Marilyn Sinclair
President and CEO
t: 519.858.5003
e: marilyn [dot] sinclairtechalliance [dot] ca

Marilyn has nearly 20 years of leadership and entrepreneurial experience, building and merging software service businesses. Marilyn successfully launched and expanded a technology education and consulting business which grew to over approx. 10 million in sales with 70 employees by year 5. Offices were established in London, Toronto, Atlanta and New York City with services offered across North America, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Malaysia, England and the Netherlands.

Marilyn received the “Woman of Distinction” award for business in 1997 and was runner-up for “Entrepreneurial Woman of the Year” for Canada in 1997.  She has been featured in numerous magazines including Chatelaine and news articles and was one of four Canadian women featured in a video for TV and distributed across Canada in schools to encourage young women to choose entrepreneurship as a potential career.  She was also featured in “Heartbeat of the City” as one of New York City’s local successful CEO’s.

Marilyn's experiences have proved invaluable in her role as President & CEO of TechAlliance, an organization responsible for strategically managing the growth and success of the tech sector in London by focusing on establishing the right environment to support business creation and commercialization, understanding and delivering programs that support growing and established companies and creating a framework that brings partners together (business, government, universities, professional service firms) to support common goals. 

Carmen Gicante
Vice President, Business Services
t: 519.858.5043
e: carmen [dot] gicantetechalliance [dot] ca

Carmen oversees the Business Suite of Services and the TechAlliance's mentorship and advisory programs. These programs assist both existing and potential technology companies, in the start-up phase, to become investor-ready and to gain access to investment capital.

Carmen has extensive experience at the executive level in both the public and private sector, including senior management roles with Ontario Hydro and its subsidiary companies. Before joining TechAlliance, Carmen held the position of Executive Director of the Shared Hierarchical Academic Research Computing Network (SHARCNET), based at The University of Western Ontario.

Carmen holds a Master of Business Administration from the Richard Ivey School of Business and a Bachelor of Engineering Science from McMaster University.

Allison Fisher
Director, Programs and Educational Outreach
t: 519.858.5059
e: allison [dot] fishertechalliance [dot] ca

Allison is responsible for developing and providing strategic direction for TechAlliance’s business education programming. Acting as a key member of the leadership team she provides high-value business acceleration, knowledge-sharing and professional development opportunities for TechAlliance members and partners across Southwestern Ontario.

Allison also oversees our initiatives related to developing the next-generation workforce and connecting TechAlliance and its members with students at the elementary, secondary, and post-secondary levels. These programs include the Sanofi-Aventis BioTalent Challenge (SABC) Southwestern Ontario Region, the BIOlympics, Entrepreneur 1.0 and other education-related activities and partner programs.

Allison graduated from The University of Western Ontario with a BSc in Biology. Prior to her time at TechAlliance, she worked in the Faculty of Nursing at The University of Western Ontario and The Ontario Lung Association.

Ian Haase
Director of Business Development / Business Analyst
t: 519.858.5135
e: ian [dot] haasetechalliance [dot] ca

Ian splits his time between two roles at TechAlliance.  He is a consultant/analyst, providing services to clients in the medical device, life science and biotechnology industries.  In addition, Ian is the Director of Business Development. This role involves improving the client experience at TechAlliance, streamlining processes to increase internal efficiency, and reaching out to other organizations in the city that have a mandate to commercialize but limited internal resources to do so.

Ian graduated from the Richard Ivey School of Business with a Masters of Business Administration, including certificates in entrepreneurship and health.  He also holds a Masters of Science degree in Epidemiology from McGill University, where his research focus was on infectious disease transmission and improving delivery methods and awareness of public health. Ian is a published author and has been internationally recognized for his ground breaking research. Ian is an avid triathlete, and is currently training for his first Ironman in November 2011.

e. donnie [dot] claudinotechalliance [dot] ca

For over a decade, Donnie has worked with non-profits and member groups in the United States and Canada to more effectively communicate and market themselves. These groups have included: TechSoup Canada, The Canadian Centre for Financial Literacy, Boston University School of Public Health, Sierra Club Massachusetts, United Planet, Human Rights Education Associates and Art for AIDS International. In Boston, he co-founded a web and graphic design firm; and with the goal of helping organizational managers better understand how and when to apply various marketing techniques and technologies, he developed a marketing training series with the local chapter of The American Marketing Association entitled:  "Non-profit Marketer's Toolbox".

Donnie is regarded as a specialist in non-profit marketing and is often called upon to present on his expertise.  He has spoken at Canada Helps' "My Charity Connects" national technology conference and at the Maytree Foundation's "Lunch and Learn" speaker series. Most recently he was asked to contribute his article, "Maximized Marketing for Non-Profits" to the management resource book published in October, 2011 by Coach House Books entitled:  Practical Strategies for Non-Profit Success.

