5th ANNUAL OTTAWA CAPITAL CONNECTION

David Clarke, B.A, J.D., is a seasoned professional with a diverse background in government affairs, political strategy, and law.

Currently serving as the Head of Government Affairs at TMX Group, David plays a pivotal role in advocating on behalf of Canada’s public company ecosystem. Prior to joining TMX, David served in various roles in government and politics including as Executive Director of the Ontario Liberal Party, in the Office of the Ontario Minister of Finance, and with the Office of the Premier of Ontario. He has held senior roles in provincial and federal political campaigns across Canada. Before politics, David worked as a litigation associate at a national law firm. David’s academic background includes a Juris Doctor (JD) from York University’s Osgoode Hall Law School and a BA in politics from his hometown school, the University of Ottawa. David lives in Hamilton, Ontario with his wife and daughter, where he volunteers in local politics and serves as Chair of the Board of the Jamesville Bennetto Childcare and Early Learning Centre.

Stuart Bergman is vice president & chief economist at Export Development Canada (EDC). Mr. Bergman joined EDC in 2003 and has held various leadership positions, including vice president, ESG, deputy chief economist, director of the Economic & Political Intelligence Centre, director of Corporate Strategy and director of the Research and Analysis Division. Mr. Bergman is responsible for overseeing EDC’s economic analysis and forecasting, global markets intelligence and corporate research groups. In addition to advising EDC’s senior management and Board of Directors, Mr. Bergman is a featured speaker at conferences, international roundtables and policy fora and regularly appears in television, radio and print media commenting on the world economy and Canadian international trade issues. He produces a widely circulated print and video weekly commentary covering a range of global economic and business issues. Prior to joining EDC, Mr. Bergman worked for Zurich Emerging Markets Solutions and the Foreign Policy Institute in Washington, D.C. He completed his graduate studies in International Economics and International Relations at the Johns Hopkins University School of 
Advanced International Studies. He currently resides in Ottawa with his wife and three children. 

Stephan May, MBA, is the Managing Director of Welch Capital Partners. He brings years of experience in M&A, debt capital, private equity, advisory and restructuring services. Stephan works with companies to maximize their value and ensure a smooth transition process, whether through buying or selling your company, financing or restructuring. Prior to Welch Capital Partners, Stephan held roles as the Managing Director for Storeyworks, a boutique finance advisory firm and the Director of Corporate Development for TUC Brands (Now Fully Managed IT) where he was responsible for all corporate development, which included, M&A, partnerships, and corporate finance. In 2012/13, TUC grew by way of acquisition, winning the title of “Fastest Growing Company” in Ottawa two years in a row. Stephan is a regular guest speaker at Telfer School of Business and the Carleton University. He Chairs a worldwide corporate finance leadership group, and he is currently participating on a corporate finance working group with CPA Canada to further develop the profession. In 2015, Stephan was a recipient of the Top 40 under 40 award.

Jeff is Métis from the White Horse Plains area of Southern Manitoba, the traditional Buffalo Hunt staging grounds of the Red River Valley. For nearly 25 years, he has provided strategic Indigenous leadership for profit companies, charitable and not-for-profit institutions, and government organizations. Recently, he was Vice-President of the Indigenous Innovation Initiative at Grand Challenges Canada, a sessional lecturer at Carleton University in Public Policy, and a guest lecturer at Oxford University in Social Finance. Jeff has helped create and implement the community-driven outcomes contract (a unique pay-for-success social finance model) and the Indigenous Solutions Lab process, which earned him an Ashoka Fellowship in 2019. Prior to establishing Raven Indigenous Capital Partners, Jeff was the Executive Director of the National Association of Indigenous Friendship Centres (NAFC) and spent over a decade working in the Government of Canada in key leadership roles. He is the former Chair of the Institute Advisory Board for Indigenous Peoples’ Health at the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. A graduate of the University of Manitoba, he holds a Bachelor of Arts in Asian Languages and Politics and a Master of Arts (with distinction) in Political Studies/International Relations. He is currently on the Advisory Committee to Royal Rhodes University Business School and the Finance and Investment Committee of the Indigenous Peoples Resiliency Fund. He also sits on the Advisory Committee of Diabetes Canada and the Technical Committee of Climate Engagement Canada. As well as being Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Raven Capital, he is  CEO of the Raven Indigenous Impact Foundation, and Managing Partner and Founder of Raven Indigenous Outcomes Funds. Jeff is a proud husband and father of five and currently lives and works on unceded Algonquin lands in what is now known as Mont-Tremblant, Quebec. 

