Meet the Board of Directors

Geoffrey Ritchie - Chair

Geoffrey Ritchie is currently the General Counsel and Corporate Secretary at Mawer Investment Management Ltd. Geoffrey is a securities lawyer called to the bar in Ontario and in England and Wales with a BA from McMaster University, a JD from Queen's University and a LL.M from Osgoode Hall Law School. His career has included work in private banking, fintech, trusts and estates and private practice in Canada and the United Kingdom.

Geoffrey is currently the Co-Chair of the Regulatory Compliance and Legal Risk Management Program at Osgoode Hall Law School PDP and has taught Advanced Securities Law at Queen's University. Geoff served as a Vice Chair and Executive Director of the Private Capital Markets Association of Canada for seven years and was recognized by Wealth Professional magazine on its 2014 Hot List of Wealth Professionals.

Geoffrey's community involvement has included serving on the Board of Mainstay Housing, Ontario's largest mental health non-profit social housing provider, managing political campaigns at the federal and provincial levels and working as a political staff member at the Ontario legislature. He is proud to have been born at the former Peel Memorial Hospital and to be the son of an RN who spent many years working in the Emergency Department at Peel Memorial.

Linda Franklin - First Vice Chair

Linda Franklin is President and CEO of Colleges Ontario, the advocacy association for Ontario's 24 Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology. Linda has a degree in English and history and a Master of Arts in journalism from the University of Western Ontario.

Linda has focused provincial and national attention on the shortage of skilled workers and the importance of the college system in addressing this challenge. Previously, Linda was the President of the Wine Council of Ontario, where she directed a multi-million dollar marketing campaign for the domestic wine industry. Prior to her joining the Wine Council of Ontario, Linda served as Director of Public Affairs and Communications for the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario and as Chief of Staff to the Honourable Ernie Eves.

Linda's community involvement includes being an active member of the Board for the Canadian National Exhibition Association and Ontario Place.

Mark Beckles – Second Vice Chair

Mark Beckles is Vice President, Social Impact and Innovation, RBC Corporate Citizenship at RBC Royal Bank. With over 25 years' experience in financial services, Mark has international executive leadership experience in banking, insurance, risk management and non-profit leadership.

Mark is actively engaged in the community and has volunteered on many Boards. Currently, he is serving on the Board of Harbourfront Centre and is an Advisory Board member of the Canadian Multicultural LEAD Organization.

Mark has an MBA in international business from the University of Bradford and is a graduate of the Directors Education Program from the University of Toronto – Rotman School of Management.

Pardeep Singh Gill – Treasurer

Pardeep Singh Gill is a CA and Partner in the Toronto Technology, Media and Telecommunications audit practice with KPMG. His deep experience includes providing audit and advisory services to public and private companies ranging from start-ups to multinational corporations on various projects involving complex accounting matters, internal controls, business process improvement, and training. He is an expert on IFRS 15/ASC Topic 606, and financial instruments matters, and is experienced in IFRS, US GAAP and accounting standards for private enterprises.

Pardeep is specialized in the telecommunications and technology industries. In addition to audits, his experience is focused on projects related to the adoption and interpretation of complex accounting standards, system and process implementations and migrations, revenue assurance matters, data and analytics, ICFR and performance improvement.

Pardeep obtained his CA designation in June of 2007 and holds an International Bachelor of Business Administration (IBBA), Honours, from Schulich School of Business, York University. He lives with his family in Brampton, Ontario.

Ricco A.S. Bhasin

Ricco Bhasin is a Partner at Torys LLP in Toronto. He is a graduate of the Faculty of Law at Queen's University, Business Leadership at the Rotman Business School of U of T and the Commerce program at the Schulich School of Business. He is admitted to practice in Ontario and New York (where he lived and worked for five years). Ricco Bhasin's practice focuses on corporate law, specializing in mergers and acquisitions, financial services and private equity. He leads deals in domestic, U.S. and cross-border public and private mergers and acquisitions. He also advises on capital markets, securities and governance issues. Ricco was awarded the Top 40 under 40 Emerging Leaders award from the M&A Advisor in New York.

Ricco is active in diversity and charity causes, including the Heart and Stroke Foundation, the Torys LAWS program and ERG Roundtables. Ricco is conversant in Punjabi and Hindi and is a former resident of the Brampton community.

