Nimar Bangash

Co-Founder & CEO

Obsiido

Mr. Bangash is the Co-Founder and CEO of Obsiido, a Toronto based technology enabled investment platform partnering with Canadian wealth managers to invest across private equity, private credit, and real assets through pooled and bespoke investment structures. Obsiido specializes in sourcing and managing evergreen, semi-liquid private market investments on behalf of its wealth manager clients. Mr. Bangash has spent 15 years in the Canadian investment management industry. Prior to founding Obsiido, he led the investment products group at a TSX listed, multi-billion dollar asset manager. He holds degrees from Queen’s University and Wilfrid Laurier University and is a CAIA Charterholder.

Aled ab Iorwerth

Deputy Chief Economist

CMHC – SCHL

Groundbreaking research by CMHC has revealed that inadequate supply is a key driver behind escalating house prices in cities like Vancouver and Toronto. The lead researcher for that project – Deputy Chief Economist Aled ab Iorwerth – now coordinates a diverse national team of researchers and analysts who are investigating impediments to housing supply and potential solutions.

“Housing markets are local. Broader challenges such as supply are often common, but the drivers and magnitude of these challenges may differ significantly across the country. My goal is to help understand and inform on market dynamics, how they support or hinder housing affordability goals and to provide thought leadership on housing economics across housing industry participants.”

Aled joined CMHC in 2016, bringing his strong analytical and research capabilities to bear on complex housing issues. He previously had a 15-year career at Finance Canada, in various research and analysis roles that included secondments to Environment Canada and the Council of Canadian Academies.

Aled holds a PhD in Economics from Western University and master’s degrees in European and International Relations (University of Amsterdam) and Economics (Carleton University). He speaks three languages: English, French and Welsh.

Stephen Harvey

Chief Investment Officer

Sagard Wealth

Stephen Harvey is the Chief Investment Officer at Sagard Wealth and manages the investment management functions at the firm. Stephen has over 20 years investing experience with roles in Toronto, London and New York. Most recently Stephen was the Chief Investment Officer of Titan Advisors, where he managed the investment committee and investment team. Prior to that he was a Partner at Saguenay Strathmore Capital, where he focused on risk management and portfolio construction. He started his career at the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan within their risk management group.

Stephen earned an honours degree in economics at York University and has been a Chartered Financial Analyst charterholder since 2003. He resides in the suburbs of Toronto with his wife Cori and helps coach their twin boys in baseball. Stephen switches allegiance between his native England and his adopted home of Canada, depending upon what sport it is on.

Mark Perry

Managing Director

Wilshire

Mark Perry serves as Managing Director at Wilshire and oversees sourcing, due diligence, and investment monitoring for private markets sectors in the United States and Canada. As Chair of the Private Markets Manager Research and Investment Committees and portfolio manager for the Wilshire Private Assets Fund, Mr. Perry provides strategic guidance and leadership.

Before joining Wilshire in 2012, he held the position of Vice President at Centinela Capital Partners, where he gained extensive experience in investment strategies. His educational background includes a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering and an MBA in Finance from the University of California, Los Angeles, as well as a Master’s in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University.

Chad Larson

Partner and Senior Portfolio Manager

Canaccord Genuity Wealth Management

Chad Larson is a distinguished leader in Wealth Management, celebrated for his strategic vision, client-focused approach, and innovation in alternative investing. After earning a Bachelor of Arts in Economics, Chad co-founded MLD Wealth Management in 2004 and today, he manages one of the largest multi-family offices in the country, serving high-net-worth (HNW) and ultra-high-net-worth (UHNW) clients across Canada and globally. With countless accolades including being named one of the top 50 most influential individuals in the Canadian investment Industry, and most recently as Advisor of the Year – Alternative Investments by Wealth Professional, Chad’s expertise and dedication has earned him the trust of Canada’s most discerning investors.

