POA FOUNDATION - Key Persons

Job Titles:

• Executive Advisor to the Chairman
• Personal Adviser

Toronto lawyer Aman S. Patel is a personal adviser to the foundation's chairman, Dr. Aditya Jha. Aman met Aditya shortly after Aman's call to the Ontario Bar in 2002. They soon discovered that they shared a deep desire to serve the community and often debated ideas on how the upper echelons of the Indo-Canadian community could better serve the community at large. Aman often challenged Aditya's ideas on what could be done and which segment of the community could best be served. Aman challenged Aditya with the idea that while a "heavyweight" Indo-Canadian philanthropist was indeed a rarity, there was certainly a handful which could make the one. He further posited the idea that involvement with Canada's First Nations and Aboriginal communities, which are very much an integral part of the Canadian fabric, would create closer ties between the communities. Both Aman and Aditya believed in the value of education and were entrepreneurs in their own right. It was not too long before Aman helped Aditya pave the way to creating the POA Foundation. Since then, Aman seeded the idea of Project Beyshick and continues to consult for Aditya on a variety of philanthropic and other matters.

Job Titles:

• Co - Founder of Project Beyshick
• Radical Entrepreneur, Angel Investor, International Consultant / Director of Projects, POA Educational Foundation

Often described as a tribe of one, and one of the tribe, Ashutosh is an Entrepreneur based between Toronto (Canada) and Delhi / Mumbai (India). His projects are driven by needs and frustrations of his own, and people at large. He has been working with leading thinkers, artists, executives, and entrepreneurs on initiatives across business, arts, philanthropy, and public policy for over 21 years. Ashutosh is a graduate of Trinity College, University of Toronto (Software Engineering, Computer Science and Philosophy) as well as the Rotman School of Management (Bridge to Business program). He briefly attended the University of Guelph for Computing and Information Science. He is the former student head of Canada's premier undergraduate college, Trinity College at the University of Toronto. He also served as the student head of his high school (2,300+ students) where he started a garbage reduction program being practiced to date. Within POA, Ashutosh is the co-founder of Project Beyshick, a venture philanthropy initiative in collaboration with the Grand Chief of Nishnawbe Aski Nation, a region covering two-thirds of Ontario. Project Beyshick (2005-2010) incubated entrepreneurs within the Canadian Aboriginal community. In past, he has volunteered with the Frontier College and Learning to Integrate New Culture, among others. He was a member of UNICEF Canada's India HIV/ AIDS Campaign and the Trinity College Family Campaign Cabinet. Through 2009-2010, Ashutosh leads a unique initiative with a team of 25 volunteers to provide in-kind consulting services to the Mississauga Food Bank (Ontario, Canada) as part of Accenture's commitment to corporate citizenship and sustainability. The project received special recognition and awards for their work and commitment to the food bank. It is a less-known fact that the Mississauga (Ontario, Canada) Food Bank alone serves an average of 38,000 clients each month. Ashutosh is a recipient of the Accenture Hero Award (2009), the Government of Ontario's Volunteer Service Award (2010), and the Government of Canada's Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal (2012).

Job Titles:

