I met a woman who borrowed $4. She had never seen $4 in her life. She bought a comb, a pair of scissors and a mirror and she put her husband in business as a barber. Now she has a home and her children are in school. All because of $4.
— Foundation for Women —
| Speakers - Conference - 2010 |
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SHEILA ARNOPOULOS
CHARLES BELANGER
NIGEL BIGGAR
Nigel has been with Grameen Foundation since early 2000. He serves as Senior Advisor to Grameen for its social performance. Until recently he was the Director of the Social Performance Management Center and the principal for the Social Performance/ Progress out of Poverty Index initiative. Prior to that he served as Grameen's Regional Director for the Americas where he assisted start-up MFIs in Latin America to build and expand their programs based on the Grameen methodology. He holds an MPhil degree in Development Studies from the Institute of Development Studies at Sussex University.
GEORGE BROWN
PAULA A. CURTIS, CFRE
In her current role, Paula mobilizes Canadians to help provide microfinance services—small business loans, savings, insurance and training—that empower people in developing countries to work their way out of chronic poverty. She firmly believes that small-scale entrepreneurs can be big change agents in overcoming global poverty.
MARTHA DEACON
Before The Townships Project, Martha founded a parking company in Vancouver, which she sold to Impark in 1998. From 1986 – 1994, she was Vice-President Corporate Finance and a director of Deacon Barclays de Zoete Wedd Canada Limited (stockbrokers and investment bankers) and its predecessor firms. Before that she was a solicitor with the Toronto law firm of Fraser & Beatty (now Fraser Milner Casgrain) specializing in corporate, commercial and securities law.
JENNIFER DENOMY
JESSICA DUBELAAR
SUSAN HENRY
Speaking regularly on financing for small business to potential entrepreneurs at many GTA-based organizations (YMCA, Toronto Business Development Centre among others), she addresses over 1000 potential small business owners each year. Susan is also an acknowledged leader in the field of Community Economic Development in Canada, and presented a paper entitled "Good Practices in Business Development Skills" to 1,000 delegates at the international Micro Credit Summit 2006 in Halifax. She is a founding member of the Canadian Community Investment Network, a national organization, which was formed to strengthen the social economy in Canada. In her new role at Alterna, she manages Alterna CSR Pillars which include CED, Financial Literacy, Accountability, Philanthropy and Environmental Sustainability.
JONATHAN HERA
Jonathan holds a diploma in non-profit leadership from the University for Peace, an international master's degree in business administration from the Schulich School of Business at York University and a bachelor's degree from McGill University. He speaks fluent English, proficient Spanish and German, conversational Italian and is learning French and Arabic.
STACIA KEAN
In her volunteer work, Stacia is a past Board member of the Canadian Committee for the United Nations Development Fund for Women, and currently co-chair of the Canadian CED Network's (CCEDNet) Emerging Leaders committee where she represents the voice of youth on the organization's Board of Directors
MURUGI KENYATTA
Murugi has an extensive background in marketing and nonprofit management and brings 10 years of experience in project management, strategic planning and public relations. As the Executive Director, Murugi overseas the local microcredit programs and works closely with FFW's funding partner ACCION to provide credit access and business support to microcredit clients in San Diego. Murugi has played a key role in expanding the Foundation's microcredit program in San Diego. She also offers support to peers and colleagues working in FFW Liberia. Murugi has been credited with developing and managing innovative projects that empower women including a savings only program that encourages gradual asset and wealth building. Under her leadership the Foundation for Women has opened community marketplaces for the microcredit clients to promote and sell their products. As a result of these cutting edge programs, FFW has attracted funding from local foundations and financial institutions. Murugi serves on the board of the San Diego Microfinance Alliance, a consortium of local microfinance practitioners, donors, educators, students and professionals.
