Appointee Biographies

BRIAN PORTER

Brian Porter served as Scotiabank’s Chief Executive Officer from November 1, 2013 to January 31, 2023. Prior to becoming CEO, Mr. Porter served as the Bank’s Chief Risk Officer, Group Head of Risk and Treasury, and Group Head of International Banking. He joined the Bank in 1981. Mr. Porter is past Chair of the University Health Network (UHN) Board of Trustees and Chair of the Board of Governors of Huron University College at Western University. Mr. Porter previously served as Vice Chairman and Treasurer of the Washington-based Institute of International Finance (IIF) as well as a Board Member of the Council of the Americas. Mr. Porter earned a B.Comm. from Dalhousie University, and has been awarded an Honorary Doctor of Laws (LLD) from Dalhousie University (2008) and Ryerson University (2018). He is a graduate of the Advanced Management Program of the Harvard Business School.

JAMES COWAN

James Cowan has been involved in the infrastructure sector for over 25 years, during which time, in addition to other achievements, he was Chief Executive Officer and president of the MIRA Infrastructure Global Solution private funds and launched two closed end funds on the New York stock exchange. He also led transaction teams in acquisitions including Ontario’s Highway 407 and the Detroit Windsor tunnel and helped raise over $10 billion from Canadian institutions for private infrastructure funds and co-investments. James’ first career was in corporate restructuring. Currently, James is Vice Chair, Global Private Markets at Northleaf Capital Partners (based in Toronto) and is focused on bringing Institutional Private Market products to the retail marketplace.

ARSHIL JAMAL

Arshil Jamal recently retired from his role as a senior life insurance and asset management executive after 34 years in the industry, including 26 years with his last employer. He has a breadth of experience in functional roles and in operational roles. Arshil has a deep knowledge of the Canadian, US, UK, Irish and German life, pension, and asset management markets as well as the global reinsurance market and a track record of delivering results. In his role with Great-West Lifeco Inc, a leading Canadian based publicly traded insurer with a market capitalization of ~C40 billion, he had the opportunity to interact on an ongoing basis with the company’s Board of Directors, with regulators, with ratings agencies and with shareholders. Arshil served as a group executive director on the Boards of various subsidiaries including Irish Life Assurance where he was the Chair. He also served as a non-executive director of Allianz Ireland, a leading Irish based general insurer.

HELEN BOBIWASH

Helen Bobiwash is an accomplished financial expert with extensive experience in financial analysis, reporting, and economic development. She is a recognized Fellow of CPA Ontario and a member of the Public Sector Accounting Board. Helen has strong governance and leadership skills, experienced sitting on five Boards. She is currently serving as a Director for Health Sciences North. She also serves on the Investment Committee of the Indigenous Growth Fund. Helen is a former fiscal negotiator for the Anishinabek Education System, comprised of 23 First Nations who restored jurisdiction over education through the first self-government agreement in Ontario and the largest, at the time of signing, in Canada. Helen is proud to be an Indigenous woman who calls Northern Ontario her home.

JANET DE SILVA

Jan is the former President and Chief Executive Officer of the Toronto Region Board of Trade, one of the largest and most influential business organizations in North America. She represented the businesses, talent and economic opportunity in Canada’s commercial centre bringing extensive international leadership and government relations experience to the role. She previously served as Chief Executive Officer of Sun Life Financials’ Hong Kong and Mainland China businesses. She co-founded, was Chief Executive Officer and later sold Retail China Limited. Jan also served as Dean of Ivey Asia for Ivey Business School of Western University. Jan is a corporate director serving on the board of Intact Financial Corporation, listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange. She represents Canada on the APEC Business Advisory Council and is Canada Co-Chair of the Canada-ASEAN Business Council with mandates to promote and increase Canadian trade relations, partnerships, and initiatives of importance to Canada.

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.