Jacobs Partners with the Canadian Council for Indigenous Business to Boost Indigenous Supplier Engagement

At Jacobs, we understand that "inclusion" is a verb, not a noun. It means being transparent and taking action on our statements, commitments and initatives that drive meaningful, measurable change. Jacobs has enrolled as an Indigenous Procurement Champion with the Canadian Council for Indigenous Business (CCIB)  and committed to advancing Indigenous supplier engagement and advancing economic growth with Indigenous businesses. 

As part of the CCIB’s Indigenous procurement strategy, the Indigenous Procurement Champion program aims to create the largest membership of corporations dedicated to Indigenous supplier diversity in Canada. CCIB's Cerified Indigenous Business designation assures that Indigenous procurement opportunities go to businesses that have been independently pre-certified as at least 51% Indigenous owned and controlled. 

“At Jacobs, social value and equity are a core part of who we are. They are foundational in our approach to sustainability, inclusion and diversity and key services delivered to clients globally,” says Jacobs Senior Vice President Chrissy Thom. “In Canada, we anticipate working with more Indigenous-owned businesses and drive meaningful and measurable change in both our company and the communities we serve.”

Demetri Poulakas, Jacobs’ Indigenous Engagement Lead for Eastern Canada, will take on the role of our CCIB Indigenous Procurement Champion. In this role, Demetri will work closely with the CCIB’s Indigenous Procurement Marketplace, connecting with procurement representatives from various Certified Indigenous Businesses. Jacobs’ commitment to social responsibility and economic inclusivity is poised to make a lasting impact on Indigenous businesses across Canada. 

"We are glad to welcome Jacobs to the CCIB's Supply Change program as a valued member of the Indigenous procurement marketplace," says CCIB President and CEO Tabatha Bull. "Integrating opportunities for Indigenous businesses to be a part of their supply chain will add significant value to their projects and will make a valuable and meaningful contribution to the Indigenous economy." 

Driving positive impacts

At Jacobs, we're invested in creating a more equal society and an enduring legacy, we strive to leave things better than we found them. To us, social value and equity is working collaboratively to drive positive impacts and transformative outcomes – socially, environmentally and economically – by putting people and communities at the heart of decision making. 

We supported small, local and diverse-owned businesses in Canada with more than USD $25 million (CA$33 million) in fiscal year 2023. Globally, we supported more than USD $2.18 billion (CA$2.8 billion) in small, local and diverse business efforts. 

Jacobs’ Indigenous Participation and Procurement Plans have targets of 5% or higher Indigenous owned business involvement. We strive to go beyond what’s expected and seek advice from Indigenous Peoples in our business.

We seek Indigenous talent, and support scholarships for Indigenous students via Indspire, and recruitment of Indigenous STEAM students and young professionals via AISES (Advancing Indigenous Peoples in STEM).