Monika is Cree-Metis, a member of Fort McKay First Nation, and a mother to a wonderful little boy. She is the Vice President, Investments of Fort McKay Landing, the Private Equity Firm owned by Fort McKay First Nation and she is passionate about assisting her Nation to achieve economic sovereignty. Monika leads the corporate governance for the 17 portfolio companies and negotiates and structures new acquisitions. She also provides business advisory services to the portfolio companies with a focus on dispute resolution and contract negotiations. Prior to working for Fort McKay, Monika spent time working for a national law firm and a municipal government. Monika holds a Juris Doctor, a Master of Business Administration, and she was called to the bar in British Columbia.

Sam Damm, Founder and President of  FoxWise Technologies Inc. and CLAW Environmental Services Inc., is a visionary leader dedicated to achieving business excellence and empowering Indigenous communities.From the Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation in the Bruce Peninsula, Sam is rooted in community, resilience, and a passion for sustainable development. His Owen Sound, Ontario childhood is marked by lacrosse battles and dirt bike adventures. Now based in the Nation’s Capital, family values are paramount for Sam. His dedication to wife Sofia and their three children is a guiding force in both personal and professional endeavors. With over two decades of experience, Sam initiates collaboration between Indigenous communities and governments at all levels. As a founding member of The Public Sector Aboriginal Business Association (PSABA), he advocates for progressive policies like Set-Asides and procurement modernization. In 2017, Sam’s strategic vision resonated in the House of Commons, addressing the PSIB, Set-Asides, and the evolution of procurement practices. His extensive experience makes him a sought-after speaker, providing multi-disciplinary solutions at conferences for Indigenous communities and various government levels. Sam’s impact goes beyond boardrooms and parliamentary chambers. He personally champions Indigenous workforce development, recruiting and training over 50 Indigenous individuals. Empowering communities is at the core of Sam’s mission.

Ruby Williams is a partner in the M&A advisory practice of Deloitte.   Ruby has over 20+ years’ experience advising Canadian and Global companies on acquisitions and divestitures to optimize their business models and growth strategy.  Ruby has extensive experience in assisting clients in both buy-side and sell-side M&A cycle, including pricing analysis and valuation, due diligence reviews, carve-out and synergy analysis, deal structuring, negotiation, and related advisory services.  She has led hundreds of transactions over the years in Canada, US and globally and assisted many clients executing roll-up acquisition strategies in the technology, healthcare, manufacturing, and industrials sectors.  She has served a diverse range of clientele including founder/owner-managed enterprises, public organizations, private equity firms, family offices, crown corporations, federal government agencies and departments.  Many of the companies involved have grown to over $1b+ market cap over the years. Ruby was also involved in several Initial Public Offerings (IPOs) and other private equity financings, providing valuation and M&A services. Ms. Williams is a Chartered Accountant, a Chartered Business Valuator and a Chartered Financial Analyst charterholder.  She is a Forty under 40 award recipient and serves on several local non-profit-organizations.  When she is not busy deal-making, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two boys, dragging them from ski hills to golf courses if they let her.

