Speakers

An-Lap has more than 20 years of experience in the wealth and portfolio management industry. He graduated from HEC Montreal (University of Montreal business school) in finance in 1996 and started his career at the Bank of Montreal. He then joined National Bank Financial in 1998 where he founded the VP Wealth Management Group, which now has in excess of $2 billion under management and is comprised of 16 finance professionals. The VP Group won several awards over the years in the National Bank Financial recognition of excellence program, notably, the prestigious prize of Best team in Canada in 2012 and in 2020, and one that is especially dear to An-Lap, the Social Responsibility award. Incorporating ESG factors in their portfolio management is of utmost importance to the VP Group. An-Lap was instrumental in recruiting an ESG analyst from the “Caisse de depot” to add to the VP Group’s expertise in that field. On top of having his CIM title, it was important for An-Lap to get his Responsible Investment Specialist title and also a certificate from Harvard Business School Online in Sustainable Business Strategy. All these efforts were recognized when the VP Group won the Wealth Professionals NEI Advisor of the Year Responsible Investments award in 2021. Finally, An-Lap was one of the people that helped for the creation of an ESG Committee at the National Bank and he now represents the VP Group on the board. The VP Group also has more than 15 years of expertise in structured products

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Catherine Chouinard is a Director in Global Equity Derivatives at TD Securities, responsible for sales and distribution of structures solutions for Eastern Canada.

Since joining TD close to 20 ago, she brings extensive structured product expertise, working closely with advisors to create tailored solutions to achieve their client investment objectives.
Prior to TD, Catherine worked a tan independent Structured Product firm, distributing structured products Issued by foreign Issuers, introducing the concept of these products to the Quebec market. Advisor education and knowledge is her key focus, to better integrate structured solutions in traditional portfolios.

As Managing Director and Head of Structured Products at iA Capital Markets, Deven leads the firm’s structured products business across Canada including iA Private Wealth, Investia and Richardson Wealth.​

With over 20 years across wealth management, capital markets, asset management and insurance, he previously led dealer product strategy and platform development at iA Wealth.​

Previously, he spent over 15 years with TD Securities and TD Asset Management in progressively senior leadership roles, driving product development, structuring and distribution. Deven played an instrumental role in developing and growing the structured notes business at TD.​

At iA, he built a dedicated structured notes platform pairing education, analytics, custom structuring and issuer collaboration. He holds an MBA from Ivey BusinessSchool, an MA in Economics from SFU.​

Dominic D'Aoust is a seasoned financial expert with nearly over two decades of experience in structured products, independent agency, and portfolio management. As the Head of Independent Agent Business at Wellington-Altus, he leads a team acting as partners for advisors and drives innovation in wealth management.

Previously, he spent over nine years at Laurentian Bank Securities as Managing Director of Structured Products and Head Portfolio Manager, where he managed structured notes and discretionary portfolios. Dominic began his career at Desjardins Securities, holding roles in structured products, ETFs, mutual funds and portfolio management. He holds both a Master's and Bachelor's degree in Economics and Finance from Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM), graduating with honors. His deep expertise and leadership make him a prominent figure in the Canadian financial industry.

Dominique brings a unique combination of financial markets expertise, relationship building, and a high-performance mindset to his role as Director within National Bank’s Structured Solutions Group. Since joining National Bank in 2010, he has worked with investment advisors and wealth professionals across Canada, helping them identify and implement structured investment solutions aligned with their clients’ objectives.

Before joining National Bank, Dominique pursued a professional cycling career for nearly a decade and was a member of the Canadian National Cycling Team for 16 years, competing internationally in more than 40 countries. His passion for sport and community continues through his active involvement in charitable initiatives, where he proudly represents National Bank and helps raise funds for important causes.

Dominique holds an MBA with a specialization in Finance and Entrepreneurship from HEC Montréal and a bachelor’s degree from Université Laval. He also studied at the University of Bergen in Norway and the University of Connecticut in the United States

Eric Barthe has started his career 22 years ago at Goldman Sachs in London as an Equity Exotics Trader, trading Index exotics, single stock exotics and dispersion. He joined Leonteq to become Global Head of Financial Engineering. Then co-founded Anova Partners, an independent financial company based in Zürich. He founded the Institute of Derivatives, a financial training company for students and professionals.

