Andrew Mercer is the Executive Director of Xaxli’p Administration, and the General Manager of the Xaxli’p Development Corp. Andrew is an accomplished businessman with nearly 25 years of professional experience. Diplomatic, concise and dedicated are some words commonly used to describe him.

Born and raised in Bay Roberts, Newfoundland, he graduated from the Faculty of Business Administration from Memorial University of Newfoundland (MUN) and has spent half of his career respectively on the east and west coasts.

Andrew has a passion for advancement, strategic planning, and fostering a culture of entrepreneurship. Andrew is described by his Chief and Council as a passionate development professional having grown the economic arm of Xaxli’p development corporation to 7 different entities in just 2 short years.

He is also described as a fearless advocate for community, specifically relating to his work on nation and capacity building, indigenous energy and food sovereignty, land acquisitions, and creating economic sovereignty for Xaxli’p.

Andrew is also a nationally acclaimed and accomplished musician and songwriter. The influence of music growing up on the east coast was profound to him. His first commercial recording was released at the age of 17 and was followed by two Newfoundland and Labrador Music Industry Awards. Andrew was also a winner of a National Songwriting Competition for the song titled “I Remember.” Andrew formed a Celtic band called “Cod Gone Wild” when he made the move to British Columbia in 2009, which released 5 studio albums.

When he is not spending time with his family around the campfire, he can be found hiking with his two Labs, or throwing rocks at the local curling club.