ALEX KJORVEN
She is a Chartered Accountant and holds a Bachelor of Commerce specializing in Finance and Economics. Her previous roles include Manager, Partner Programs at MaRS Discovery District; a business incubation centre where she was responsible for developing the financial organization and management of MaRS' various externally funded projects. These include programs in Social Innovation as well as Business Mentorship and Entrepreneurship. Her experiences working in the private sector include Senior Associate for KPMG LLP, an international professional services firm for both the Audit as well as Transaction Advisory practices. There she worked on deal teams performing due diligence on mergers and acquisitions transactions as well as audit and internal control evaluations of public companies. She is the founder of Beyond Business at the University of Toronto, which focused on helping business students lend their talents to benefit the broader community through volunteer activities, fundraisers, and partnerships. She currently sits on the ACCESS Board of Directors and the Loan Review Committee. Alex has spent time teaching accounting and economics in Ghana, West Africa and presents regularly on the topic of urban micro lending with community organizations and most recently on the topic of impact investing at the Canadian Responsible Investment Conference.
ROBIN KNUDSEN
ROSALIND LOCKYER
The essence and originality of PARO was seeded in how Rosalind involves the members in the organization and program development. A true grassroots organization, the peer lending circle members are elected to the board of directors annually, and collectively work with Rosalind, as primary innovators and decision-makers for the organization. Under her leadership, PARO has received significant recognition for its contribution to women. In 2002, PARO received the Soroptimist of Americas Eastern Canada Award for Advancing the Status of Women, and both in 2004 and 2009, the Chamber of Commerce Award for Business Excellence-Not- For- Profit, and the one-time 25th Anniversary Award from the Ontario Trillium Foundation. Seven years at university earned Rosalind a Psychology Degree and certified teaching credentials. However, it was the 20 years of working as a teacher, entrepreneur, community developer that left Rosalind blatantly aware of systemic women's issues, and provided the skills, experience, passion, and determination to work for positive change locally, provincially, and nationally. For these efforts, Rosalind was awarded the prestigious Influential Women of Northern Ontario Award-Pubic Sector 2005 from Northern Ontario Business recognizing her leadership in building PARO Centre for Women's Enterprise into the dynamic organization that it is today. Rosalind was the founding President, and continues as director of the Women's Economic Council. She is Chair of the Policy Council and a member of the Board of Directors of the Canadian CED Network, serves on the women's reference group member for the North Superior Workplace Planning Board, and as a steering committee member for the Ontario CED Network.
JOYCE BONTRAGER LEHMAN
MARK LUTZ
Mark is Senior Vice President of Global Philanthropy at Opportunity International, a non-profit microfinance organization. During the past five years, they have loaned almost three billion dollars to poor people so they could start and expand small businesses and care for their families. UnPoverty tells unforgettable stories about some of these remarkable people. Mark earned a Masters degree in cross-cultural communications from Wheaton College. He and his wife, Lise, live in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, where they raised their three children.
TERRY MACDONALD
Prior to his assignment in Africa, Terry served throughout his 30 plus year career in a variety of management and technical positions in the Canadian Credit Union system. During that time he also contributed to CCA in projects in the Philippines, China, Mongolia, Ecuador and Tanzania. Terry is an active Rotarian with the Regina Oskaya Rotary Club in Saskatchewan, a Paul Harris Fellow, and is also a new member of the Rotary Action Group for Micro-Credit (RAGM). Terry has a Masters Degree in Environmental Studies from York University in Toronto.
JOHN MCCALLUM
Before entering politics, Mr. McCallum was senior vice-president and chief economist of the Royal Bank of Canada between 1994 and 2000. Prior to that he worked as a professor of economics at McGill University (1987-94), Université du Québec à Montréal (1982-87), Simon Fraser University (1978-82), and the University of Manitoba (1976-78). Prior to joining the Royal Bank, he was dean of the faculty of arts at McGill University . A native of Montreal, Mr. McCallum obtained a bachelor of arts from Cambridge University, a diplôme d'études supérieures from Université de Paris and a doctorate in economics from McGill University .
