The Right Honourable Stephen Harper served as Canada’s 22nd Prime Minister from 2006 to 2015, the longest-serving Conservative Leader to hold this office since Canada’s founding Prime Minister passed away in 1891. Prime Minister Harper created the modern Conservative Party of Canada and won three successive national elections, in 2006, 2008, and 2011. A strong advocate for free trade and open markets, Prime Minister Harper led a government that focused on pragmatic, growth-oriented economic policies and results-driven social policy. Under his leadership, Canada reduced federal taxes to their lowest level in 50 years, created 1.3 million new jobs, balanced the budget while making critical investments in health care and infrastructure, attracted new investment and fostered innovation.

During his time in office, Prime Minister Harper oversaw historic trade negotiations to expand Canada’s commercial relationships including: the conclusion of the Canada-Europe Trade Agreement, the Canada-Korea Free Trade Agreement, the Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement, a modernized Canada-Israel Free Trade Agreement, and Canada’s entrance into the Trans-Pacific Partnership. Additionally, he served as an ally to developing economies, encouraging market liberalization in jurisdictions such as Colombia and Tanzania through bilateral investments, trading relationships and development assistance.

Throughout his career, General Hillier has had the privilege and pleasure of commanding troops from the platoon to multi-national formation level within Canada, Europe, Asia and the United States. In 1998 General Hillier was appointed as the first Canadian Deputy Commanding General of III Corps, US Army in Fort Hood, Texas. In 2000 he took command of NATO’s Stabilization Force’s (SFOR) Multinational Division (Southwest) in Bosnia-Herzegovina. In May 2003 General Hillier was appointed as Commander of the Army and subsequently, in October 2003, he was selected as the Commander of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Kabul, Afghanistan. General Hillier was promoted to his present rank and assumed duties as the Chief of the Defense Staff on 4 February 2005.

Arif N. Bhalwani is Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Third Eye Capital Management Inc., and a member of its Investment Committee. He is also a founder and President of Third Eye Capital Corporation (“TECC”), an affiliated originator, underwriter, servicer, and manager of senior, secured commercial loans. Prior to founding TECC, Arif co-founded Pinnacle Capital, an early-stage and specialty venture capital firm and registered limited market dealer. At Pinnacle Capital, he led the firm’s investments in both high-growth and out-of-favour sectors of several industries including telecommunications, media, technology, biotechnology, advanced manufacturing, energy, and financial services. Prior to that, Arif was a major shareholder and director of a large Canadian construction contractor that he helped turn around and eventually sell. He has also founded, managed, and sold companies in the retail automotive and computer services industries.

Arif serves as a member of the CFA Institute, the Canadian Venture Capital and Private Equity Association, and the Turnaround Management Association. He is also a Director of the Commercial Finance Association.

Mr. Bhalwani received an MBA from the Queen’s School of Business, completed post-graduate studies at Harvard Business School, and holds his CFA designation.

Sean is a Managing Director, Investor Relations of Monroe Capital. He is responsible for all aspects of marketing and investor relations. He has over 20 years of experience in the alternative investment business including capital raising, investing in alternative investments, institutional investors coverage, and investment talent sourcing. Prior to Monroe, Sean was a Director at Deutsche Bank within their Global Prime Finance group responsible for covering institutional investors and consultants in the U.S. and Canada. He also served as Director of Marketing at Onex Credit Partners, has spent time investing at hedge funds at Trout Trading Management and SAC Capital, and at investment banking firms Morgan Stanley and Merrill Lynch. Sean earned his B.B.A. with a concentration in Finance from The College of William and Mary.

Experience
Deutsche Bank, Director, Midwest / West Coast Capital Introductions
Onex Credit Partners, Director of Business Development
Merrill Lynch, Director, Hedge Fund Origination
SAC Capital, Director, Business Development
Morgan Stanley, Vice President, Capital Introductions
Trout Trading Management Company, Senior Investment Analyst

Wayne Ehgoetz is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Waygar Capital Inc.He has spent over 25 years in asset-based lending in Canada.From 1988 to 1992, Wayne led Stanchart Business Credit, the first asset-based lender in Canada.Stanchart was acquired by ABN Amro Bank and he continued to run the organization until leaving to start Congress Financial in 1992.During the next 15 years, Congress became the largest asset-based lender in Canada.In subsequent years, Congress Financial rebranded to Wachovia.As President and CEO of Wachovia Canada, Wayne had full responsibility for both the Canadian as well as International operations.He retired from Wachovia and was recruited by Bank of Nova Scotia to start its asset-based lending capability.Over the next 6 years, as Managing Director and Group Head, Scotiabank became the second largest asset-based lending group in Canada.Wayne retired from Scotiabank in the fall of 2014 to join Waygar Capital Inc. He has served on a number of public and private boards including past Chairman of the Toronto Community Care Access Centers as well as President of Canadian Commercial Finance Association.Wayne has a Bachelors of Arts (Economics) from the University of Western Ontario (1982) and a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Windsor (1984).