• Member of the Order of Canada
• Philanthropist

Aditya Jha is a philanthropist & social activist at heart and also a passionate serial entrepreneur. His entrepreneurial pursuits include start-up technology ventures (software product development and IT services) as well as brick and mortar turn-around businesses (Chocolate manufacturing, Real Estate and Fine dining/Fast food restaurants) in Canada, Thailand, and India. He co-founded a software company, Isopia Inc., after having a successful career at Bell Canada as General Manager, eBusiness & Product Marketing. In July 2001, despite the downturn in the technology industry, Isopia was a major acquisition by Sun Microsystems Inc., USA. His current entrepreneurial engagement as CEO (International Operations) is to spearhead a niche Indian IT services company, Euclid Infotech Pvt. Ltd., which has customer base in over 100 countries. He is also the President & CEO of TransCard Capital Inc., that provides financial services to tourism industry & Real Estate investment for Latin America and especially for Cuba. Aditya is Member of the Order of Canada (Canada's highest civilian honours- recognizes lifetime outstanding achievement, dedication to community and service to the nation) and is recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal. He was conferred Honorary Doctorate (2009) by Ryerson University's Ted Rogers School of Business Management. He is honoured into Champions of Public Education in Canada Hall of Fame (2013) by The Learning Partnership. He is the Canadian Immigrant magazine's (Toronto Star) Top 25 Canadian Immigrants 2010, South Asian Philanthropist 2010 (Mid-week news magazine), and Top 30 Most Influential Indo Canadians (India Abroad magazine- Power List 2009). The Indo Canada Chamber of Commerce (ICCC) awarded its 2004 Technology Achievement Award for his achievements in the field of Technology. He received CEO award, President's Award and was also selected as President's Club member for his professional excellence at Bell Canada. He is recipient of community service awards and recognitions from various national organizations. Aditya sponsored (five years) a unique initiative working with the office of the Grand Chief of Nishnawbe Aski Nation to nurture entrepreneurship within the aboriginal communities of Canada. His charitable foundation (poafoundation.org)) created endowments at four institutions (Ryerson University, Trent University, York University, and George Brown College), which grants total of thirteen bursary awards ($42,000 annually) in perpetuity to students. He Chaired UNICEF Canada India HIV/AIDS campaign and was one of the Cabinet Members for Ryerson University Business School's capital campaign ($72 million). Aditya's foundation (poafoundation.org) has also supported other projects: with Ryerson University a research project on Economic Value of Indo-Canadians; Pathways Education Program for the inner-city kids of Regent Park, Toronto; Share the Music endowment at Roy Thomson Hall to give Canadian aboriginals access to best musical performances; Infrastructure grant (for ballet school in Havana and Trillium Hospital, Mississauga); Toronto International Film Festival as Gold Patron; Canadian Museum of Human Rights; A student residence for kids from landless families in India through AIM for SEVA; and Nelson Mandela Children's Fund, and several other charitable projects. He has funded digital literacy project donating laptop and desktops to 11 schools in Nepal and to the Islamic Institute of Toronto as well has supported Nepal Library Foundation for setting up libraries in the remote villages of Nepal. Aditya was an Adjunct Faculty (National University of Singapore, 1989-94) and also been invited speaker at the Ted Rogers Business School, Schulich Business School, Rotman Business School and University of Ontario Institute of Technology, and other prestigious institutions in Canada and abroad. His approach to philanthropy is featured in the Economist Intelligence Unit (Economist magazine, UK) report entitled "The New World of Wealth-Seven key trends for investing, giving & spending among the very rich" and he also presented before the Standing Senate Committee (Senate of Canada) on Foreign Affairs & International Trade on Rise of China, India and Russia and its implication on Canadian policy. He was one of the seven Canadians who accompanied Prime Minister Stephen Harper on his State visit to India in 2009 & also subsequently in 2012. He has been featured as "New Radical Pioneers" in Julia Moulden's book "We Are the New Radicals", McGraw Hill. Aditya was the Keynote speaker at the 16th Annual Nishnawbe Aski Nation Business Awards, South Asian Heritage Gala, Power Breakfast Series speaker at Mississauga Board of Trade and Chair/ Keynote speaker of the South Asian Philanthropy Conference. He has published/presented papers in several international journals/ conferences and has served as Editorial Review Board member of two prestigious journals as well as has moderated three business roundtables for increased trade linkages between India and Canada including at PBD2011 event in Toronto as well as speaker at "Vibrant Gujarat 2013". He was one of the bloggers "My City Your City" for Toronto Star and blogs in Huffington Post and has written editorial article in National Post, The Globe & Mail daily and has been featured in major National and international dailies and magazines. Aditya started his professional career after investing 4½ years as Research Scholar at School of Computer & Systems Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, India and has obtained M.Sc. in Mathematical Statistics & Post Graduate Diploma in Computer Science. "What it takes to succeed in business - Candy magnate Aditya Jha shares his secrets to sweet success" Link

Job Titles:

• Senior Advisor, International Projects, 2003 - 2004

Kaleb is a graduate from the University of Western Ontario and the Cornell Law School. He served as POA Educational Foundation's first program manager.