KEVIN McCORT President and CEO
Kevin joined CARE in 1992. Working on the frontlines of CARE's humanitarian and emergency relief operations, Kevin has responded to a food crisis in Haiti, drought and conflict in Somalia, refugee needs in Kenya, civil war displacement in Bosnia and Croatia, and refugee demands in the aftermath of the Rwandan genocide in Zaire (now Democratic Republic of Congo), Tanzania and Burundi. In 1997, he took the helm of CARE country operations in Zambia, supporting and managing programs in agriculture, education, health, micro-enterprise and humanitarian relief. In 2000 he joined CARE Canada's senior management team in Ottawa, and was appointed President and CEO in 2008. Kevin is a sought out expert on international development and humanitarian issues, with particular expertise in military roles in humanitarian responses and making markets work for the poor. He is a member of the Young President's Organization and sits on the Imagine Canada Board of Directors. Kevin recently returned from a field visit in Pakistan, on behalf of the HUMANITARIAN COALITION that he co-founded in 2005. He witnessed the devastation caused by the severe floods affecting the country. He met several survivors, CARE staff and partners, and saw first-hand the impact of Canadian donations. As he was returning to Canada, he said: 'I've left the floodzone - to do my job of raising awareness and raising funds to contribute to the relief effort. We can't undo the flooding, but we can still prevent the needless loss of life that will surely result if we fail to act now.' Kevin lives in Ottawa with his wife Leah and young children Aidan, Sean and Regan. When he's not travelling the globe for CARE, he can be found in the hockey rink, either on the ice or in the stands cheering on his kids.
TANJINA MIRZA
After graduating from medical school in Bangladesh, Tanjina's first job was in a UNHCR refugee camp in Bangladesh to treat chronically malnourished children. Tanjina then went on to complete her Masters of Medical Science in Community Health from the University of Western Australia. Following those studies, she was the Senior Medical Officer at the International Centre for Diarrhea Disease Research Institute in Bangladesh where she conducted operations research focusing mainly on health systems design for reaching poor women and children. During her twenty years of work in the international development sector, Tanjina has worked as a consultant for WHO, UNICEF and UNFPA in various countries of South East Asia and enjoyed teaching in many universities. She has traveled to over 20 countries of Asia, Africa and Latin America in various capacities Tanjina joined Plan Canada in 2001 and is currently the Vice President of International Programs. She lives in Toronto with her husband and two sons. She is an avid reader, loves music and spending time with her family. International development is not just a job for; it is her passion and commitment.
NICOLE PASRICHA
BARRY PINSKY
Barry Pinsky has worked for over 30 years in all aspects of low-income housing development from grassroots housing projects to municipal and national policy. He is one of the pioneers of the modern cooperative housing movement in Canada. He helped establish one of the first housing co-op NGOs in Canada, and developed numerous community based non-profit co-op housing projects in Montreal and Greater Toronto Area. He has also carried this experience to numerous countries overseas. He worked on the first slum upgrading project in post-independent Mozambique where he also prepared the first guidelines for urban land use controls. An architect and urban planner by training, he is the Executive Director of Rooftops Canada - Abri International, the international development program of cooperative and social housing groups in Canada. During his tenure, Rooftops Canada has mobilized over $30 million to build the capacity of housing partners and it has helped leverage over $120 million in housing activity, primarily in sub-Saharan Africa. More recently, this has included a six-year project to strengthen the social housing sector in South Africa, a post-tsunami housing program in Aceh, Indonesia, and an ongoing African regional program on HIV, AIDS and human settlements. Rooftops Canada is currently working with numerous housing organizations and financial institutions in sub-Saharan Africa to support housing microfinance programs. Barry Pinsky has also played an active international role promoting the right to adequate housing. He was a Board member of the Habitat International Coalition and was recently named a "HIC Wisdom Keeper". He was a member of the International Facilitating Group that organized civil society participation in Habitat II, and has been a CSO member of numerous official Canadian delegations including those to Habitat II +5, the UN Habitat Governing Council and several World Urban Forums. He has organized and made presentations at numerous workshops and conferences, and published widely on a range of human settlements issues.
GERHARD PRIES
KENN ROSS
In 2004, Kenn joined Miziwe Biik and founded its Aboriginal Business Resource Centre, which delivers entrepreneur and business skills development to Aboriginal people in the Greater Toronto Area. Kenn also initiated the formation of Miziwe Biik Development Corporation, which oversees various projects affecting the Aboriginal community, including housing, youth programs, and social enterprises among other opportunities. Based on these experiences, Kenn places a strong value on partnerships between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal interests.
