Appointee Biographies

CARMINE NIGRO

Carmine Nigro is the President & CEO of CRAFT Development Corporation, a multijurisdictional development company in retail, office and residential projects. Mr. Nigro has over 35 years of construction and real estate development experience including acquisitions, construction management and urban planning, and has been involved in projects across southern Ontario, Pennsylvania and Florida. His expertise in urban development and project planning has played a large role in the reposition of CRAFT Development Corporation. In addition to his work at CRAFT, Carmine has been a volunteer of Children’s Make a Wish since 2008, Board of Directors for Friends of the Orphans Canada organization for over 18 years, Chairman of Board of Directors for the LCBO since 2019, Board of Directors for Runnymede Health Centre since 2020 and on the Senate of Canadian Military Regiment, The Queens Own Rifles since 2021.

DRAGAN MATOVIC

Dragan Matovic is a Chairman and Chief Executive Officer for Halex Capital Inc. His community involvement includes serving as a Director and Chairman of the Human Resources & Governance Committee for Destination Canada.

KHAMINI SAMSUNDAR

Khamini Samsundar is a Senior Manager for International Trade Finance at CIBC. Her community involvement includes serving as founder of the Canadian Caribbean Cultural Association of Durham, and as a board member for Ajax Pickering Hospital.

KATHLEEN NOVAK

Kathleen Novak is a mortgage specialist at RBC, and a former community manager and branch manager at RBC. Her community involvement includes serving as Chair of the Women’s Shelter Saakaate House.

CARMINE NIGRO

Carmine Nigro is the President & CEO of CRAFT Development Corporation, a multijurisdictional development company in retail, office and residential projects. Mr. Nigro has over 35 years of construction and real estate development experience including acquisitions, construction management and urban planning, and has been involved in projects across southern Ontario, Pennsylvania and Florida. His expertise in urban development and project planning has played a large role in the reposition of CRAFT Development Corporation. In addition to his work at CRAFT, Carmine has been a volunteer of Children’s Make a Wish since 2008, Board of Directors for Friends of the Orphans Canada organization for over 18 years, Chairman of Board of Directors for the LCBO since 2019, Board of Directors for Runnymede Health Centre since 2020 and on the Senate of Canadian Military Regiment, The Queens Own Rifles since 2021.

DAVID COLFER

DAVID COLFER has over 25 years experience in brand/product development in the Canadian retail industry. He is currently the General Manager for Lagostina at Groupe SEB Canada. He holds a BBA in Finance from Bishops University. His community involvement includes involvement with charities which focus on education and family support.

ALISON MATTHEWS

Alison Matthews is a Toronto-based communications executive recognized for guiding organizations through complex reputational, organizational, and public affairs challenges. Since 2011, she has led her own boutique consulting practice, advising publicly traded companies, multi-billion-dollar industries, start-ups, public–private partnerships, and not-for-profits on navigating change, managing risk, and building consensus. Alison is also active in her community, volunteering her time to support fundraising, leadership, and mentorship initiatives.

HARTLEY LEFTON

Hartley Lefton is a business lawyer and partner at McCarthy Tetrault LLP, one of Canada's leading law firms, where he leads the firm's National Insurance and Reinsurance group. Hartley’s practice focuses on M&A and complex regulatory compliance matters, and he is frequently recognized as one of Canada's leading insurance and financial institutions lawyers. Beyond his legal practice, Hartley has contributed to the community as Chair since 2019 of the Toronto Parking Authority, the largest municipal parking operator in North America with both BikeShare and EV charging businesses, and Director and Secretary since 2018 of AboutFace Craniofacial Family Society, an organization that supports people with facial differences and their families. Hartley earned his JD and MBA from University of Toronto and his BA (Honours) and BSc from Queen's University. In recognition of his professional excellence and community contributions, in 2023 Hartley received a Queen Elizabeth II Pin.

JAMES SCONGACK

James Scongack is the Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President at Bruce Power. During his over 20-years of service at Bruce Power, he’s served in a number of diverse leadership roles at the company including the Vice-President of the Bruce B Generating Station where he was responsible for the safe, reliable operations and project integration at the facility consisting of four large-scale CANDU nuclear reactors. James serves as Chair of the Canadian Nuclear Isotope Council and Chair of the Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario (POGO). He’s previously served as a Director on LifeLabs, Canada’s largest community laboratory services provider and the Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada and as Chair of the Independent Electricity System Operator Strategic Advisory Committee.

SEAN MARTIN

Sean Martin is a Senior Managing Director, Investment Banking and Corporate Strategy at Raymond James Ltd. With over two decades of investment banking experience, he advises Canadian financial institutions and technology companies on mergers, acquisitions, and capital raising strategies. He regularly works with Boards of Directors and executive teams on governance matters, valuation, and long-term planning. Sean holds an MBA from the Rotman School of Management and is a CFA charterholder.