Byng Giraud

Byng is the President of Sedgwick Strategies. He specializes in obtaining approvals for major projects in the industrial, natural resources and infrastructure sectors. Byng has been using his experience to help client’s de-risk large scale projects at early stages to allow for construction. Byng founded Sedgwick Strategies in early 2019. 

Previously, Byng was with Woodfibre LNG Limited as the company’s first North American employee. During the development stages of the project Byng served as Vice President of Corporate Affairs and then led the project locally as Country Manager. Byng concurrently served five years as Chairman of Ridley Terminals Inc. a Canadian government owned bulk export terminal in Prince Rupert, BC.  

Some of the recent highlights of Byng’s work include: 

– Obtained federal, provincial, and indigenous approval of the 2.1 mtpa Woodfibre LNG project. 

– Negotiated and helped Squamish Nation implement the first ever indigenous environmental assessment process in Canada 

– Negotiated the first ever agreements between operating mines and First Nations in British Columbia including agreements with five first nations at two separate projects. 

– Led the corporate affairs and indigenous consultation processes leading to the 2012 re-opening of the Huckleberry Mine in northern British Columbia. 

– Led the Northwest Powerline Coalition, a coalition of companies, Indigenous groups and individuals that successfully lobbied the BC Government to build the Northwest Transmission line along Highway 37 –thereby opening the region to mining and power projects which have been key to empowering local First Nations. 

– Chaired Ridley Terminals Inc. during the Federal Crown Corporation’s negotiations with Altagas that led to the building of a 1.2 mtpa liquified propane export facility in Prince Rupert—the first hydrocarbon export facility on the west coast in decades. 

– Directly negotiated numerous indigenous economic benefit and related agreements. 

Byng has been in an executive role with a Canadian copper/gold mining company. Byng has also served as Vice-President with both the Association for Mineral Exploration BC and the Mining Association of BC. Prior to his corporate career, Byng obtained political experience working for Members of Parliament, MLAs and Senators and holding senior roles in several election campaigns. He has served on the board of directors of the BC Business Council, the Vimy Ridge Foundation, Geoscience BC, Canada Place Corporation, Initiatives Prince George, and other organizations.  Byng was a founding member of the BC Assembly of First Nations-BC Business Council “Champion’s Table,” a body dedicated to breaking new ground in economic reconciliation. He currently sits on the board of the Royal British Columbia Museum Foundation. 

In 2023 Byng was awarded the Order of British Columbia, the province’s highest civilian honour, recognizing his work in the field of Indigenous economic reconciliation. In 2012 Byng received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for volunteerism. Byng holds a MSc. Econ. from the University of Wales, Aberystwyth, an MBA from the University of Cambridge (Jesus College) and a BA from the University of Victoria. 

On the weekends, he plays old boys rugby and studies Spanish (Competency A2/B1).