Appointee Biographies

DONALD WRIGHT

is President and CEO of the Winnington Capital Group Inc., an investment holding company. His current positions also include being Chair of Cinaport Inc., Chair of GMP Capital Inc., and Chair of Richards Packaging Income Fund. In addition, he is a Director of Bank of China (Canada) and is the Lead Director and Vice-Chair of DHX Media Ltd. Mr. Wright previously held senior positions with leading domestic and global financial services companies including Wood Gundy, Merrill Lynch, Burns Fry, and TD Bank Financial Group. While at TD, he was Chairman and CEO of TD Securities and Deputy Chairman of TD Bank Financial Group. Mr. Wright is the past Chair of the Board of Directors of Via Rail Canada. His community involvement has included being member of the Board of Trustees of The Hospital for Sick Children, a former member of the Royal Ontario Museum Governors’ Finance Committee, and a prior member of the Campaign Cabinet for Eva’s Phoenix. Mr. Wright holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Concordia University.

BRYAN DAVIES

Bryan Davies has extensive financial sector and governance experience in both the private and public sectors. Currently he is a member of Council of the Registered Insurance Brokers of Ontario (RIBO). Mr. Davies served as the founding Board Chair of the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA). Prior appointments included the Chair of the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation (CDIC). While Chair of CDIC he served concurrently as Vice-Chair of the Canadian Securities Transition Office from July 2009 to July 2013. Prior to those federal appointments, Mr. Davies was Chief Executive Officer and Superintendent of the Financial Services Commission of Ontario from 2002 to 2005. Before then, he was Senior Vice President of Regulatory Affairs at the Royal Bank Financial Group. Mr. Davies held a number of senior positions in the Government of Ontario from 1975 to 1993, including Deputy Treasurer and Deputy Minister of Economics, and was Vice President of Business Affairs and Chief Administrative Officer at the University of Toronto from 1992 to 1994.

TONY MARQUIS

is a Senior Vice President in Operations (East) for CP Rail. His community involvement includes serving as a Board member for Barrie Telus Community Board and Honorary Director and Advisor for NORMHC (Northern Ontario Railway Museum and Heritage Centre).

PAUL TSAPARIS

Paul Tsaparis is the former Vice President Technology Support for the Americas for HP as well as former President and CEO with Hewlett-Packard Company Canada. His community involvement includes serving York University as Chair of the Board of Governors. He is also currently a Chair of Chairs of the Council of Ontario Universities. He is an Executive in Residence at Schulich School of Business and a board member for Ontario Health, Metrolinx, Indspire and Teranet. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Toronto and a Master of Business Administration from York University.

KAREN TAM

Karen Tam is the Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary at Choice Hotels Canada, one of the largest lodging franchisors in the country with more than 330 properties currently open. Its diverse portfolio of brands includes limited to full-service hotels in the upscale, midscale, extended stay, and economy segments. In her role, Karen oversees Finance, Legal, Human Resources, IT, ESG, Procurement, and some commercial functions, including Communications, Loyalty, and Revenue Management. She was previously the Chief Financial Officer/Chief Operating Officer of Global Risk Institute in Financial Services, following roles in finance and operations with a range of private sector firms and professional consulting companies, including Morneau Shepell, Four Seasons Hotels, and KPMG LLP. Karen was previously a member of the Board of Directors for Workplace Safety and Insurance Board and the Royal Ontario Museum. With a Bachelor of Commerce from Queen’s University, Karen also is a CPA, CA and holds the CFA and US CPA designations.

LUIGI FERRARA

Luigi Ferrara is currently a principal at Conifer, a strategic design and innovation consultancy. He speaks internationally on topics including sustainability, design management, urban planning, digital transformation, smart cities and the network society. He is an Architect and a Senator of the World Design Organization.

STEWART LYONS

Stewart Lyons is a nationally recognized business leader who has extensive experience in transportation, fintech, innovative technologies and digital transformation. He currently serves as the co-Chief Executive Officer (and Founder) of Third Lane Mobility, which provides micro mobility transportation in over 250 cities around the world under the Bird and Spin brands. He is a Board Member of Borrowell and the Financial Services Regulatory Authority. Previously, he was Senior Vice-President of Emerging Business at SiriusXM Radio. Prior to that, he was the Chief Executive Officer of TeraGo Networks Inc, (TSX:TGO). Stewart was also the co-founder and President of Mobilicity, a wireless telecom provider. He also co-founded SiriusXM Canada. Stewart has been named one of Canada's Top 40 Under 40, selected as one of Western University’s “Extraordinary Alumni” and one of the University of Toronto’s “People who make a Difference”. Stewart has an MBA from the University of Toronto and an LLB from Osgoode Hall Law School.

NICOLE VERKINDT

Nicole Verkindt is an Ontario based innovator, founder and investor in early-stage technology businesses. She founded OMX in 2012 specialized in measuring socioeconomic impacts from supply chains. Her board experience includes serving on the Board of Directors of Canadian Federal Crown Corp. Canadian Commercial Corporation from 2013 to 2023. She served on the board of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce and was a Next Gen member of the Business Council of Canada. She also took a Canadian technology company public on the TSX as a board member and has served as an advisor to dozens of early-stage technology firms through the Founder Institute, Tech Stars and more.

MARY ELLEN BENCH

Mary Ellen Bench is a municipal lawyer, certified by the Law Society of Ontario as a specialist in municipal law. Mary Ellen was Director, Municipal Law at the City of Toronto before leaving that position to assume the role of City Solicitor at the City of Mississauga, a position she held for 18 years. Following retirement Mary Ellen joined Dentons Canada, and now has an independent practice, and serves as a municipal Integrity Commissioner. Mary Ellen currently lives in St. Catharines, where she was born. She remains active on volunteer boards including the International Alliance of ALS / MND Associations and Safe City Mississauga.

NICK SIMONE

As an experienced leader for almost 40 years, Nick Simone has been building sales teams, establishing targets, and creating environments conducive to peak-level performance. He is a seasoned entrepreneur with a varied and valuable experience leading various organizations to success across the financial services sector. On March 1, 2020, Nick was appointed as President of the Pace Law Corporation. Prior to this role he was elected the role of Chief Executive Officer of Pace Global Advantage – a division of the Pace Law Corporation- from September 2019 to March 2020. Pace Global Advantage (PGA) was founded in 2011 with the main goal to provide business facilitation support to Pace Immigration. PGA today serves international businesses, and individuals who want to enter the North American market. The Pace Law Corporation has been in existence since 1981. Today at across the firm, there are more than 160 legal professionals across five offices in Ontario.