Nahed Sabri

Director, Alternative Investments

Trans-Canada Capital

As Director, Alternative Investments, Nahed is mainly responsible for the ongoing management, monitoring and research for all TCC’s real estate, infrastructure and co-investment portfolios and plays an active role in sourcing, underwriting, and selecting investment opportunities for the firm. Additionally, she serves as a voting member on both the External Managers Investment Committee (EMIC) and the Sustainable Investment Committee (SIC), spearheading the firm’s ESG initiatives. She has over 15 years of alternative investment experience investing in funds, secondaries and co-investments across multiple assets classes: Real Estate, Infrastructure, Private Equity and Hedge Funds. Prior to joining TCC in 2015, Nahed worked at one of North America’s leading pulp and paper and renewable energy company, where she played a key role in managing the investment portfolio of the company’s pension plan. Nahed holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Finance from Concordia University.

Tom Gillespie

Partner and Head of the Alliance Fund

Geodesic Capital

Tom Gillespie is a Partner and Head of the Alliance Fund at Geodesic Capital, focused on investing in early-stage Deep Tech companies in areas such as space, maritime, power and energy, and autonomous systems. Prior to joining Geodesic, he served for a number of years as a Managing Partner on In-Q-Tel’s Investment Team and Investment Lead for In-Tel’s Deep Tech practice, investing in commercial, venture capital-backed technologies with the potential to address challenges faced by the U.S. national security community.
He has had a particular focus on commercial space technology and has led investments in over twenty space technology ventures, including launch vehicles, remote sensing constellations, space situational awareness, in-space logistics, and satellite componentry investments. In addition to space deals, he has led investments in the areas of robotics, materials, power sources, and autonomous systems, as well as several analytics ventures.
Prior to In-Q-Tel, Tom was a strategy consultant at Booz Allen Hamilton, serving clients in the aerospace, financial services, and government (national security and defense) sectors. Earlier experience includes positions in international privatization and the United States Congress, where he focused on telecommunications, space, financial services, and foreign affairs issue areas.
Tom earned a B.A. in Economics from Stanford University, and an M.B.A. in Finance from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Jonathan Planté

Director, Capital Markets

Omnigence Asset Management

Jonathan Planté is the Head of Capital Formation at Omnigence Asset Management. He is a seasoned alternative investment professional with 18 years of experience and a US$20Bn+ fundraising track record across all alternative asset classes, securing capital from North American and European institutional investors. His expertise spans investment structuring, market expansion, and distribution strategy optimization. Prior to joining Omnigence, he held senior positions in the asset management industry, driving significant AUM growth. Alongside his professional career, Jonathan has been teaching alternative investments at HEC Montréal for 10 years, mentoring students and young professionals entering the asset management industry.

Jonathan holds a Graduate Diploma in Finance from HEC Montréal (Canada), a Master’s degree in International Business Development from ESC St-Étienne (France), and the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) designation.

David Sheng

Managing Director – Portfolio Advisory

Aksia

David is a Managing Director on the Portfolio Advisory team and has over 18 years of experience in alternative investments. He is responsible for alternative investment programs in the Americas, including portfolio management and construction, as well as manager evaluation. David leads alternatives coverage for Aksia’s institutional Canadian clients.

Prior to joining Aksia in 2018, David was a Senior Manager Research Analyst at Man FRM focused on sourcing and evaluating alternatives strategies, as well as active portfolio management. Prior to Man FRM, David was a Vice President within the Institutional Sales and Trading business at HSBC, and before that he worked at Morgan Stanley, where he covered institutional clients across the hedge fund, asset management, and sovereign wealth fund universe, with a focus on fixed income and foreign exchange.

David graduated from Princeton University with a BA in Economics and holds an MBA from Columbia University. David was recognized as a 2023 Knowledge Broker by Chief Investment Officer and Institutional Investor’s 2024 Consultant of the Year.

Craig Machel

Portfolio Manager, Investment Advisor

Richardson Wealth

Craig empowers his clients to think differently about investing in order to ensure a positive impact in his clients’ financial circumstances. He works beyond traditional portfolio management in the equity and bond markets alone to include conservative and predictable alternative assets, offering more effective diversification and a benchmark that offers protection and peace of mind regardless of market conditions. Craig is a frequent commentator on alternative asset allocations for various media outlets, and a panelist and speaker at industry events.

