Board of Directors
Marc Murnaghan | Chair of the Board of Directors
Marc is President of Harrington Global Inc., a Toronto based merchant bank focused on the energy sector. Marc has over 20 years of experience in the investment banking business and prior to joining Harrington Global Inc. in September 2014, he was Co-Head of the Investment Banking group at Cormark Securities Inc.. Prior to his role as Co-Head of Investment Banking, Marc ran the Power and Alternative Energy group where he helped raise over $1 billion of equity capital for companies in the sector in areas such as solar, wind, hydro, geothermal, biomass, power electronics, battery technologies and fuel cells. Over his career, Marc has acted as strategic advisor on over $1 billion of M&A transactions, including corporate sales, asset sales and strategic investments.
Throughout Marc’s career, he has demonstrated his commitment to his community through his charity work. He currently occupies the role of Chair of the Board of Directors at Autism Speaks Canada, the leading autism science and advocacy organization in the world.
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Chris Brown | Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors
Chris Brown joined Equitable Life of Canada as Vice-President, Human Resources in February 2006. Chris oversees the Corporate Services functions including Human Resources (HR), Corporate Communications, Document Services, Facilities and Process Improvement team.
A leader with over 25 years of experience in HR and employee relations in the public and private sectors with companies of all sizes, Chris has led HR teams in two of Canada's largest banks, CIBC supporting international Investment Banking Division, and TD Canada Trust supporting the national retail branch banking network. He has also had HR leadership experience in manufacturing, public utilities and the steel industry.
Chris has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Wilfrid Laurier University.
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Michael Goodman
Michael Goodman is Managing Partner at GWC Heritage Partners; a boutique firm based out of Westmount, Quebec, specializing in capital acquisition and alternative investment. The Heritage portfolio of companies has significant interests across several industries both domestically and internationally, with a concentration in Health Care, Technology, and Commercial Real Estate. Michael is a strategic advisor and board member of CDL Group, International Fire Brand, and MotherFood International.
Strongly involved in social impact and leadership, he is currently the Chairman of the Jewish National Fund (JNF) of Montreal and Director of JNF Canada, Treasurer of the Canadian Friends of Tel Aviv University (CFTAU) and Director of Autism Speaks Canada. He is past Chairman of Hessed, the benevolent arm of the Communauté Sépharade Unifée du Quebec (CSUQ), and has served both as a Director and Executive member of the Foundation. He has also notably served as an advisor to the Canadian Delegation of the Social Impact Investment Taskforce, which was established by the UK Presidency of the G8.
Michael is a graduate of The Ivey Business School and the Institute of Family Enterprise Advisors FEA designation program, and holds multiple certifications from Moody’s Analytics CSI Global Education, as well as the Investment Fund Institute of Canada.
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Mária Tatarová | Secretary of the Board of Directors
Mária is a senior associate with the International Tax Services practice at Couzin Taylor LLP, a member firm of Ernst & Young LLP in Toronto, Canada. She advises multinational clients on Canadian tax issues associated with cross-border tax planning, corporate reorganizations, acquisitions and financing transactions.
Prior to joining the firm, Maria practiced tax law as an associate at a major Canadian law firm. For two years, she was seconded to the International Tax department of a leading Canadian bank.
Mária has contributed to several tax publications, including articles in the Canadian Tax Journal, Tax Notes International, Canadian Current Tax, Tax Management International Journal, OBA Taxation Law and the Tax Planning International Review.
Mária received her Bachelor of Laws from the University of Victoria Law School. She received a Management and Economics graduate diploma from Program Copernicus in France, as well as a Management diploma from the National School of Civil Engineering in France. She also received a Civil Engineering degree from Slovak Technical University.
Mária was awarded the Osgoode Society for Canadian Legal History Prize for the 25 students attaining the highest grades in the Bar Admission Course. She was also awarded the Stikeman Elliott/Carswell National Tax Award for Excellence in Taxation Law and Thorsteinssons Prize in Taxation for obtaining the highest grade in Taxation. She was called to the Ontario Bar in 2004.
Mária is a member of the Law Society of Upper Canada, the Canadian Tax Foundation, the Canadian Bar Association and the International Fiscal Association.
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Samantha Levenson
Samantha is deeply committed to giving back and has devoted much of her time to Autism Ontario as the Toronto chapter President and more recently as a member of the board of directors at Autism Speaks Canada.
Samantha’s extensive and varied experience as a lawyer has given her the opportunity to combine her passion for giving back, her desire to advocate on behalf of children and her love of the law. She began her career in private practise and has spent the last ten years working as Legal Counsel for Children & Family Services, Catholic Children’s Aid Society and Children’s Aid Society of Toronto.
Samantha has also devoted time to the Family Law Project, Metro Woman Abuse Council, Community & Legal Aid Services Programme, BAR/BRI and Nassau County Coalition Against Domestic Violence.
Samantha participates in fundraising and advocacy as well as helping to spread awareness about autism spectrum disorder. Her strong analytic skills and generous spirit are an asset to Autism Speaks Canada.
