Huu-ay-aht First Nations is pleased to announce that, Tleeh-is-a-tuuk-aq-suup, Karen Haugen, has accepted the Associate Executive Director position with the Nation, beginning on June 8, 2015.
Karen brings with her a vast amount of knowledge and experience, most recently through her work with the Pacific Rim Nation Park Reserve for the past 12 years. She will be taking a leave of absence from her role with Parks Canada to fill the position at Huu-ay-aht.
Karen comes from the Nookemis Family. Her father is the late Michael Young and her mother is Linda Young, eldest daughter of the late Edward and Mabel Nookemis.
During her time at Pacific Rim, she has held a number of positions, gaining valuable experience along the way. She started as the Finance Clerk, but soon moved to the Aboriginal Liaison role. For the past seven years, Karen has worked in management roles with Parks Canada, including First Nations Program manager, acting Park Superintendent at Pacific Rim and the Gulf Island National Park Reserve, and, most recently, the Visitor Experience Manager at Pacific Rim.
Prior to working for Parks Canada, Karen was employed with Huu-ay-aht First Nations as the Natural Resource Manager and Cultural Tourism Manager for approximately nine years. She also has more than 15 years of experience working for and negotiation with First Nations, local stakeholders and the Federal and Provincial Governments.
Her most recent job offered her the opportunity to gain many of the skills that she will need to carry out her new role as Associate Executive Director with Huu-ay-aht. These include finance management, human resources skills such as hiring, performance appraisals, coaching and guidance, leading a team and working with difficult budgets. In her role as Associate Executive Director she will be directly involved with the Senior Management Team and the implementation of the Nation’s Strategic Plan.
Karen says she is looking forward to bringing her skills, experience and knowledge to Huu-ay-aht and helping to create a strong future built on her Nations’ vision, values and mission.
Please join us in congratulating Karen on her new position and welcome her to the Huu-ay-aht First Nations team.