Independent Review Committee
The Manager, on behalf of the Funds, has established an Independent Review Committee (IRC) to provide impartial judgment where the Manager is faced with any actual or perceived conflict of interest between itself and the Funds. The IRC is currently comprised of Leslie Wood, Chair, John Webster, and Robin Mahood. Don Campbell acts as Secretary to the IRC.
Leslie Wood CPA, CGA
Ms. Wood has over 25 years of experience in the investment management industry. Leslie was previously Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer at NEI Investments where she successfully completed several mutual fund acquisitions and was head of product development, marketing, back office administration and system operations. Leslie is also the Chair of the Independent Review Committee for both Empire Life Investments and Evermore Capital, member of the Independent Review Committee for Connor, Clark and Lunn and is a member of the Investor Advisory Panel for the Ontario Securities Commission.
John Webster
Mr. Webster spent over 30 years with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PWC) until his retirement in June 2014. His roles included eight years as Managing Partner in British Columbia, three years as Assurance Leader in Romania and Southeast Europe, leader of the firm’s Mining Practice in Canada and a variety of leadership roles in the British Columbia technology sector. He has extensive experience as an audit partner and has provided advice to both private and public clients on large, complex transactions.
Mr. Webster is a Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, a Member (1983) and Fellow (2002) of the Chartered Professional Accountants of British Columbia.
Mr. Webster holds a BA (Hons) Degree in Economic and Social History from the University of Kent.
Robin Mahood
Mr. Mahood is a Partner in McCarthy Tétrault LLP’s Business Law Group in Vancouver. He advises private and public corporations in a wide range of industries regarding mergers and acquisitions, debt and equity financing activities, shareholder matters, corporate governance and day-to-day commercial matters. Recent transactional experience includes advising Canadian, US and international acquirers and targets in respect of domestic and cross-border financing and M&A transactions in the mining, renewable energy, forestry, infrastructure, hospitality and technology sectors.
Mr. Mahood received his BA from the University of British Columbia in 1997 and his LLB from the University of Toronto in 2002. Prior to joining McCarthy Tétrault, he clerked for Justice Frank Iacobucci at the Supreme Court of Canada and was an associate with Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, one of New York’s leading international law firms. Robin was called to the New York bar in 2004 and the British Columbia bar in 2006.
Don Campbell, LL.B.
Mr. Campbell provides regulatory advice to Pender and is the Secretary of the Independent Review Committee. He has been practicing law in Winnipeg since 1990 and focuses his practice on advising clients in the advisory and mutual fund business.
From 2002 to 2003 he was the National Director of Compliance for IQON Financial Inc., a 400 advisor mutual fund dealer based in Winnipeg. He was Legal Counsel, Compliance, with Assante Asset Management Ltd. from 2000 to 2002.
Mr. Campbell has a law degree from the University of Manitoba and is a founding member of the Compliance Officers’ Forum of Manitoba.
