Deliah Bernard is a seasoned advisor on Indigenous Affairs at both the national and local levels, most recently serving as the Senior Indigenous Affairs Advisor to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. A proud Mi’kmaw woman from the We’koqma’q First Nation, Deliah is dedicated to giving back to the community, a commitment that fuels her unwavering drive to advance meaningful reconciliation. She has played a key role on notable public policy advancements such as the Government response to the Final Report of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls National Inquiry, securing support to Indigenous communities during the COVID-19 pandemic, managing the visit to Canada by Pope Francis as well as coordinating the Cabinet Committee on Reconciliation, which provided whole-of-government direction on significant Indigenous policy initiatives.

At Roots Strategies, Deliah leverages her lived experiences and expertise to craft innovative, culturally responsive approaches. Her strategic counsel and aptitude for fostering robust, collaborative relationships have positioned her as a key influencer - a skill set that enables our team to navigate complex landscapes while ensuring that Indigenous voices remain central to our work. Deliah’s unique insights not only enrich our initiatives but also reinforces our mission to place the priorities of Indigenous communities at the forefront of our work.

Deliah is a recipient of the King Charles III Coronation Medal. She was nominated by National Chief Cindy Woodhouse of the Assembly of First Nations for advancing reconciliation.

Robert Zhu is a strategic advisor to executives, national organizations, and global investors advancing complex initiatives across Canada. As a Partner at Roots Strategies, he works at the intersection of government, Indigenous leadership, and capital—helping clients navigate political, regulatory, and stakeholder environments to move major projects forward.

With over a decade of experience in senior public affairs and public sector roles, Robert brings deep expertise in federal and provincial government relations, national engagement, and high-stakes advisory work. He has supported leadership across government and industry on complex files requiring coordination across jurisdictions, sectors, and communities.

Robert has particular expertise in Indigenous economic development and partnership-building, advising proponents and investors on structuring projects that align with Indigenous priorities and enable long-term, sustainable growth.

He also brings strong knowledge of the Greater China market, supporting cross-border investment, diaspora engagement, and Asia-facing growth strategies.

At Roots Strategies, Robert advises on the delivery of major client mandates, helping organizations de-risk ambitious initiatives and translate strategy into execution.

Lawrence Chen is a public affairs and government relations professional with experience supporting senior leadership at the highest levels of the federal government. He most recently served as Chief of Staff to a Member of Parliament, where he led policy development, communications strategy, and constituency operations.

Earlier in his career, Lawrence played a key role in national outreach and engagement efforts for the Liberal caucus, serving as both a Hill event planner and advertising coordinator. In these roles, he helped design and execute high-profile events on Parliament Hill, managed stakeholder-facing initiatives, and supported national advertising and campaign efforts — including during the 2025 federal election.

Building on this experience, he went on to hold several executive support roles in the Office of the Prime Minister, working closely with the Prime Minister, Principal Secretary, Chief of Staff, and Director of Operations on day-to-day operations and priority initiatives.

At Roots Strategies, Lawrence supports the delivery of client mandates through project management and coordination, ensuring initiatives are executed efficiently and aligned with strategic objectives. He brings a strong understanding of Canada’s political landscape and a disciplined, execution-focused approach.