Minneapolis Speakers

FT Global Investment Series: Focus on Canada
Create. Innovate. Grow.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011 - Windows on Minnesota, Minneapolis

[Overview]  [Agenda]  [Who Should Attend]  [Supporting Partners]  [Venue]  

Ed Crooks
US Industry and Energy Editor
Financial Times

Ed Crooks is US industry and energy editor for the Financial Times, based in New York.

Since joining the FT in 1999, Crooks has served as energy editor, UK news editor and economics editor based in London.

Prior to this, he was an economics correspondent for the BBC, reporting both on television and radio. Crooks has also served as a reporter and editor for Investors Chronicle, as well as an economic analyst for the Institute for Fiscal Studies.

He is a graduate of Oxford University with a degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE).

Albert G. De Luca
Partner, Tax
Deloitte & Touche LLP

Tax Partner responsible for R&D and Government Incentives groups for East of Canada practice and member of the National R&D group Management Committee.

Albert has more than 30 years of experience dealing with IT companies and manufacturing entities which perform R&D.  He has advised companies on tax matters relating to cost-sharing agreements, intellectual property transfer and R&D tax credit optimization.

He was a member of the Quebec government innovation committee of the MDEIE (Ministère du Développement économique, de l'Innovation et de l'Exportation)..

He is a boardmember of the ADRIQ (Association de la recherche industrielle du Québec).

Neil Fraser
President
Medtronic of Canada Ltd.

Neil Fraser joined Medtronic in 1984 and has held positions of increasing responsibility within the Canadian organization until he was promoted to President of Medtronic of Canada Ltd. on May 1, 2004.

Prior to his current role, Neil was the Business Director responsible for Neuro & Diabetes, Vascular & Cardiac Surgery, and Communications & Regulatory Affairs. From 1996-1999, he was the Director of Marketing, Cardiovascular Products, and from 1991-1996 he was the Sales & Marketing Manager, Cardiac Surgery. He previously held various Business Development & Marketing Manager roles in CRDM, Cardiac Surgery & Neuro Divisions.

As a new business graduate, he worked from 1983-1984 as a Business Development Manager for Alcan Canada Products Ltd. and was responsible for the introduction of aluminum cans to Canada, including the initiation of curbside recycling programs in Ontario and Quebec in partnership with Environment Ministries.

As a graduate engineer, he worked from 1978-1981 as a Technical Brand Manager in Products Research for Procter & Gamble Inc. There he was responsible for the start-up of a new automated cake mix technology and the patented invention of a new solvent-based household cleaner technology which became a world product: Liquid Spic and Span.

Mr. Fraser has a Bachelor of Applied Science degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of British Columbia and an MBA from the Richard Ivey School of Business at the University of Western Ontario. He also holds a P.Eng. and is a member of the Professional Engineers - Ontario.

He acts as an advisor to several university engineering and business faculties, including UBC Engineering (EAC) and Biomedical Engineering (BMEG); University of Ottawa and Carleton Biomedical Engineering; UWO Ivey Business School Health Sector/ICHIL. Neil is a past board member of MEDEC (Medical Devices Industry Association) and is currently a campaign cabinet member for the United Way of Peel, responsible for the Pharma & Chemical sector. He is a founding member and incoming co-chair of the Centre for the Advancement of Health Innovations (CAHI) and the Rotman School "Judy Project" (Initiative for Women in Business).

As President of the Medtronic business entity within Canada, Mr. Fraser reports directly to Mr. Rob ten Hoedt - SVP, Canada/Western Europe.

David P. Homer
Senior Vice President; President
General Mills Canada

David Homer is a Senior Vice President at General Mills, Inc. and the President of General Mills Canada Corporation.  David came to Canada in 2006 to lead General Mills' Canadian division, one of the largest packaged food companies in the country.  The company's brands include Cheerios, Nature Valley, Old El Paso, Betty Crocker and Green Giant; all Canadian household favorites and leaders in their respective categories.

David joined General Mills in 1987.  He has held senior positions in Marketing and in other international divisions, namely Latin America and Australia and New Zealand.

David is currently the Chair of the Board of Directors of Food and Consumer Products Canada (FCPC).  FCPC is the largest industry association representing the food and consumer products industry in the country.  Its mission is to provide leadership to its member companies and foster an environment where members can compete, innovate and sustain growth.

David is married.  He and his wife Nancy have six children and 1 grandchild.  When he is not working, you will find him devoting his time and energy to his family and community.  Additionally, no matter what the weather conditions are, you will find David out on trails and back roads logging many miles under his feet.  David recently took up long distance running and has completed two marathons.

He received his MBA in Finance from the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School of Business.

David Harris Kolada
Vice President, Corporate and Market Development
Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC)

As Vice President, Corporate and Market Development, David Harris Kolada's overall function is to support the President and CEO in the development and management of strategic plans and initiatives required to deliver on SDTC mandates.  Among other responsibilities, David leads SDTC's Follow-on Funding program, connecting private sector investors with SDTC portfolio companies to finance their commercialization and growth plans.

