Brenden Mercer is a Decision Support (DS) Manager for an Indigenous lead non-profit Emergency Management (EM) organization called First Nations Emergency Services Society (FNESS).  Mercer created the DS department at FNESS and has gained international recognition for his work supporting Indigenous lead EM initiatives.

He utilizes innovative new DS technology to support Indigenous communites across BC on various Emergency Preparedness, Mitigation, Response, Recovery and Climate Change initiatives.  Brenden has been a member of the Association of BC Forest Professionals (ABCFP) since 2015.  Mercer was the 2021 First Nations Forestry Council (FNFC) student of the year.  Brenden has been asked to speak as an expert witness on Indigenous EM for First Nations Leadership, Canadian Senate, various organizations and academic groups.

Brenden is motivated by his experiences in EM and wants to ensure that the future of Indigenous lead EM fundamentally different than it is under the current EM paradigm.  Mercer’s doctoral research will investigate the best decision support framework to support Indigenous lead EM.  He will focus on measuring and reporting structures to support the various environmental, economic, and social opportunities created by Indigenous EM initiatives

Brenden never technically finished high school but has since completed a Master of Science in Environmental Practice through Royal Roads (2021).  Bachelor of Natural Resource Management from Thompson Rivers University (2015), and a Forest Technology diploma from Selkirk College (2011).