Goulais has been featured in a number of aboriginal and mainstream newspapers across the country. He is the author of the Anishinaabe Blog at www.bobgoulais.com. His website has had over 1 million hits since 1997.

Bob is a second-degree member of the Three Fires Midewiwin Lodge, a traditional society of the Anishinabe (Ojibway, Odawa and Pottawatami) people. He is a warrior and a strong advocate for the retention and proliferation of the Anishinabek language and culture. He has held the portfolio for Language and Culture for Nipissing First Nation and has worked tirelessly on the Nipissing Pow-Wow committee for over 12 years. He is an accomplished pow-wow emcee and avid pow-wow singer.

Goulais served on the Board of Directors of the Ojibwe Cultural Foundation (OCF) for seven years. In 2002, as a part of the OCF’s restructuring effort, Goulais was elected as Chairperson by the Lake Huron regional Chiefs. From 2002-2005, he led the OCFs effort in the implementation of a business plan, maximizing the business opportunities in tourism, as well as the capital fundraising and refinancing of the OCF’s new building in M’Chigeeng First Nation.

In November 2005, Goulais was recognized with an Appreciation Award by the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation for his efforts in increasing awareness of diabetes, his dedication of corporate recruitment and effective fundraising. Goulais, a type-2 diabetic served as the Corporate Chair for JDRF Nipissing District for three years during which time they raised over $250,000.00.

Bob Goulais lives a healthy lifestyle and does not drink, smoke or do drugs.