Mackenzie Shaw

Principal, Research and Analytics

Westcourt Capital

As Principal, Research and Analytics, Mackenzie works closely with the Research & Analytics team in the sourcing, evaluation, due diligence and on-going monitoring of Westcourt’s recommended private investments. Prior to joining Westcourt, Mackenzie was the Controller at a digital asset trading platform where she was key in building the platform’s accounting team and in developing policies and procedures to meet industry standards and regulatory compliance. Mackenzie’s past experience also includes working at a national accounting, tax and business consulting firm, in the firm’s Toronto public companies accounting practice. At this firm, Mackenzie gained experience in engagement planning, risk assessment, financial analysis, execution, and presentation, providing high-quality services to both regulated private and public clients. Mackenzie earned a Bachelor of Commerce (Hons) degree with a Specialty in Accounting from McMaster University and obtained her Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA) designation.

Nima Sanajian

Managing Director, Investments

Wealthsimple

Nima Sanajian, with 14+ years of investment experience, is Managing Director of Investments at Wealthsimple. He leads asset allocation, portfolio construction, and manager selection/analysis for Wealthsimple. Prior to Wealthsimple, Nima spent about 7 years at CPP Investments focusing on the fund’s strategic asset allocation and portfolio construction as well as designing/managing systematic macro strategies. Prior to that, he was a senior quantitative analyst at RBC. Nima holds a Ph.D. in Operations Research from the Rotman School of Management (University of Toronto

Giovanni Fracchia

Executive Director

LGT Capital Partners

Giovanni Fracchia (Italian) is an Executive Director at LGT Capital Partners in New York. He focuses on origination, due diligence, execution and monitoring of secondary investments.

Prior to joining the firm in 2014, he was an investment analyst with Synergo, a private equity firm in Milan, where he focused on sourcing, carrying out due diligence on and monitoring private equity investments in Italy. Before that, Mr. Fracchia was ana nalyst with Crédit Agricole Private Equity in Paris and Maybrook Saint James, a private equity firm in London.

He holds an MA in Management from the ESCP EUROPE Business School and a BA in Business and Management from University of Turin. He is fluent in English, Italian and French.

Robb Nelson

Chief Executive Officer

Farm Lending Canada

With more than 35 years of successful business and entrepreneurial experience, including 25 years in the Private Lending space specializing in agriculture, residential development, and residential homes, Robb is a practicing mortgage professional, co-founder, and co-owner of AgriRoots Capital Management Inc., now operating as Farm Lending Canada – Canada’s first National Alternative Lender, specializing in the agricultural sector.

In addition, he is the founding Principal, Broker of Record, and CEO of the National Mortgage brokerage FamilyLending.ca Inc. – a mortgage brokerage providing residential, commercial, and agricultural mortgages – founded in 2001. A founding member with the Canadian Association of Accredited Mortgage Professionals, Robb has grown a reputation for being a leading expert in agricultural lending, finance, investment, and mortgages. He offers deep insight and expertise to agricultural borrowers and investors alike, with the objective of keeping farming families on family farms across Canada.

A goal-driven, collaborative, and insightful professional, Robb focuses on identifying opportunities, building financial solutions, and providing high-quality client service.

John Butler

Managing Director

Cohen & Company

John Butler is Managing Director and Head of Cohen & Company’s U.S. Insurance Asset Management Platform and Global ILS Program. From 2012 to 2017, Mr. Butler worked for Twelve Capital, a European asset manager specializing in investment in the insurance sector where he served in various senior roles including Managing Partner & Head of Investment Management. In this role, he oversaw investments principally in fixed income, insurance linked securities and equity.

Prior to this, Mr. Butler worked as Senior Underwriter managing the International Catastrophe and Terrorism reinsurance portfolios of Hannover Re Bermuda, where he was responsible for managing the company’s position as a lead reinsurer particularly in European and Asia-Pacific markets. Prior to this, Mr. Butler spent seven years with the White Mountains Insurance Group, both in Ireland and Bermuda, managing the underwriting of their international non-marine treaty portfolio. Earlier in his career, he worked for entities in the London reinsurance market, underwriting a broad range of business lines. Mr. Butler has served on a variety of advisory boards and non-executive leadership positions in the insurance industry.