JOE DESCHENES SMITH
Joe Deschênes Smith is Vice President, Partnerships with Home Ownership Alternatives Non-Profit Corporation. Joe is moving HOA's strategy forward to expand its activity both geographically and with new development partners. HOA's mission is to finance ownership housing developments for low and moderate income households. It does this through initial project financing and also by providing shared-appreciation 2nd mortgage to purchasers. Most recently Joe was Chief of Staff to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing in Ontario where he had a hand in the development of several initiatives such as the New Planning Act, City of Toronto Act and several housing programs. Joe has also been Director of Research Operations at St Michael's Hospital and Director of Finance at Hugh MacMillan Rehab Centre, both in Toronto. Joe has an MBA from McGill and an honours degree from University of Toronto.
BRAD STAVE
Brad Stave serves as the manager for marketing & communications at VisionFund International, the microfinance subsidiary of World Vision. VisionFund has seen significant expansion in recent years, with 41% growth in portfolio to over $400 million during fiscal year 2008. In addition, VisionFund impacted the lives of over 1.8 million children, and women comprised of 68% of loan clients. Finally, VisionFund experienced a 98.7% repayment rate. Mr. Stave came to VisionFund with extensive experience in both fundraising in development work, and an international business background. A graduate of International Business and German from Oregon State University, Mr. Stave spent the early part of the 2000s working in marketing capacities in both the manufacturing and service sectors of Germany and the United Kingdom, respectively. Later, Mr. Stave worked in development for World Vision United States, raising support for the efforts of poverty reduction through engaging donors, organizations, corporations and churches with the mission of World Vision. With a strong passion and purpose to see the entrepreneurial poor pull themselves out of poverty with the aid of small capital loans, Mr. Stave shares, "the poor have the determination, ability, and drive to experience a 'life in all its fullness' for themselves and their families. What they are lacking is access to resources and skills abundant in industrialized nations. Through microfinance efforts, the entrepreneurial poor are proving to themselves and the world that they can change the face of poverty in their own lives, families and communities." Brad resides in Tacoma, Washington, USA, with his wife Beccy and two children, Jeremy (3) and Greta (10 months). He enjoys serving in his local church, reading, cycling, hiking and skiing.
DAVID WALSH
David Walsh has had a long-time interest in social justice, social housing, and community economic development. He has co-founded 6 St. Joseph House and the Alano Club, two resource centres that support the entrepreneurial efforts of individuals who are rebuilding their lives from after set back in their life journey. David Walsh has had a long-time interest in social justice, social housing, and community economic development – his volunteer work has included positions as a board member of organizations such as the Learning Enrichment Foundation, the Social Planning Council of Metro, Homes First Society, the Housing Development Resource Centre, Basic Poverty Action Group, the Community Business Centre, Toronto Dollar, the Toronto, Free The Children and Opportunity International. He is currently active as a board member with Seeds of Hope Foundation, the Agora Foundation Our Homes Association, and the Community Services Committee of the Downtown Rotary Club. David has received the Jane Jacobs Award for his community work.
AMANDA YIU
THIERRY ZOMAHOUN
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The author of 
Charles Belanger works as a microfinance consultant based in the region of Latin America and Caribbean. His work focuses on developing and diffusing market and customer research tools. In the last 5 months, Charles led customer research projects in Haiti, Guatemala, Salvador, Nicaragua, Honduras and Mexico. Charles has recently been invited at the Microfinance Conference of Chicago to speak about customer research, to the University of Zacatecas (Mexico), to speak about microfinance and women's mobilization in West Africa, and he has been invited at the Royal Military College of Canada to speak about microfinance's contribution to conflict resolution in the case of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He previously worked on microfinance projects with the Canadian International Development Agency in Peru. Charles' most recent academic research focused on banks downscaling in Peruvian microfinance. Charles holds a Master's Degree in Political Economy of International Development from the University of Toronto, one degree in Economics at Laval University, and another degree in Marketing at Universite Lyon 1.
Nigel Biggar has over 17 years working with microenterprise and microfinance in developing countries. He began in this field working as a microentrepreneur with a street youth project he established in Quito, Ecuador in the early 1990s. He has worked extensively with MFIs and microentrepreneurs and street youth in Latin America and Asia.
