GTMA

LOU MILRAD (CO-CHAIR, PRIVATE SECTOR)

ASSOCIATE COUNSEL
MILLER THOMSON LLP

In addition to his role as Chair and CEO at the GTMA, Lou Milrad is an also an Associate Counsel to the cross-Canada law firm of Miller Thomson LLP and practices out of its Toronto office.

Lou has devoted almost 30 years advising public and private sector management on a variety of business, policy and legal issues that include public private partnerships and associated alliances. Among Lou’s clients are a wide selection of Canadian municipalities, provincial governments and IT services companies as well as industry, professional and trade associations.

In public procurement initiatives, Lou has been a resource and sometimes member of the client’s team and has participated in most aspects of RFP preparation, proposal review and evaluation, and on occasion, assisting in preparation and presentation to Council, Committees and Boards, of staff reports and recommendations.

Lou is also counsel to MISA Ontario (Municipal Information Systems Association), CIPS Ontario (Canadian Information Processing Society, Ontario Chapter), and to URISA (Urban and Regional Information Systems Association) of which he is also a past president. He also provides services to AMCTO (Association of Municipal Managers, Clerks and Treasurers of Ontario) and for 12 years acted as general counsel to ITAC (Information Technology Association of Canada).

A graduate of the University of Toronto (BA) and of the Osgoode Hall School of Law of York University (LLB), Lou has been listed in LEXPERT as a leader in Computer and IT Law. For a number of years, Lou has been a visiting lecturer at the University of Waterloo’s Faculty of Environmental Science on “GIS and the Law” and launched an extended “GIS and the Law” graduate level course at Ryerson University. Lou is a member of the Board of KINSA (Kids Internet Safety Association) is a also member of the Executive Committee of the Ontario Bar Association’s (OBA) Public Sector Lawyers Section and often presents at OBA educational seminars on public procurement and ethics issues. Over his career, Lou has also written extensively in a cross-section of professional, industry and trade publications and given hundreds of lectures, speeches and presentations at domestic and international conferences and seminars around the world addressing a wide variety of technology and law-related topics and issues. He is also the editor of Canada Law Book’s O’Brien’s series of Legal Precedents for “Computers and Information Technology” as well as specific chapters in other volumes.

MICHAEL RAS (VICE-CHAIR)

Vice President, Public Affairs
GCI Group

MAYOR DAVID RYAN (CO-CHAIR, PUBLIC SECTOR)

CITY OF PICKERING

Mayor Dave Ryan and his wife Anne have lived in Pickering since 1985, where they raised their two daughters. In 2003, Mayor Ryan retired from a 33-year career in general business and management at IBM. Mayor Ryan was first elected to Pickering City Council in 1994. In 2003, he was elected Mayor and re-elected for a third consecutive term in 2010.  Mayor Ryan represents taxpayers as a Board member on several committees and associations, and is currently Chair of the Canadian Association of Nuclear Host Communities (CANHC).

Intensification and revitalization of the downtown core are high priorities for Mayor Ryan. The Province of Ontario has designated Pickering’s downtown as an Urban Growth Centre and future Anchor Hub, which together will help transform this key area. Construction is nearing completion on a $62 million commercial and infrastructure project featuring a 132,000 square foot landmark LEED-Silver, Class “A” office tower that will be linked to the Pickering GO station via a fully enclosed landmark pedestrian bridge.

Community Building is what Mayor Ryan is most proud of.  In November 2005, the inaugural Pickering Mayor’s Gala was held. Since then, this annual event has raised over half a million dollars for community outreach, veterans, the future construction of the Durham West Arts Centre, local youth initiatives, Special Olympics Ontario and the Rouge Valley Ajax-Pickering hospital – one of our community’s most valuable assets.

Sustainability and environmental stewardship are hallmarks of Mayor Ryan’s terms of office. In 2008, the City of Pickering received the FCM-CH2M Sustainability Award in Planning for its nation leading work in sustainability and the environment. In 2010, he was recognized by Alive magazine as one of Canada’s greenest mayors.

GEORGE HANUS

PRESIDENT & CEO
GREATER TORONTO MARKETING ALLIANCE

Mr. Hanus joined the GTMA in 2010. Prior to joining, George worked for 2½ years as Director, ICT and Advanced Manufacturing in Investment Attraction at TRRA-Toronto Region Research Alliance. Before TRRA he had spent over 25 years in economic development and investment attraction for Ontario's Ministry of Economic Development and Trade. Most recently, he was posted to Munich, Germany from 2002-2006 where he opened the Ontario International Marketing Centre as Consul (Economic Affairs-Ontario). He was previously posted to Frankfurt, Germany for Ontario from 1990-1993.