He holds a Masters from LSE and  Ecole Centrale Paris. He also holds a PhD in finance.  He teaches equity derivatives and structured products at EDHEC business school.

Farnaz Shahed is a Director on the Wealth & Institutional Solutions Sales team at RBC Capital Markets. Farnaz has over 17 years of experience working with Corporates, Institutions and Wealth clients on investing ad hedging solutions. Through Structured Notes she is focused on helping clients with income generation, capital preservation, enhanced growth or a combination of these solutions. Her expertise on the trade floor also extends to non for profits as she is on the investment committee of the Gardiner Museum and Prospera, an International Network of Women’s Funds. Separately, she is also on a committee for Women’s College Hospital Foundation. She has co-chaired Employee Resource Groups at RBC and is a Senior Advisor on the RBC Capital Market’s Advisory Program for early talent acquisition. Farnaz is an engineer by background and holds a MBA from Queen’s University.

German brings over 10 years of industry experience to the team. His passion for investments led him to join ScotiaMcLeod in 2020 as part of the Wealth Management Associate Program, a highly selective program that prepares individuals for advisory roles. Prior to joining Scotia, German worked at a major bank in departments such as auto finance and retail banking. German specializes in portfolio management, security selection, and client relationships. He speaks four languages: English, French, Spanish, and Italian, making him a strong asset to the team. German has a Bachelor’s degree in Finance from the John Molson School of Business and obtained the Chartered Investment Manager (CIM) designation, which allows him to act on a discretionary basis for client accounts. He recently was awarded with the Young Entrepreneur of the year by the Wealth Professional Magazine, highlighting his success in total wealth strategies for his clients which include insurance and financial planning.

In his free time, German dedicates time to his spirituality and friends. He has always been an active athlete, excelling in various sports and martial arts such as Muay Thai.

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James is responsible for overseeing the design and distribution of Scotiabank’s equity-linked structured notes in Canada. Since joining the Bank in 2011, he has held progressively senior roles within the structured notes team, before taking over leadership of the Canadian sales and structuring teams in 2020. James was one of the founding members of the team that developed and launched Scotiabank’s Principal at Risk and Market Linked GICs programs. Over a diverse career, James has built a reputation as an innovative and client-focused problem solver. He has previous experience at a major US investment dealer in Dublin, Ireland, in addition to prior work in the public and not-for-profit sectors. James holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Prince Edward Island, a Master of Business Administration from Dalhousie University and is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) charterholder. An avid traveler, James has worked in four continents and visited over 40 countries.

Jason is a veteran of the Equity Derivatives space in Canada, with over 20 years' experience at TD Securities. 
He is currently the Head of Note Sales & Structuring for Canada, where he leads teams that are responsible for the design, origination, pricing and distribution for all TD Bank-issued Structured Notes.

Jason has an MBA from the Schulich School of Business, aB.Eng from McGill University, is a CFA Charterholder, and has earned the Derivatives Market Specialist designation from the Canadian SecuritiesInstitute.

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Joe manages business development and client relations forthe Americas at WSD. He is an industry expert for structured products withstrong ties to the market leaders. Prior to joining WSD, Joe was the Head ofGlobal Sales at Structured Retail Products (SRP). He holds an MBA fromFairleigh Dickinson University and a B.S. from The University of Florida.

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Lauren Looi is a member of the Product Engineering team within CIBC’s Wealth Solutions Group, bringing deep experience across equity sales and trading in North American, European, and U.K. markets. Since joining CIBC in 2015, she has held a series of roles across Institutional Equities in Toronto and London, advising clients and trading across U.S., Asian, Canadian, European, and U.K. equities. She began her career in consulting before transitioning to capital markets.

Lauren has been recognized with the Women in Capital Markets Emerging Leaders Award. She has also contributed to a number of leadership and industry initiatives, including serving on CIBC’s Junior Advisory Council, the Advisory Committee of The New York Institute of Finance, and as a speaker at Boston University’s Questrom School of Business.