George Brown is a lawyer and social entrepreneur who serves as President of the Ottawa Community Loan Fund. (OCLF) Prior to this, George spent nine years as a City and Regional Councillor in Ottawa where he was Chair of the City's Economic Affairs Committee and the Region's Environmental Services Committee. As Chair of Economic Affairs, George played a significant role in initiating and developing the Ottawa Entrepreneurship Centre, as well as promoting community economic development throughout the City of Ottawa, including the establishment of the OCLF. He has a Masters of Science Degree in Community Economic Development from New Hampshire College's Graduate School of Business (now Southern New Hampshire University) and an LL.B. degree from the University of Ottawa Law School. He was called to the Bar in Ontario in September, 2003. George is a Senior Research Fellow with the Carleton Centre for Community Innovation as well as a Part-Time Professor at the University of Ottawa Law School. He is a member of United Way/Centraide Ottawa's Community Investment Committee.
In 2009, Paula joined Opportunity International Canada as President and Chief Executive Officer, bringing over 20 years of senior management and philanthropic expertise from the university, healthcare and environmental sectors. A recognized authority on philanthropy, Paula has guided capital campaigns as large as $100 million, and coached dozens of leaders of small to large organizations in effective philanthropic planning and practices.
Martha Deacon is Founder and CEO of The Townships Project, a Canadian registered charity, which she created in late 1998 in response to then President Nelson Mandela's challenge to do something about the poverty in his country. Since then, The Townships Project has worked with local microfinance organizations in South Africa to extend small loans to start or expand small businesses, always exploring how to make these loans more effective in the fight against poverty.
Jennifer Denomy is the Director of Youth and Financial Services at Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA), leading programming that prepares young people for successful entrepreneurship and employment. She manages projects in Egypt, Morocco and Afghanistan, supporting non-formal education and workplace safety initiatives with working youth. She also facilitates the SEEP Youth Financial Services Practitioner Learning Program. Prior to joining MEDA, Jennifer worked as the pedagogical manager of a teacher training centre in Germany and a curriculum designer for BRAC's Nonformal Primary Education Program in Bangladesh. Jennifer holds an M.Ed. in Comparative, International and Development Education from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto (OISE/UT) and an MA from McGill University.
Jessica Dubelaar is a Public Engagement Officer for CUSO-VSO, a non-profit development agency that works through volunteers. Each year, CUSO-VSO send hundreds of global citizens to work on collaborative development projects in more than 40 countries in Africa, Asia, the Pacific, Latin America, and the Caribbean. She has strong commitment to promoting collaboration within the international development sector and has served as the Executive Director of both the Ontario Council for International Cooperation and the Atlantic Council for International Cooperation. Internationally, she has worked with a grassroots microfinance organisation in Northern Ghana, as a Capacity Building Advisor for a coalition of environmental NGOs in Nigeria , and has managed a youth internship program with partners in Bhutan , Botswana , Chile , Ecuador , El Salvador , the Gambia , Honduras , India , Nigeria , and Peru . Jessica holds an Honours Bachelors of Arts from the University of Waterloo , majoring in Political Science, with a minor in Peace and Conflict Studies.
Susan Henry has over 15 years experience in the micro-finance arena, both at the Calmeadow Metrofund and with Alterna Savings, an Ontario credit union. She manages the Alterna Savings Community Micro Loan Program in the GTA and the partnership program between Alterna and the Ottawa Community Loan Fund. At Alterna Savings she spearheaded the creation of a Networking Café to help members network and expand their business skills.
Jonathan Hera has spent much of his professional time working in the areas of microfinance, sustainable agriculture and education with organizations such as CGAP, Frontier College and MEDA. His work has been centred on project management and evaluation, strategy execution and stakeholder outreach.
With a background in social work (BSW) and business (MBA), Stacia Kean works to ensure women and youth's full economic and social participation in our communities through initiatives such peer lending, micro and community enterprise. Stacia's time and passion is largely dedicated to her work with the PARO Centre for Women's Enterprise where she acts as project coordinator for Accelerated Access, a community enterprise that consults with non-profit groups from across the country to initiate and sustain their own micro-lending and CED projects.