George has extensive experience with companies in auto parts, traditional and advanced manufacturing, plastics, ICT, energy and environment/green-tech, and life science sectors. He has advised hundreds of companies, mainly from Europe, about the advantages of Ontario, and more recently the Toronto Region, as an investment location. His efforts, in collaboration with numerous partner organizations, have resulted in several tens of millions of dollars in investments and hundreds new jobs coming to Ontario.

George holds an MBA in international business and marketing and a B.Eng. (Mechanical) both from McGill University. After completing his engineering degree, he worked in cargo operations and Arctic projects for a Montreal-based private international ship-owning and operating company. After his MBA, he worked in management consulting and international banking before joining the Ontario Government. George speaks French, German, Czech, and some Spanish.

George has travelled extensively on business and holidays and has visited over sixty countries. He had also published several travel articles in the late eighties. In earlier years George was on the Boards of the McGill University Graduate Society in Toronto, the King-Bay Chaplaincy and Operation Bootstrap. He was also Vice-President and President of the Toronto Bicycling Network and was active on a committee of the High Park Ski Club.

REGIONAL CHAIR GARY CARR

REGIONAL MUNICIPALITY OF HALTON

Gary was first elected to the Ontario Legislature in 1990 as the Member of the Provincial Parliament for the riding of Oakville South. He was re-elected in 1995 and again in 1999 to represent the new riding of Oakville. He served as Deputy House Leader, Parliamentary Assistant to the Solicitor General as well as serving on the Finance and Economic, Justice, and Public Accounts Committees. In October 1999, Gary was elected by his peers as Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, and held that position until November 2003.

Gary was elected to the House of Commons as the Member of Parliament for Halton. He served as a member of the Special Caucus Committee on Immigration and the Standing Committee on Public Accounts.

In 2006, Gary was elected to the position of Regional Chair at the Regional Municipality of Halton, and was re-elected to the position in 2010. Gary sits on the Standing Committees of Health and Social Services, Administration and Finance, and Planning and Public Works, in addition to a number of Advisory Committees. Gary is also a member of the board for the Halton Regional Police Services and the Greater Toronto Marketing Alliance, and served on Metrolinx.

COUNCILLOR JOSH COLLE

CITY OF TORONTO

Josh was elected in October 2010 to represent the area of Ward 15 Eglinton-Lawrence. Josh has served, and continues to serve, on the Boards of Directors of several agencies, boards and commissions.

In addition to his role on the Greater Toronto Marketing Alliance, his appointments include Toronto Hydro, Toronto Financial Services Alliance, the Toronto Zoo's Board of Management, North York Community Council, and the City of Toronto's Economic Development Committee. In addition, Josh maintains an active presence on the Boards of the York-Eglinton, Fairbank Village, and Oakwood Village Business Improvement Areas.

Josh brings a wealth of private sector and community experience to Toronto Hydro. He has many years of experience in the financial services sector, the transportation industry, and most recently as an executive at an energy and infrastructure firm. He has previously held elected office as a school board trustee from 2000 to 2003, and is a former Director of 5 Points Community Action, and President of the St Michael's College alumni association.

Josh obtained an Honours BA in Political Science from McGill University and graduated from St. Michael's College High School at Bathurst & St. Clair. Josh lives in the Oakwood and Vaughan area with his wife and three children.

JOHN DAVIDSON

DIRECTOR, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
REGIONAL MUNICIPALITY OF HALTON

John is Director of Economic Development for the Regional Municipality of Halton which serves more than 500,000 residents in the communities of Burlington, Halton Hills, Milton and Oakville.

John leads a nine person team which supports entrepreneurs and companies in establishing and expanding their presence in Halton in partnership with the Halton Local Municipalities, including attracting new business investment to the Region, working with early stage entrepreneurs through the Region’s small business centre, supporting strategic sectors and reporting on Halton’s economic performance.  

John has twenty two years of municipal and provincial economic development and planning experience.  Prior to joining Halton Region in 2006 he was with the Ontario Ministry of Economic Development and Trade and managed the Ministry’s efforts to attract foreign direct investment from the U.S. and Europe.  John has also worked at the City of Toronto in economic development and planning roles.

John is currently chair of the Greater Toronto Area Economic Development Partnership, and a director with the Greater Toronto Marketing Alliance and HalTech – Halton’s provincially funded regional innovation centre. 

John holds a M.Sc.(Planning) from the University of Toronto and a B.A.(Honours), from Queen’s University in Kingston. 

