Our Board

A.J. Silber is a Managing Director in Brookfield’s Private Equity Group. In this role, he is responsible for various legal, regulatory and corporate governance functions. 

A.J. holds a joint Juris Doctor/Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Toronto and a Bachelor of Commerce degree from McGill University. A.J. is called to the Bar of Ontario and New York.

Ayal Twik is an entrepreneur known for his role as co-founder of Moose Knuckles Canada, a prominent luxury outerwear and sportswear brand based in Montreal, Canada. Since co-founding Moose Knuckles in 2011, Ayal has been deeply involved in the company's operations, serving as Co-CEO for ten years before transitioning to his current position as a Board Member. In this capacity, Ayal provides strategic oversight and guidance to the company. 

Ayal holds an MBA from the University of Toronto's Rotman School of Management and was awarded the EY Entrepreneur of The Year for 2019 in Québec, the world’s most prestigious business awards program for entrepreneurs, celebrating successful, growing, and dynamic businesses.  Ayal is actively engaged in his community and is a dedicated member of Federation CJA of Montreal. He plays an important role in the organization's efforts to combat antisemitism and hate as a member of the antisemitism working group.

Azita Hekmati is an international interior designer specializing in multi-family and single-family residential projects. Her professional mission is rooted in pioneering sustainable design solutions, with a steadfast commitment to creating Net-Zero, environmentally friendly living spaces.

Azita plays a pivotal role in shaping both aesthetic and environmental landscapes through her leadership in design initiatives and the integration of cutting-edge technology into her projects. Beyond her contributions to the design industry, Azita is a dedicated educator and lecturer, sharing her expertise within the California and Ontario design communities.

Having grown up in the United States, Azita's passion for architecture and culture has taken her across the globe. Her travels and time living abroad have deepened her understanding of diverse architectural styles and cultural influences, which continue to inspire her innovative design approach.

Brent Arnold is a partner practising in Gowling's Advocacy department, specializing in cyber security and commercial litigation. Brent heads the firm's Commercial Litigation Technology sub-group. 

Brent's experience includes cyber breach coaching, cyber risk analysis, class actions defence, Web3 (including cryptocurrency and metaverse) and other technology, software and e-commerce disputes, administrative and insolvency law, shareholders' rights, class actions, employment contracts, and general contractual disputes.

Brian Lee Crowley, founder of the Macdonald-Laurier Institute (MLI) in 2010, has established it as a premier Canadian public policy think tank, addressing a wide array of national issues. Under his leadership, MLI has garnered international recognition, ranking among the top new think tanks globally and consistently leading in Ottawa. Crowley's prolific authorship includes six books, notably "Gardeners vs Designers" and "Fearful Symmetry," both best sellers in Canada, alongside numerous op-eds and research papers.

Previously, Crowley held influential roles, such as Clifford Clark Visiting Economist with the Canadian Department of Finance, where he redesigned key policy processes. He founded the Atlantic Institute for Market Studies (AIMS), shaping it into Canada's foremost regional think tank, and served on The Globe and Mail's Editorial Board. With a diverse background spanning academia, diplomatic service, and advisory roles, Crowley brings a wealth of expertise to his commentary on political and economic matters. Holding degrees from McGill and the London School of Economics, including a doctorate in political economy, his contributions to public discourse are widely cited.

Darin Brock is currently a Partner at TorQuest. He oversees the firm’s external relationships, managing both business development and investor relations functions.

Darin holds a B.A. from the University of Western Ontario.

David Friedland is the Director of the Transportation, Infrastructure and Communities Practice Group at Global Public Affairs. Located in Ottawa he is a government and stakeholder relations professional with more than 10 years of experience in the political world including work with the Liberal Party of Canada, the Alberta Party, the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, and the Canadian Jewish Political Affairs Committee. David brings extensive experience at the federal and provincial levels and specializes in operations management, coalition building, and advocacy campaigns.

During his time in politics, David has taken part in building and scaling up campaigns, providing policy, strategic communications, and stakeholder relations support. David has led advocacy campaigns in support of large-scale capital projects.  His professional and volunteer experience across Alberta, British Columbia, and Ontario with diverse communities lends a well-rounded perspective on the whole-of-government approach to financing major projects.

David holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Human Resources Management and Marketing from the University of Alberta and Certificates in Project Management Leadership and Lean Six Sigma from the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology.

Gil Blutrich, 59, is a well-rounded Israeli-Canadian real estate investor, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. With over three decades of experience, Gil has built a reputation for his strategic foresight and remarkable accomplishments in real estate investments and development, making him a prominent figure in the industry in both Israel and Canada.

Beyond his real estate activities, Gil has also made an impact in other areas of business. In 2021, he founded Clear Inc., a company dedicated to developing holistic water purification systems for residential and commercial real estate, aimed at promoting health and wellness through clean water. Clear Inc. has expanded globally, with installations in hotels and residential developments. His passion for clean water solutions culminated in his book, Clear Current, set to be released in October 2024. The book highlights the importance of clean water initiatives and provides insight into Gil’s journey in finding solutions to the global water crisis.

Today, under Gil’s guidance, Blutrich Holdings Inc. continues to grow its investment portfolio with a strong focus on real estate development, technology, and sustainability. He also serves as a director on the board of the Canada Israel Chamber of Commerce, a position he has held for over 10 years. Gil manages his business activities from the Clear & BHI offices in Miami and Toronto. In 2013, Gil was appointed as the Honorary Consul of El Salvador in Canada.

Gil’s extensive experience, combined with his dedication to making a positive impact, continues to push boundaries, innovating not only in real estate but also in the fields of sustainability, wellness, and social contributions

Jacques Shore is a partner in Gowling WLG's Ottawa office, is a member of the firm's Advocacy Group, and past leader of the firm's National Government Affairs Group. Mr. Shore was appointed to the Order of Canada in 2022 "for his numerous professional and volunteer contributions as a distinguished lawyer and negotiator."

 With extensive experience in both the private and public sectors, Mr. Shore is an adviser to numerous Canadian and international companies and governments, on legal, regulatory, public policy, and strategic issues. Mr. Shore has also acted as lead negotiator on many business and government-related initiatives and has addressed issues on behalf of the government of Canada and provincial governments on a variety of legal and public policy matters, including federal commissions of inquires.

Active in the community, Mr. Shore currently serves as President of the Ottawa Titans Field of Dreams Foundation. Mr. Shore is the Past Chair of the Library and Archives of Canada Foundation, and currently serves on the Board as a Founding Director. He is the recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, for dedicated service to Canada, and the Ontario Volunteer Service Award. Mr. Shore has held positions on many not-for-profit corporations, including as Chair of the Board of Governors of Carleton University, where he served as a Board Governor for thirteen years, and also as Chair of the Distinguished Council of Advisors of the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs.

Mr. Shore is a published author and artist. His published works include articles on the law and public policy, op-eds, as well as three children’s books, and an illustrated book of short stories.

A strong advocate of the importance of strong bilateral ties between Canada and Israel and shared values, Mr. Shore is proud to serve on the Board of the CICC.

Jeff Altmann joined the Technion Canada Board in 2019.  Jeff is a Member of the Technion – Israel Institute’s International Board of Governors.

He was part of the first team of non-Israelis ever to work for El Al in Montreal. He began his insurance and financial services career in 1985. By 1995, he incorporated his company, Macabee Financial Inc.

He has been Vice President of Tifferth Beth David Jerusalem Synagogue in Montreal and a Board Member of Friendship Circle for the last five years.

Norm Godfrey has been the President of Yorkwood Homes, a leading homebuilder in the Greater Toronto Area, since 1976.

Norm was elected President of the Toronto Home Builders’ Association in 1985 and President of the Canadian Home Builders’ Association in 1987.  In 2023, Norm was inducted into the Toronto Home Builders’ Hall of Fame for his outstanding contribution to the industry.

Ran Mesterman is the founder and CEO of Mesterman Management, a company that specializes in the development and implementation of result-oriented management strategies, organizational change management, and enhancing growth and profitability of small, medium, and family-owned organizations.

