Darren Sissons

Bi-lingual (English/Mandarin), accomplished Board Director with 22+ years of operating successes as a diversified and international investment professional with expertise spanning venture capital, private equity, private debt, fund of funds, hedge funds and public equities portfolios, invested in global equities, emerging markets and technology markets. Investment banking expertise includes capital raising, acquisition and divestitures. 

An accomplished problem solver and team builder with the ability to identify and execute value creating strategies.  Have a natural affinity for cultivating relationships and persuading, facilitating, and building consensus among diverse individuals. Possess strong technical, analytical and communication skills.  A skilled leader / change agent with vision and the ability to motivate teams to drive success. An ethical influencer with demonstrated conflict management skills, who provides strong stewardship and oversight in a Board Director role and acts as a credible ambassador for the organization. 

• Owner & Director: member of audit, human resource & compensation and regulation committees of privately held investment management firm, Campbell Lee & Ross Investment Management Inc. 

• Owner & Director: member of audit, human resource & compensation and regulation committees of privately held investment management firm, Portfolio Management Inc. 

• Chief Financial Officer, co-founder and Director of privately held Skillsense Inc. Member of compensation committee, marketing and strategic initiatives committee.

• Strategic Advisor to Convergent Bioscience Inc’s Chief Executive Officer and Board of Directors including raising institutional financing and transaction advisory prior to its acquisition by Protein Simple Inc. 

• Board of Directors observer of privately held Truition Software Inc. and member of audit, compensation, acquisition & divestiture committees.

• Board of Directors observer of privately held TargetNet and member of compensation and restructuring committees.

• Treasurer of Kea Toronto and its successor organization Kia Ora Canada, the association of expatriate New Zealanders in Canada. Member of marketing, fund raising and events committees. Cash Management Administrator of digital payments campaigns. 

• Board member of Toronto Operetta and member of financial, strategic, and fund raising committees.

• Experience in the development and evaluation of strategic plans, marketing plans, budgets and capital allocation budgets across a range of industries including advertising, biotechnology, investment management, manufacturing, software, semiconductors and telecom services. 

• Extensive experience in acquisitions, divestitures, financings and major capital projects for diverse businesses. Directly involved in three private mergers & acquisitions transactions and one restructuring-take-private transaction of a public company.

• Broad human resources expertise including recruitment firm engagement, selection of executive talent and structuring of senior executive objectives and compensation packages.

• Happy Mandarin School - Recurring Mandarin training focusing on spoken, reading & writing                      20016 - Present
• Options Licensing Course, Canadian Securities Institute                                                                                  2021
• Chartered Investment Manager (CIM) CSI; & OSC Registered Portfolio Manager                                                  2012 
• CPA - Certified Management Accountant, CPA Ontario                                                                                    2006
• Master of Business Administration, (Finance), Schulich School of Business, York University                                  2000
• Taipei Language Institue Mandarin Training Centre - Focusing on spoken, reading & writing                          1993 - 1997
• Diploma in International Business, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand                                    1992

Bachelor of Arts, Politics, Victoria University, Wellington, New Zealand