Project Director
Cowessess Ventures Ltd.
Earl Grey, Saskatchewan, Canada
Jessica Nixon (BBA, MBA, ICD.D) Director of Economic Development, Cowessess First Nation
Jessica holds a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree from the University of Regina with a major in Finance and Economics. Jessica also holds a Masters of Business Administration degree from the Kenneth Levene Graduate School of Business. Jessica completed her Institute of Corporate Directors Designation in 2022. Jessica brings expertise from her time in private consulting, general contracting and economic development together to serve as the Director of Economic Development for Cowessess First Nation.
Jessica joined the team at Cowessess First Nation in spring 2017 as the Director of Economic Development. From 2019 to 2021, Jessica served as the inaugural CEO for Cowessess Ventures and in 2021 shifted roles to solely focus on project development as a Project Director. Jessica is responsible for new business development, project development, partnership negotiations and execution. Jessica has a knack for successfully attaining grant funding, over the past 5 years she has secured $55 million in economic development grant funding for Cowessess. Jessica leads the Cowessess renewable energy portfolio which includes: 1MW Wind, Solar and Lithium Battery Storage Facility, 330 kW Community Net Metering, 10 MW utility scale solar, 200 MW Utility Scale wind and Saskatchewan’s first Net Zero Carbon building currently under development. Jessica was awarded as an honoree to Canada’s Clean50 2023 cohort, which is a national recognition program for leaders in sustainability.
Most recently Jessica has served as the owners representative on behalf of Cowessess in the Bekevar Wind Limited Partnership which is currently constructing 200 MW of wind at Kipling, Saskatchewan. The Bekevar Wind project has a unique financing structure consisting of Canada Infrastructure Bank financing, SREP grant funding, traditional debt financing and private equity. In additional the new federal ITC’s have been included within the project structure as well. Jessica looks forward to sharing her insights from a First Nation development perspective.
Jessica was born and raised on a mixed cattle and grain farm near Earl Grey, SK. Jessica and her husband, Danny, along with their three children have taken over the family farm and currently operate a mixed farm consisting of 100 Black Angus cow/calf pair and 4000 acres of grain land. On Jessica’s days off you can find her in a swather or combine, working with cattle or out riding horses with her family!
Disclosure information not submitted.
Opening Plenary: Canada’s New ITCs (Investment Tax Credits) and Their Role in the Energy Transition
Monday, October 23, 2023
17:40 - 18:45