Board of Advisors

GEDAS A. SAKUS

Former President, Technology, at Nortel. Prior to assuming this position, he was President of Northern Telecom’s Public Carrier Networks organization. Since joining Northern Telecom in 1962, Mr. Sakus has held a wide range of senior management positions, including President of the company’s research and development subsidiary BNR. He also served as President of Northern Telecom of Canada. Mr. Sakus served on many prominent boards, such as The Conference Board of Canada, Chairman of The National Quality Institute, and in July 1996 was appointed to the Prime Minister’s Advisory Board on Science and Technology. He also served on a number of business boards such as Hydro One, BCE Emergis, Manitoba Telecom and others. Mr. Sakus holds a B.A.Sc. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Toronto, an Executive MBA from Columbia University in New York, and honorary doctorates from the University of Ottawa, the Technical University of Nova Scotia and University of Toronto.

B.ASc., P.Eng.

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JIM MACDONALD

Jim brings over 25 years of financial services experience in the design, build and senior management for some of Canada’s brand name financial services firms. Jim is a partner in Strata Strategic Alternatives (a multi provincial alternative financial services manufacturing and wholesaling firm) and is currently licensed under New Solutions Capital Group an Exempt Market Dealer. In the 1990’s Jim led the strategic national build out of Money Concepts Canada and IQON Financial (formerly a division of Sun Life). In the 2000’s Jim managed the rebuild of Worldsource Financial ( a division of Guardian Mutual Funds) then joined Walton International as a senior executive conducting the conversion and build out of Walton from a pure land firm into a national financial services firm offering land based financial services product solutions. In addition Jim has done key consulting projects for a series of independent and boutique financial services firms.

Jim is a graduate of the University of Toronto, holds a variety of financial services industry licenses, and is active in a number of the financial services associations. Jim is married with 4 children and as a personal activity participates in drug testing for international sporting events.

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NICK BARISHEFF

Nick Barisheff has focused on the world of precious metals and the advantages of investing in gold, silver, and platinum bullion for the past decade. As president and CEO of Bullion Management Group Inc. (BMG), a precious metals investment company, he uses his understanding of the precious metals markets to develop investment strategies, products and services for clients looking to integrate bullion into their portfolios. His view on the precious metals sector is that gold, silver and platinum in bullion form, are a vital component of an investment program and should make up ten percent or more of a well-diversified portfolio.

In 2002, he launched BMG and BMG BullionFund, Canada’s only RSP eligible open-end mutual fund trust that invests directly in gold, silver and platinum bullion. Recently BMG launched BMG Gold BullionFund and BMG BullionBars. Mr. Barisheff specifically designed all BMG products to meet the three fundamental attributes of owning bullion: liquidity, no counterparty risk and independent of management skills. Now, widely recognized as a North American bullion expert, Mr. Barisheff is an author, speaker and financial commentator who is a regular contributor to several investment newsletters and magazines and regularly appears in the media to provide his view on precious metals, economics, and the markets.

Through BMG, Mr. Barisheff is continuing to develop products and services that allow investors of every level, from institutional to “do-it-yourself” individuals, take full advantage of investing in and holding uncompromised bullion in a portfolio.

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NICK MANCINI

Nick has over 30 years' experience in the financial and information services industries in Canada, US and internationally. Over that time he has held the following senior executive positions: Managing Director of Amex Bank and Senior Vice President, General Manager, Financial Services Group, American Express; President & CEO, International Group, Dun & Bradstreet; Executive Vice President, Canada Trust; Senior Executive Vice President, Trimark Investment Management; President & CEO, Assante Canada; Founder and CEO, CCL Managed Portfolios Inc. He serves and has served on a number of private and public company boards and was an inaugural member of the Schulich Business School Advisory Council, International MBA Program and MIT/York Enterprise forum.