Mr. Butler holds an honors degree in Law from the University of London.  He is an Associate of the Chartered Insurance Institute of the UK, a member of the Insurance Institute of Ireland, is qualified as a Chartered Insurer and is appointed a Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Insurers, and a Freeman of the City of London.

Michael Nicks

Deputy CIO

Pepperdine University Endowment

Mr. Nicks is a leader and innovator in the institutional investor community. In over two decades at Pepperdine’s endowment, Mr. Nicks has managed multiple alternative investment portfolios and pioneered new technology and strategies for the investment team. He has run a successful portable alpha strategy for over a decade, and has incorporated machine learning into both the information management and asset allocation processes. He also leads research into new strategies, manager analysis, and portfolio construction. As a former Scuba instructor and dive master, he has a deep appreciation for risk management and a great love of the sea.

Mr. Nicks is a CFA charter holder (2006) and a Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (2006). He has a Bachelor of Science in Management degree from Pepperdine University and an MBA with an Emphasis in Finance from Pepperdine’s Graziadio School of Business and Management (2002).

John Davitsky

Co-Founder

Golden Hawk Financial & Goldenhawk Real Estate Advisors

John is Co-Founder of Golden Hawk Financial (GHF) & Goldenhawk Real Estate Advisors (GREA) based in Toronto.  The companies help clients by connecting interesting ideas to interesting capital and vice versa. GHF focuses on raising capital for alternative investments in AI, Digital Assets, Battery Technologies, Longevity, Business Aircraft Acquisition as well as Pre-IPO private company shares while GREA focuses on Multi-Family Real Estate Development in Toronto.

John started his career as a Financial Advisor at Caldwell Securities in Toronto in 2009. In this role he was responsible for managing investments for families, corporations and other high net-worth individuals. He progressed through the organization gaining experience in alternative investments, brokering private equity deals, placing shares in late stage pre-IPO companies and investing in digital assets.  In recent years John moved into trading, becoming Head Trader, and finally Vice President, where, as a high touch trader he traded $1B-$1.5B daily for the firm’s largest client.

In  2022, he joined Echelon Wealth Partners, where he worked with their Electronic Trading group to help lead a digital asset project with Fidelity Clearing Canada.  This project developed a concept to hold digital assets for clients on Fidelity’s balance sheet in a traditional finance model. 

Golden Hawk Financial & Goldenhawk Real Estate Advisors were born out of a vision to create exciting and unique opportunities for its clients in the alternative investment & real estate development space.

David Burbach

Partner, CCO

YTM Capital Asset Management

David is a Partner of YTM Capital, a manager based in Oakville that provides better fixed income solutions. He is co-portfolio manager of YTM Capital Mortgage Income Fund, arguably the most defensive mortgage fund in Canada.

During the first 17 years of David’s career he practiced corporate and securities law.  Just before he joined YTM Capital 11 years ago, he led the Legal Department at Mackenzie Investments.

David holds a Honours Business Degree from the Ivey Business School, an LL.B from the University of Toronto, and he is an CAIA Charterholder.

Scott Dickenson

Principal

Northwood Family Office

Scott is a Principal in the family office advisory group at Northwood. In this role, he acts as a trusted advisor to a number of Northwood’s client families in Ontario and British Columbia on their integrated financial affairs.

In addition to his work with Northwood’s client families, Scott co-chairs Northwood’s Business Development and Marketing Committees alongside his colleague Brad Jesson. Scott writes frequently on the Northwood Perspective Blog, helped create the Northwood Quarterly Reading List, and has hosted several episodes of the Wealth of Wisdom podcast series.

Beyond his duties at Northwood, Scott is a guest lecturer at the Rotman School of Management. He is also the Vice Chair of CFA Society Toronto’s Private Wealth Management Committee, and on the Steering Committee of the Forum on Multi-Generational Family Wealth and Leadership.

Outside of work, Scott and his wife Ruth are the proud parents of their son Dean. Scott is also an avid traveler (and self-published writer), who has travelled to over 65 countries on five different continents.

Prior to joining Northwood, Scott worked at RBC Capital Markets in Equity Research and Fixed Income Sales and Trading.

