MEET THE TEAM
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Dion leads New Commons Development’s BC team and directs NCD’s small communities projects. With 12+ 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
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
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
Hadley leads New Commons Development, ensuring successful delivery of affordable housing projects. With 12+ years of experience in the public, philanthropic, and non-profit sectors, she supports the development team and New Market Funds’ organizational vision to deliver impact capital for communities nationwide.

Huda Al-Asad
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.

Julia Vlad
Julia leads the investment and portfolio management for the Community Forward Fund and the Canadian Co-operative Investment Fund. She has over ten years of experience in banking, finance and the non-profit sector. Her experience includes investing and portfolio management at the World Bank’s private sector arm, IFC, in Panama, Senegal and USA; advising social entrepreneurs at an accelerator in Nicaragua and financial analysis and forecasting at Scotiabank.

Lauren Giroday
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
Lena manages the acquisition of affordable housing projects for NMF Rental Housing Funds I and II. She has over 3 years of experience working in impact investing, community development, and impact measurement.

Lisa Ainooson
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
Olwen ensures the viability of projects and develops financial strategies for non-profit affordable rental housing for New Commons Development. With expertise in urban planning, real estate, and economic development consulting, Olwen leverages her background to manage projects and collaborate with funding partners.

Robin Goulding
Robin supports 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
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.