The board of directors for Cook Inlet Region, Inc (CIRI), an Alaska Native corporation based in Anchorage, has elected Swami Iyer as its new CEO and promoted Chief Strategy Officer Sarah Lukin, to the role of president. Sophie Minich announced earlier this year she was retiring as CEO and president after 10 years on the job, and 30 years with the coporation. The board has decided to split up the dual role.
“Our Board decided to split CIRI leadership into two positions, CEO and President. This change will help CIRI foster growth and have a positive impact on the services we provide to our Shareholders, Descendants, and the 60,000 Alaska Natives and American Indians that reside in our region,” said Doug Fifer, Chair of the CIRI Board of Directors.
CEO-elect Swami Iyer most recently served as the president of Aerospace Systems at Virgin Galactic, LLC and has 25 years of experience in commercial, aerospace, defense, and cyber industries, including serving as the South Asia and Oceania chief for the deputy undersecretary of International Affairs at the Air Force.
Lukin has over 20 years of experience working with indigenous businesses across the U.S. and Canada, including her previous roles as senior vice president and chief administration officer for NANA Regional Corporation, chief operating officer for Pt Capital, senior vice president of corporate affairs for Afognak Native Corporation and executive director of the Native American Contractors Association.
Lukin is Alutiiq from Port Lions, a remote village on Kodiak Island and is a shareholder of Koniag, Inc. and Afognak Native Corporation and an enrolled tribal member of the Native Villages of Afognak and Port Lions.
Cook Inlet Region, Inc. is one of 12 regional corporations established in Alaska by the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971. CIRI is owned by over 9,200 Shareholders, primarily of Athabascan, Southeast Indian, Inupiat, Yup’ik, Alutiiq/Sugpiaq and Aleut/Unangax descent.