As Chief Executive Officer of Calian, Kevin Ford focuses on enabling the management team to execute the company’s four-pillar growth framework of customer retention, diversification, innovation and continuous improvement. This unrelenting focus has taken the company to the next level, with revenues exceeding the half-billion-dollar mark in 2021. It’s one milestone on the journey to becoming a billion-dollar, proudly Canadian company. Named CEO of the Year by the Ottawa Chamber of Commerce and Ottawa Business Journal in 2017 and EY Entrepreneur of the Year in 2019, Kevin attributes his success to teamwork, integrity and commitment. These values, combined with Kevin’s enthusiasm for Calian technology and talent and his passion for diversity and inclusion, help him to future-proof the business. Kevin is fully invested in the growth of the company, playing a key role in the 18 successful acquisitions Calian has made since 2012. “Through a combination of strategic acquisitions, innovative solutions and diversification, we continue to increase our customer base in Canada and expand into new international markets.” Kevin was promoted to Chief Executive Officer in April 2015. Prior to becoming the CEO of Calian, Kevin served as the Calian Business and Technology Services Division President for more than four years. Kevin worked in professional services for more than 30 years, including 11 years at IBM as a Partner in Global Business Services. He also contributes to numerous charitable organizations, sits on the board of the Ottawa Hospital Foundation and a member of CADSI’s Board of Directors since 2016 and served as Chair of the Board from October 2019 to 2023. Kevin has coached hockey and most recently led the charge to save a legacy live music venue in Ottawa.

Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Corporate Secretary. Patrick Houston is a Chartered Professional Accountant with more than 15 years of experience and an extensive background in corporate finance, international operations, mergers and acquisitions and public markets.
As CFO, he oversees the accounting, business support, financial planning and analysis, treasury and tax functions at Calian. Patrick places an emphasis on the continuous development of a finance function that enables the company to achieve its profitable growth ambitions and maintain a high level of integrity and transparency. Prior to joining Calian in January 2019, Patrick began his career in public accounting with Deloitte before moving on to DragonWave, a Canadian-based high-tech company listed on the Nasdaq and TSX.

A seasoned finance professional with over 30 years of business experience with both private and public companies, Todd has served as Chief Financial Officer of N. Harris Computer Corporation (“Harris”) since joining the Company in 2015. As CFO, Todd works directly with the executive leadership team to ensure that Harris meets or exceeds employee, customer and shareholder expectations. He oversees Harris’s global financial operations, including accounting, financial planning and analysis, treasury and taxation and is responsible for the financing of certain business acquisitions. Todd lives in Ottawa with his wife, Josée, and is the proud dad of three children. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Carleton University and is a Chartered Professional Accountant.

Lisa leads the Knowledge and Innovation and the Library Services national teams.
She is responsible for advancing innovation initiatives across BLG to drive exceptional client service. Her expertise includes:

• Legal innovation
• Knowledge management
• Legal project management
• Process improvement
• Pricing and alternative fee arrangements
   

Colum Elliott-Kelly is CEO of Arctic AI, a boutique consultancy that, since 2017, has focused on AI for portfolio company value creation. Prior to joining Arctic, he founded and exited an AI startup in the education technology sector, and before that, he worked as an investment banker in Paris and London. Colum is a Board Member of JUMP Math and provides pro bono consultancy services to organizations around the world, particularly in education.

Dr. Varun Perumal stands at the forefront of innovation as the visionary founder of Unmodal Research Inc. Holding a Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Toronto and a Bachelor's degree in Applied Physics from IIT Bombay, Dr. Perumal has carved a niche for himself as a pioneering inventor and thought leader in the realms of artificial intelligence and spatial computing. His exceptional ability to navigate the complexities of the world's leading technology firms has made him an invaluable consultant, known for his interdisciplinary strategy that seamlessly bridges technology and business. Dr. Perumal's profound understanding of the ever-changing technological landscape, coupled with his expertise in human-computer interaction, empowers companies to strategically implement cutting-edge tools, ensuring they not only remain competitive but also set the pace in their respective industries. He has received several awards, including the prestigious Inventor of the Year award from the University of Toronto. Dr. Perumal's contributions extend across esteemed institutions such as Microsoft Research, Disney Imagineering, Cornell Tech, and MIT, where his work spans a diverse array of both practical and visionary projects. Beyond his professional endeavors, Dr. Perumal nurtures a deep-seated passion for the intricate arts of watchmaking and woodworking, alongside a keen interest in the culinary arts.

