Speakers

 

Michael Clark, MLT Aikins

Michael Clark is Partner at MLT Aikins specializing in Banking & Commercial Lending, Mergers & Acquisitions, Aboriginal, Charities & Not-for-Profits, and Owner-Operated Enterprises. Michael advises financial institutions and private equity firms on various financing and investment transactions, and also advises corporate and business clients on organizational structuring, reorganizations, acquisitions and dispositions, and governance matters.

 

 

 

 

Taylor Ethans, Westleaf

Taylor Ethans is the Co-Founder, CFO, and Head of M&A at Westleaf and brings significant capital markets and private equity investment expertise. Prior to joining Westleaf, Taylor was a Vice President for TriWest Capital Partners where he executed eleven acquisitions and divestures in manufacturing and retail focused businesses, totaling over $1 Billion in valuation. In addition, Taylor served as a Director on the boards of Landmark Cinemas and Trimlite Manufacturing. Prior to TriWest, Taylor worked at RBC Capital Markets where he was involved in numerous public equity and debt financings. Taylor holds a Bachelor of Commerce (honours with Distinction), with a major in Finance from the University of Manitoba.

 

 

Hugh McFadyen, Longview Communications and Public Affairs

Hugh McFadyen is a Principal at Longview Communications and Public Affairs. He advises clients with significant public policy and strategic communications challenges in the energy, resource, transportation, technology and healthcare sectors. His experience includes major transaction and project approvals, corporate issue management, foreign investment risk assessment and policy reform. Hugh’s prior career spanned roles as a practicing lawyer, senior advisor to a Canadian Premier and Leader of Manitoba’s Official Opposition. He has degrees in Arts and Law from the University of Manitoba, is an alumnus of the US State Department International Distinguished Visitor’s Program (IDVP) and a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.

 

 

Geeta Sankappanavar, Grafton Asset Management

Geeta Sankappanavar is the Co-founder and President of Grafton Asset Management. Ms. Sankappanavar is responsible for strategy, oversight and execution of all Grafton’s business and operating units. Prior to co-founding Grafton Asset Management, Ms. Sankappanavar was at New Vernon Capital, a $3B blue-chip asset management firm. Her previous positions include Vice President, Head of Strategic Global Outsourcing for Cambridge Solutions, and founding partner at Marincorp Solutions and IRI. Ms. Sankappanavar began her career as a consultant with McKinsey and Company NYC. Ms. Sankappanavar has been recognized as one of Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women, Alberta’s 50 Most Influential People, Calgary’s Top 40 Under 40 and has been profiled as one of the top Women in IT. She serves on the for profit boards of CNOR (675m investment vehicle), Pipestone Energy Corp, and the non profit boards of OCIF, UNICEF Canada and the Palix foundation.

 

 

Doug Schweitzer, Dentons

Doug Schweitzer is a Partner at Dentons Canada LLP. His legal practice is focused primarily on restructuring, insolvency, bankruptcy, private lending and distressed asset transactions. He has acted for debtors, receivers, trustees in bankruptcy, monitors, purchasers and creditors in the context of restructurings under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act and proposals, receiverships and bankruptcies under the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act. He is also the United Conservative Party’s Candidate for Calgary-Elbow in the upcoming provincial election in Alberta. He is running to restore Alberta's competitive advantage for the families, businesses, and hard-working residents of this constituency.

 

 

Morty White, Wynnchurch Capital

Morty White is a Managing Director of Wynnchurch Capital, where he is responsible for originating, leading, executing and managing the fund’s Canadian investments. Wynnchurch is a leading operationally focused private investment firm, with $2.2 billion of equity capital under management that seeks to create value by bringing operational expertise to unique, overlooked, or underperforming companies generating $50 million - $1 billion in revenue. Wynnchurch focuses on special situations involving management-led buyouts, carve-outs, turnarounds, and restructurings of mature and growing industrial companies based in North America. Prior to Wynnchurch, Morty ran a consulting practice, working with equity funds and growth companies on due diligence, operations, business development and investing in special situations. Previously, Morty worked for GE Capital where he was part of a team that helped launch their Merchant Banking Group. He co-founded a private equity group building GE's standalone investment portfolio. 

 

Kevin Depew, RSM US

Kevin Depew is an Emmy Award-winning writer and producer. Prior to joining RSM, Depew worked in economics for Bloomberg LP, where he helped create the Bloomberg Brief economics newsletter. Depew has also worked for Dorsey Wright and Associates, PaineWebber and AG Edwards. His former roles include chief strategist, director of research, financial markets analyst and portfolio manager. Depew attended St. John's College in Annapolis, MD and graduated from the University of Kentucky with a BA in Philosophy.

 

 

 

George Brookman, West Canadian Digital Imaging Inc.

