Moose Cree Group of Companies LP P.O. Box 1209 HWY 652 Lot 728 Cochrane, Ontario P0L 1C0 www.mcgclp.ca The Moose Cree Group of Companies owns and operates one of the largest remote fly-in operations in North America. The business provides customers from around the world with some of the best fishing locations in Northern Ontario. Cochrane Air services can provide a remote outpost camp experience or Kesagami Lake Lodge can provide customers with a 5 star resort at Kesagami Lake with lodging, meals, guides, etc. As caretakers of the land and resources, these businesses allow Moose Cree to prosper from its resources. MOOSE CREE GROUP OF COMPANIES LIMITED PARTNERSHIP When that program faltered after Combs spent a year abroad, he decided some- thing with greater scope and impact was needed and launched CareerTrackers. “That was the moment when I said, ‘I need to make this a national program,’” says Combs, who continues to serve as CareerTrackers’ CEO. “In 2009, I started with 18 students and nine compa- nies. Now we have 1,366 students in 124 organizations.” CareerTrackers receives no government funding. It is completely financed by BUSINESS ENGAGEMENT Many Australian businesses are actively engaged in supporting education opportunities for Indigenous youth. The Business Council of Australia (BCA) cites the following statistics based on its members’ activities. • 77% provide support for Indigenous education initiatives •  53% provide funding for Indigenous education mentoring •  51% provide career exposure for Indigenous students •  CareerTrackers and AIME are two of the organisations BCA members most frequently work with to enhance outcomes in Indigenous education Source: Australia’s 2016 Indigenous Engagement Survey participating companies, benefiting both students and businesses. “From the students’ perspective, it’s about building the community. It’s about bringing students together who can support each other and show each other the way, because so many are the first in their families to attempt a university degree. For the companies, it’s talent. They get early access to incredible talent,” stresses Combs. From aeronautical engineers at Qantas to investment managers at the National Australia Bank, CareerTrackers’ interns can work in any field. “We have engi- neers that are working on some of the biggest transportation and engineering projects at companies like Lendlease, but then you also have students working in Aboriginal dignity and social work,” notes Combs. Apart from their work at the companies, interns also receive the support of leadership development and networking activities. Combs wants to make the program sustainable for at least another 50 years, since, as he puts it, “Indigenous disadvan- tage is not going to disappear.” He also wants to move the program into other countries and it is currently launching in Papua New Guinea. “We’re open to sharing our program and models across Canada and across the world,” he says. Jennifer Westacott, CEO of the Business Council of Australia (BCA), affirms that Australian businesses today are well aware of the important role they can “In 2009, I started with 18 students and nine companies. Now we have 1,366 students in 124 organizations” Michael Combs CareerTrackers GLOBAL EDUCATION SPOTLIGHT 40 A CCAB PUBLICATION 2019