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Laurence D. Rose | Treasurer of the Board of Directors
Laurence Rose is a Senior Managing Director at Cantor Fitzgerald & Co., and President & Chief Executive Officer of Cantor Fitzgerald Canada Corporation. Mr. Rose is responsible for the executive management and leadership of Cantor Fitzgerald’s Canadian institutional investment bank as well as executive oversight of a number of business units, joint ventures, and investments.
Prior to joining Cantor Fitzgerald, Mr. Rose was founder and CEO of CollectiveBid Systems Inc. and its wholly-owned investment dealer subsidiary, CBID Markets Inc., which launched Canada's first Alternative Trading System. With over 20 years’ experience in the investment and technology sectors, Mr. Rose has been an innovator in the electronic fixed income trading industry. His professional experience also includes positions with RBC Dominion Securities Inc., Dow Jones Markets Inc. and Bridge Information Systems.
Mr. Rose has served on various financial services industry regulatory advisory committees including the Ontario Securities Commission's Bond Market Transparency Committee. He is Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Dunblaine School in Toronto, and serves on the Board of Directors of Autism Speaks Canada and the York Racquets Club. Mr. Rose holds a BA in Economics from Concordia University.
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Rob Segal
Rob Segal has been a leading North American marketing and communications specialist working with some of the World's biggest and most respected brands. Segal founded his own agency Segal Communications in 1995.
In 1996 Segal launched the original PlayStation and would go on to oversee and execute all of PlayStation's Canadian marketing for the next 12 years. During this time Segal Communications grew into one of the largest experiential, creative, promotional & licensing agencies in Canada. Clients included: Ford, Marvel, HP, Dreamworks, Unilever (Axe & Degree), Virgin Mobile, Party Poker, 20th Century Fox and many more. Segal Communications was acquired in 2000 by Interpublic.
In 2006 Segal partnered with Facebook, opening Facebook's first office outside Palo Alto exclusively representing sales efforts in Canada until 2009. Segal left the agency at the end of 2009 and became CEO of WorldGaming. WorldGaming was an early pioneer in the exciting world of eSports. WorldGaming was acquired by Cineplex in September 2015. In April 2016, Segal became CEO of Avid Life Media (since rebranded to ruby) one of the world's largest online dating companies - best known for it's revolutionary brands: Ashley Madison, CougarLife and Established Men. Segal established CryptoGlobal Inc. in summer 2017 and serves as CEO. CG is a crypto currency mining facility located in Canada.
Segal is an avid skier, surfer, musician and board member of OMX (theOMX.com) and Autism Speaks Canada.
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Susan Zikman Wise
Susan Zikman-Wise has extensive experience as a philanthropist and an active advocate for children with disabilities.
For the past 22 years, Susan has been the Director of Communications for KRG Children’s Charitable Foundation and acted as a liaison between KRGCCF and other children’s charities: Sick Kids Foundation, Camp Oochigeas, Dr. Jay’s Children’s Grief Center, Variety Village, One Family Fund, Giant Steps and Autism Speaks Canada.
Since 2006, Susan has been the founder and President of Charmz4Charity, an organization that enriches lives of all children through educational programs that empower them to work together towards a common goal, teach the value of creativity, generosity and compassion, and contributes essential proceeds to children’s charitable organizations.
Susan has also been an integral part of the Autism Speaks Canada Family Services Community Grants since their inception and has overseen the distribution of over $3.4 million to autism-focused organizations across Canada.
In 2016, Susan received a Spotlight Award by Variety Village in recognition for her volunteerism. Susan Zikman-Wise has held a seat on the Board of Autism Speaks Canada since early 2017 and is a Board Member of the Dr. Jay’s Children’s Grief Center.
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Ken Lipson
Ken Lipson has 30 years of experience creating, building and leading asset management opportunities.
He began his career after University, joining Bramalea Limited at the age of 22, and has continued to hold senior roles in asset-based ventures ever since. Ken has knowledge and experience in many aspects of corporate management including building management teams, implementing selected technologies, corporate finance, optimal capital structures, marketing, cost control and executing corporate strategy. He has been a member of the Canadian Finance & Lease Association, Fair Rental Policy Organization, the Greater Toronto Apartment Association and was a former Group Leader of the Young Entrepreneur Organization.
Ken holds a Bachelor degree from the University of Toronto and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Western Ontario. Ken’s hands-on management style and interpersonal skills make him an asset to those he is involved with. Ken has had an extensive volunteer career as well. He founded the Paediatric Vaculitis Research Endowment Fund for the Hospital For Sick Children Foundation, the Paediatric Autism Intervention Endowment Fund at the Hospital For Sick Children Foundation, the Out of the Blue Charity Initiative supporting genetic science and research at University of Toronto and was a Member of the Children’s Circle of Care and Sick Kids Leaders at the Hospital Foundation in Toronto.
He joins us now as member of the Board of Directors of Autism Speaks Canada. During his personal time, Ken cherishes being with his wife and two children.
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