When Chartered Professional Accountant Chris Mullen talks about his work, he does so with a steady sense of purpose grounded in service to community. A proud member of Gambler First Nation in Manitoba and born and raised on Vancouver’s North Shore, Chris now serves as chief financial officer of the First Nations Health Authority (FNHA), the health and wellness partner to more than 200 First Nations communities across British Columbia.
His career reflects both professional growth and personal reconnection, and the role a CPA designation can play in creating meaningful, community-driven impact.
A CPA pathway that led home
Chris did not grow up closely connected to his home community. His grandmother left Gambler First Nation at a young age, and his family established their life in North Vancouver. It was not until his early 20s, well into his post-secondary studies, that he began learning more about his family history and exploring where he came from.
Unexpectedly, it was his work as a CPA that helped deepen that connection.
After completing his business degree at Capilano University and articling with PwC Canada, Chris earned his CPA designation in 2008. While his early years in audit and tax built strong technical foundations, it was his later work supporting First Nations organizations that reshaped how he understood his role as a professional.
During his time with the First Nations Financial Management Board, Chris worked with communities across the country to help strengthen financial management systems. That work eventually brought him back to Gambler First Nation, where he helped initiate conversations about financial governance.
“That experience was the doorway to reconnecting with my community,” he says. “Working with them professionally opened my eyes, not just to the work that needed to be done, but to my own family, history, and connections.”
The experience took him to Manitoba, where he met extended family, including his great-aunt, and began learning more about the resilience and experiences of his ancestors. “There was a lot of pride that came from understanding where I come from,” Chris reflects. “And that pride carries through into the work I do today.”
From technical skills to lasting impact
Over the past decade, Chris has applied his CPA skillset across a range of roles supporting Indigenous communities, helping strengthen financial capacity, governance, and long-term planning.
His work has included:
- Providing advisory support to Gambler First Nation, contributing to discussions around financial management systems and community governance.
- Working within the Squamish Nation’s administrative team, supporting financial and organizational operations for a Nation that played a key role in his own educational journey.
- Serving on the Tla’amin Nation’s economic development board, where he contributed financial expertise to support sustainable economic initiatives.
- Advising First Nations across Canada on financial management, economic development, and capacity building through senior advisory roles.
“Having my CPA designation has really opened doors,” Chris says. “It gave me a skillset that allowed me to show up in communities in a way that’s useful, practical, and empowering.”
Today, that impact extends province-wide. At FNHA, Chris supports financial stewardship for programs and services that underpin health and wellness for First Nations communities throughout British Columbia.
“It grounds me to be in a role where I can give back,” he says. “It reminds me what’s important.”
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Seeing the CPA role differently
Chris is quick to challenge common assumptions about the profession. While early career accounting builds technical expertise, he sees the CPA role evolving into one centered on leadership, trust, and relationships.
“As you progress, you move from working in the details to becoming a trusted advisor,” he explains. “You’re supporting decisions that affect people, organizations, and communities.”
He is also keenly aware of the shortage of Indigenous CPAs. As First Nations continue to lead major projects, expand governance capacity, and participate more fully in economic development, the need for Indigenous financial professionals continues to grow.
“The CPA designation opens just about any door,” Chris says. “Whether you want to support your community through economic development, governance, entrepreneurship, or leadership, having strong financial knowledge gives you options.”
Looking ahead
Chris credits the CPA designation with giving him both a fulfilling career and a meaningful way to contribute to the communities that matter most to him. Through his work, he has been able to reconnect with his heritage, support Indigenous organizations, and help strengthen the financial foundations that enable long-term well-being.
As CFO of FNHA, he remains focused on advancing strong financial stewardship while supporting improved health outcomes across the province. At the same time, he hopes his journey encourages others, particularly Indigenous youth, to see the CPA pathway as one that not only builds careers, but strengthens communities.
“For me,” Chris says, “this work is about service. It’s about using what I’ve learned to make a difference where it counts.”
Vivian Tse is director, communications, at CPABC.
