Leadership

Society Leadership

Nilesh Paray, CFA President	Nilesh Paray is a seasoned professional in the financial industry. Although he trained as an electronic engineer with Rolls Royce, Nilesh quickly moved to Goldman Sachs in London where he participated in the equities and derivatives departments of the trading floor for several years. After his MBA, he worked at BMO Corporate Finance and subsequently joined a long short hedge fund. For the last few years, Nilesh has been busy in real estate development projects across Canada. Nilesh also brings an impressive breadth and depth of education to all his endeavours. Fluent in four languages, Nilesh graduated first in his class with a Master of Engineering in Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering from the University of Birmingham and McGill University. He earned his MBA from the University of Alberta in 2015, and he received his Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation in 2017. Currently, Nilesh is the President of the CFA Society of Edmonton, sits on the board of FC Edmonton soccer team, teaches finance (derivatives) at the University of Alberta and is a meal delivery driver for Meals on Wheels. His passion remains the intersection of finance and technology, and helping companies navigate the financial markets by mitigating risks and also ensuring maximum value to stakeholders. The current companies he is helping are in the real estate, fintech, and AI application sectors. He values courage, honesty and integrity.
Valerie Gibbs, CFA Vice President	Valerie brings more than ten years of experience in the finance industry to her role as an Investment Counsellor with RBC PH&N Investment Counsel. Supported by seasoned investment managers strategically located in key markets around the world, Valerie provides customized wealth management solutions to high net worth individuals, their families, businesses, foundations and not-for-profit organizations. She aims to provide peace of mind through prudent and responsible investment management. Valerie holds a Bachelor of Business Administration specialized in Finance. She holds both the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and Certified Financial Planner (CFP). Valerie has also completed the Wealth Management Essentials course, certificate in Coaching through Erickson College and received a diploma in International Trade.
Andrew Davis, CFA Treasurer	Mr. Davis joined AIMCo in 2021 as a Director of Client Relations, bringing 10 years of experience across institutional and private client markets. Prior to joining AIMCO, he served as a Director, Investment Services, with a $20Bn investment management firm, Letko Brosseau (2018-2020), where he oversaw more than 75 client relationships. He has also held investment management roles at Canadian Pacific Railway Company (2017-2018) and Nunavut Trust (2014-2017). He is a graduate of the University of Ottawa (B.Com., Specialization in Accounting), and is also a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA) and a CFA charterholder.
Kathy Marshall, CFA Secretary	Kathy is Director, Client Relations at the Alberta Investment Management Corporation (AIMCo), a global institutional investment firm with approximately (CAD) $110 billion in AUM. In this role she supports AIMCo's large clients and stakeholders advising on all aspects on institutional investments. Prior to joining AIMCo, Kathy oversaw the large public equity manager program at BCI, anther global institutional investment firm. Kathy has an undergraduate degree in International Relations from UBC, a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Hartford and was awarded the CFA charter in 2011.
Rex Alex, CFA Past President	With over 22 years of experience in banking and risk management, Rex currently works as an Assistant Vice President at CWB Financial Group, providing risk management oversight against operational, fraud, technology and cyber security risks. Rex gained his risk management expertise working with various Canadian Schedule I and Schedule II Banks, Crown Corporations as well as International Financial Organizations. Rex also teaches at the Concordia University of Edmonton as a Sessional Instructor and is a member of the Program Review Committee at NAIT. Rex Joined the CFA Society Edmonton Board of Directors in July 2015. He actively supports and mentors candidates focused on writing exams & obtaining the CFA Charter. Rex has a Master's in Business Administration and Bachelors in Science degrees and was awarded his CFA Charter in 2013. He has also completed Executive level courses at Schulich Business School and New York Institute of Finance.
Adnan Brkic, CFA Director	Adnan brings over 10 years of investment consulting experience as a Regional Director at CIBC Asset Management & Renaissance Investments. He graduated from Simon Fraser University with a Bachelor of Business Administration and received his Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation in 2018. Adnan is passionate about all things related to finance, consulting, and technology. Adnan is an avid traveller and is always in search of new and interesting cuisine. When he's not sailing or windsurfing, Adnan can be found most weekends taking his dog, Choi, for a local hike or a walk by the river valley.
Patrick Carleton, CFA Director	Patrick brings broad and deep experience, and extensive credentials in financial management to the CFA Society Edmonton board. Prior to investment management industry, Patrick held progressively senior management roles in large public companies, for over 20 years including 15 years with ATCO Group of Companies. Patrick has led financial reporting, strategic planning and analysis, compliance, operational accounting and treasury functions. Patrick is currently Equity Markets Managing Director at Accountability Capital Management, responsible for developing and implementing active strategies including hedging and yield enhancement techniques, and risk management. Patrick's credentials include BCom, MBA, CPA, CMA, CGA, CPA (U.S), CGMA (U.S). He is also a CFA charterholder.