B.A (Honours), Master of Economics, Ph.D. Candidate

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N. GREGORY MCNALLY

Greg McNally is an international tax lawyer by training. He has earned various degrees, including law degrees in both Canada and the United States and a Masters of Law in International Tax. Greg was called to the Alberta Court of Queen's Bench in 1991 and to the Supreme Court of the Turks and Caicos Islands in 1992. Greg practiced international tax law in TCI for 10 years, dealing primarily with high-net-worth Canadian clients. In 2002, Greg returned to Canada with his wife and three children and joined Royal Bank of Canada (Global Private Banking) as their Senior Manager of International Services in Toronto. In 2004, Greg started an international tax consulting firm, where he now oversees the development and implementation of customized international wealth management solutions on behalf of high-net-worth and ultra high-net-worth clients.

BA, LLB, MBA, JD, LLM, TEP

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JOHN RICHARDSON

Since founding BEST in 1996, Mr. Richardson has been heavily involved in all aspects of the firm and its funds. As Chief Executive Officer and Director of BEST, Mr. Richardson has been the individual ultimately responsible for the performance of BEST and its clients’ portfolios. Mr. Richardson is involved with all transactions, and also ensures the firm operates efficiently and in compliance with all regulatory requirements. Over the past 20 years John has also sat on numerous private and public company boards of directors.

Mr. Richardson earned his Charted Accountant designation while at PricewaterhouseCoopers, where he was involved in audits and tax and financial services advisory work for leading Canadian companies. He is also a Chartered Business Valuator, a Senior Counseling Officer, a Certified Financial Planner and a Canadian Investment Manager.

Bachelor of Arts, University Western Ontario, Master of Business Administration from State University of New York,
Certificate Pratique de langue francais, Universite de Savoie

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DR. SAMEH EL TORGOMAN

Dr. El Torgoman has a depth of experience and educational background that makes him an excellent candidate for the PGA Board of Advisors. He has attended the most prestigious universities in the United States and has been an integral part of the financial sector in Egypt. Dr. El Torgoman has been the President of the Cairo and Alexandria Stock Exchange, Chairman of Obelisk Securities and most recently Chairman of Mortgage and Finance Authority for the interim Government of Egypt.

Degree: JSD Major: Capital Market Law, Harvard Law School, Boston, Massachusetts. Degree: LLM Major: Investment Law, Cairo University Faculty of Law, Cairo, Egypt. Degree: B.A of Law

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DR. AMR HASSANEIN

Dr Amr Hassanein is the Chairman of MERIS - Middle East Rating & Investors Service (Moody's Affiliate for Egypt and other countries in the region). MERIS is the sole rating agency that does ratings in the Egyptian market. Dr Hassanein is also Chairman and founder of FinBi - Finance & Banking Consultants International, a niche company in Egypt that invests and also specializes in and provides investors services. Dr Hassanein is a founder and shareholder of EDARA - Al Tameer for Real Estate Management company, Creative Communication Solutions (CCS) (a telecom venture that specializes in bulk SMS), and Iskan Insurance (a wide range insurance company), DFS Group - Development & Financial Services Group (a micro-enterprise lending company).

Dr Hassanein is involved as a Board Member in a number of companies and organizations, including the Electricity Regulatory Authority of Egypt, Smart Aviation (a private jet and aviation company), XD-EGEMac High Voltage Equipment Co. (a Chinese Company that manufactures high voltage transformers in Egypt), and Mena for Touristic & Real Estate Investments (one of the leading real estate companies in Egypt). He is also a Board Member of the Egyptian European Council and Egyptian British Chamber of Commerce.

Dr Hassanein has extensive experience in public policy and local and international development; credit rating; credit information; finance, financial services; privatization, concession contracts and PPP; company valuation and restructuring; mortgage systems; credit mechanisms; M/SMEs (Small, Medium and Micro enterprises) institutional setups; and credit guarantee schemes for M/SMEs.

Dr Hassanein is a Professor of Construction Management, Engineering Department at The American University in Cairo, Egypt.  He obtained a BSc. and MS in Engineering from Cairo University, MS degree in Finance and PhD in Construction Engineering and Management from the University of Illinois in the USA.  

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