Lauren holds an MSc from Simon Fraser University, Vancouver and a BSc from Drexel University, Philadelphia.

Lina Nouraly is a Director in Global Equity Derivatives at BMO Capital Markets, where she focuses on the development and distribution of structured investment solutions for wealth management clients across Canada. With more than 15 years of experience in financial services, she brings extensive expertise in structured notes, investment solutions, and portfolio construction.

Since joining BMO in 2016, Lina has played a key role in the continued growth and evolution of the firm's structured products platform, working across product development, distribution strategy, and client engagement. Her experience collaborating with sales, trading, structuring, and risk management teams provides her with a broad perspective on market trends, product innovation, and the evolving role of structured investments in investor portfolios.

An active supporter of professional development withinthe industry, Lina is a recipient of the Versify (formerly Women in Capital Markets) Emerging Leaders Award and serves as a mentor to aspiring finance professionals through both Versify and BMO mentorship programs. Sheholds the Chartered Investment Manager (CIM®) designation.

Matt Wallace is an Executive Director at CIBC Capital Markets and head of Canadian structured product distribution. Matt has over 20 years of capital markets sales and trading experience with an emphasis on equity derivatives and structured products. His team covers investment advisors and portfolio managers across Canada, designing custom investment strategies to help their investors reach their goals.

Matt supports several charitable causes in the community, and for several years was co-chair of CIBC Capital Markets’ annual One For Change charity auction, one of the largest single-day fundraisers at the bank. He has been based out of both Vancouver and Toronto and holds an MBA from the Schulich School of Business at York University.

Nick Ducharme, CFA helps lead portfolio construction and investment strategy for affluent families, entrepreneurs and professionals. His practice is part of one of Canada’s fastest-growing wealth management teams, now overseeing more than $1 billion in client assets with the support of over 40 professionals.

Before joining CI Assante CMM, Nick worked at CIBC Capital Markets, where he contributed to the expansion of structured product solutions across Eastern Canada. This experience shaped his understanding of the role structured notes can play within typical asset allocation, notably as a complement to traditional fixed income in a lower-rate environment. Today, he combinesinstitutional capital-markets expertise with a client-focused approach, usingstructured products to generate income, manage downside risk and build moreresilient portfolios.

Nick holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Finance from Concordia University’s John MolsonSchool of Business and earned the CFA designation after passing all threeexaminations on his first attempt. He is also committed to financial educationand community involvement, publishing a quarterly client newsletter andsupporting charitable initiatives focused on causes close to him, includingcancer care and research.

Since joining National Bank in 2008, Philippe has developed extensive expertise in financial markets and structured investments. As Director within the Structured Solutions Group, he works closely with investment advisors and wealth professionals across Canada to develop and deliver structured investment solutions tailored to a broad range of client needs and investment objectives.

Drawing on nearly two decades of industry experience, Philippe combines deep product knowledge with a strong understanding of investor needs. He is actively involved in supporting investment professionals in the development of their investment strategies and helping them integrate structured solutions within client portfolios.

Philippe holds a Bachelor of Business Administration with a specialization in Finance from HEC Montréal.

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Richard Kassabian is Managing Director, Head of Equity Capital Markets at CI Financial, where he leads the firm’s new issue capabilities. Since joining CI Capital Markets in 2025, he has established CI’s structured products and equity capital markets platforms servicing its Canadian wealth businesses - Aligned Capital Partners, CI Assante Wealth Management, CI Private Wealth, and the newly launched Corient Canada.

Richard has spent more than 20 years in capital markets including 14 years partnering with Canadian issuers on structured note programs. He built and led structured notes businesses at Dundee Capital Markets, iA Capital Markets, and CI Capital Markets, working with advisors, portfolio managers, and product manufacturers to deliver investment solutions across a broad range of market conditions.

His experience spans structured notes, new issue syndication, flow-through investing, alternative investments, private placements, and deal origination. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Toronto, specializing in Economics and Finance, and is a CFA charterholder.

