MEET THE TEAM

We are passionate about our mission to provide positive impact for communities and create
value-driven opportunities for investors. We are an experienced, multi-disciplinary team,
focused in our approach, creative in our thinking and disciplined in our work.

Aisha Ahmed

Development Manager

Aisha supports the creation of affordable housing across Canada. Aisha’s background is in development, planning, and engineering. She is experienced in guiding projects from feasibility through design and development. Aisha has worked for over 2 years on a number of new construction and retrofit projects with various non profits. She is enthusiastic about sustainable development and innovative housing solutions.

Andrea Mejia

Investment Manager

Andrea oversees investment and portfolio management at the Community Forward Fund and Canadian Co-operative Investment Fund. She has over ten years of experience in financial institutions, including in underwriting, credit risk management, internal controls, and audit. She has also provided consulting services to nonprofits focused on at-risk youth in the GTA and a cooperative organization promoting women’s economic empowerment in Colombia.

Andy Broderick

Managing Partner

Andy is a member of New Market Funds’ management committee and is responsible for New Commons Development. He has more than 25 years of experience in non-profit real estate development including over 13 years launching and managing funds at Vancity and Housing Vermont.

Callum Hanlon

Acquisitions Manager

Callum manages the acquisition of affordable housing projects for NMF Rental Housing Funds I and II, with over 8 years of involvement across the real estate spectrum with pan-European exposure to multi-asset class portfolios. More recently, he was responsible for deploying Blackstone managed funds by way of a for-profit provider in the UK’s affordable and social-led housing sector.

Darren Chang

Senior Investment Analyst

Darren supports investment analysis and the deal process across the New Market Funds platform. His previous experience includes private investment valuation at Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan, as well as financial institution and real estate audit at KPMG.

David Lam

Senior Development Manager

David manages development projects out of the Toronto office for New Commons Development. He has over 10 years of experience in sustainability consulting and project management in private mixed-used and multi-family high-rise residential construction and public housing projects.

Derek Ballantyne

Managing Partner

Derek is a member of New Market Funds’ management committee and is responsible for the Community Forward Fund Assistance Corp. He has over 20 years of experience leading community housing and development corporations with Toronto Community Housing and Build Toronto, and has deployed over $500M in real estate in Canada.

Dion Whyte

Director, Development

Dion leads the New Commons Development’s national team and directs NCD’s small communities projects. With 14+ years experience in sustainable community development, social enterprise, and affordable housing, Dion brings a unique set of skills to support our community partners in the preservation and development of affordable housing.

Ellen McGowan

Development Manager

Ellen manages development projects out of the Toronto office for New Commons Development. She has worked with various non-profits, co-operatives, and community-based groups to develop and preserve affordable rental housing.

Garth Davis

Managing Partner

Garth is a member of New Market Funds’ management committee and is responsible for the New Market Funds platform. He has more than 25 years of experience in capital deployment including with Vancity, Turtle Creek and Scotia Bank.

Hadley Nelles (On leave)

Senior Director, Partnerships and Strategy

Hadley leads partnerships and stakeholder relations at New Market Funds. This includes investor management, organizational strategy across the platform, and public policy leadership. With 15 years of experience in the philanthropic, social impact, and non-profit sectors, she supports New Market Funds’ organizational vision to deliver impact capital for communities nationwide.

Huda Al-Asad

Investment Analyst

Huda supports investment analysis and the deal process across the New Market Funds platform. She has experience working in the multifamily, hospitality, and commercial real estate sectors.

Lauren Giroday

Chief Financial Officer

Lauren manages financial operations and analysis across the New Market Funds platform. She has over 9 years of financial and management experience in a combination of public, private and social enterprise. She holds a CPA,CA designation and a BAcc (Hons) from Brock University.

Lena Courcol

Acquisitions Manager

Lena manages the acquisition of affordable housing projects for NMF Rental Housing Funds I and II. She has over 5 years of experience working in impact investing, community development, and impact measurement.

Lisa Ainooson

Controller

Lisa supports the financial operations and analysis across the New Market Funds platform. She has over 7 years of finance and accounting experience working in fund administration and asset management.

Olwen Bennett

Director, Development

Olwen oversees the early-stage project feasibility and the structuring of financial strategies for projects in the real estate development practice of New Commons Development. Olwen leverages her 8 years of experience working in urban planning, affordable housing development, and resilience consulting to support development projects across Canada.

Robin Goulding

Operations Manager

Robin manages the day-to-day and strategic operations across the New Market Funds platform. She has over 8 years of operations management experience with nonprofits, INGOs, and purpose-driven business in Canada and internationally.

Ting-Yeng Yang

Development Analyst

Ting-Yeng supports affordable housing development analysis at New Commons Development. She has experience working in government funded community development projects and participatory policy-making practices, as well as research in gentrification and non-profit housing development.