Candidate Statement
As the founder and former CEO of Horizn, an award-winning Canadian fintech SaaS company acquired in 2023 by a U.S.-based AI firm, I bring over 15 years of entrepreneurial leadership at the intersection of technology, innovation, and digital transformation. I scaled Horizn globally without venture capital, building strategic partnerships with financial institutions in Canada, the U.S., and the U.K., and leading a successful cross-border acquisition.
My experience spans go-to-market execution, governance oversight, and complex partnerships—especially relevant to CIRA’s mandate of strengthening Canada’s digital future. I understand what it takes to grow a purpose-driven Canadian tech company and have a deep appreciation for digital sovereignty, online trust, and the infrastructure that underpins a secure, open internet.
Serving on CIRA’s board is an opportunity to give back to Canada’s digital ecosystem. I’m passionate about ensuring the internet remains a resilient, inclusive public resource for all Canadians.
From my perspective as a Canadian tech entrepreneur and founder of a globally scaled SaaS platform, CIRA plays a foundational role in ensuring Canada’s internet is secure, resilient, and future-ready. As the operator of the .CA domain, CIRA safeguards a critical piece of national digital infrastructure. But more importantly, it acts as a trusted steward of our digital future—supporting cybersecurity innovation, rural connectivity, digital literacy, and community-led internet initiatives.
Having built and scaled a fintech company without venture capital—serving major financial institutions across Canada, the U.S., and the U.K.—I deeply understand the importance of a stable and secure internet ecosystem for both innovation and public trust. CIRA’s investments in DNS security and internet performance are the invisible backbone supporting Canadian startups, social enterprises, and public services alike.
CIRA matters because a strong, inclusive internet empowers all Canadians to participate in the digital economy. Its mission—to build a trusted internet for Canadians—aligns closely with my values as a technology leader and advocate for digital access, innovation, and online sovereignty. In an era where the internet is central to our economic, social, and democratic life, CIRA’s role is more critical than ever.
I want to serve on CIRA’s Board to contribute my experience as a Canadian tech founder, entrepreneur and governance leader to an organization that protects and advances our digital infrastructure. As the founder and former CEO of Horizn—a fintech SaaS platform scaled globally and acquired in 2023—I’ve spent over a decade at the forefront of digital transformation, innovation strategy, and customer adoption in highly regulated industries.
I understand firsthand the importance of a secure, accessible, and trusted internet in enabling Canadian innovation, economic inclusion, and digital sovereignty. I’ve led strategic partnerships with major financial institutions, overseen technology risk, and successfully navigated a cross-border acquisition—experiences that are directly relevant to CIRA’s governance and strategic oversight needs.
As a graduate of the ICD-Rotman Directors Education Program (ICD.D), I bring a strong understanding of fiduciary responsibility, boardroom dynamics, and risk governance. I’ve served in both governance and advisory roles and am passionate about ensuring the internet remains an open, resilient, and inclusive platform for all Canadians.
Joining CIRA’s Board would allow me to give back to the ecosystem that helped me build a globally successful Canadian company, and to help guide CIRA’s evolution in a time of accelerating digital change. I bring a entrepreneurial and collaborative spirit, a strategic lens, and a deep commitment to CIRA’s public interest mandate.
Cybersecurity and Resilience: As cyber threats escalate, CIRA must evolve its DNS and cybersecurity offerings to protect Canadian users and infrastructure. This is an opportunity to lead nationally in digital safety. My experience as a fintech founder serving highly regulated global banks gives me deep insight into cybersecurity, compliance, and digital risk—critical to CIRA’s oversight in this space.
Strengthening the .CA Brand: In an era of increasing online misinformation and global domain alternatives, trust in the .CA domain is both a challenge and opportunity. CIRA can further position .CA as a marker of security, identity, and Canadian values. I’ve built and marketed a globally recognized SaaS platform from the ground up, with no venture capital—experience that taught me how to differentiate, build trust at scale, and strengthen brand value through strategic execution.
Closing the Digital Divide: Digital inequity persists across rural and marginalized communities in Canada. CIRA’s investment in access and literacy is critical. As a tech entrepreneur and advocate for inclusive innovation, I understand how to align business models with public purpose. I’ve navigated complex markets with limited resources, and bring a pragmatic, impact-driven lens to scaling programs that matter.