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As a Senior Structured Solutions Specialist at Raymond James, Sean plays a key role in delivering guidance on equity-linked structured products and derivatives to financial advisors and their clients. He partners closely with advisors to thoughtfully integrate structured products into client portfolios, while serving as a trusted source of education and market insight across the advisory base. Since joining Raymond James in 2023, Sean has been a driving force behind the growth and adoption of structured notes among RJ advisors, fostering education and awareness throughout the space. He brings over six years of experience in the financial services industry, having held a range of roles at some of Canada's largest financial institutions. Sean holds the CFA and CAIA designations and earned his finance degree from the University of Guelph.

Sean has over 25 years of experience as an entrepreneur and financial services professional, with a strong track record of originating, building, and scaling new businesses. He founded and served as CEO of Markland Street Asset Management, a retail structured products firm later acquired by Manulife. At Manulife, he has led the development of several new initiatives, including an institutional new issue business, a mid-market M&A practice, and Manulife’s PAR Note independent agent business. Earlier in his career, Sean spent 10 years in investment banking at Scotia Capital, ultimately serving as Head of Equity Private Placements. He holds the CFA designation and an Honours Business Administration degree from the Richard Ivey School of Business.

Sébastien Hébert began his career with the Desjardins Group in 2001 and held several positions in the organization until 2008. He subsequently advanced in Compliance at National Bank Financial working with derivatives, private placements, new products and hedge funds. In 2013, he returned to the Desjardins Group and has since held the position of Senior Analyst and Team Leader, Structured Products with the Wealth Management Advisory Services Division. Sébastien is a registered Portfolio Manager and holds the CFA charter as well as a finance degree from the Université du Québec à Montreal. He has over twenty years of experience in financial services, particularly in investments, derivatives, compliance and currency hedging.

With an impressive track record of over 15 years in the realm of structured products, derivatives, and investments, Tiago Fernandes stands as a seasoned financial industry luminary dedicated to propelling the sector to new heights. As the Head of Data and Platform at WSD, Tiago is at the helm of client development, laser-focused on advancing structured product technology.

As the Co-founder of Structured Products Intelligence (SPi), Tiago has been instrumental in birthing a revolutionary platform that empowers clients to adeptly manage intricate portfolios. Prior to this, he wielded influential leadership roles at Euromoney Institutional Investor and SRP, masterminding business growth while deftly overseeing teams of adept data analysts. His sphere of influence spanned the delivery of research and training services to financial institutions across the global spectrum.

Notably, Tiago played a pivotal role in constructing and sustaining the largest structured product issuance within the Portuguese banking sector over four years. Earlier in his illustrious journey, he honed his expertise in a cash account management position at BNP Paribas.

An impassioned advocate for structured products, Tiago has personally trained over 500 financial professionals, cementing his legacy as a true industry catalyst.

Vincent Boulanger is a Director in Global Equity Derivatives at Scotiabank Global Banking and Markets. He has 15 years of experience in the investment industry. For more than a decade, he worked in the mutual fund and ETF wholesale space, helping advisors navigate market cycles and build portfolios aligned with their clients' long-term objectives.

Driven by a strong belief in the value of outcome-oriented investing, Vincent transitioned to structured notes, recognizing their ability to help investors balance growth potential, income generation, and risk management across varying market conditions.

Today, Vincent works closely with investment advisors to educate them on a broad range of structured solutions, including principal-protected notes (PPNs), market-linked GICs, principal-at-risk notes, and fixed-income notes. His focus is on helping advisors incorporate these solutions into traditional portfolios to better meet the evolving needs of their clients.

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Wylliam Jetté-Corriveau began his career in investment banking before moving into distribution, where he combines capital markets rigor with a client-first approach. As a CFA charterholder, Wylliam brings technical fluency in portfolio construction to help advisors navigate complex financial instruments with confidence.

Based in Quebec, Wylliam is driven by the intersection of quantitative finance and relationship-driven distribution — translating option-based strategies into solutions that genuinely move the needle for the people he works with.