David brings nearly 20 years of experience in venture capital, technology company management and investment banking to SDTC. He has held several senior management positions over the course of his career, including those of Senior Director, Strategic Investment at Cognos (now IBM) and Senior Vice President, Corporate Development and Chief Financial Officer at Eloqua Corporation. Previously, David gained experience in venture capital investment management at Jefferson Partners, where as a Partner he jointly managed over $200 million of assets. David began his career as an investment banker both on Bay Street and Wall Street, where he developed relationships with world class companies and professionals and a deep understanding of the capital markets.

David holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) from Queen's University.


Martin Loken
Consul General of Canada, Minneapolis

Martin Loken has served as Canada's Consul General in Minneapolis since July 2008. He is Canada's senior representative in the Upper Midwest states of Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota. Martin leads a team of professionals building two-way trade and investment ties, engaging decision-makers and citizens on a range of issues important to both countries and helping Canadians living and travelling in the region.

Martin joined Canada's Foreign Service in 1990. He has served overseas at Canada's Embassy in Prague, from 1992 to 1994; and at Canada's Permanent Mission to the World Trade Organization and the United Nations in Geneva from 1998 to 2002. He participated in the negotiations to bring China into the WTO and in the launch of the Doha Round of trade talks.

In various assignments at the Ottawa headquarters of Canada's Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Martin has worked on a broad range of issues, including science and technology relations and global human rights. From 2002 to 2008 he worked on several major trade agreements and negotiations, including serving as Deputy Chief Negotiator for free trade talks with Colombia, Peru and the European Free Trade Association and as Deputy Coordinator for the North American Free Trade Agreement.

Martin and his wife Marianne Loken, a Minnesota native and graduate of Carleton College, have two children. He graduated from the University of Waterloo in 1989 with degrees in Systems Design Engineering and Arts. In 1988, he spent four months investigating ultrasound imaging techniques as a guest researcher at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN.

Martins leisure-time pursuits include running, cross-country skiing, tennis and learning golf. He is four-fifths of the way towards his goal of running a half marathon in each of the states in the Consulate's territory.

Dr. Tofy Mussivand, FRSC
Professor of Surgery & Engineering, University of Ottawa & Carleton University
Director, Cardiovascular Devices, uOttawa Heart Institute / The Ottawa Hospital
Director & CEO, Medical Devices Innovation Institute

Dr Tofy Mussivand received his undergraduate education and training in engineering and management. Following many successful years in senior positions in government, crown corporations and the private sector, Dr Mussivand went on to receive his doctorate in Medical Engineering and Medical Sciences at the University of Akron and Northeastern Ohio Universities Colleges of Medicine.  Thereafter, Dr Mussivand joined the internationally acclaimed Cleveland Clinic where he gained invaluable knowledge and experience in the development of medical devices, artificial hearts and cardiac care. In 1989, Dr Mussivand was invited to return to Canada to continue his pioneering work in various areas.

Tom Wacker
Senior Vice President of Renewable Energy Groups
Mortenson Construction

Tom joined Mortenson in 1987 and currently serves as senior vice president. He is a member of Mortenson's senior leadership team, assisting in operations management and overall company strategic development. He provides leadership to the company's Renewable Energy Groups and project management controls department. Under his leadership, the Renewable Energy Groups has grown tenfold. He is a member of the firm's operations committee, Kaizen team, and governance steering team for company initiatives.

Tom received his Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Minnesota.


Andrew Winston
Founder of Winston Eco-Strategies
Author of Green Recovery

Andrew Winston, founder of Winston Eco-Strategies, is the author of Green Recovery, a strategic plan for using environmental thinking to survive hard economic times. He is also the co-author of Green to Gold, the best-selling guide to what works - and what doesn't - when companies go green.

Andrew is a globally recognized expert on green business, appearing regularly in major media such as The Wall Street Journal, Time, BusinessWeek, The New York Times, and CNBC. Andrew is dedicated to helping companies both large and small use environmental strategy to grow, create enduring value, and build stronger relationships with employees, customers, and other stakeholders. His clients have included Bank of America, Bayer, HP, Pepsi, Boeing, and IKEA. Andrew also sits on the Sustainability Advisory Board of Kimberly-Clark Corporation.

Andrew bases his work on significant in-company business experience. His earlier career included advising companies on corporate strategy while at Boston Consulting Group and management positions in strategy and marketing at Time Warner and MTV. After these more traditional roles, Andrew pursued his passion to explore the overlap between business and environment. He served as the Director of the Corporate Environmental Strategy Project at Yale's renowned School of Forestry and Environmental Studies.

Today, Andrew is a highly respected and dynamic speaker, reaching audiences of thousands of people around the world and acting as a practical evangelist for the benefits of going green. He also writes extensively on green business strategy, including a weekly column for Harvard Business Online, regular pieces on Huffington Post, and a monthly strategy e-letter, Eco-Advantage Strategies. For his efforts, Andrew was recently named a "Planet Defender" by Rock the Earth.

Andrew received his BA in Economics from Princeton, an MBA from Columbia, and a Masters of Environmental Management from Yale. He lives in Riverside, CT with his wife Christine and two young sons.