RENATO DISCENZA

PRESIDENT & CEO
INVEST TORONTO

Renato Discenza is the President and CEO of Invest Toronto, Toronto's foreign direct investment marketing and sales Corporation.

Invest Toronto is rooted in one of the fastest-growing metropolises in North America. Invest Toronto's mission is to promote Toronto as a prime destination for businesses to invest and grow. This goal is realized by securing corporate expansions and relocations and driving the marketing and positioning of Toronto in global corporate investment markets. In his role as President and CEO, Renato Discenza strives to build relationships with International partners and businesses, to sell the benefits of this great City.

Discenza's background both in the private and public sectors as a senior executive and leader, has allowed him to gain valuable experience in economic development, public-private partnerships, sales, corporate functions, technology and operations. He was educated at the University of Toronto as an electrical engineer and received his MBA from York University. Renato has extensive experience in Board Governance and has participated in many for profit and not for profit boards. Currently he sits on the boards of Windsor International Airport and the Toronto East General Hospital Board.

Prior to joining Invest Toronto, Discenza was the Senior Vice President of Technology and IT Projects at Infrastructure Ontario. Discenza also brings extensive private sector corporate experience from Bell Canada and AT&Twhere he held several senior officer level functions in Business Sales, Wholesale, Operations, Customer Service, Capital Management, Engineering, Procurement and Chain and Business Transformation.

DON EDMONDS

PARTNER, PRIVATE COMPANY SERVICES
PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP

Don is a partner in our Greater Toronto Area (GTA) Private Company Services practice and specializes in audit and general advisory services.  Don has been involved with private companies for over 25 years.  He understands the many needs of growing and mature private businesses, particularly those needs far beyond the basic compliance services of audits, review engagements and tax returns.

Don is responsible for providing a full range of assurance and advisory services to a number of privately held businesses in a variety of industries covering distribution, manufacturing, steel processing, and some retail.  In addition to the core audit services, he has been involved in many business advisory services, including: succession planning, information system selections and implementations, process improvement, financing, accounting and other special projects.

Don is a Chartered Accountant and is a graduate of the University of Manitoba Commerce program.  He joined PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP in 1977 in Winnipeg, did a two year secondment in Stockholm, Sweden (1983 to 1985), and then joined the Assurance practice in GTA.  He has been actively involved in our Japanese practice since 1990 and from 1999 to 2003 Don was the leader of our e.business advisory service practice.  Since early 2003 Don has been providing leadership to the PwC Private Company Service practice in GTA.

Don is a Director on the Board of the Greater Toronto Marketing Alliance and the Board of the Living Arts Centre of Mississauga.  Don is also a past Chair of the Board of Directors of Erinoak, a Halton Peel based treatment centre for children and youth with physical, developmental and communication disabilities.  Don has also been involved with the United Way of Peel allocation process in the past.

Don and his wife Lori reside in Mississauga with their two daughters, Lisa and Stacy.

JIM FEIR (ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR)

DIRECTOR GENERAL & SENIOR TRADE COMMISIONERFOREIGN AFFAIRS AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE CANADA

PAUL GREEN

DIRECTOR, SALES
ENBRIDGE GAS DISTRIBUTION INC.

As Director, Market Development since 2005, Paul Green is accountable for marketing functions including mass markets and new construction, business markets, natural gas vehicles and marketing communications at Canada’s largest natural gas distribution utility.

His team develops and implements demand side management, or energy efficiency, programs and load-growth programs (customer addition and/or burner-tip application) across all markets.

Mr. Green began his career at Enbridge in 1976 and returned in October 2005, after three years at a separate energy company, Direct Energy Essential Home Services.

He is a senior management professional with 30 years of sales, marketing, and human resource experience with increasing accountability in both the regulated utility and retail environment.

While engaged in the non-regulated retail Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) environment, Paul was a key team member in the start-up operation of Enbridge Home Services in 1999. Later, he was on the Canada East Operations Management team for the Business Services division at Direct Energy.

Mr. Green holds a Bachelor of Administrative Studies Degree from York University and attended the Queen’s University Executive Development Program and the Graduate School of Sales and Marketing Management at Syracuse University.

He and his wife reside in Mississauga and have three children.