Donnie holds a Master's degree in Non-Profit Marketing from Lesley University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and a Bachelor's degree in graphic design with concentration in advertising from the University of South Carolina. Donnie is a permanent resident of Canada and lover of London. In his free time, he enjoys contributing to community growth, staying intellectually and physically active and creating art.

Greg Picken
Communications Manager
t. 519.858.5078
e. greg [dot] pickentechalliance [dot] ca

Greg is responsible for delivering the TechAlliance message, through print, digital, social media and even old-fashioned conversation. Keeping the short- and long-term in perspective, he will inform about TechAlliance’s upcoming events and activities, share successes and challenges experienced by TechAlliance members and paint a picture of technology in London.

For the previous 8+ years, Greg worked for Investing in Children, a London-based children’s charity, where his responsibilities included communications and community development, IT and a variety of programming. His greatest achievement is the annual Kids First Day, which sees over 60 locations throughout London hosting free events and activities for London’s children and families on a PD day in April.

Greg is also the co-founder and Editor-in-Chief of GamerPops.com, offering a gaming parent’s perspective on the console, handheld and mobile gaming industry, from Tinkerbell to Grand Theft Auto.

Sarah Currie
Coordinator, Programs and Member Services
t: 519.858.5101
e: sarah [dot] currietechalliance [dot] ca

Sarah is TechAlliance’s coordinator of programs and member services and is the touchpoint for programming such as Breakfast Club and Peer-to-Peer groups. She works closely with Allison Fisher serves as the liaison for our 150+ members. Sarah has a background in sales and marketing, and previously worked at the London Chamber of Commerce.

Alec Miller
Resident Business Analyst
t: 519.858.5118
e: alec [dot] millertechalliance [dot] ca

Alec works closely with Carmen Gicante and Dennis Ensing. Alec provides a host of business analyst services for TechAlliance, with the objective of helping start-up companies become investor-ready.

Alec graduated from the Richard Ivey School of Business and holds an Honours Business Administration degree and a certificate in Entrepreneurship. He previously worked with IBM as a sales representative and has a background in business plan writing and market analysis.

Dennis Ensing
Entrepreneur-in-Residence
t: 519.858.5076
e: dennis [dot] ensingtechalliance [dot] ca

Dennis helps entrepreneurs get the fundamentals in place – such as business plans and investor presentations – and introduces them to TechAlliance services such as market intelligence. He brings a unique mix of operational and transactional experience, having been CFO for a number of companies, an entrepreneur, and a consultant in corporate finance for a global accounting firm.

“Most of us can’t see the forest for the trees – that’s human nature. I help entrepreneurs step back and put things in perspective. And diagnose what they need to do to become successful. It’s great to be able to quickly add value.”

Justin Leushner
Entrepreneur-in-Residence 
e: justin [dot] leushnertechalliance [dot] ca 

Justin Leushner has worked extensively in the Life Sciences and Biotechnology Industries. He was operationally responsible for developing a national Molecular Diagnostics program for Canada's largest life sciences company, MDS Inc. (Now LifeLabs). Justin has also been involved with Life Sciences Venture Capital, working with the Canadian Medical Discoveries Fund (now part of Growth Works) as a business analyst and liquid portfolio advisor. In 2004, Justin co-founded Sernova Corp. with world-renowned scientist Dr. David White and subsequently took the company public on the Toronto Stock Exchange in 2006. In addition, Justin was employed by the London Health Sciences Centre as manager of the Islet Transplant Program in the Multi-Organ Transplant Program, and also as Director of Health Care Restructuring for the City of London. As Director of Business Support for the Stiller Centre for Technology Commercialization, Justin has assisted biotechnology companies with financing, strategy, and operations.

As well as holding an MBA from the Ivey School of Business at the University of Western Ontario, Justin also holds a B.Sc. in Cell Physiology/Genetics from the University of British Columbia and many technical designations in Forensic Science and Molecular Biology.

Gary Will
Business Services
t: 519. 858.5134
e: gary [dot] willtechalliance [dot] ca 

Gary is a roving Entrepreneur-in-Residence for TechAlliance, leading the expansion of our ONE Business Services across our territory outside of London. This includes building new a focus on the agricultural sector.

Since 1998, he has worked with early-stage technology companies in Southwestern Ontario. Gary was founder of the Waterloo Technology Startup Network (WatStart), a sponsor of StartupCampWaterloo, and started up Communitech's venture services in 2005, overseeing initiatives related to startups in Waterloo for nearly four years.

He has also worked with the Accelerator Centre, an incubator at the University of Waterloo Research & Technology Park, and has provided advisory services through MaRS' Business Mentorship and Entrepreneurship Program. From 1997 to 2010, he published the Waterloo Tech Digest, delivered to 5,000 subscribers each month. Gary previously founded and operated several businesses, primarily in marketing, communications, and software development.