Richard Piche

Richard Piche is a highly respected Métis leader and seasoned energy executive with over 50 years of international and domestic experience in oil and gas operations, project development, and Indigenous economic participation. As the President of Cascade Projects Ltd., an Indigenous-owned consulting firm, Richard leads initiatives in project initiation, technical management, consultation, and Indigenous engagement—bringing together technical precision and deep cultural understanding to advance economic reconciliation in Canada’s energy sector.

Richard and Anne Harding first worked together in 2021, co-facilitating engagement sessions for Finance Canada with 159 Indigenous Nations regarding their participation in the Trans Mountain Expansion Project. Together, they supported Nations in exploring models of equity ownership, revenue-sharing, and long-term economic inclusion. Richard’s ability to navigate both boardroom strategy and community conversation with humility and clarity made him a trusted guide in one of the largest Indigenous engagement processes in Canadian infrastructure history.

Richard’s extensive career spans operational leadership roles in major energy companies, including ConocoPhillips Ltd. in Indonesia, Niko Resources Ltd. in India, and Northridge Exploration Ltd. (now part of TC Energy). His technical acumen and project management expertise have shaped large-scale developments, from deep-cut gas plants in Alberta to Montney field facilities in Northeast BC.

As Vice President of Keywest Projects Ltd., Richard oversaw key facility projects including the O’Chiese Nees-Ohpawganu’ck gas plant, built in partnership with O’Chiese First Nation, demonstrating his longstanding commitment to Indigenous partnership and shared prosperity. His later work as Senior Project Manager with Gas Liquids Engineering included leading Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) design projects—delivering FEED studies for world-class emissions reduction infrastructure.

In addition to his executive leadership, Richard brings governance expertise as a board member of the Alberta Energy Regulator and Yaqwa Development Corporation, a Haisla Nation-owned company. He is also a past governor of the Canadian Energy Executive Association. His guidance has helped shape regulatory, environmental, and economic outcomes in ways that elevate Indigenous interests while advancing energy innovation. 

Richard holds professional designations from the Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD.D) and the Project Management Institute (PMP)—credentials that underscore his disciplined approach to strategy, risk, and long-term value creation.

Whether leading multi-billion-dollar technical projects or sitting with Elders to understand a Nation’s vision for the future, Richard approaches every role with the same unwavering principle: Indigenous communities deserve full, fair, and informed participation in the opportunities taking place on their lands.

He continues to serve as a mentor, facilitator, and visionary, helping to build a future where Indigenous leadership in energy is not the exception—but the standard.