Timothée Dandurand is a Chartered Accountant (CPA, CA) and holds a Business Administration degree with a concentration in accountancy (Honours) and an MBA (Honours) from the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières. Prior to joining Novacap in 2020, Mr. Dandurand held the position of Vice-President, Finance Transformation, at Intact Financial Corporation where he led various integration and financial system implementation projects, including the integration of U.S.-based subsidiary. Prior to that, Mr. Dandurand worked as a forensic accountant for Navigant Consulting and as an auditor in the assurance and advisory practice of Deloitte, where he serviced clients in the financial service sector and other large public companies. Mr. Dandurand was a speaker at Oracle OpenWorld, showcasing the early adoption of financial cloud-based technology.

Canadian Commercial Banking

• 20+ years of corporate banking experience across Canada, the Middle East and the Asia Pacific
• I have the privilege of leading BMO’s Corporate Finance business across Ontario, working with our largest privately owned and mid-to-large cap public companies and facilitating their growth, acquisition and succession needs across North America.
   

As Chief Executive Officer of the Nordik Group, Eric has led the growth of a small Ottawa-based company into one of North America’s fastest growing window and door businesses. Expanding into new markets, vertical integration and geographic expansion, Nordik’s 9 strategic acquisitions and investments, over the past few years, are the beginning of an aggressive growth and diversification strategy. Nordik is investing heavily in the environment: developing Canada’s most energy efficient and affordable product lines, electrifying most of its fleet of nearly 200 vehicles and planting over a million trees over the next 5 years. Prior to taking the CEO role, Eric spent a few years as Nordik’s CMO and acting CFO, and brings 2 decades of experience in digital marketing and leadership roles in technology startups. Eric holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree majoring in Finance and loves spending time downhill skiing and water skiing with his 3 kids.

Francois is the CEO of Classic Fire + Life Safety, an industry-leading life safety and fire protection company servicing the needs of organizations and institutions across Canada and in the United States. As CEO, Francois oversees the strategic direction and vision for the company's business units. Before joining Classic Fire + Life Safety, he was Vice President, U.S. Automotive and Canada Replacement Markets at Gates Corporation, an automotive and industrial parts manufacturer. Prior to this, he was the Managing Director of Atlas Hydraulics, a company that manufactured hydraulic components for agricultural, construction, and material handling equipment manufacturers in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. In 2017, Atlas was acquired by Gates. Earlier in his career, Francois was a management consultant at McKinsey & Company and worked for Schlumberger, an oilfield service company, in various international roles. He holds a Bachelor's and Master's in Chemical Engineering from McGill University, and an MBA from INSEAD.

George Rossolatos has over 20 years’ experience as a private equity investor and entrepreneur. George is the founding CEO of the Canadian Business Growth Fund (CBGF), a C$545 million growth capital investment fund backed by Canada’s largest financial institutions, focusing on helping mid-market companies in Canada reach their full potential since 2018. Prior to CBGF, George was CEO of Avante Logixx Inc. from 2010 -2017 where his mandate was to determine the public company’s strategic direction and execute a successful operational turnaround and organic and acquisition growth strategy. Prior to Avante, he worked in the private equity industry for 10 years. He was a Partner and co-founder of TorQuest Partners Inc. from 2002-2010. As a Fellow of the Chartered Public Accountants (FCPA - Ontario), George holds an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management and a B.Com. (Honours) from Queen’s University and was recognized in 2007 as one of Canada's Top 40 under 40.