Ran has extensive years of experience in senior management roles across various sectors, which provides him with a diverse skill set and a broad understanding of business operations. His international experience allows him to work in different markets and cultures, gaining valuable insights and adaptability.

Ran holds an MBA degree in Business Administration and Organizational Change and is fluent in Hebrew, English and German. As part of his social engagement, Ran has been involved for many years as a volunteer for the Jewish community of Toronto, Canada. He initiated fundraising campaigns, led the strategic planning, served as a director on the board of the Jewish Federation for five years and established local and international business forums.

Robert Preisz, CPA, CA, is a Partner and Business Advisor at MNP LLP in the private enterprise niche, delivering accounting, taxation and advisory services to owner-managed businesses and corporations in various industries.

Israeli born, and raised in Canada, Robert has extensive experience in providing tax and advisory services for non residents with business and property interest in Canada.

Robert has a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from York University’s Schulich School of Business, and he holds the Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) designation, qualifying as a Chartered Accountant (CA) in 1988. He is a member of the Canadian Institute of Chartered Professional Accountants and the Institute of Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario. Robert is currently the treasurer of the Canada Israel Chamber of Commerce.

Stefania is a mother of two adult children, a lawyer by profession, graduated from the University of Szeged, Hungary and earned a LL.M degree in European Law at Stockholm University, Sweden. She started her career international law dealing with free trade and offset agreements, she then moved on to EU law and worked on Hungary’s accession to the European Union. While working on international trade relations, she transitioned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of Hungary. Her first diplomatic posting was to Tel Aviv, Israel, where she served as economic attaché between 2001 and 2005.

After returning the Budapest, she continued working on global affairs until 2011, when she was appointed the first female Director of Human Resources of the MFA. She was posted as Consul General of Hungary in Toronto between 2013-2018, and while her passion was her diplomatic career, she decided to stay in Canada for the benefit of her children.

She restarted her career in Canada from scratch, established her own consulting firm and found a new home in the private sector at Pace Law Firm, as Vice President. She is also the CEO of Continest Canada, the Canadian branch of the Hungarian innovative company manufacturing sustainable foldable containers that can be used in multiple disciplines where temporary infrastructure is needed.

She is in the Board of Directors of FEMTO, a public company listed on NASDAQ and the Canada-Israel Chamber of Commerce.

When not working, she loves riding her bike, listening to music, reaching out to friends and going on road trips.

Ziki Zaffir is a real estate entrepreneur, founder and CEO of Amcor Holding - a commercial real estate owner and manager active in Canada and USA.

Prior to starting his company in the mid 1990s, Ziki worked number of years as a Vice President at the Azrieli Group - a Canadian developer and the largest real estate company in Israel.

Ziki arrived in Canada in the 1980s working with El Al Airlines and the Israeli Consulate in Montreal while obtaining his MBA at Concordia University.

Loren is the Executive Vice President at Northcrest Developments, overseeing investment and asset management strategies. Previously, Loren was a Director at PSP Investments, where he led real estate investments across North America.

Loren holds an MBA in Finance from Concordia University, and a BA in Economics from McGill University. He is a member of the Urban Land Institute and active volunteer in several social service and community organizations.

Paul Budovitch is Senior Vice President and General Counsel of Fiera Private Markets, where he is responsible for the development and oversight of the legal function for the Fiera Private Markets business worldwide.

Paul holds an MBA from the University of Toronto, Joseph L. Rotman School of Business, a JD from the University of Toronto, Faculty of Law, and a Bachelor of Commerce from McGill University.

For over 35 years, Meir J. Klein has had a versatile background incorporating over 30 years across the non-profit, real estate, governmental, financial and entrepreneurial sectors.

Meir spent over 30 years at UJA Federation of greater Toronto as Director of Research & Development and Director of Economic Development, working closely with the Jewish Community and all levels of government. Having worked closely with Israel Economic Mission to Canada he was instrumental in bringing about the free trade agreement between Canada and Israel and leading several business missions to Israel.

Meir is also the Co-founder, Director and the Executive Vice President of the Canada-Israel Chamber of Commerce. Professionally, Meir is the Co-Founder and CEO of RealCan Group Inc.