George Brookman is well known in Calgary’s business and volunteer community. He is a third generation Albertan and was born in Calgary. Most of his early career was spent in the Real Estate Development Industry; initially with Manulife Financial and then later as Vice-President of Development for ATCO Ltd. Most of this time was in the development and operation of high rise commercial and residential buildings. In 1984, he acquired West Canadian Industries Group, Canada’s leading digital print and document management organization. The company operates as West Canadian Digital Imaging in Calgary, Edmonton and Fort McMurray. In addition to his own company, Mr. Brookman serves on the Board of Directors of Cascadero Copper. He is currently on the Board of Directors for the Calgary Flames Foundation and the Calgary Stampede Foundation. Mr. Brookman has been awarded the Pinnacle Award for Business; the Distinguished Business Leader Award from the Haskayne School of Business and the Distinguished Alumni Award from the Calgary Board of Education. 

 

Chris Chivilo, W.A. Grain & Pulse Solutions

Chris Chivilo is the President & CEO of W.A. Grain & Pulse Solutions (WAG), a pulse processing and exporting company based in Innisfail, Alberta. Chris’ career spanned two decades with Cargill Ltd. and United Grain Growers (now Glencore). A three-year stint with a small pulse company in Crossfield, Alberta inspired Chris and his wife Tracey to go into the business in 2007. Eleven years later, they own five companies that are involved in agriculture, employ eighty staff, and own seven facilities across Canada. Chris has worked in most provinces in Canada. W.A. Grain & Pulse Solutions was the Profit 500’s 18th fastest growing company in Canada in 2015 and Alberta Ventures 4th fastest growing company in 2016. Recent expansions include a new Petfood ingredients facility in Bowden, a new $9 Million grain and pulse handling facility on PEI, and a malt house complete with brewery and taphouse, in Strathmore, Alberta. WAG’s priorities include expanding pulse processing in Canada, while diversifying trading into value added grain & pulse products including pulse ingredients manufacturing.

 

Mark Oberstoetter, Wood Mackenzie

Mark Oberstoetter joined Wood Mackenzie in 2009 where he has contributed to consulting work and research offerings across the regions of Canada, US Gulf of Mexico and Alaska. He has authored 50+ research notes and has been quoted in publications including the Wall Street Journal and Financial Times. Mark’s recent work has included helping governments assess royalty structures and providing detailed competitiveness benchmark outlooks for assets, plays and regions. Prior to joining Wood Mackenzie, Mark worked at Kenmont Capital Partners (an energy-focused hedge fund), Sanders Morris Harris Investment Bank and the Dallas auditing arm of KPMG. Mark holds a Masters in Finance and Bachelors in Accounting from the Texas A&M University and has passed the US CPA qualification exams.

 

 

David Yager, Energy Policy Analyst – Oil & Gas Writer

David Yager is semi-retired oil service executive and entrepreneur. He was a founder, senior officer and director of three successful TSX-listed oil service companies after which he was National Leader Oilfield Services for MNP LLP. He a consulting advisor to oil service executives and energy service trade associations in the areas of the upstream oil and gas industry and public policy. Has been active in business journalism and energy policy analysis since 1979. David Yager is currently completing a book about Alberta’s future and its most important industry in the post-carbon era. Titled “From Miracle to Menace – Alberta, A Carbon Story”, it will be released in early 2019.

 

 

 

Michael Binnion, Questerre Energy

Michael Binnion is the President and CEO and founding shareholder of Questerre Energy, established in November 2000. Questerre is a public oil and gas production company with operations in Alberta, Quebec, Saskatchewan and Jordan. He has been a leader in the campaign for hydrocarbons in Quebec as Chairman of the Quebec Oil & Gas Association. Mr. Binnion is a seasoned entrepreneur with a history of starting, financing and managing companies and not-for- profits. He has extensive experience as a board member for several high-tech companies in Canada. Additionally, he is the Executive Director of Rupert’s Crossing Ltd., a private merchant banking firm. He is also Chairman of both High Arctic Energy Services and the Manning Foundation. Most recently he founded the Modern Miracle Network, an organization of Canadians wanting adult conversations including the benefits and not just the impacts of energy use. 

 

 

Bryan de Lottinville, Benevity Inc.