Susan Britton Payne

Susan Britton Payne is the President and CEO of Grace Hill Inc. Susan is an MBA graduate of Rotman School of Management and has a BA from the University of Toronto.

Susan is a seasoned senior executive with over 35 years of experience in the financial industry. Prior to joining Grace Hill Inc., Susan was the Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer for BMO Financial Group. Susan previously served as a long-term member of the Board of The Young People's Theatre and is a current member of the BMO InvestorLine Board.

David Charron

David Charron is Chief Financial Officer at TeraGo. David is an experienced public company CFO and Board Director with demonstrated accomplishments in capital markets, equity financing, debt financing, mergers and acquisitions and driving profitable growth in global technology and IT businesses. Public and non-profit Board Director and audit committee experience with International Datacasting Corp, Certified Management Accountants of Ontario and as Corporate Secretary of Redknee Solutions Inc. (now Optiva).

David has a Bachelor of Engineering as well as a Masters of Business Administration degree, both from McMaster University. He is a member of Professional Engineers Ontario, a Chartered Professional Accountant of Ontario (CPA, CMA), and has a Chartered Director (C.Dir.) designation from The Directors College.

Stuart Johnston

Stuart Johnston is President of the Canadian Independent Music Association, the advocacy organization representing Canada’s diverse music businesses. With over 20 years of experience in the not-for-profit sector of the economy, Stuart has an extensive background in executive leadership and is a strong advocate for business and community issues.

A lifelong resident of Brampton, Stuart is a former Vice President of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce. Prior to his tenure at the Ontario Chamber, Stuart served as the Executive Director of the Brampton Board of Trade. A journalist by trade, his experience includes serving as news editor for a national publication focusing on the Canadian manufacturing and processing sectors, and as a political and general assignment reporter at the Brampton Guardian and Georgetown Independent/Acton Free Press.

Stuart actively volunteers on a number of boards and committees for such organizations as Humber College, Ontario Creates and Re:Sound.

Kulvir Singh Gill

Kulvir Singh Gill is Senior Principal at Clareo. Kulvir Singh Gill has almost 20 years of experience working at the intersection of innovation, technology and sustainability. As a Senior Principal with the strategy firm Clareo, Kulvir leads international projects across multiple industries including mining, oil and gas, heavy industrial, banking, retail and media. Kulvir has also recently served as the founding Executive Director of the Development Partner Institute to advance sustainability in mining. He began his career as a management consultant with Oliver Wyman before holding several positions with Barrick Gold Corporation.

Kulvir is passionate about community service. He is a co-founder and current interim volunteer Executive Director of the Seva Food Bank in Mississauga and has just completed his tenure as Board Chair for William Osler Health System Foundation. Kulvir is a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal and a 2010 Action Canada Fellow. Kulvir holds a B.Sc. and a B. Comm. from the University of Calgary. He lives with his family in Brampton, Ontario.

Jasmine Tehara

Jasmine Tehara is Vice President, Business Optimization and Retirement Transformation at Manulife, Investment Division. Prior to joining Manulife in 2016, Jasmine worked for TD for 18 years where she worked in various roles in personal banking, wealth, asset management, human resources and worked in the U.S. as well. Throughout her career she has delivered a North American shared service transformation in a back office function, built a centre of excellence for continuous improvement, been an integration leader of the acquisition of an asset management firm, and delivered large scale people and technology initiatives.

Jasmine has a history of volunteering and spent nine years on the board of WoodGreen Community Services (one of Toronto's largest not-for-profit organizations) with four years as Board Chair.

Michael Torrance

Michael Torrance is Chief Sustainability Officer of BMO Financial Group, leading strategy and implementation of sustainability governance, disclosure, engagement and innovation at BMO Financial Group. Before joining BMO, Michael was a Partner at the international law firm Norton Rose Fulbright where he spearheaded the development of a global environmental, social and sustainability governance risk advisory practice, and was a litigation practitioner in employment, labour, human rights and health and safety law. His experience includes application of international standards of environmental and social risk management and human rights due diligence in the corporate and banking contexts.

Michael has authored widely used texts and guides on international environmental and social governance frameworks including the equator principles and IFC performance standards on environmental and social sustainability. Michael also hosts a podcast on sustainability. Michael is a proud father of two and in his spare time enjoys the outdoors and travelling.