Ian Quigley, CFA Director	Ian founded the registered portfolio management firm, Qube Investments in 2011. Qube currently manages over $350M in private wealth, while employing a small team of local finance professionals and students. Qube passionately follows a valuation-based investment methodology. Ian's academic training includes a graduate degree in Business Administration (MBA), as well as an undergraduate degree in research and analysis (Honors Program Physical Geography). Both from the University of Alberta. Prior to this, he attended the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) completing an honors diploma in Finance and has completed the study programs for the CFP, CIM, CLU, SIPC and CEA designations. Ian hopes to complete the MQE from the CBV program in Sept of 2022. In his spare time, Ian loves to sport climb, bicycle and motorbike backroads in Canada and beyond. He has two daughters that greatly define his life and was lucky enough to have married the love of his life over 30 years ago. He also has a dog named Roary.
Walter Viale, CFA Director	Walter Viale is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), Master in Business Administration (MBA) with specialization in Finance and Energy, Actuary, and Bachelor of Commerce majored in Finance with 22 years of treasury and corporate finance professional experience in the Oil, Natural Gas, LPG, Renewable Energy, Power Generation, Tobacco, Post-Secondary Education, and Government sectors. Has contracted for large publicly traded, privately owned, post-secondary education, and governmental organizations for the past 22 years. Enjoys working in the field of finance, treasury, and energy and has worked on a number of remote sites in Canada and abroad in both intermediate and senior roles. As a professional committed to the investment, finance, and broader business community, Walter has been a member of the Argentinean Finance Executive Association (IAEF) and actively volunteers and participates in educational, professional, and non-for profit associations in Edmonton, Canada; promoting dialogue and connection among students, young professionals, and business communities as well as providing finance guidance, acumen, and governance to non-for profit boards. He is currently working for Strathcona County as a Senior Cash Management Advisor leading, guiding, and empowering the Cash Management and Investment teams.

‭(Hidden)‬ Society Leadership FY20

Stephen J. Thompson, CFA President	Stephen is the Executive Director of Capital Markets for the Government of Alberta leading the Capital Markets team responsible for the development and execution of the Province of Alberta's borrowing and debt management strategy, alternative finance projects and the development of investment strategy and investment policy for the Province's $18 billion Heritage Fund and other provincial endowments. He advises government on the use of the Provincial credit and relationships with the global capital markets and investor communities. Stephen travels extensively and calls on a global network of financial professionals to ensure that Alberta's multi-billion dollar funding requirements are met in the most efficient and cost effective manner possible. Prior to joining the Alberta team in 2013, Steve worked for 15 years at the Province of Nova Scotia where he was responsible for the Province's extensive derivative portfolio, debt issuance and fixed income asset management. Prior to joining government, Steve spent 10 years with the Bank of Nova Scotia in operations and commercial banking. Steve is a Chartered Financial Analyst and holds degrees in Finance and Economics from Saint Mary's University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Steve is an active volunteer in the field of financial literacy and advocacy for professional standards. Steve has over ten years of experience as a volunteer with the CFA institute and as a guest lecturer for several non-profit organizations.
Rex Alex, CFA Vice President	With over 20 years of experience in banking and risk management, Rex currently works as an Assistant Vice President managing Operational Risk at CWB Financial Group. Rex gained his risk management expertise working with various Canadian Schedule I and Schedule II Banks, Crown Corporations as well as International Financial Organizations. Rex also teaches undergraduate students various investment management and finance courses in his spare time. Rex Joined the CFA Society Edmonton Board of Directors in July 2015. Currently he serves as the Chair of the Membership Committee focused on reviewing and approving membership applications, organizing events and delivering value to the Society members. He also actively supports and mentors candidates focused on writing exams & obtaining the CFA Charter. Rex has a Masters in Business Administration and Bachelors in Science degrees and was awarded his CFA Charter in 2013. He has also completed Executive level courses at Schulich Business School and New York Institute of Finance.
Amir Sajedian, CFA Secretary	Amir Sajedian is a Senior Analyst at Investment Risk and Analytics department of Alberta Investment Management Corporation, which is responsible for managing more than 100 billion dollars of assets of provincial pension plans, endowments and foundations across Alberta. Amir is actively involved with measuring and estimating risk metrics of matrix-type structure of more than 50 portfolios and policy benchmarks of different strategies. He previously used to work at Performance analytics department of Aimco, and taught Finance and Statistics at MacEwan University of Edmonton. Amir joined the CFA Society Edmonton Board of Directors in July 2015 as the Director of Candidate Relation and university outreach, and has served the society as secretary since July 2016, where he has supported verities of events across universities in Edmonton. Amir has a masters in Finance and a bachelors in Management and has been awarded the CFA Charter in November 2014 and CIPM in May 2017.
