Karen Ogen

Expert Overview

Karen Ogen is the CEO of the First Nations Natural Gas Alliance, a society of First Nations in support of responsible LNG and Natural Gas development in Canada – with a priority on the environment, and on First Nations consultation and engagement.

Karen brings extensive experience to her role, having served as elected chief of the Wet’suwet’en First Nation for six years, 2010-2016. She was also a council member for the Nation 1987-1990 and again 2019-2022.

She is familiar with the needs of Indigenous communities throughout B.C. and seeks to increase economic opportunities for First Nations through providing information and education regarding responsible resource development.

Presently the Board and Committee involvement include: Advisory Committee for School of Social Work with UNBC, Advisory committee member for Resource Works, Senior Fellow of Macdonald-Laurier Institute, and Public Policy Forum Board.

While Karen recognizes that not all projects will be appropriate for all nations, she hopes to help inspire more First Nations to consider and engage in discussions with industry and government around the possibility of resource opportunities.

Karen’s academic background is in social work. She achieved her master’s degree from the University of Northern British Columbia in 2007, and graduated from the Indigenous Governance Certificate Program from the University of Victoria in 2010. In August 2022, she successfully completed the Masters in Business Administration from Simon Fraser University in the Indigenous Business Leadership program.  She is the first in her family and community to attain two master's degrees.

Karen was named one of the “35 Most Influential Women in BC: The power to disrupt” in March 2016, by BC Business Magazine.  And she was elected in four years, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2025, as one of the Business in Vancouver BC 500: The most influential business leaders in British Columbia, in the Resources: Oil and Gas sector.