Peter Pulkkinen

Portfolio Manager, Sustainable Private Credit, Lombard Odier Investment Managers

Lombard Odier Asset Management (USA) Corp

Peter Pulkkinen joined LOIM in February 2021. Before joining LOIM, Peter was Portfolio Manager for the Avenue Sustainable Solutions Fund. Peter has over 20 years of relevant industry experience having held senior roles at leading institutions with direct responsibility for sustainable private debt investments across renewable energy, infrastructure and project and asset backed finance at firms including BNP Paribas, Silverpeak, UBS AG, and Deutsche Bank AG. Peter began his career in private credit at Lehman Brothers. Peter earned a B.A. in Political Science from the University of New Hampshire (1992) and a Masters in International Affairs from The Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs, with a concentration in International Finance/Economics (2004).

Eugene Dimitriou

Founding Partner, Origination

Farsight Partners

A veteran finance professional with over 28 years experience across consulting, asset management and investment banking, Eugene Dimitriou focuses on the nexus of life insurer capital management, actuarial matters and investments. Eugene achieved his Fellowship in the Society of Actuaries, holds an MBA in Finance from New York University, and a Bachelors in Mathematics and Actuarial Science from the University of Waterloo.

His firm, Farsight Partners is a life and insurance receivables specialist investment manager that invests in the many opportunities available within the global life insurance space, targeting actuarial risks such as mortality/longevity, accident and health and policy lapsation. Unlike peer funds, traditional US Life Settlements and catastrophe bonds fall out of scope. The strategy has provided long-term, stable and predictable cash-flow generating returns over time with very low correlation to other asset classes.

Ben Keen

Partner

Borden Ladner Gervais LLP

Ben’s practice encompasses all aspects of securities and corporate law, with a focus on public and private financings, investment fund formation and distribution, investment management, private equity and regulatory compliance.

He advises underwriters and public and private issuers, as well as investment fund managers, portfolio managers and investment dealers in connection with registration matters and the establishment, operation and administration of publicly offered and privately placed investment funds and private equity products. These include pooled funds, hedge funds, closed-end funds, mutual funds, other alternative investment vehicles and the placement of securities in Canada of foreign issuers.

He also advises Canadian and international private equity firms and private equity investors in connection with structuring, regulatory requirements and advising on the terms of offerings.

Ben also advises on domestic and cross-border M&A.

Ida Khajadourian

Portfolio Manager, Investment Advisor

Richardson Wealth

For over 20 years, Ida has worked closely with Institutions, Family Offices, wealthy entrepreneurs, and high net worth families building trusted relationships and delivering a high level of holistic Wealth Management services.

Ida’s beliefs include the importance of estate planning, tax minimization, capital preservation and evolutionary portfolio construction using alternative strategies to achieve consistent absolute returns with a risk reward-oriented approach.

Ida obtained a Bachelor of Commerce Degree from the University of Toronto with specialization in Finance and major in Economics. Ida is a multi award winning Portfolio Manager and obtained her Chartered Alternative Investment Advisor (CAIA®) designation in 2005.

Ben Fox

Chief Investment Officer

Members Capital Management

Ben is Chief Investment Officer at Members Capital Management, a newly incorporated investment manager at the intersection of reinsurance, digital assets and the capital markets.  With over 16 years’ experience in reinsurance, insurance-linked securities, investment management, and alternative risk transfer, Ben is responsible for all aspects of the firm’s investment activities, and has previously held senior positions at Hiscox, Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan, and the World Bank.  Ben holds a Doctorate degree in Seismology, and a Master of Science degree in Earth Sciences, both from the University of Oxford.

Sandy Poklar

Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director

Firm Capital Corporation

Sandy Poklar is currently the Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director, Capital Markets & Strategic Developments for Firm Capital Corporation, EVP Finance for Firm Capital Mortgage Investment Corporation (FC : TSX), Chief Financial Officer and a Trustee for Firm Capital Property Trust (FCD.UN : TSX) and President & CEO of Firm Capital Apartment REIT (FCA.U/FCA.UN : TSXV). Sandy is also a Trustee and Chairman of the Audit Committee for True North Commercial REIT (TNT.UN : TSX).

