Management Team

Meet our management team…

  • Founder, Managing Director

    Dale Tsuruda is a proud Nlaka’pamux member of the Spuzzum First Nation and a respected Indigenous entrepreneur, business leader, and founder. He is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Ironclad Logistics Group in Vancouver, BC, and the Founder of The Nation Group of Companies, a collective of Indigenous-led businesses focused on infrastructure, energy, and economic development.

    With decades of experience across fuel distribution, logistics, and infrastructure support services, Dale has built and led companies that operate at scale while maintaining a strong commitment to Indigenous ownership and long-term community benefit. He is also the Founder of Nation Clean Energy, advancing access to reliable and lower-carbon fuel solutions, and a driving force behind the BC Ferries Indigenous Fuel Alliance, an initiative that brings Nations together to participate in and benefit from fuel procurement tied to their territories.

    Dale’s work is rooted in a clear belief: that lasting economic strength for Indigenous communities comes through ownership, participation, and partnership in the industries that shape their lands and economies. He has spent years building trusted relationships with First Nations leadership, industry partners, and institutions, helping to structure opportunities that create sustainable revenue, build capacity, and support self-determination.

    Recognized by the Indigenomics Institute as one of the “Top Ten to Watch,” Dale works with entrepreneurs, business owners, industry partners, and supports communities in building independent, business-driven economies. His approach is grounded in listening first, working alongside each Nation to understand priorities and contribute where it matters most, resulting in practical, responsive partnerships that create long-term value.

  • Managing Director, Nation Clean Energy

    Dennis has over 25 years of local and international experience in oil and gas, mining, infrastructure, project management, engineering, and construction. Dennis has worked tirelessly in and around Indigenous communities to create strong and lasting relationships and has been recognized by the province of British Columbia for his outstanding achievements in Indigenous business partnerships.

  • Managing Director, CFO, Nation Fund

    Over 25 years of experience in First Nations Governance, Management, Capacity building, and strategies for independence. Specialists in change management and growth through prudent fiscal management and leadership. Leveraging economic development in start-ups, corporate turnarounds, and early-stage development of emerging businesses. We provide expertise in all areas of corporate affairs, including corporate structure, organization, and reorganizations, taking companies public, privatizations and spin-offs, corporate administration & governance; corporate and securities law, audit procedures, financial structure and capture, management consulting, business venture negotiation and capture, and new venture management/development.

  • Managing Director, Nation Build

    As owner and President of Rempel Builders, Reg leads the team with over 35 years of knowledge bringing clients’ visions from conception to completion. He founded Nation Build in partnership with Nation Group which brings the hopes and dreams of a Nation into reality with sustainable economic development opportunities that will strengthen the community. Nation Build is led by a team of top-quality building and renovation specialists. Nation Build facilitates the general contracting and project management for luxury housing and commercial building for some of our current Nation Group projects. Nation Build works to remove barriers in the construction process and ensures that projects are completed on time and on budget.

  • Managing Director, Nation Led Projects

    Simon Raven is a dynamic executive leader with a distinguished track record of driving business transformation and innovation across the energy, mining and technology sectors. With over two decades of progressive leadership experience—including CEO, Chairman, and Vice President roles—Simon excels at building high-performing teams, scaling operations, and delivering sustainable growth in complex and rapidly evolving industries.

    Business and Management Expertise

    Throughout his career, Simon has demonstrated exceptional management acumen, strategic vision, and operational excellence. As President and Co-Founder of Advanced Group Ltd., he leads the development of sustainable fuel solutions for emerging markets, overseeing all aspects of operations, compliance, finance, and stakeholder engagement. His entrepreneurial spirit and ability to secure strategic partnerships have positioned Advanced at the forefront of micro-refining technology and international fuel trading.

    Previously, as President & CEO and Chairman of the Board at DXI Energy Inc., Simon orchestrated the transformation of underutilized assets into high-value production facilities, negotiated pivotal partnerships—including with the world’s second-largest methanol producer—and advanced Indigenous engagement through landmark agreements. His leadership ensured robust corporate governance, transparent board communication, and operational discipline across Canada and the US.

    Simon’s executive roles at Koch Exploration Canada and NanosTech further highlight his expertise in portfolio management, technical due diligence, and commercialization of advanced technologies. He has managed portfolios exceeding one million acres, optimized asset value through strategic acquisitions and divestitures, and led cross-functional teams to deliver complex projects on time and within budget.

    Operations Expertise

    Simon Raven is an accomplished operations executive, uniquely equipped to fulfill a Chief Operating Officer role in advanced mineral and chemical process industries. With over two decades of interdisciplinary leadership—including President, CEO, and VP positions— Simon specializes in coordinating multi-train production environments where the efficient allocation of resources and integration of technical expertise underpin company success.

    Simon’s career highlights his expertise building, scaling, and managing complex teams of process specialists—including geologists, engineers, and chemists—delivering projects that leverage multiple simultaneous process trains in energy, mining, and refining sectors. He is adept at prioritizing and deploying resources where most effective, driving collaboration across multi-disciplinary teams to bring new processes trains online with precision and speed.

    Executive and Board Leadership

    Simon is recognized for his strong executive presence and governance expertise, having held multiple board and C-suite positions. As Chairman and CEO, he has directed board meetings, ensured transparent stakeholder communication, and fostered a culture of integrity, collaboration, and performance. His board leadership extends to Advanced Group Ltd. and the Canadian Heavy Oil Association, where he has contributed to strategic direction and industry advocacy.

    Simon’s leadership philosophy is rooted in empowerment, technical rigor, and operational discipline—fostering cohesive teams that consistently deliver on safety, quality, and business objectives. His advanced understanding of mineral and chemical process systems, combined with experience in large-scale capital programs, renders him an ideal executive for organizations with diverse and interlinked process streams.

    A mentor and active contributor to professional and community organizations, Simon is committed to developing future leaders and advancing industry best practices.

    Education and Credentials

    Simon holds an Executive MBA from Cornell University & Queen’s University and a Bachelor of Science in Geology from the University of Calgary. His professional development includes specialized training in blockchain technologies, finance for technical executives, and advanced geostatistics.

    Summary

    Simon Raven’s unique blend of business leadership, operational expertise, blockchain experience, and boardroom acumen make him a sought-after executive in both traditional and emerging industries. He is passionate about leveraging technology and innovation to create lasting value, drive sustainable growth, and solve complex global challenges.

  • COO, Ironclad Group

    Jeremy is the COO of Ironclad Logistics; the fuel transportation and safety management business owned by Dale Tsuruda. He’s been with the company since January 2014, but took over as COO in 2018. Prior to Ironclad, he was a Commercial Account Manager at GE Capital in the equipment finance division. He started with GE in 2009 in the Commercial Leadership Program at the head office in Montreal. Jeremy completed his Bachelor of Commerce with a major in finance from the University of Calgary. During that time, he traveled abroad to attend Copenhagen University for studies in environmental sustainability.

    www.ironcladgroup.ca

  • Managing Director

    Sam Tsuruda is a proud Two-Spirit member of the Spuzzum First Nation in the Fraser Canyon, with Nlaka’pamux and Stó:lō mixed ancestry, born and raised on unceded Coast Salish territory. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from UVic, and a Master in Public Health degree from UBC, with a focus on Indigenous health research. In her Masters, Sam worked at the University of Auckland in Aotearoa (New Zealand) to support the development of culturally safe education for Māori social work practice. She is extremely grateful to have been working with Reciprocal Consulting for over nine years – the learning curve is never-ending, especially when getting to work with community members, traditional knowledge keepers, healers, and Elders from across Turtle Island.

    Sam enjoys advocating to create space for Indigenous knowledge, decolonial race praxis, and disrupting norms to build communities of care and balance. Passionate about youth health, Sam is fortunate to have served as a Board member and President for the McCreary Centre Society, a provincial youth health research organization, and a mentor for the YWCA Indigenous Youth Mentorship Program. She currently serves on McCreary’s Indigenous Advisory Committee and Mulgrave School’s Advisory Board. Along with ancestral guidance, her passions for learning and contributing to Indigenous self-determination have led her to pursue a Ph.D. in Educational Studies – Sam is a humble Killam scholar, Indigenous Graduate Fellowship award holder, Four-Year Fellowship holder in the Faculty of Education, and recipient of the Joseph-Armand Bombardier CGS Doctoral Award through SSHRC.

  • Creative & Communications Director

    Kate Tsuruda is a proud Two-Spirit Nlaka’pamux member of the Spuzzum First Nation, born and raised on unceded Coast Salish territory in Vancouver. She has pursued a life working in brand development, graphic and web design for almost a decade, consulting businesses on their overall brand identity, marketing, and design. Kate is also a young entrepreneur, co-founding businesses that include her extreme love for creativity, mental health, caring for others, and personal expression. She directs within Nation Group and our numerous development projects to fulfill each vision and develop each strategy to visually tell stories in meaningful and beautiful ways.

We are deeply saddened by the passing of our remarkable team member, Jeff Simla. He was an integral part of the community and has touched so many lives. There are no right words to express our sorrow, but we wish to share a moment of appreciation for a joyful life taken too soon. Our thoughts and prayers are with Jeff’s family and loved ones, and we feel blessed by the immense impact Jeff has made.

Rest in peace, Jeff, we miss you.

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