Job Titles:

• Columnist
• Director of Media Relations, POA Educational Foundation / President, Hyperactive Communications Inc

With 15 years experience in marketing, Lisa Kember has a proven track record in building successful marketing and communications programs. Since 1999, when she launched Hyperactive Communications, Lisa has been helping companies plan and implement results-driven marketing programs designed to meet targeted objectives. Lisa is a regular columnist on marketing, public relations and sales strategies for PR Canada magazine, Business Times and Sales Promotion Magazine. In addition to her entrepreneurial ventures, Lisa is an active community volunteer, serving as outgoing Chair of the Board for Victim Services of Peel, acting as a mentor with Summer Company and Dale Carnegie Training. She also works with the POA Foundation, providing public relations support for the organization's Project Beyshick initiative, and with Sanctuary, an outreach program for homeless in Toronto. She also supports Community Living Mississauga's annual golf fundraiser. Lisa is a graduate of University of Waterloo's Honours English / Professional Writing programs. She has also completed a Marketing program at Ryerson University and a Resource Development Management certificate from Sheridan College. Lisa Kember has also been awarded 2003 Young Entrepreneur of the Year award, presented by Mississauga Board of Trade, and 2004 Business Recognition Award from Peel Economic Development Office.

Job Titles:

• Project Beyshick Coordinator, 2005

Manish is a graduate in Economics and Political Science, and an MBA from the University of North Carolina Greensboro. His career has been in the consulting and telecommunications industries. He is currently with an IT consulting company that he co-founded. Manish's interests are in trying to find out answers to the following types of questions. How do we unleash the potential of people at the bottom of the economic and social pyramid? As more people emerge from poverty, how do we give them access to basics like water and electricity, in an effective and sustainable way? These interests have led Manish to work with others in the foundation, in trying to design initiatives for such solutions. He also works with companies engaged in the development and sales of affordable and renewable energy applications, like LED (Light Emitting Diode) and solar products. In his free time, he likes to pursue his interests in soccer and reading on eclectic subjects.

Job Titles:

• CEO of Ekagrata Inc. a Business
• Senior Advisor of the POA Educational Foundation
• Senior Advisor, Social Venture Capital Fund ( SVCF ) Project, POA Educational Foundation / Chairman, Ekagrata Inc

