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 DeLucchi, 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 DeLucchi

Mr. DeLucchi is the President & CEO of the Madison Group (“Madison”). Madison is a diversified private company with interests in companies in several industries, primarily in Canada, the US, and other international markets.

Mr. DeLucchi is also the Chairman, President & CEO of Madison Pacific Properties Inc. (“MPP”). MPP is a public real estate company with a portfolio of commercial properties in the industrial, retail, office and residential asset classes.

Mr. DeLucchi has 35 years of experience at PwC where he served both public and private clients in several industries with operations in Canada and the US as well as Europe, South America, Asia, and Africa.

While at PwC John primarily worked with public companies listed in both Canada and the US. He also worked with large private, professionally managed companies. John has significant experience regarding corporate governance, risk management, internal controls, and regulatory matters. He also advised clients regarding complex financial reporting matters, public and private offerings as well as mergers & acquisitions.

Mr. DeLucchi was appointed to the IRC on March 4, 2024.

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.