Jonathan Braams, CFA Treasurer	Jonathan is an Associate Portfolio Manager in the Infrastructure and Renewable Resources group at Alberta Investment Management Corporation (AIMCo), a global institutional investment firm with approximately C$100bn assets under management. In this capacity, he is involved with the management of current direct and fund investments and the analysis of new opportunities, specifically in the Timberland and Agriculture sectors. Prior to specializing in Timberland and Agriculture, Jonathan spent time working in AIMCo's Client Relations and Private Equity teams. Jonathan is a member of the Board of Directors of CFA Society Edmonton and currently serves as Treasurer. He is also a member of the Steering Committee for the AIMCo Foundation for Financial Education, an organization that was formed in 2018 to promote financial education. Jonathan holds the CBV and CFA designations and graduated from the University of Alberta with a Bachelor of Commerce degree.
Rod Babineau, CFA Past President	Rod joined the Board of CFA Society Edmonton in 2011 and is currently serving as Past President. He served in the role of President from 2016-2018 and previously served as Vice President and University Relations Chair. Rod is currently the Senior Investment Leader at The City of Calgary where he oversees the $4 billion investment portfolio for The City. Prior to this role Rod worked with the Government of Alberta overseeing the Government's investment portfolios, including the Alberta Heritage Savings Trust Fund. Rod holds a Bachelor of Commerce Degree from the University of Alberta and received his CFA designation in 2005.
Sachi Goto, CFA Director	Sachi joined the Board of CFA Society Edmonton in 2018 and currently serves as a Director. Sachi is an Associate Portfolio Manager at Alberta Investment Management Corporation (AIMCo). In this capacity, she contributes to the management of the C$4.1 billion mortgage investments portfolio which is comprised of first mortgage investments in major Canadian markets as well as fund investments, bridge and mezzanine debt, and construction loans in non-domestic markets. Sachi holds a Bachelor of Mathematics from the University of Waterloo, a Bachelor of Business Administration from Wilfrid Laurier University and completed the Diploma Program in Urban Land Economics from the University of British Columbia. She is a CFA charterholder and a CAIA charterholder.
Raymond Kam, CFA Director	Raymond joined the Board of CFA Society Edmonton in 2017 and currently serves as a Director. Raymond currently holds the position of Senior Manager, Mid-Market Commercial Banking at CIBC manage and develop commercial banking relationships with both private enterprise and publicly listed companies. Prior to joining CIBC, Raymond worked in other financial institutions in the capacity of relationship management, underwriting, treasury management, and banking operations. Raymond holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Alberta with a major in Actuarial Science and also completed the FRM designation from GARP. Raymond is a CFA charterholder since 2016.
Walter Viale, CFA Director	Walter joined the Board of the CFA Society Edmonton in 2019 and currently serves as a Director. Walter is a CFA, MBA, Actuary, and Bachelor of Commerce majored in finance with 18 years of treasury and corporate finance professional experience in the energy, power generation, post-secondary education, and government sectors. He has contracted for large publicly traded, privately owned, and governmental organizations. Walter enjoys working in the field and has worked on a number of remote sites in Canada and abroad in both intermediate and senior roles. He is currently working for the Government of Alberta, Energy Department as a Senior Project Evaluations Analyst.
Christophe Voegeli, BSc, CFP, CLU, CFA Director	Christophe Voegeli is the founder and principal of Clear Focus Financial. His boutique financial planning firm caters to business owners and professionals in the Edmonton and Calgary areas. With nearly 20 years of experience helping clients build their holistic plans, Christophe is thrilled to help clients grow, prosper, and protect their earned investments. His areas of special focus are tax planning, asset management, and estate & insurance organization. He is a member of the Conference for Advanced Life Underwriting (CALU) and he has multiple times been a member of the Million Dollar Round Table, including Court of the Table Member. Christophe holds the CFP and CLU designations and is a CFA charter holder. He joined the CFA Society Edmonton board in 2016, serving as Chair of Private Wealth. In addition to his full-time role at Clear Focus Financial, Christophe teaches finance at NAIT, MacEwan University, and the University of Alberta School of Business, where he teaches subjects such as personal finance and valuation. Christophe is also a regular guest lecturer at each of Edmonton's three major post-secondaries. Christophe has volunteered with Financial Planning Canada in areas of behavioural finance and CFP exam design. Prior to launching his practice, Christophe studied mathematical finance and fluid dynamics en route to earning his BSc. When Christophe is not downhill mountain biking or ski touring, he is with his spectacular wife and sons, or enjoying time with other friends and family.
Chad Yaskiw, CFA Director	Chad is a Portfolio Manager with the University of Alberta investment team. He is responsible for all public market strategies in the University's $1.7 billion endowment consisting of a diversified external manager program as well as internally managed strategies. Prior to joining the team in 2009 he completed a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the Alberta School of Business, and also completed his MBA in 2019. Chad holds the CFA, CAIA, and CIPM designations and is a member of the CFA Society Edmonton Board of Directors responsible for University Outreach, and an alumnus of the Program for Research and Investment Management Excellence (PRIME).