MEET THE TEAM

We combine a proven track record in community, private, and public sector real estate development with experience in capital deployment and project financing.

Development Team

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.

David Lam

Senior Development Manager

David Lam manages projects in the Toronto office. He has over 10 years of combined experience in sustainability consulting and project management in private mixed-used and multi-family high-rise residential construction and public housing projects. David leads a portfolio of projects including several new developments in communities in Ontario and a major renovation and repair project in Toronto.

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.

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.

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.

Operations and Finance Team

Lauren Giroday

Senior Partner & CFO

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.

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.

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 and purpose-driven business, including working in supported housing in Vancouver and leading humanitarian and development operations in Jordan and Iraq. Robin holds a BA from the University of British Columbia and a Postgraduate Certificate in International Development from Humber College.

Management Team

Andy Broderick

Managing Partner

Andy is one of the founders of New Market Funds (NMF) and leads the work of New Commons Development. With over 25 years of experience in affordable housing development and real estate finance, Andy supports projects with pragmatic vision and expertise in development finance. Andy helped launched the Vancity Community Investment Bank and led Housing Vermont, a non-profit developer and equity fund manager. Andy and the Managing Partners also work with key stakeholders to further NMF’s mandate to increase and improve the delivery of capital to the community sector.

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 more than 20 years of experience leading community housing and development corporations as CEO of Toronto Community Housing and COO of Build Toronto. He has deployed over $500M in real estate in Canada. He holds a BA from Carleton University.

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 Vancity, Turtle Creek and Scotia. He holds Masters degrees from Johns Hopkins University and London School of Economics and a BA from Simon Fraser University.