Murugi serves as the Executive Director of Foundation for Women (FFW) in San Diego. Her position is key in the linking of member volunteers, internal staff, board members, stakeholders and local organizations. She is responsible for overseeing the organizational operations and program development. Murugi is committed to the Foundation's mission of eliminating global poverty through microcredit – providing small loans to impoverished women to start income generating activities. Born and raised in Kenya, Murugi knows firsthand the power and effectiveness of microcredit and brings her personal experience and passion to the mission. She has seen the positive impact of microcredit on women and its role in community development in Kenya.
Alex Kjorven is currently the Development Manager for ACCESS Community Capital Fund (ACCF). Formerly a 100% volunteer run organization, Alex was brought onboard to lead the initiative in developing and expanding the community-based lending model to various neighbourhoods in the GTA.
After graduating from the Ontario Veterinary College in 1963, he then established the first large animal hospital in Wetaskiwin , Alberta. While this "new" concept quickly grew to a three man practice, Robin served on the Executive of the Alberta Veterinary Medical Association and was President in 1975. Also, during this time he established a farm in Costa Rica. In 1980, he joined the staff of Olds College as an instructor and then became the Animal Science Department Chairman for 14 years. During this time he implemented International Agriculture Training Programs for Indonesia and Costa Rica. He developed a student exchange program between Olds College and an agricultural college in Japan, and was on the management team for a large CIDA 4 year educational project in northern China. This led to six years as a consultant to a private farm in China. This was followed by immersion into a full time volunteer position with MEDIC Canada / USA and a small but very viable Microcredit consortium in Benin, Togo, Ghana, Liberia, Sri Lanka and India. He served as president of the Rotary Club of Olds, Alberta in 2008-2009.
PARO Centre for Women's Enterprise was founded in 1995 with Rosalind Lockyer at the helm. Her goal was to create a micro-enterprise program to help women to realize success on their own terms. PARO began as a women's micro-credit fund; today, as a multi-faceted women-centered community economic development program, it supports several PARO groups located throughout Northwestern Ontario.
Joyce Lehman joined the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in January 2008 as a Program Officer for Microfinance within the foundation's Financial Services for the Poor initiative. She began work in international economic development in 1998 providing training and consulting services to microfinance institutions in more than 25 countries and served as a faculty member in leading Microfinance Training Institutes held in the US, Europe and South Africa. From 2003 through 2007, Joyce spent most of her time in Afghanistan working with the World Bank, USAID and other bi-lateral donors to help establish and support a microfinance sector in a post-conflict environment. Prior to her international work, Joyce was in private practice as a Certified Public Accountant and taught university level business courses. She is Past President of the Keene Elm City Rotary Club in Keene, New Hampshire.
Mark Lutz grew up in South Africa, the son of missionary parents. Living for twenty years under apartheid shaped him to become an advocate for justice. Visits to fifty countries have sharpened his vision for a world free from extreme poverty.
Terry's most recent work experience was that of Africa Region Director, for the Canadian Co-operative Association (CCA). As Director from late 2006 thru 2009, Terry was responsible for providing leadership to promote, develop, and unite co-operatives and credit unions (also known as Savings and Credit Co-operatives) in the Africa region, as a means for fighting poverty and ensuring long term sustainability. Terry's work involved the hands on management of a portfolio of development projects and providing technical assistance to partner and governments organizations in Uganda, Malawi, Ghana, Rwanda and Sierra Leone.
John McCallum was elected to the House of Commons in November 2000. He currently serves as the Liberal Critic for Transport, Infrastructure, and Communities and sits on the Standing Committee on Finance. During his time in politics Mr. McCallum has held many Cabinet portfolios under both the Jean Chrétien and Paul Martin governments including Minister of National Defence, Minister of Veterans' Affairs, Minister of Natural Resources and Minister of National Revenue. Prior to his appointment to Cabinet, he served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance. As well, he served as Vice-Chair of the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration and as a member of the Standing Committee on Finance.
