Kent Thexton
Chairman, SEVEN
Non Executive Chairman, RedKnee
Chairman, i-wireless LLC
Board Member, Sierra Wireless

Kent Thexton has over seventeen years of international telecommunications experience, including executive appointments with some of the largest mobile operators worldwide. At the leading UK operator O2, Thexton served as chief data and marketing officer, president of O2 Online and as a member of the board of directors. During his tenure, O2 grew to be the leading mobile data provider in Europe, with 21% of revenues from data services by the end of 2003, and a customer base with twice the industry average revenue per customer. He was responsible for launching the O2 brand across the O2 operating business, lauded by Accenture as the best brand launch in Europe, as well as the management and procurement of the 5 million devices sold annually. Prior to joining O2, Thexton spent eight years in the Canadian mobile industry, holding the position of Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President of Rogers Cantel (now Rogers Wireless). Prior to this he held management positions at Northern Telecom and Bell Canada. Thexton holds an M.B.A. and B.S. in electrical engineering from the University of Western Ontario.


Trent Punnett
Retired Telecom Executive and Chairman

Trent Punnett has over 20 years of experience in wireless and broadband telecom, in senior roles spanning sales, business development, marketing, product management, corporate development and strategy. Most recently, Trent lead Marketing and Corporate Development for Sierra Wireless, with responsibility for global marketing and product management, business and product strategy and strategic partnerships. Prior to Sierra Wireless, Mr. Punnett spent 14 years in senior positions with Motorola Inc. in Vancouver, Chicago, and San Diego, leading marketing, product management, business development and sales functions. During his career at Motorola, Trent worked with wireless data, cellular infrastructure, VOIP, WiFi, broadband cable and DSL technologies. He has significant experience in international markets and with major wireless and wireline telecom customers. Previous to Motorola, Trent was involved in the management consulting and commercial banking industries. Mr. Punnett holds a Master of Science, Business Administration and a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of British Columbia and is a Fellow of the Institute of Canadian Bankers.


Charles Cook
Chief Financial Officer, Discovery Capital

Charles is responsible for the financial management and capital raising activities of Discovery Capital and its subsidiaries, and will assist in building the company's relationships with the investment community. Charles brings nine years of investment banking experience in advising private and public companies to Discovery Capital, and will assist Discovery Capital investee companies in structuring financings and in completing acquisition and divestiture transactions. Prior to joining the Company, Charles was a director of Dundee Securities Corporation, providing investment banking services in Alberta and British Columbia, prior to which he worked in a similar role in the Vancouver office of a national investment dealer. As well as being a CMA, he holds a MBA from the University of British Columbia.


Robert E. Neal
Retired Telecom Executive and Board Member

Mr. Neal is a seasoned telecommunications executive having spent over twenty-eight years in the industry and twenty years at Aliant (and NBTel) - a telecommunication company known worldwide for its innovation and success. Mr. Neal has held a number of executive positions including President of Innovatia, Senior Vice President of Aliant, President of NBTEL Global, President of NBTEL Interactive, President of ISM - Datacor, and President of NBTEL Mobility. He has also been appointed to over 15 Board level positions while at NBTEL as well as while he was incubating and advising several start-up technology companies.


David J. Raffa
Founder, COO and Investment Manager of BC Advantage Funds (VCC) Ltd

David Raffa is a mergers and acquisitions specialist, having been involved in dozens of M&A transactions in his career. As Chairman of ActiveState Corp, David led the sale of the company to Sophos PLC of the UK in September 2003. As co-founder of Amorfix Life Sciences Ltd. (TSX: AMF), David helped grow the company from inception to the completion of an initial public offering. In 2007, David led the sale of Advantage portfolio company, Parasun Technologies, to Universe Corp. (TSX: USS).

David began his career as a scientist with an environmental engineering firm before becoming a corporate finance lawyer specializing in the technology sector. Having retired from the practice of law to co-found Lions Capital, David currently serves as a director, officer or advisory board member of a number of private and public technology companies.

David was a Board member of the BC Technology Industry Association and chaired its Capital and Investment Committee and subsequently its Policy and Advocacy Committee. He also led the launch of Science World’s equity donation program. In 2004, David was named as one of BC's top 25 "New Elite" innovators in the technology industry by BC Business magazine. David has a Bachelor of Science (Honors, First Class) degree from Simon Fraser University and a Bachelor of Laws degree from Osgoode Hall Law School.


Nazmin Alani
Managing Director, BDC Capital

Nazmin Alani has more than 20 years of experience in the telecommunications industry. Nazmin has worked with incumbent and new service providers involved in wireline, cellular, personal communications systems (PCS) and satellite communications. His work experience includes assignments in Canada, the U.S., Mexico, Argentina, Asia, and Australia. His professional experience includes business development, product planning, product management, strategic planning, market strategy, business modeling, and strategic sales support. He joined BDC in 2004. Prior to BDC, Nazmin spent six years with Gartner Consulting.

Nazmin holds a Bachelor of Applied Science (BASc) degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Waterloo, in Ontario, and an MBA from the University of Ottawa, in Ontario. Mr. Alani also completed the Executive Telecommunications Program at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, USA.


Derek Spratt
President & CEO, Mobidia

Derek has been an active CEO, founder, investor, advisor and board member with local BC technology firms for the past 25 years. He has also been a contributor to the technology community via his board level involvement in Acetech - the Academy of technology CEOs, and the Vancouver Enterprise Forum. Derek has a BSc in Electrical Engineering from Queens and started out in his career in 1982, first as a product designer, and later in executive management and leadership positions, most recently as Founder and CEO of Intrinsyc Software International Inc (1996-2006). Other local firms Derek has worked for include: Consequent Technologies (co-founder, CEO), PCS Wireless (co-founder, past-President/EVP), Ernex (Advisor), Nexus Engineering (VP and business unit manager), Motorola (Product Manager), Integra Systems (Designer/Manager), Canysco Systems (Designer) and DBA Telecom (Designer). Additionally, Derek has worked to promote science curriculum to local K-12 students via philanthropic engagements with Science World BC and the Vancouver School Foundation, and also takes a keen interest in protecting the environment via his philanthropic and board level engagement with Eco-Justice Canada. You can read more about Derek and his business and personal interests on his own web site at www.derekspratt.com.