Prashant Pathak is a senior advisor of the POA Educational Foundation on issues pertaining to social venture capital and entrepreneurship. Currently, he is leading the Social Venture Capital Fund (SVCF) initiative. The SVCF initiative is a result of POA's flagship initiatives - ‘Project Beyshick' and ‘Project Beyshick Business Plan Competition'. Project Beyshick nurtures prosperity and financial independence amongst First Nations communities and individuals by encouraging and mentoring entrepreneurial efforts. The Business Plan competition was a successful pilot for the SVCF project. Prashant has been working with several institutions and corporations in Canada to launch the project on full scale. He has been an active mentor for Project Beyshick since its inception in 2005. Prashant brings to the SVCF and Project Beyshick initiatives his expertise and knowledge as a private equity investor, and advisor to Fortune 500 corporations and general management experience gained in operating roles. Mr. Prashant Pathak is CEO of Ekagrata Inc. a business-building-oriented diversified family company and a Principal of In Colour Capital Inc. As an active owner, he spends time in Board and oversight roles at private and public companies. Outside of Canada and US, he has significant experience in, and exposure to issues in Asia, South America, and Eastern Europe. He serves on the Board of several public and community institutions including as Chairman of Parts iD Inc. (NYSE:ID). He has been an appointee of the Government of Canada on the Board of BDC for nearly a decade (Business Development Bank of Canada, a $30+ Billion institution). During that time he served as Chairman of the BDC Venture Capital and Investments Committee, Canada's largest VC program. He also served extensively on the Credit & Risk Committees. While a member of the Pension Committee he proposed and expedited the initiative to adopt LDI to better address pension investment planning. Previously, Mr. Pathak has been a Partner of McKinsey & Company Inc. At McKinsey, he was a leader of the North American Telecom Practice, the Financial Services Practices and a leader in the Strategy & Corporate Finance Practice. He has advised several global corporations on a range of general management, strategy, M&A and operations issues across North America, Asia, Europe and South America. At McKinsey he led several initiatives for the Firm focused on industry innovation, like Decapitalization - "Creating capital efficient business models", "Unlocking the Value of a Board" - Governance as a competitive advantage, IP-Transformation - "Creating the Telco of the Future", and Lean Six sigma - "Creating the Lean Telco". He has also been part of the startup team and the Managing Partner of ReichmannHauer Capital Partners a successful Canadian investment firm. Prior to McKinsey, Mr. Pathak spent several years in the industry in management and field operations roles at Schlumberger and Halliburton. At Schlumberger Geco-Prakla, he started in the field and rapidly progressed to eventually supervise the seismic navigation operations for Asia Pacific. Before Schlumberger he worked with Halliburton's JV in India (HLSI) in upstream exploration business and also led the special projects team. Mr. Pathak has extensive international experience and built strong trusted relationships with several corporations, conglomerates and family-holding companies from his work in Europe, Middle East Asia, and South East Asia. In addition to operations, he has experience in leading product and technology platform development. Outside of professional interests, Mr. Pathak actively contributes to several community and non-profit institutions and causes. He was an Executive-in-Residence with the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada (APF), created by an Act of Parliament in 1984, APF is an independent, not-for-profit think tank on Canada's relations with Asia. Mr. Pathak is an executive sponsor of Project Beyshick a program focused on career orientation and entrepreneurship development in First Nations Youth in partnership with the Nishnawbe Aski Nation. He is a member of the Young Presidents' Organization (YPO) and a Member of Chatham House - The Royal Institute of International Affairs - where he has spoken on matters related to food security and long term investing. He is a Governor on Board of University of Guelph, a global leader in agricultural, plant and natural sciences; he also serves on the Board of MaRS Discovery District, North America's largest urban innovation hub and on the Board of The Fields Institute - for research in Mathematical Sciences, an internationally leading centre for mathematical and applied research. He was recognized as Canada's Top 40 Under 40TM for exceptional achievement across five dimensions - vision and leadership; innovation and achievement; impact; growth and development strategy; community involvement and contribution - and the capacity to encourage and foster growth. He is an inductee to the "30 most influential Indo-Canadians Power List" of Rediff's India Abroad (2009), adjudged South Asian Professional of the Year 2010 by MidWeek Magazine, and amongst 100 Most Influential Global Indians by Diaspora World in 2014. Previously he served on the Board of the North York General Hospital in Toronto. He is an alumnus of the core team of Vartana, a new type of bank in Canada - a bank that is not only a charity, but is also owned by and dedicated to serving others engaged in charitable activities. He was a Charter Member of TiE (The Indus Entrepreneurs). Founded in 1992, in Silicon Valley TiE, is a global, non-profit network dedicated to the advancement of entrepreneurship. Recently during the Great Recession crisis, as a member of the Credit Risk and Investment Committee of the BDC Mr. Pathak contributed to the Canadian government's Economic Action Plan through the launch of the CSCF (Canadian Secured Credit Facility) and BCAP (Business Credit Availability Program) $17 Billion programs that were meant to provide increased credit support in Canada. Mr. Pathak migrated to Canada in 1998. He now lives in Toronto. Mr. Pathak has an MBA from INSEAD with Distinction and a B.Tech degree in Electrical Engineering from The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), where he was adjudged the Best All-round Graduating Student of his class. He also has a Diploma in Fuzzy Logic from IIT.

