Ajay Singh

Ajay has worked at a Toronto based hedge fund for 4.5 years before launching Fairom. Ajay has extensive experience of quantitative modeling for financial derivatives, software development, risk management, capital market operations and blockchain technology. Ajay has a Ph.D. in physics from University of Waterloo and Perimeter Institute.

Ahmad Sghaier

Ahmad is completing his Ph.D. in Computer Science at the University of Waterloo. His Ph.D. thesis is about the application of blockchain technology to IoT. Ahmad has also helped various blockchain startups in the last two years on Kin and Ethereum blockchains. Ahmad has also gained experience as a founder, CTO and engineer at SpeakIoT, LPTIC and Schlumberger.

Denis Bashkirov

Denis is joining Fairom after spending 10 months as an AI Developer at Polar Asset Management Partners. Denis has extensive experience of quantitative research as a postdoc fellow at Ecole Normale Superieure and at Perimeter Institute. Denis holds a Ph.D. in theoretical physics from Caltech.

Jean Desgagne

Jean Desgagne is former CEO of Global Solutions, TMX Group. His previous roles at TMX included CEO and board member of the Canada’s securities clearing house, CDS and board member for Canadian Derivatives Clearing Corporation, and leadership of the Innovation, Technology and Risk Managment functions. Prior to TMX, Jean held a series of senior executive postions in capital markets operations, risk management and technology in several global financial institutions.  He currently sits on a number of Boards, advises a number of startups and is CEO of Stablecorp, which is focused on creating Canada’s first transparent, audited and redeemable CAD-backed cryptocurrency.

Brian O’Donnell

Brian is currently Chief Data Officer and Strategic Advisor at iisaac, a Fintech start-up company focused,on providing Personal Data Advocacy Services to individuals in order to help them gather, own and secure their personal data. Before joining iisaac Brian spent two years as an Executive in Residence at the Global Risk Institute (GRI), where his research focused on Big Data, Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and the evolving regulatory environment. Prior to joining the GRI, Brian was CIBC’s Executive Vice President and Chief Data Officer, where he developed their data strategy. Before becoming the Chief Data Officer at CIBC, Brian lead the Enterprise Risk Management group, including balance sheet and capital management.  Over the years he held a number of positions in the finance and risk management groups, including Chief Financial Officer of the Treasury Division. Brian earned a Master of Business Administration at McMaster’s DeGroote School of Business, and also holds a Certified Public Accountant designation. Brian O’Donnell is a long standing Executive Vice President in the Financial Services Industry, with experience spanning across Finance, Risk Management and Technology. Brian has lead a number of large complex teams and projects at CIBC, and his experience includes significant management of and membership on both public and internal Boards of Directors

Jonathan Hackett

Jonathan Hackett is Managing Director of Strategy in the Office of Strategic Management at the Bank of Montreal, where he supports the executive committee. Prior to joining BMO, Jonathan was a Principal with Boston Consulting Group where he was part of the risk management team and the financial institutions practice. Jonathan also received a doctorate in physics for his research in Quantum Gravity performed in residence at the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics.

Lee Bowie

Lee Bowie is a technology evangelist with more than 20 years of experience at IBM. Lee supports startups with their efforts leveraging cloud native technologies. Lee is an open source enthusiast and if he is not talking technology, you can find him with his guitar in his recording studio or on stage.

Jim Chappell

With more than 30 years of experience in the high tech industry, Jim has built a reputation as someone who effectively combines big picture thinking with the knowledge of the internal workings of an organization.

Incisive decision-making mixed with collaborative management skills is key to his ability to marshal an organization’s resources to align with ongoing change events that affect all aspects of their business with a critical focus on marketing, sales and customer success organizations.

Jim has held CEO and senior executive positions at Declara, Whodini, Moka5, Centrify and Legato, where he successfully led the integration of the $1.3 billion acquisition by EMC.

Jim also shares his passion for innovation with future generations through his work on Cal Poly's Industry Advisory Board and as a Hult Prize Regional Judge.