JOHN HOWE

VICE PRESIDENT, INVESTMENT STRATEGY AND PROJECT EVALUATION
METROLINX

John is responsible for Metrolinx’s long-term investment strategy, capital planning process and project implementation. He brings over 15 years of infrastructure policy and planning experience to Metrolinx. His career has spanned a range of Ontario government ministries and agencies, including the Ministry of Public Infrastructure Renewal (PIR), Ontario SuperBuild Corporation, Ontario Jobs and Investment Board (OJIB), and the Ministry of Transportation (MTO). Prior to Metrolinx, John served as director of the province's Toronto Waterfront Revitalization Secretariat, where he spearheaded Ontario’s $500 million interest in waterfront transportation, affordable housing and recreational projects. He was also director of PIR’s federal-provincial-municipal infrastructure branch, responsible for developing and negotiating funding agreements between the three orders of government. At SuperBuild, John managed the province’s transportation capital portfolio and led the early policy development work leading to the restoration of provincial funding for transit and the creation of a regional transportation authority. John served as OJIB’s senior infrastructure policy advisor to the Premier for Ontario's 25-year plan for economic prosperity. During his years with MTO, John held senior advisory roles across key multimodal files, including provincial-municipal alignment of transportation responsibilities, Highway 407 safety review, freight policy, and the Ontario TransportationSector Strategy.

TOBY C.D. LENNOX

VICE PRESIDENT, CORPORATE AFFAIRS AND COMMUNICATIONS
GREATER TORONTO AIRPORTS AUTHORITY

Toby Lennox was appointed Vice President, Corporate Affairs and Communications of the Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) in 2007. Toby manages all aspects of media relations, corporate communications, government relations and corporate social responsibility for the GTAA. Toby has been with the GTAA since 1995, and previously held the position of Senior Legal Counsel in the organization. He originally assisted with the negotiations on the transfer of Toronto Pearson International Airport to the GTAA in 1996. Mr. Lennox is Chair of the Steering Committee for Partners in Project Green, Canada’s largest industrial eco-park, as well as a member of the Board of Directors of the Greater Toronto Marketing Alliance. Prior to joining the GTAA in 1995, he practiced corporate law with Osler, Hoskin and Harcourt in Toronto.

Mr. Lennox has a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) from Trent University, a Masters of Arts from Dalhousie University and law degrees from Oxford University and Dalhousie University.

DON MACINTOSH

PARTNER
FRASER MILNER CASGRAIN LLP

Don is partner at Fraser Milner Casgrain LLP, one of Canada's leading business law firms, with over 500 lawyers and offices located in Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal.

Don practices in the area of corporate and commercial law, and specializes in mergers and acquisitions, venture capital transactions, joint ventures, and outsourcings. In addition, Don works with numerous public and private companies (including entrepreneurial and start-up companies) advising them on business strategy and day-to-day commercial law matters.

Being actively involved on an ongoing basis in the acquisition programs of a number of clients, Don has often been responsible for managing the legal aspects of large and often complex transactions involving multiple parties and many levels of professional advisors. Don provides advice on a wide range of corporate and commercial law matters in many industries, including energy, manufacturing, transportation and technology.

Don has served, and continues to serve, on the Boards of Directors of numerous private and not-for-profit companies. He has spoken at business law conferences, and is a former lecturer on business law at the Law Society of Upper Canada’s Bar Admissions Course.

Don obtained his law degree from Queen’s University in 1986. He articled at Fraser & Beatty (as it then was) and has practiced at Fraser Milner Casgrain as an associate and partner since.

DEREK MILLAR

REGIONAL MANAGER
IAN MARTIN LIMITED

Derek Millar graduated from Ryerson University from the Mechanical Engineering program. He expanded his education through attending the University of Toronto (Rotman School of Management) and graduated from the APHRM (Advanced Program in Human Resource Management) and has been certified as a CHRP (Certified Human Resource Professional). He has enhanced his education through completion of an eMBA in Management.

His career started with Renco Design Limited (RDL) as a Systems Design Engineer. In 1988 Derek purchased controlling interest in RDL and assumed the position of President. Under his direction, RDL grew from a team of 10 to a group of over 50 designers and engineers specializing in the Power Industry. This included projects in both transmission and generating station upgrades.

Derek sold RDL in 1995 to an International Company interested in establishing themselves in Canada. His mandate was to grow into other regions of Canada, establishing offices to service key sectors. Derek held the position of General Manager for seven (7) years. During this time he was instrumental in opening offices in Ottawa, London, Montreal, Calgary and Vancouver.

Derek left this company to join his current employer (Ian Martin Limited) in 2002. Ian Martin Limited operates 17 offices across Canada. Derek is the National Manager specializing in staffing, outsourced services and recruitment. In 2005 he established an outsourcing team that provides Technical Writing and Engineering Services to clients across Canada. He has full P&L responsibility and reports directly to the president/owner. In addition to serving on several sub-committees and boards (including the Board of Directors for the GTMA) he manages the Eastern Operations and Central Canada.

Derek and his wife Nancy reside in Mississauga with their daughter Jenna and two sons, Jeff and Paul.

