Value Added Presenter Biographies

Jump to:

• Business Development Bank of Canada
• Johnathan Finlayson
• Ian Murray
• OSME
  • Jerry Haley
  • Usha Joshi
  • Constance Brand
• Rob Subramanian

Business Development Bank of Canada

BDC’s objective is to provide solutions, and support the Canadian manufacturers in dealing with their challenges by:

1. Recognising the difficulties faced by the manufacturing sector
2. BDC’s position vis-à-vis its manufacturers;
3. “Speed bumps” on due diligence;
4. BDC’s integrated solutions that support the manufacturers sector.

Steve Zink, Vice President & Area Manager Northern Alberta, Northwest Terriorities & Nunavut
Steve Zink has been in Edmonton for the past 4 years as the Vice President & Area Manager for Northern Alberta, Northwest Terriorities & Nunavut based out of BDC’s Edmonton branch.

Steve, a Certified Management Accountant, brings 10 years banking experience to our Edmonton area. He started with the Bank in June 1994 at our New Westminster, BC Branch, and a year later was promoted to Branch Manager, Fort St. John, BC. Since then he has held various position with the Bank as Branch Manager, Langley Branch, Senior Manager, Emerging Markets and Vice-President & Area Manager, Kelowna. Steve holds an Honours Bachelor of Business Degree in Administration from Trinity Western University.

Johnathan Finlayson

Johnathan began his career in Freight Logistics at Alberta Intermodal Services in 1991, facilitating the movement of local drayage for container traffic through CN & CP rail.  From this he successfully navigated through Calgary based Freight Forwarding and Customs Brokerage companies until he joined The Cole Group in 2001 as the Calgary Freight Manager.  In December 2004 Johnathan moved to the corporate head office located in Calgary in the new role of Compliance & Training.  With expansion of his role and duties his current profile has changed to Manager – Special Projects.

In these roles he has been instrumental to the creation of Operational Freight Manuals; Quality Policy Manual – Corporate and Freight division (ISO Equivalent); Creation of Training Modules; Staff Training to process, policies and operating system; Compliance awareness training to AMPS, PIP/ C-TPAT; Internal Software measures for Compliance with IT team; Procurement; Procedural development and adherence to Security and Safety protocols and Facilitation and presentation modules to Letter of Credit, Incoterms 2000, Freight Logistics, Insurance, ACI, Chartering and Capital Projects.

Certification:
IATA DG, WHIMS, CIFFA, Organizational Behaviour, Train the Trainer Facilitation 

Ian Murray

Ian currently leads Canadian Pacific’s Logistics Solution division.    He has 25 years of experience working in Retailing, Consulting, Transportation and 3rd Party Logistics.   Ian’s work has focused on identifying, designing and implementing strategies & services focused on delivering value through enhanced operational and strategic solutions.

He has held a variety of positions in General Management, Distribution, Logistics Management, Managing New Technologies, and Business Development.

He continues to be actively involved in Logistics and Supply Chain associations and education.

Office of Small and Medium Enterprises (OSME)

OSME provides two types of support for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) wishing to do business with the government. The Office assists SMEs as they navigate the government procurement system and works within the government to ensure that the procurement system treats SMEs fairly.

Jerry Haley has over 30 years experience within the Federal Government, over 20 years at the Executive level. Departments and agencies include Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Industry Canada, Western Economic Diversification, Canadian Commercial Corporation and PWGSC. Mr. Haley was appointed Regional Director of the Office of Small and Medium Enterprises, Western Region, in March, 2007.

Usha Joshi has experience in contracting for project management and for professional services. She has worked at a senior level in Public Works and Government Services Canada, Industry Canada and Canada School of Public Service and has recently joined OSME as Chief, Stakeholder Engagement.

Constance Brand has been with PWGSC for over 6 years where she has procured everything from goods, services, research and development, to construction projects for various government departments. Currently, she is working with the OSME office, providing information to small and medium enterprises about doing business with the Government of Canada.

Rob Subramanian

Ron Subramanian is Director of Business Development for CME’s (Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters) icosmo Alberta project.  He is a graduate of Chemical Engineering from the University of Waterloo and gained experience in manufacturing working as a process engineer in various sectors including food, pharmaceutical, metallurgy, and electronics before making a shift to project management.

In 2003, Ron moved to South Africa to continue the development of CABSA (Canadian Alliance for Business in South Africa), a project aimed at developing long-term business partnerships between the two nations.  After the completion of CABSA, he spent an additional year working as a consultant to the Gauteng provincial government to deliver social housing programs to the Johannesburg’s decimated inner city.

Upon his return, Ron joined the CME as a project manager for its Manufacturing 20/20 exercise and has been involved in various projects for the organization ever since, the biggest of which being its Alberta project.  In his spare time, he is a musician.