Board of Directors

Robert Smuk, Chair

Robert has been a board member, strategist and leader across numerous organizations ranging from global corporations to start ups.  As president and CEO across three technology and services companies in the financial services industry, Robert has been able to marry strong leadership, deep financial services knowledge and a love for technology to build, transform and enable diverse global teams. Robert now spends the majority of his time bringing that experience to early stage Canadian companies.

John Adams, Director

From 1992 until 1996 John was Director, Financial Services of McMaster University, and from 1996 until 2000 was Treasurer of The Old Republic Insurance (Canada) group of companies.  He joined Primerica in 2000, was appointed CEO Primerica Life Canada in 2002 and CEO of PFSL Investments in 2006.

John is a Board member of the Federation of Mutual Fund Dealers and the Investment Funds Institute of Canada and is a past Chairman. John has served on the boards of several not for profit organizations, often in a financial advisory capacity.  He lives in Port Credit with his wife and two children.

Aly Damji, Director

Aly Damji is the President of HUB Capital. He has been with HUB for the last 12 years and been in the financial services industry since 2000.

He is often a guest speaker at industry events and uses his past experiences in the field to better relate to HUB’s brokers and provide them the resources and tools they need to succeed.

Bill Charles, Director

Bill Charles is the Chief Executive Officer of Global Maxfin Investments Inc. and Global Insurance Solutions Inc. In this role, he is responsible for the overall leadership, direction, growth and profitability of the MFDA Dealership and MGA Business. 

Bill served on the Board of Directors of the MFDA from 2011 to 2013. 

Élisabeth Chamberland, Director

As a member of the financial services industry for over 15 years, Elisabeth is the Chief Compliance Officer of PEAK Investment Services, an entity of PEAK Financial Group, one of the largest independent dealers in Canada. Elisabeth has been a member of the compliance committee for the Conseil des fonds d’investissement du Québec (CFIQ) for over 10 years. (CFIQ serves as the voice of IFIC in Quebec.) She joined the board of directors of the Federation of Mutual Fund Dealers in 2022.

Nelson Cheng, Director

Nelson first entered the mutual fund industry in 1987. He founded Sterling Mutuals in 1996 in order to offer the industry an alternative to the traditional mutual fund dealer. He has been a supporter of health care organizations in the Windsor Essex County area for the past 25 years. His company, Sterling Mutuals Inc. is the lead sponsor for the Tee Off For Teens Charity Golf Tournament, which raises funds for youth programs and services provided by the Teen Health Centre/Windsor Essex Community Health Centre. The tournament is now in its 20th year.

Richard S. Pyper, Director

CEO of Monarch Wealth and EXOS Wealth Systems, Inc., and president of Customplan Financial Advisors Inc., Richard plays a pivotal role in shaping the company’s course. His responsibilities encompass identifying market opportunities, crafting long-term strategies, and ensuring the organization’s unwavering commitment to innovation and competitiveness. Richard sits on the boards of prominent financial institutions: Barrington Wealth Partners, Roche Tax and Accounting Services, and Customplan Financial Advisors Inc.

Krissy Sukhraj, Director

Krissy Sukhraj serves as the Director of Business Development and Corporate Strategy at Keybase Financial Group Inc. and Argosy Securities Inc. Her professional journey began within one of the big 5 banks before she made a deliberate shift to the independent channel, seeking greater fulfillment. With a wealth of experience exceeding 12 years in the financial services industry and the independent dealer space, Krissy has emerged as a passionate advocate for independent advisors. Her mission is to offer unbiased financial solutions tailored to the Canadian landscape. Through her tenure, she has cultivated robust relationships with key leadership executives and industry stakeholders.

John Webster, Director

Joined Queensbury Securities in 1992. Assisted in creating Queensbury’s mutual fund dealer, Queensbury Strategies in 1993 and obtaining Queensbury Securities’ IIROC membership in 2002. Member of the IIAC Small Dealers Committee, and a volunteer Director and past-Chairman of the S.H.A.R.E. Agriculture Foundation.