MAYOR MAROLYN MORRISON

TOWN OF CALEDON

First elected Mayor of Caledon in November 2003, Marolyn came to the job with 15 years of respected public service as a Peel Regional Councillor and Peel Board of Education Trustee. Marolyn founded the Greater Toronto Countryside Mayor’s Alliance (GTCMA) in 2004 and the collective efforts of her colleagues have resulted in important changes to provincial policy affecting rural communities.

In 2007 Marolyn was elected to the Association of unicipalities of Ontario’s Board of Directors, and continues to sit on the influential Regional and Single Tier Caucus.

Prior to her election to public office, she and her husband John successfully owned and operated several successful businesses; it is this experience that underpins Marolyn’s approach to the ‘business’ of local government. Her commitment to this business‐oriented approach resulted in the creation of a full‐time economic development team for the Town.

Marolyn also chairs the Association of Municipalities of Ontario’s Economic Development Task Force and the GTCMA where she works with her municipal colleagues to develop innovative solutions to the economic development challenges facing Ontario communities. Marolyn’s dedication to excellence in environmental stewardship has helped maintain Caledon’s Greenest Town in Ontario accreditation. Her efforts led to the hiring of an Environmental Progress Officer who coordinates Caledon’s leading edge environmental initiatives. Marolyn also chairs the Credit Valley Conservation Foundation which raises funds and awareness in support of the Credit Valley Conservation
Authority.

MAYOR STEVE PELLEGRINI

TOWNSHIP OF KING

JANET RICHARDS

VICE PRESIDENT, SALES AND MARKETING
HERMAN MILLER CANADA

Janet has over 24 years experience in the Contract Furniture industry and during that time has held various positions with Herman Miller Canada in Marketing, Sales and Senior Management . Today, Janet is headquartered in Toronto, and responsible for the entire Canadian team. Janet has assembled a team of experienced professionals who strive to create long lasting, strategic partnerships and differentiate by leading with knowledge and expertise in terms of the physical environment; that is the workplace.

DR. PAMELA RITCHIE

DEAN, FACULTY OF BUSINESS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

UNIVERSITY OF ONTARIO INSTUTUDE OF TECHNOLOGY

Prior to joining UOIT, Dr. Ritchie was Professor of Accounting at the University of New Brunswick in Fredericton. She also served as Associate Dean (Research and Outreach) for the Faculty of Business Administration at UNB. At that time she was responsible for setting up BBA partnership programs in Trinidad and Egypt. She also oversaw the development of an undergraduate co-op program in business and an MBA internship program.

While at UNB Pamela was an active member of the committee for Senate Reform, the small group which designed the interface for the implementation of Datatel at the University and of Team Renaissance which created UNB’s innovative Renaissance College in leadership using with funding from the McConnell Foundation.

Pamela has a BA in Economics from the University of New Brunswick, a Master of Science in Accounting from the University of Saskatchewan and a Ph.D. in Accounting and Finance from the University of Lancaster where she focussed on the interaction between regulation and the market and the role of accounting disclosure.

Her current publications are primarily in the areas of transportation, particularly aviation, mergers and acquisitions, and economic efficiency. She is currently Vice-President (Awards) for the Canadian Transportation Research Forum and is a founding member of the editorial board of the Canadian Journal of Transportation.

Dr. Ritchie is a former treasurer of the New Brunswick Craft Council and the New Brunswick Craft Foundation.

COLIN ROSS

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT & MANAGER OFFICE LEASING

DTZ BARNICKE LIMITED

Colin joined DTZ Barnicke in 2008 to manage the office leasing team in the downtown Toronto office.
At Brookfield Properties, Colin was responsible for the leasing of the Exchange Tower, First Canadian Place, Brookfield Place, 151 Yonge Street, 2 Queen Street East and Atrium on Bay.

During his time at MaRS, Colin was responsible for the design, construction and leasing of a Level II biolab. This 40,000 square foot facility was designed for incubator tenants to support MaRS’ objective of commercializing intellectual property.

At Rogers, Colin lead the business solutions group and was responsible for a $35 million P&L within the cable division.

Colin is a senior real estate executive with a wide range of expertise including entrepreneurial experience and demonstrable success in business start-up. Colin is also a senior business leader developing sales and marketing strategies for products and services and has over 20 years of real estate experience in the planning, design, construction and leasing of many commercial properties.

Colin has a solid reputation as a skilled negotiator who sets out clear goals and objectives during strategic planning. He is an articulate and effective communicator and a participative leader who gets actively involved with the team.

Colin is a graduate of the University of Western Ontario, Huron College and holds a B.A. Economics with a business and accounting focus.