Prior to joining Firm Capital, Sandy was employed at Macquarie Capital and TD Securities where he was a Vice President in their Real Estate Investment Banking Groups. Sandy is a CPA, CA in Canada, a CPA(US) licensed in the State of Illinois and has his ICD.D designation.

Kent Willmore

Founding Partner & President

AGinvest Farmland Properties Canada

Kent is a highly experienced leader in the agriculture industry with over 30 years of expertise. As the President and Founder of AGinvest Farmland Properties Canada Inc., he has established a successful farmland asset management firm in Chatham, Ontario. In 2018, Kent launched the AGinvest Farmland One Fund, providing investors unique access to Ontario’s fertile farmland. Under his leadership, AGinvest has established three more successful funds that have delivered exceptional results for investors and farm families. AGinvest is committed to creating mutually beneficial opportunities for investors and farm families while supporting food security and promoting sustainable farming practices. Kent holds a Bachelor of Education and a Bachelor of Environmental Science from the University of Waterloo, where he was recognized as an all-Canadian academic athlete.

Kent is a member of the Canadian Association of Farm Advisors (CAFA) and the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, demonstrating his commitment to advancing the industry.

Greg Kalil

Managing Partner

Glengarry Farm Finance

Greg Kalil is the founder and Managing Partner of Stormont Partners, a Toronto based merchant bank with a strong focus on emerging alternatives in real assets.

One of Stormont’s first investments is Glengarry Farm Finance, an alternative lending business focused on providing transitional funding to Canadian farmers who are temporarily unable to access the mainstream banking system.  Greg serves as Glengarry’s CEO, and is a lead investor in the Glengarry Funding LP, an open-ended partnership that provides the capital for Glengarry’s lending activities.

Greg has over 30 years of experience in real estate, infrastructure and renewable power investment and investment banking.  Before founding Stormont, Greg spent 12 years as a Managing Partner at Brookfield Financial, the investment banking arm of Brookfield Asset Management. As head of their Canadian platform and a member of the global management committee, Greg created and led the firm’s Structured Transactions, Public Sector Advisory and Healthcare Real Estate practices.

Prior to Brookfield, Greg co-founded Cornerstone Commercial Realty, which was ultimately acquired by TD Securities where Greg subsequently worked in the Real Estate Investment Banking Group.

In the past, Greg has served on the boards of the Federation of Rental Housing Providers of Ontario, Toronto Community Housing (Chair of Investment and Development Committees), Holy Trinity School, and Trellis Housing Initiatives (Chair), a non-for-profit developer of affordable housing for underhoused single parents.

Greg presently sits on the boards of the Innis College Expansion Capital Campaign and Noozhoo Nokiiyan Limited Partnership (Chair of Investment Committee), the economic development arm of the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation, and Voyageur Services, a construction services company focused on the nuclear power sector in Ontario.

Aleks Karamarkovic

Vice President, Corporate Development

Graywood Developments

As the Vice President of Corporate Development at Graywood Developments, Aleks lead the company’s real estate private equity fundraising program and the origination of real estate partnership opportunities. With more than 12 years of experience in the real estate sector, he has a proven track record of raising capital, sourcing deals, and managing investor relations for a diverse portfolio of projects.

Aleks’ core competencies include financial accounting, audit and tax, financial reporting, and financial modeling, which he developed as a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA) and a CFA Institute Charterholder (CFA). He also have a strong background in real estate development, fundraising and investments, having been involved in over $500 million in equity fundraising and multiple transactions involving land acquisition, dispositions, joint venture formation, and project financing. His mission is to create value for Graywood and its partners by delivering innovative and sustainable real estate solutions that meet the needs of all stakeholders.

Jordan Villarreal

Manager, Private Capital Research North America and LatAm

Preqin

Jordan manages the Canadian and Latin American research teams for Preqin across its Chicago and New York offices. Preqin is a leader in industry data and insights within the alternative assets space. Jordan’s experience includes working with Canada’s market leaders to gather key data and intelligence. He joined Preqin in 2020 and helped spearhead the creation of the dedicated Canadian research team. Jordan studied at the University of Western Ontario and holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Indiana University.