Dr. Jenny Chernobelsky is a distinguished medical and dental specialist and healthcare innovator, currently CEO of SharkBiit and serving on the Board of Directors for the Canada-Israel Chamber of Commerce. She holds a Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) degree from Tel Aviv University and is a certified specialist in Prosthodontics. Dr. Chernobelsky also earned an MBA in Health Innovations from IDC Herzliya, enhancing her expertise in healthcare management. Her professional journey includes founding Sharkbii.AI, a pioneering platform integrating dental and medical data for early Sleep Apnea detection and treatment, using AI. She has extensive experience in prosthetic rehabilitation, medical and dental tourism, and healthcare entrepreneurship.

Dr. Chernobelsky has also contributed to academia as a clinical instructor in Tel Aviv university and published research in leading dental journals. She is recognized for her innovative contributions to dentistry and healthcare via patent pended technology.

Derek Applebaum graduated in 2001 from the Degroote School of Business at McMaster University. He earned a Bachelor of Commerce degree with a focus on accounting and economics. Upon graduation Derek worked at KPMG LLP for five years where he gained experience working in their financial institutions and real-estate division, as well as their private enterprise department. 

Derek obtained his C.A. designation in 2005 and has been a valued member of Applebaum, Commisso LLP ever since. Derek is a partner of Applebaum Commisso.

Jonathan Freeman is a partner at Cassels, serving as Chair of the Real Estate & Development Group and as a member of the firm’s Executive Committee. 

Jonathan’s practice focuses on all aspects of commercial real estate law, including real estate lending transactions and acquisitions and dispositions of commercial properties. He routinely represents traditional bank and non-bank lenders in complex real estate financing transactions, including those relating to term, acquisition, mezzanine and construction loan facilities.Jonathan also has extensive experience with CMHC insured loans, commercial mortgage-backed securities and other types of securitized debt. He has financed all real estate asset classes, including many of Canada’s largest seniors housing projects, hotels, office buildings, shopping centres and multi-family residential apartment complexes. Jonathan also advises issuers and underwriters in capital market offerings, as well as some of Canada’s largest REITs, private equity funds, developers and real estate investment companies on mergers and acquisitions, cross border real estate transactions, joint venture structuring, asset management and insolvency related matters.

Jessica Rotenberg is a visionary entrepreneur and creative strategist with a background in Architecture and Urban Planning. Passionate about building community through meaningful experiences, she co-founded Unframed Events, a boutique event planning firm known for its innovative and immersive approach.

Jessica is also the driving force behind Swag Gives, a philanthropic initiative that uses custom designed bracelets and accessories to unite communities and support charitable causes. Through this platform, she has successfully launched fundraising campaigns benefiting schools, organizations, and global initiatives, including efforts for Israel and the Jewish community. She has also collaborated with brands and influencers to amplify her mission of connection and giving back.

In addition to her work in events and fundraising, Jessica is developing a new platform to expand community-based fundraising, providing an accessible and impactful way for kids and organizations to raise funds. Balancing her entrepreneurial endeavors, her ability to merge creativity with purpose continues to shape her work, inspiring others to make a difference.

For over three decades, Dori J. Segal has been actively involved in the investment, development, and operation of commercial real estate through several Canadian, US and global entities, holding various executive and board positions. He is the Founder and former CEO and then Chairman of TSX listed First Capital REIT (1997-2019).

Currently, Segal, through family-owned private entities, owns and operates a portfolio of commercial properties. In addition, through a family holding company, Segal is an investor and serves on the board of the ATTA Group, Canada’s leading national independent full-service elevator company.

Sonya Meloff is an entrepreneur and sales leader who built her career helping build and empower the next generation of sales talent.  She co-founded Sales Talent Agency which she exited after 17 years and also launched Salesclass, an online sales education program focused on shaping future sales leaders in Israel. With a background in political science and economics, she built a thriving career in sales leadership, including a key role at Monster Canada. She also co-founded The Great Canadian Sales Competition, helping young professionals discover careers in sales. 

Recognized among Canada’s top female entrepreneurs, Sonya is a mentor, mother of three, active investor and a passionate advocate for supporting Israel’s thriving business ecosystem.