Bryan de Lottinville is founder and CEO of Benevity Inc., the global leader in Corporate Social Responsibility and employee engagement software. A self-described "recovering lawyer" that spent nearly two decades in executive operational roles in both the bricks and mortar and web worlds, Bryan and Benevity now help Fortune 1000 clients engage their employees and customers around corporate ‘Goodness’ in ways that drive both business and prosocial outcomes. He is a frequent speaker and blogger on topics ranging from tech innovation and corporate culture to the changing role of companies in tackling the biggest struggles in the social impact landscape. Bryan has been at the helm of the company as it has grown from a team of five in 2008 to more than 520 people servicing 550 enterprise companies with over 10 million employees.  Clients of Benevity’s software platform include many of the world’s most iconic brands, such as Apple, Google, Nike, Microsoft, Coca-Cola, SAP, RBC, CIBC and more. This year Benevity has processed over 2.5 billion dollars in donations and 15 million hours of volunteering time to almost 150,000 causes around the world.

 

Vern Malcolm, BDC Capital

Mr. Vern Malcolm, CFA is the Team Lead for Southern Alberta and Manitoba, Growth & Transition Capital for BDC where he is responsible for equity and mezzanine investing. He has over 15 years of principal investing experience with an emphasis on the energy, oilfield service, infrastructure and technology sectors both domestically and internationally. Prior to joining BDC Capital, Mr. Malcolm worked in the infrastructure group of a major Canadian pension fund, in industry for a multinational pipeline company and in private equity and mezzanine finance. He has served on private and non-profit boards and is past president of the Calgary CFA Society. He currently serves on the investment committee for the City of Calgary. Mr. Malcolm holds a Bachelor of Commerce from McGill University, a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of the British Columbia and is a CFA charterholder.

 

 

 

Barry Munro, EY Canada

Barry Munro is the National Leader of EY Canada’s Lead Advisory business and has 30 years of executive experience including advising on deal sourcing, valuations, negotiations and financings. He leads multi-disciplinary teams containing tax, legal, due diligence and accounting professionals. He specializes in all facets of corporate finance including mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, valuations and financings. Over the past 15 years, he has been directly involved in 100+ M&A transactions and has previously been the Managing Partner of EY’s Calgary office and lead EY Canada’s Oil & Gas practice. Barry holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree and is a Chartered Accountant. He also holds broker/dealer securities registrations in both Canada and the US and has completed EY sponsored executive education programs at the Harvard School of Business and at Insead in Singapore. He is a member of ACG and an associate member of the Institute of Corporate Directors.

 

 

Usman Sheikh, Gowling WLG

Usman Sheikh is a Partner in Gowling WLG's Toronto office. Named in 2018 as one of the “Top 25 Most Influential Lawyers” by Canadian Lawyer and one of the top three FinTech lawyers in Canada by Chambers, he serves as the National Head of the firm's Blockchain & Smart Contract Group, as well as the National Litigation Lead of the firm's Securities, Compliance & Investigations Group. As leader of the firm’s Blockchain & Smart Contracts Group, Usman oversees a diverse team comprising more than 80 practitioners. Among the group’s many accomplishments is the listing of the very first blockchain company in the world. Usman's practice focuses on complex corporate/commercial litigation, with an emphasis on securities litigation, cryptocurrency litigation (Bitcoin, Ether and other cryptocurrencies), professional liability claims and class proceedings. He also provides legal advice on blockchain advisory mandates, including cutting-edge token sales, cryptocurrency exchanges and others. 

 

Nashir Samanani, QuirkLogic™

Nashir Samanani is Co-Founder and CEO at QuirkLogic™, he is a serial technology entrepreneur with a proven track record of launching award-winning start-ups that grow into market-leading businesses with high customer retention. Nashir is a strategist, with over 25 years of technology and hands-on business experience discovering untapped opportunities, and introducing new products that disrupt the status quo. Nashir has launched multiple Calgary-based technology companies which have achieved global footprints resulting in combined revenues in the hundreds of millions of dollars. He is passionate about delivering high customer value and innovative business solutions. 

 

 

Ted Redmond, ZCL Composites Inc.

Ted Redmond is the President & CEO of ZCL Composites Inc, the largest North American provider of underground storage tanks for the Fuel Retailing and Water industries, with 6 manufacturing plants across North America and over 500 employees. Prior to joining ZCL, Mr. Redmond was the CEO of NCSG Crane & Heavy Haul, a leading provider of heavy lift crane services and heavy haul transportation services with 27 branches and over 1000 employees operating throughout the North South Energy Corridor running from Alberta to Texas. Ted has an MBA from the Stanford Business School, a M.Sc. in Engineering from the University of Toronto, and a B.Sc. in Engineering from the University of Alberta.

 

Denise Weeres, Alberta Securities Commission

The New Economy division works closely with staff from across the ASC to coordinate efforts to facilitate capital raising by new economy companies entering the capital market, as well as to anticipate and act on issues and opportunities relating to emerging financial technologies. A key focus of this division is engagement with market participants to better understand challenges new economy companies face in accessing capital or deploying new financial technologies, as well as to help market participants navigate the securities regulatory regime and enhance their awareness of relevant initiatives that may assist them.