Job Titles:

• Associate Professor at Harvard Medical School
• Senior Director, E - Infrastructure Project, Nepal / Associate Professor, Harvard Medical School

Shiva Gautam is an Associate Professor at Harvard Medical School; currently he is also the Biostatistics director of Harvard-Thorndike General Clinical Research Center at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (a teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School). Prior to joining Harvard, he was an Associate Professor of Biostatistics at Vanderbilt University and a biostatistician at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center of Vanderbilt University Medical Center. He also held faculty positions at Oklahoma State University, University of Vermont and Northeastern Ohio Universities College Medicine. He received his PhD in statistics from the University of Texas at Dallas and post doctoral training from Medical University of South Carolina. He also held academic position at Tribhuvan University, Nepal and taught at different campuses including the university's central Campus (Kathmandu), Min Bhawan Campus (Kathmandu), PN Campus (Pokhara, Nepal) and Mahendra Morang Campus (Biratnagar, Nepal) at various occasions. Shiva has published several methodological and biomedical collaborative papers. He has been on editorial boards of medical journals, and has served as a reviewer for many medical and statistical journals. He has also served as reviewer for National Cancer Institute (US department of Health) and US department of Veterans Affairs' study sections. Besides teaching and research, Shiva writes poems, short stories and essays. He has published two books of poems. His opeds have papered in many leading newspapers in Nepal. He is involved with various organizations including America Nepal Medical Foundation (www.anmf.net). Shiva has also contributed to medical education in Nepal. He taught biostatistics to medical students in Nepal as a volunteer. He also collected teaching material and brought them to Nepal. At his request renowned faculty from the US visited Nepal and taught medical students of Kathmandu University. He was also instrumental in bringing a physician from Nepal for medical training at Vanderbilt University. Due to Shiva's tireless effort a team of researchers from Harvard and Washington Universities in collaboration with Ganga Lal Heart Center (Kathmandu, Nepal) are engaged in a pilot hear study in Nepal. This feasibility study may lead to a longitudinal study which could be a unique study in South Asia. The e-infrastructure/computer pilot/feasibility study funded by Aditya Jha through POA Foundation was also initially conceptualized by Shiva.

Job Titles:

• Project Coordinator, POA Educational Foundation, 2006 - 2007

Smriti graduated with a Bachelor in Business Management from Kathmandu University, and then went on to pursue her education at Arizona State University. She has worked in various Humanitarian organizations such as Red Cross to help in community building activities. She has also worked as a women journalist advocating the rights of women in Nepal. Her news features and reports have been published in numerous local and International media. Since coming to Canada, she has traveled to many countries in Europe, South Asia, South East Asia, Africa and the Middle East. Traveling the world has inspired her to do something beneficial to communities that need the crucial support and guidance for economic development. This connection has led her to POA Educational foundation where she hopes to make a difference to people in developing communities that have tremendous potential but not the resources to succeed.

Job Titles:

• Project Beyshick Coordinator

Valerie Pascale is a graduate from the University of Guelph with a degree in International Development. With a passion for human rights, community development and conflict resolution, she continuously strives to under stand the complex issues associated with devel op ment at the local, national and international levels. Prior to working with the POA Foundation, Valerie was the Funding Coordinator for Pueblito Canada , a Canadian NGO working to improve the quality of primary education and early childhood development programs in various South American countries. She also volunteers with War Child Canada and World Literacy Canada, both of which are NGOs that target education and youth as important facilitators of development. According to Valerie, challenging issues and conditions around the globe can be improved as long as those who have the power to make an impact will use that power in a positive way.