Foundation Board of Directors & CDO

Matt joined the CICC Foundation Board of Directors in November 2020.

With over 15 years of financial services experience, Matt is currently Director of Trading at the Canadian Securities Exchange, a stock exchange based in Toronto. At the CSE, Matt is responsible for the business development, market quality and integrity of the equity trading businesses. Prior to joining the CSE in 2023, Matt spent 4 years at Itiviti (later Broadridge Canada) leading software sales for Canada following 8 years at TMX Group (Toronto Stock Exchange) in progressively senior roles within equities trading. His career at CIBC World Markets after an education at Dalhousie University where he earned a Bachelor of Commerce degree with a major in finance.

Outside of his professional life, Matt enjoys spending time with his family and travelling, while finding time to play golf, squash, curling & baseball. He was born and raised in Toronto and currently lives there with his wife and two young children.

Email: boardchair@cicc.on.ca

Barney Savage is a public policy professional with over 30 years of experience in government, the non-profit sector, and mental health and addictions. He currently serves as the interim director of policy and stakeholder relations at the Ontario Association of Social Workers. Barney was CICC’s interim executive director in 2022, and was impressed by the remarkable work of the Centre’s staff in the pre-school and early intervention community programs.

Barney was raised in Nova Scotia and has lived in downtown Toronto for decades.

Aleks joined the CICC Foundation Board of Directors in September of 2016, taking on the role of Treasurer in 2017 before becoming Chair in June of 2019.

Aleks is a Senior Vice President at IMAX Corporation, responsible for supply chain and operations. He has spent over 10 years in the media and entertainment industry with experience in supply chain, manufacturing, finance, business development and project management. Prior to IMAX, Aleks worked as a private consultant, and in the aerospace and transportation sectors at Bombardier Inc.

After graduating with distinction from McGill University with a BA in Economics and Geography, Aleks later obtained his MBA from the Warwick Business School in London, UK.
Family is of utmost importance to Aleks. One of his three older brothers was developmentally challenged and he realized how much programs like the special Olympics and other community-based programs meant to his brother throughout his life and thus his very personal connection to the centre’s cause.

Aleks lives in Toronto and is the father of three wonderful, active boys.

Simon is a communications consultant at CIBC and a freelance journalist. Simon joined the CICC Foundation Board of Directors in 2019.

Simon is passionate about connecting people and sharing stories, with more than a decade of communications, public relations and digital marketing experience spanning the non-profit, government and private sectors. Prior to CIBC, Simon worked at Canada Lands Company (a federal Crown corporation) and March of Dimes Canada.

Simon graduated with a BA in Media, Information and Technoculture from Western University, as well as a journalism degree from Humber College. Simon lives in Toronto with his wife and two young children, who are just as thankful as he is for the opportunity to make a positive impact for so many families via Centennial.

Sukrit joined the CICC Foundation Board of Directors in July 2023. He is a trained Chemical engineer, obtaining his undergraduate and Masters degree from the University of Toronto. He started his career in in the oil and gas industry before pivoting to Capital Markets at TD Securities. He has held roles in sales and origination functions before becoming an equity derivative trader.

Sukrit lives in Toronto with his wife and four children, one of whom has attended CICC’s preschool program. The wonderful help and care that the CICC personnel provided his son was a key factor in Sukrit wanting to get involved with the Foundation. He hopes to be able to leverage his experience in helping the Foundation meet its goals now and in the future.

Kevin joined the CICC Foundation Board of Directors in April 2024.

Kevin is currently a Vice President in the Mergers & Acquisitions group at BMO Capital Markets, where he provides advisory services to clients on corporate transactions and capital raising. Prior to joining BMO Capital Markets, Kevin worked on the Transaction Finance team at Infrastructure Ontario, a Crown corporation that supports the Ontario government’s initiatives to build public infrastructure.

Kevin holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Honours Business Administration from Ivey School of Business at Western University.

While still very much a beginning, Kevin enjoys going golfing with friends. He is also picking up boxing.

Deborah joined the CICC Foundation Board of Directors in June 2024.

Deborah is an Ontario lawyer who has worked in the public sector in Canada and the UK. Her volunteer experience began in the 1990’s with board positions at the Toronto branch levels with major Canadian charities. As an Exams Supervisor, she has also supported students with ADHD at her former high school in Montreal, helping them to achieve their potential. Deborah is delighted to support the vital and important work of the Foundation.

Abishan joined the CICC Foundation Board of Directors in June 2024.

Abishan has over 10 years of experience working in the banking and capital markets sector. He currently serves as the Chief Financial Officer for BMO InvestorLine where he is responsible for oversight over the broader finance function including reporting, forecasting, planning and capital management. Prior to joining BMO, he worked at PwC in their Banking & Capital Markets practice where he audited financial institutions and private equity firms.

Abishan holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of Toronto and is a qualified Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA) and a CFA Chaterholder.

Outside his professional career, Abishan enjoys spending time with family, travelling and working out.

Melissa Syme has been working in leadership within the charitable sector for over 25 years with a focus on development, marketing and communications.

Her focus has always been on social justice, equity, and inclusion. Throughout her 25 years, she has been in leadership with youth and children’s organization including a children’s mental health not for profit.

Melissa has a full life with her two children and husband. She really enjoys taking time to spend with friends, travelling and having lazy days at the cottage.