Elevate Export Finance Corp. | The Elevate Team

Elevated by experience

Our Mission

Our mission is to expand trade and elevate small and medium-sized businesses by providing fast, customer-focused trade finance solutions, all delivered within a framework of trust, prudence and responsible risk-managed growth by people who care.

Founder & Executive Chair

Duncan Munn, Founder & Executive Chair
dmunn@elevatefinance.ca

Duncan Munn is Founder and Executive Chair of Elevate Export Finance Corp, and Elevate Global Insurance. He is an experienced senior executive and governance expert with a background in financial services, public policy and regulatory matters. Duncan is President of the C.D. Howe Institute, Canada’s most influential economic think tank, is an instigator of its Financial Services Research Program, amongst other programs, and is past Chair of Alterna Savings, an OSFI and FRSA regulated financial institution. He has served on numerous boards in both the for profit and non-for-profit sector and is an early stage investor and mentor to a number of young companies.

Credit & Underwriting

Ed Walsh, President

ewalsh@elevatefinance.ca

Ed Walsh is a dynamic leader who has been active in the underwriting and credit community for over 25 years. Having managed teams of 5 to 44 and a half-billion dollars in assets, he brings experience from diverse industries and across North America to Elevate. With a B.A. and several professional designations, he has a lifelong approach to learning and professional development. An active member of professional associations and boards, including at the national level, he is committed to building productive relationships and giving back to the community.

Business Development

Francisco Garcia, Senior Vice-President & Chief Business Development Officer

James Reble, Director, Business Development

Francisco Garcia is an accomplished trade finance executive, with close to 20 years experience in structuring transactions in key global markets. Francisco has supported over US$ 1 billion in export sales in support of small and medium sized exporters, which has gained him the trust from many participants in the industry. To accomplish this, he has actively worked alongside Export Credit Agencies from North America, Europe and Australasia. In his role at Elevate, he will be providing the necessary tools, advice and experience for Canadian companies to successfully grow their business internationally.

As Business Development Manager, James provides the support and tools necessary for Canadian companies to grow their business internationally. Prior to Elevate, he worked as a Research Analyst with an investment boutique and has experience in Business Development and Project Management. James holds a Masters in Management and International Relations from the University of St Andrews.

Jonathan Speers, Director, Key Accounts

Jonathan Speers is a seasoned banking and sales executive with over 20 years of experience in progressively senior roles. Prior to joining Elevate, Jonathan worked as a member of Scotia Wealth's Private Banking group, he managed 150 UNHW (Ultra High Net Worth) families, emphasizing business development and client retention. He is a proficient relationship manager and corporate sales executive. Throughout his career, Jonathan has overseen sales activities for growing entrepreneurial companies and held senior positions within institutional banks. He brings a wealth of experience in establishing new relationships, procedures, and platforms to support our growing businesses. Previously, Jonathan served as the Vice President of Sales and Trading for Currency Exchange International Corp. He was a member of the management committee during the company's IPO on the Toronto Stock Exchange on March 9, 2012. Later, the company obtained a Canadian Bank Charter and became Exchange Bank of Canada. In 2013, Jonathan played a vital role in Continental Currency Exchange's successful OSFI charter application, leading to its transformation into Continental Bank of Canada.

Cristina Gray, Customer Care Specialist

Cristina Gray has over twenty years of experience in International Loan Management, Compliance and Collections. Cristina has managed a portfolio of up to USD $200 million in international loans and helped develop strategic asset management and compliance systems. She has also worked together with Export Credit Agencies in North America and Europe on indemnification and recoveries of guaranteed loans. Cristina holds AML and KYC Foundations Certificates with the Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists (ACAMS).

Finance

Scott Rambeau, Chief Financial Officer

As Chief Administrative Officer for Elevate, Scott Rambeau presides over the operational and financial governance of Elevate’s business and loan portfolio. Previously a global consultant for PriceWaterhouseCoopers, Scott has been at the forefront of successfully re-engineering company financial systems and implementing strategic recommendations to c-suite executives to facilitate growth, retain talent and expand organizations.

Advisory Board

Peter MacKay

Peter Hall

Peter MacKay is a Senior Advisor at Deloitte Canada and McInnes Cooper. Mr. MacKay provides strategic advice on projects related the firm's Government & Public Services Industry practice with a focus on defense modernization, justice reform, infrastructure and economic development. Prior to joining the Firm in 2016, Peter MacKay, PC, QC (Privy Council and Queen's Counsel), served in the Parliament of Canada for over 18 years and in a ministerial post in the Canadian government for almost ten years after the Conservative Party formed a government in 2006. Most recently, he served as Canada's Attorney General and Minister of Justice until November 2015, a position to which he was appointed in 2013. Prior to this post, Mr. MacKay served as the Minister of National Defence for six years and held joint cabinet positions as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency.

Peter Hall was VP and Chief Economist at Export Development Canada until his retirement in 2021. With over 25 years of experience in economic analysis and forecasting, Mr. Hall was responsible for overseeing EDC’s economic analysis, country risk assessment and corporate research groups. In addition to preparing strategic advice for senior management at EDC, Mr. Hall has been a featured speaker at conferences, international roundtables, and policy fora, and regularly appears in television, radio and print media commenting on the world economy and Canadian international trade issues.

Denis L'Heureux

Adrianna Alterman

Denis joins Elevate after 20 years with Export Development Canada as a leader in their SME financial services team. During his time with EDC. he acquired extensive expertise in the area of credit, particularly in emerging markets. From 2012-2017, he served as EDC's Chief Representative in China, assuming responsibility for business development and relationship management in mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macau. He has held many positions within EDC for which he has acquired invaluable experience in the fields of Machinery and Equipment, Advanced Technology and Manufacturing, Telecommunications and Small Business Solutions. Elevate will leverage Denis' underwriting expertise as a member of Elevate's Credit Committee.

