Voices Shaping the Conversation

John C. Sinclair, CPA, CA, LPA
Founder, Pontis Capital

John has spent more than 35 years working with companies as they grow, raise capital and enter Canadian public markets. Much of that work has been with companies based around the world, helping their leaders understand the opportunities and responsibilities that come with entering the Canadian market. As an audit partner, advisor and board director, he has seen the process from several sides: what a company needs to prepare, what investors want to understand, and what it takes to build trust over time.

John has built businesses himself. He was Managing Partner of Baker Tilly’s Toronto office and founded Kitchen Sinc Consulting. His work has included public listings, financings and cross-border transactions, and he has long been an ambassador for Canada’s capital markets around the world. He currently serves as Senior Audit Partner at Clearhouse LLP and as a director and Audit Committee Chair of several Canadian public companies, including companies with operations in Israel and Korea.

John created Pontis Capital to make connections between growth companies and Canadian investors more purposeful. He brings his experience building businesses, his knowledge of Canadian markets and his international relationships to help companies prepare well, meet the right people and build relationships that last beyond a single event.

Phillip has collectively over 30 years of sales and marketing experience at various North American companies across multiple industries such as Finance, Technology, and Sports Management.

Phillip Shum is currently the Director, Listings Development for the Canadian Securities Exchange, one of Canada’s regulated stock exchanges. His core mandate is to represent the CSE to be a concierge for companies interested in seeking a public listing with the CSE. He helps with providing regulatory and capital markets guidance for a positive go-public listings experience, and is focused on opportunities amongst multiple jurisdictions and sectors from Eastern North America, Israel, and Asia.

Prior to his tenure at the CSE, he was a Vice-President in charge of sales and marketing at Gravitas Financial for Smallcappower. His past engagements include PayPal Canada, CPNI, and ATI Technologies and various startup companies.

Phillip holds a Bachelor of Administrative Studies degree, focused in Marketing through York University, and has a graduate certificate in Sport and Event marketing from George Brown College. He has also completed an Merger and Acquisitions certificate from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He is active in various sports including golf, ice hockey and softball.