Appointee Biographies

KEVAN COWAN

Kevan Cowan has wide experience in capital markets and the financial services sector. Kevan was a partner with a large Canadian law firm practising corporate and securities law. Subsequently, Kevan held many positions in Canadian stock exchanges, including as President of TSX Markets, where he was responsible for the Toronto Stock Exchange, the TSX Venture Exchange, TMX Alpha and TMX Select. Kevan is also a past President of the TSX Venture Exchange. More recently Kevan led the national effort to advance the creation of a pan-Canadian securities regulator on behalf of nine Canadian governments. Kevan holds the ICD.D designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors.

STEVEN WOLFF

Steven Wolff, of Toronto, is former Chief Executive Officer of CIBC Mellon. He is also former Chief Executive Officer of Nova Scotia Pension Services Corporation. His community involvement includes serving as Board Director of the Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences.

KELLEY MCKINNON

Kelley McKinnon, of Toronto, is former Chief Regulatory Officer (Global) of BMO. She is also former Chief Compliance Officer (Global) Capital Markets of BMO and a former Partner at Gowlings.

PATRICIA OLASKER

Patricia Olasker, of Toronto, is Senior Partner, Corporate and Securities of Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP. Her community involvement has included serving as Vice Chair of the Royal Ontario Museum.

JENNIFER FANG

Jennifer Fang is an investment professional and business leader with more than 25 years of international experience with General Motors of Canada, JP Morgan & Chase, BMO Financial Group and PwC Canada in New York and Toronto. Jennifer advises public and private companies, institutional investors, and family offices as one of very few seasoned business executives with deep insights, connections, and experience in both the Asia Pacific and Western markets. Jennifer has in-depth experience and knowledge of corporate finance & strategy; mergers & acquisitions; private equity; capital markets and corporate governance. Jennifer has sat on several public, government and NFP boards. Jennifer has an MBA degree from the University of British Columbia majoring in finance. She also has CFA and ICD.D designations.

DAVID LEWIS

David Lewis, of Thornbury, is a member (part-time) of the Ontario Securities Commission. He is President of BEworks Research Institute, former Chief Client Officer, BEworks, former Assistant Professor with Ryerson University, former Managing Director with Barclays Wealth Americas, and former Board Chair with UBS Bank USA, UBS Financial Services Americas. His community involvement includes serving as Board Chair with the Canadian Scholarship Trust Foundation.

HARI PANDAY

Mr. Panday is a seasoned executive and senior corporate director, with over 38 years in financial services experience in commercial, corporate, retail and investment banking and private and capital markets in Canada, USA and India. He has restructuring experience in diversified industries, and in external, internal and IT audit. As the founding President & CEO, for ICICI Bank Canada, in 2003 he led the formation and launch of this federally chartered bank in Canada and its Canadian and US wealth and securities businesses. Mr. Panday is a Faculty member at York University, Toronto, an author, speaker and serves on select not-for-profit organizations. In 2014, he received the Fellowship of the Certified General Accountant (FCPA, FCGA). In 2012, he received The Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal. He is a member of CPA Canada, Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD.D) and National Association of Corporate Directors, Washington, DC (NACD.DC).

KEVAN COWAN

Kevan Cowan has wide experience in capital markets and the financial services sector. Kevan was a partner with a large Canadian law firm practising corporate and securities law. Subsequently, Kevan held many positions in Canadian stock exchanges, including as President of TSX Markets, where he was responsible for the Toronto Stock Exchange, the TSX Venture Exchange, TMX Alpha and TMX Select. Kevan is also a past President of the TSX Venture Exchange. More recently Kevan led the national effort to advance the creation of a pan-Canadian securities regulator on behalf of nine Canadian governments. Kevan holds the ICD.D designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors.

RICK BYERS

Rick Byers completed a career in infrastructure investment, public sector investment banking, government and accounting. Rick has worked at the OMERS Pension Plan, BMO Capital Markets, the Office of Canada’s Minister of Finance Michael Wilson, and accounting firm Thorne Riddell (now KPMG). Rick served as MPP for the riding of Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound from 2022 to 2025 and currently serves as Supervisor for the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board. Rick has also served on a number of Boards, including PPP Canada Inc., Metrolinx, Toronto Transit Commission, True Patriot Love Foundation, the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 333, and South East Grey Community Health Centre. Rick and Margot have been married 39 years and live in the Beaver Valley.

JEFF ALLSOP

Jeff Allsop brings over 30 years of senior executive experience in infrastructure, finance, banking, capital markets and private equity. Mr. Allsop is currently a Partner with TVG Partners LLC, a U.S. based, real estate focused private equity firm. He also currently sits on the board of the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority. Mr. Allsop was previously Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of HSBC Securities (Canada) Inc., where he had responsibility for corporate and institutional lending, investment banking and capital markets activity. Prior to that, he served in various senior leadership roles at HSBC in Toronto and London, including as Managing Director and Head of Global Infrastructure Fund Coverage. Mr. Allsop holds a HBA from the Ivey Business School at Western University and is a Chartered Professional Accountant.

GEORGIA WOODS

Georgia Woods, of Toronto, is the Sole Proprietor of Georgia Woods and an Independent Director for GreenShield Insurance. She is also a former Chief Information Officer at Canada Life and a former IT Executive at CIBC. Her community involvement includes serving as a volunteer Mentor for the Victoria University Alumni Mentorship Program.

DEBORAH STARKMAN

Deborah Starkman is an accomplished executive with 30 years of leadership experience across the financial services, real estate, and capital markets industries. Over her career, she has held several senior roles, including Chief Financial Officer of GMP Capital Inc. and Dream Unlimited Corp. She also served as a Managing Director at RBC Capital Markets, leading the Product Finance Group. As a Fellow Chartered Professional Accountant (FCPA, FCA), Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), and holder of the ICD.D designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors, Deborah brings extensive expertise in financial management, governance, risk oversight, and strategic planning. Her governance experience spans corporate, industry, regulatory, and non-profit boards, including Crombie REIT, International Petroleum Corporation, and IAM Gold.