Adrianna Alterman is the Director of the Salesforce Ventures Impact Fund, a $150M fund that invests in software companies solving critical social or environmental problems. Salesforce Ventures is the venture capital arm of Salesforce and strategically invests in enterprise cloud companies like Zoom, Dropbox, and Snowflake. Adrianna was previously on the impact investing team at MaRS, Canada’s largest entrepreneurship center. There, she structured social impact bonds and led investor relations for Amplify Capital, an early-stage venture capital fund. She started her career in politics and policy managing strategy for Canada’s leading economic think tank and working in the US Senate and for President Obama’s Democratic National Convention. Adrianna has a Bachelor’s degree from McGill University and an MBA from Yale.

Michael Horgan

Brian Shaw

Michael has over 36 years of experience in the public sector, and has held several high-level positions including Deputy Minister of Finance, Government of Canada; Executive Director for the Canadian, Irish and Caribbean Constituency, International Monetary Fund; Deputy Minister of the Environment and Deputy Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, Government of Canada.

Nicole Gileadi

Nicole Gileadi, based in New York, is an experienced digital marketing professional who helps businesses grow by leveraging data partnerships to make efficient and effective investment choices. Prior to working at Google, Nicole led development efforts at the C.D. Howe Institute, Canada’s leading economic think tank.

Brian Shaw is a Canadian financial industry executive with particular expertise in capital market and investing activities, and is a private investor and corporate advisor. He was the Chairman and CEO of CIBC World Markets from 2005 through 2008 and prior to that managed the Global Equities Division for a number of years. He is currently a Corporate Director for Encana Corporation, Manulife Bank of Canada (a private chartered bank), Manulife Trust Company (a private trust company) and Ivey Canadian Exploration Ltd. (a private exploration company).

Jasmin Ganie-Hobbs

Rick Ekstein

Before establishing Phaze 3 Associates in 2016, Rick was President and CEO of Weston Forest Products, and the Weston Forest Group of Companies, conducting business in over 40 countries on 4 continents. Weston companies have repeatedly won a variety of awards including Canada’s Best Managed Companies, Profit 500’s Fastest Growing Companies and Waterstone Canada’s Most Admired Corporate Cultures.

Rick is a Board Member of Weston Wood Solutions, Brookside Capital Partners, Element 5 Co., AWZ Ventures, Weston Forest Products, Socium Capital, and The Logic, an online publication covering the Canadian innovation economy.

He also sits on the International Economic Policy and National Policy Councils of the C.D. Howe Institute, where he is a Board Member. Rick sits on the Boards of the Canadian Jewish Political Affairs Committee, the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, the Regimental Council of the Queen’s York Rangers, and the Association for Lumber Remanufacturers of Ontario, which he also founded.

Rick is a past Board Member of the National Hardwood Lumber Association, a former Chair of the North American Wholesale Lumber Association, founder and former Chairman of the Canadian Lumber Remanufacturers Association.

As a Senior Banker, Board Member, and Advisor, Jasmin brings to the table both in-depth financial and consulting expertise. She is an astute financial services executive that for the past 17 years has worked extensively with many of Canada’s best and brightest companies, especially those in emerging technology, innovation, and knowledge based industries. Jasmin understands the power of leveraging the financial community, and the technology ecosystem to drive business results.

In addition to be being a financial services and technology ecosystem pillar, Jasmin’s role at the Business Development Bank of Canada often sees her as a frequent financial industry speaker and media commentator on the topics of finance, entrepreneurship, technology and innovation, and women in business. Through her travels she has been featured on the top rated Canadian business show Dragon’s Den, providing financial commentary and analysis both on and off air. An example of can be found at http://www.cbc.ca/dragonsden/bdc/smart-sweets

Off hours Jasmin’s true personal passion lies in philanthropy, diversity and inclusion, and giving back to the community through business mentorship and outreach, especially to those in marginalized and refugee communities.

Kevin Lindsey

Kevin has over 30 years of public sector experience including serving as Assistant Deputy Minister and CFO at the Department of National Defense and CFO at Industry Canada. He has been involved in economic policy programs for most of his career and is also a Certified Management Accountant

Dwight Duncan

Dwight Duncan serves as a Senior Strategic Advisor at McMillan LLP, one of Canada’s largest and most respected full service law firms. Mr. Duncan also serves as a Principle of McMillan Vantage the firm’s wholly owned public policy advisory firm. Prior to joining McMillan, Mr. Duncan had a distinguished career in public service that spanned close to 25 years. During his time as a Member of the Ontario Legislature he served as Deputy Premier, Minister of Finance, Chair of the Management Board of Cabinet, Chair of Cabinet, Government House Leader, Minister of Energy, Minister of Revenue, Minister of Government Services and Opposition House Leader. Duncan delivered six budgets and authored historic reforms to Ontario’s tax, pension, insurance, and energy regimes. As Finance Minister, he lowered corporate and personal taxes, eliminated the capital tax and created the harmonized sales tax (HST).

Jayson Myers

With more than 25 years' experience building alliances among businesses, academic institutions, as well as community, labour, and advocacy organizations, Myers has been instrumental in shaping the public policy environment in Canada. Between 2007 and 2016, he served as President & CEO of Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters, Canada’s largest industry and trade association. He was also the founding Chair of the Canadian Manufacturing Coalition, Vice Chair of Canada’s National Roundtable on Skills, and Vice Chair of the Ontario and Great Lakes Manufacturing Councils.