Alfred Burgesson, CEO of Tribe Network, the Halifax hub that supports BIPOC entrepreneurs, is taking an immediate leave of absence to work with the federal government. 

In an email to Tribe members, the founder of Tribe said he has joined the Office of the Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation as a Senior Advisor in Ottawa. The role of Interim CEO will be filled by Savior Joseph, who will also be Managing Partner of Tribe Ventures for the next year. Joseph became the organization's Founding Board Chair in 2021.

“I’m proud of what we’ve been able to build in five years, a thriving community where racialized people can pursue opportunities for professional development and growth,” Burgesson said.

“We’ve helped our members connect, learn and grow – they’ve created hundreds of jobs, raised millions in capital and have contributed to our local economies.”

Speaking of his new role, Burgesson said he has always had a passion for shaping public policy, and has been lucky to experience this through various roles, including: Special Assistant at the Assembly of First Nations, Project Lead at the Office of Senator Colin Deacon, Prime Minister’s Youth Advisory Council, Governor General’s Advisory Committee on Reconciliation, and a member of Nova Scotia’s Minimum Wage Committee.

“Right now, I feel a sense of duty to contribute to Building Canada Strong. The opportunity to join Minister Evan Solomon allows me to engage in key policy decisions and to help advance Canada’s ambitious plan for our future."

As founding Board Chair, Joseph has been closely involved in shaping the organization’s direction and impact. For the past five years, he has served as President and Board Member of a growth-stage company in the cannabis industry. He is a shareholder in multiple companies in the AI, health and executive coaching fields as well as an advocate for founders, especially those coming from communities that have been historically underrepresented.

He is also a mentor with the Creative Destruction Lab, taking part in Prime, Oceans and Defence streams.