Kevin McCort is the President and CEO of CARE Canada, one of the country's most respected international development and humanitarian response organizations. He oversees the delivery of Canadian programs in 32 countries, management of six CARE member Country Offices, and the generation of annual charitable revenue (valued at $140 million in 2010).
Born in Bangladesh, one of three daughters, Dr. Tanjina Mirza she knows first-hand the challenges girls and women face in the developing world. She refused to let discrimination and prejudices stop her from becoming a pediatrician trained in tropical medicine.
Nicole Pasricha, of Toronto, Canada is the Director of Inclusive Rural Finance in MEDA's Financial Services Department, leading MEDA's programming in rural, agricultural, and value chain financing. Since joining MEDA in 2007, Nicole has overseen and delivered technical support to a variety of microfinance and agriculture value chain projects and MFI partners in Afghanistan, Nicaragua, Zambia, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Tajikistan, Ukraine, and Vietnam. She is a faculty member of the Boulder Microfinance Institute in Turin and Costa Rica, offering a course on "Agriculture Value Chain Financing for MFIs". Prior to joining MEDA, Nicole worked on microfinance industry issues such as technology and microfinance credit ratings at the Consultative Group to Assist the Poor (CGAP) in Washington, D.C., and supervised urban and rural credit operations as a credit supervisor at Banco ProCredit in El Salvador. Nicole holds an M.A. in International Affairs from the George Washington University and Bachelors' in Political Science and Business Administration from the University of Florida.
Gerhard Pries works to create impact investment solutions for private investors. By creating private equity vehicles that achieve a triple bottom line in developing countries – Profit, People, and Planet – Mr Pries enables investors to capture the strong growth in emerging markets while making this world a better place for all. Mr Pries is Founding President of Sarona Asset Management Inc, Founding Director and Chairman of the Investment Board of MicroVest Capital Management and Founding Director of International Association of Micro Finance Investors. He has previously served as CFO of MEDA, Founding Chairman of MicroCap Management and Latin America Challenge Investment Fund, and Director of numerous companies in the financial services and agribusiness industries. He cut his teeth equally at PricewaterhouseCoopers and at the feet of Mother Teresa.
Kenn Ross, a Micmac and member of the Millbrook First Nation of Nova Scotia, was born in Montreal but has lived in Toronto since he was 11. After graduating from York University's Glendon College with a Specialized Honours BA in English and where he won the inaugural bp nichol award for creative writing, Kenn worked successively for the Canada Council for Aboriginal Business, CIBC and Bank of Montreal. All his roles revolved around Aboriginal employment development and diversity issues. Kenn then joined the Aboriginal Economic Renewal Initiative, a project of the federal and provincial governments meant to stimulate Aboriginal business in Ontario.
David Walsh is President of Carrot Common Corp. and a graduate of Richard Ivey School of Business and Schulich Business School. His real estate investment firm has restored a number of historic buildings and developed innovative commercial properties, such as Carrot Common, an alternative shopping mall in Toronto that is structured to give 40% of its profits to support community enterprises and organic farming projects.
Amanda Yiu is a recent graduate from York University's Schulich School of Business with an honours Bachelor degree in International Business Administration (IBBA). In the winter semester of 2009, she attended the University of Hong Kong for an international exchange program. While living abroad, she had the opportunity to travel throughout East Asia. In China, she witnessed not only the prosperity being achieved in rich cities like Shanghai, but also the extreme conditions of poverty in rural areas. Upon returning to Toronto, she became involved with Wokai, an organizaton which aims to alleviate poverty in China through the power of microfinance and the raising of loan capital online. Based in Oakland (California) and Beijing, Wokai has grown its Chapter Network to 12 different cities across the US, Canada, and China with 200+ interns and volunteers. Along with a team of other students and young professionals, Amanda steered the launch of the first Canadian Wokai Chapter in Toronto earlier this year. She is currently the Chapter President of Wokai Toronto and she hopes to help raise the community's awareness for microfinance and the need for it in rural China. She will be starting full-time work in August as a Consultant with Capgemini Canada.
A passionate international development professional, Thierry has devoted his entire life to advancing the causes of poor and marginalized populations in developing countries, focusing on local development and governance, and, in particular, women, children and youth developmental issues.
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