About Us
Established in 2001, Xatśūll Development Corporation, in “limited partnership” with the Xatśūll First Nation, is a business development company, focused on leveraging traditional First Nations territorial rights & title through developing, partnering/owning and managing sustainable and profitable business ventures. Based in the beautiful and “resource rich” Cariboo region of British Columbia, Xatśūll Development Corporation is actively involved in the area’s forestry, mining, oil & gas, transportation, construction, and agriculture sectors.
Howard Campbell, MBA, CPA – CMA
Interim CEO
Howard Campbell is a proud member of the Tk’emlups te Secwepemc (formerly the Kamloops Indian Band) which is a standing member of the Shuswap Nation Tribal Council.
He has worked for many organizations and industries but has primarily focused on First Nation organizations and business for the past two decades.
Although it has been a long arduous journey, the time has come when First Nations are able to partake in the greater Canadian economy, if they choose to seek out opportunities within Ancestral Lands.
Xatsull First Nation is blessed to have a great Chief and Council and Xatsull ancestral lands encompasses an area which is rich in natural resources and is located on key transportation corridors.
I look forward to delivering value to Xatsull First Nation and its members.
Thomas Phillips
General Manager
Thomas is a member of the Xats’ull First Nation and has been with the Xats’ull First Nation and the Xats’ull Development Corporation in different capacities since 2003. Thomas recently took on a new role with the Xats’ull Development Corporation and is now the Forestry and Community Relations Manager.
In 2005, Thomas began working with the CEO, who had over 20 years of experience negotiating Impact Benefit Agreements and business development opportunities. This is where he gained valuable experience, negotiating partnerships within the mining, forestry, and oil and gas sectors.
He is currently working with the CEO, focusing on helping identify viable business development opportunities. He is also spending more time identifying forestry business development opportunities.
Thomas Hoffman
Board Chair
Tom currently serves as the Fibre Manager for Kruger Kamloops Pulp LP. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Forestry from the University of Alberta in 1982 and holds registration as a Professional Forester in both Alberta (now retired) and British Columbia.
With nearly four decades of experience in the forest industry, Tom has worked across various sectors including OSB, pulp, and sawmills. His roles have encompassed Woodlands Manager, Sawmill Superintendent, and Vice President of Forestry Operations. Joining Domtar/Kruger in March 2020 marked his second stint in the pulp mill sector.
Beyond his professional endeavors, Tom actively engages in community service, serving as a board member for the TRU Foundation since 2021 and holding the position of Vice-President at Community Futures BC. He has also chaired the Northern Development Initiative Trust and has been a member of Rotary for a decade. Additionally, Tom has contributed his expertise as a former board member of the Association of BC Forest Professionals. Tom has been happily married to Wendy for 40 years, and together they have three adult children and two grandchildren. In his leisure time, he enjoys pursuits such as flying, hiking, and fishing.
Kúkwpi7 Rhonda Phillips
Chief
Kúkwpi7 Rhonda Phillips is the elected Chief of Xatśūll First Nation and serves as the sole shareholder and ex-officio member of the Xatśūll Development Corporation (XDC). In this role, she provides strategic oversight and ensures that the Corporation’s direction reflects the Nation’s long-term vision, values, and inherent rights.
A proud Secwépemc and Tsilhqot’in woman, Rhonda brings a strong foundation in governance, community economic development, and public service. She holds a Business Administration Diploma from the Nicola Valley Institute of Technology and a Bachelor of General Studies from Simon Fraser University, with a focus on Business and Aboriginal Economic Development.
Her professional experience includes work with Xatśūll First Nation, the Northern Shuswap Tribal Council, and the City of Edmonton, where she contributed to initiatives in administration, economic development, and community wellbeing.
Since being elected Chief in 2023, Rhonda has worked closely with Council, administration, and development entities to advance sustainable economic opportunities that reflect Xatśūll values and support long-term prosperity for the Nation.
In her ex-officio role, she provides strategic oversight to ensure that XDC’s direction aligns with Xatśūll laws, values, and governance. In her broader leadership role, she advances stewardship of the land and waters and advocates for free, prior, and informed consent, working to ensure these principles are reflected in government-to-government processes, participation agreements, and how proponents engage with Xatśūll First Nation.
Her leadership is guided by a responsibility to uphold the land, support her people, and carry forward for the next generations. As Secwépemc, we are guided by our responsibility to care for the land, the water, and our people, carrying these teachings forward for the generations to come.
Chylane Diablo
Board Member
Chylane Diablo is a member of Xatśūll First Nation and brings extensive experience in Nation administration, finance, and human resources, with a strong focus on governance and economic development. She has held senior leadership roles supporting Chief and Council, boards, and Nation-owned entities in areas such as financial planning, organizational development, policy development, and operational oversight.
Chylane has supported complex initiatives related to economic development, capital projects, workforce planning, organizational sustainability, and Natural Resource stewardship, working closely with Natural Resource leadership to align economic opportunities with responsible land and resource management. Her work is grounded in strong financial stewardship, risk management, and building systems that support long-term self-sufficiency and local employment opportunities.
Chylane is really looking forward to this opportunity and to contributing her experience and leadership to the work of the Xatśūll Development Corporation Board.
Michelle Myers
Board Member
Michelle Myers is the Founder and Lead Consultant of Ses Gwelax Consulting, an Indigenous women-owned business dedicated to advancing Indigenous governance, capacity building, and land-based initiatives. A proud member of the Tŝilhqot’in Nation, Michelle brings eight years of leadership experience in project management, clean energy, and community development, grounding her work in cultural knowledge and relational leadership. She brings a strategic, community-centered lens to her role on the Board of Directors.
Helen Nemeth
Board Member
Helen is the daughter of strong parents, the oldest of 5 siblings (one in the hockey hall of fame!), and the mother of one strong, resilient and accomplished daughter.
Born and raised in St. Catharines, Ontario, Helen attended York University, Brock University, and SUNY Rochester, where she earned a B.A. and M.A. in English Literature along with a diploma in Political Philosophy.
After moving to British Columbia in 1987, Helen spent a summer riding a horse from New Westminster to Barkerville before ultimately settling in Williams Lake. She worked with the Cariboo Tourist Association, Lillooet Economic Development, and Jacobsons/Riverside/Tolko, concluding her career with Tolko (Vernon) in 2016 after 21 years as Assistant to the Chairman of the Board of Directors. During her time with Riverside, Helen completed an M.B.A. from Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh. In addition to her duties with Tolko, Helen organized the initiation of the BiNational Softwood Lumber Council (created under the Softwood Lumber Agreement) and served on its Board of Directors for its first four years.
The Tsilhqot'in National Government recruited Helen to assist in negotiations in 2016, and she retired again in 2020 following the signing of the Gwets’en Nilt’i Pathways Agreement.
Helen looks forward to getting to know the community of Xatsull and working closely with the Economic Development team to help bring continued health and prosperity to the people “on the cliff where the bubbling water comes out.