Lillian Ferndriger is Vice President, National Accounts at Ninepoint Partners. Lillian is the firm’s lead on product approvals, working closely with senior analysts and decision makers at IIROC, EMD and MFDA dealerships, providing education and securing distribution of Ninepoint’s alternative investment solutions – including private debt, options overlaid mutual funds and resource funds.

Lillian has over 15 years experience in financial services. She has been responsible for Ninepoint product approvals for the past 4 years. Previous roles include Inside Sales Manager at Sun Life Global Investments, and inside wholesaler at Manulife Investments and Acuity Funds.

Lillian has her Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Toronto and the FMA designation from the Canadian Securities Institute.

James Fox is a founding principal, Co-CEO and Managing Partner of Ninepoint Partners. James oversees all business development, capital raising & marketing initiatives of the firm. Prior to Ninepoint’s formation, James served as the President of Sprott Asset Management LP (SAM) as well as Managing Director of Sprott Private Wealth. In his role at SAM, James initiated the development of new products, formed a wholesale group to increase fund distribution and led marketing efforts to increase the company's brand awareness in Canada and abroad. Notably, James led the Firm’s efforts to launch Sprott Physical Trusts on NYSE Arca and TSX that raised over $4B in assets, and helped lead the successful take-over of the Central Gold Trust ($1B in Assets) by Sprott Physical Gold Trust.

James has a BA in Finance and Economics from the University of Western Ontario and an MBA from the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto.

Ramesh is a Managing Director at Ninepoint. He has oversight of Ninepoint’s alternative investment strategies, including private debt. Ramesh is also responsible for finding and developing differentiated strategies to grow Ninepoint’s alternative income platform.

Prior to joining Ninepoint, Ramesh was Head of Acquisitions for PRA Group Canada; global leader in acquiring non-performing debt from financial institutions. Ramesh started his career in equipment finance at GE Capital, before moving on to corporate lending. Over a span of 15 years, Ramesh progressed through building, growing and managing credit platforms at GE, CIT Group and Wachovia (Wells Fargo). Having originated over $7B in transactions, his industry experience is broad and across asset classes throughout United States and Canada.

Ramesh is a graduate of University of Toronto’s business program specializing in finance and economics.

Andrew, who joined Deloitte in 2009, is a partner and National Leader of the Capital Advisory practice based in Toronto. He provides independent advice on financing options and the sourcing of senior debt, junior debt (e.g., mezzanine, high yield, second lien), and equity capital for private and public companies. He also offers issuers independent, market-based assistance in negotiations with capital providers. Prior to Deloitte, Andrew worked at Goldman Sachs in the Specialty Lending Group prior to that he was a Managing Director at GE Capital. Andrew is a Chartered Accountant, holds an MBA from London School of Business and a BComm from Queen’s University.

Joe has over 20 years of experience gained from working at highly respected credit providers in Canada and the United States. Most recently, he established a Canadian office for Apollo Management and was responsible for Canadian credit origination in addition to certain coverage roles in the United States.Previously he worked at Macquarie Canada as Head of Leveraged Finance & Sponsor Coverage, at Fortress Investment Group as a Managing Director and at GE Capital as Vice President.Joe began his career with KPMG in the Assurance and Corporate Finance practices.He holds the CPA designation and the Corporate Finance Qualification.

He also holds an Honours Bachelor of Commerce Degree with a Minor in Economics at McMaster University.

Marc practices corporate and commercial law in the areas of corporate restructuring, financial services and private equity. He has been involved in many complex corporate recapitalizations, reorganizations and restructurings and related acquisitions, divestures, financings and governance matters. He has expertise in national, cross-border and international matters acting for major debtor corporations, bondholders, equity sponsors, senior lenders, monitors and acquirers. Marc also regularly provides strategic advice and risk analysis on structuring of corporate and lending transactions.

Marc has an LL.B. from Osgoode Hall Law School and was admitted to the Ontario Bar in 2001.

John Wilson is a founding principal, Co-CEO and Managing Partner of Ninepoint Partners. John oversees all aspects of the firm’s investment and research initiatives. Prior to Ninepoint’s formation, he was CEO, CO-CIO and Senior Portfolio Manager at Sprott Asset Management (SAM). Previous to SAM, he was Chief Investment Officer at Cumberland Private Wealth Management, founder and CEO of DDX Capital Partners, an alternative investment management firm; was Managing Director at RBC Capital Markets, a Director at UBS Canada; and previously, held a variety of management roles with Nortel Networks.

John has a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Queen’s University, and an MBA from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania.

With more than 15 years of experience in special situations, Mr. Zalev has advised management, corporate boards, shareholders and lenders on matters such as acquisitions, divestitures, financings, refinancing’s and balance sheet restructurings. He has served clients across a variety of industries, including manufacturing, retail, distribution, construction, energy, real estate, hospitality and automotive in Canada, the United States and Australia.

Mr. Zalev holds a B.A. in Economics and Finance from York University and a Master of Management and Professional Accounting from the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto. He is a Chartered Accountant, Chartered Professional Accountant, holds a Corporate Finance Specialist designation from the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants.