Backr Board and Founding Members:
Marc Almon
Founder, President & Secretary
Marc Almon is an award-winning film and television producer, arts advocate and social entrepreneur dedicated to community driven ventures. Marc’s work has screened at TIFF, Berlinale, Sundance, and other major festivals; his latest feature The Executor, will debut in 2026. He is the Founder and President of Holdfast Pictures Inc. (2015–present) and the Founder of the Light House Arts Centre, where he led a successful $14 million fundraising effort to create a 35,000 sq ft media production studio—now home to This Hour Has 22 Minutes—as well as a 1,100-seat performance hall, dance studio, and nonprofit office space. As founding chair of Screen Nova Scotia, he successfully led grassroots advocacy to preserve the province’s film and TV sector. In 2026, he will launch Backr, Atlantic Canada’s first equity crowdfunding platform. Marc holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of King’s College (2002) and a Producer’s Lab certificate from the Canadian Film Centre (2008).
Colette O’Hara
Director & Vice President
Colette O’Hara is a spirited leader who blends design thinking, communication, and creativity to spark transformative growth in teams and organizations. She is the co-founder of The August House, a boutique inn and gathering space in Windsor, NS, and previously served as Chief Strategy Officer at SaltWire Network, guiding strategic transformation across Atlantic Canadian newsrooms. Colette has also served as Vice-Chair and founding board member of Invest Nova Scotia (2014 - 2020) and co-founded Halifax’s Awesome Foundation, which has funded over $40,000 in community-led ideas. Named one of Atlantic Canada’s Top 50 Emerging Leaders Under 35 (21inc), she holds a BAH in Political Science from Acadia University, a BPR from Mount Saint Vincent University, and is a graduate of the University of King’s College Foundation Year Program.
Dr. Gregory Nazaire
Director & Treasurer
Dr. Gregory Nazaire brings 30+ years of institutional-grade expertise in investment management, real estate finance, and financial strategy to his role as Senior Partner, Research & Development, at PSA Évaluations.
Dr. Nazaire's track record spans banking, investment management, financial advisory, and manufacturing across North America. His scholarly research — published in peer-reviewed journals — focuses on investment management, venture capital, and market anomalies, providing a disciplined, evidence-based lens on asset management and market dynamics.
An award-winning educator, Dr. Nazaire taught entrepreneurship, financial management, and business planning at Dalhousie University's Rowe School of Business and served as a Visiting Professor of Finance in the joint graduate program between the Université de Nantes (France) and ESFAM (Bulgaria).
On the advisory side, he has provided strategic guidance to business development agencies, SMEs, and international development organizations, with a focus on lending frameworks and economic capacity building. A former economic columnist for Radio-Canada/CBC, he remains an active media contributor and serves on multiple boards and committees throughout the Maritimes.
Chris Crowell
Director
Chris Crowell is the CEO and Co-Founder of ResolveHD, leading the advancement of AI and data assurance across health, defence, and the public sector. With 20+ years in technology, venture capital, and consulting, he has held leadership roles including Co-Founder of Tidal Venture Partners, Head of Open Health Innovation at Accenture’s Canadian Innovation Hub, CMO at Mariner Partners, and builder of OpenText’s global technology partner program. A long-time champion of Canada’s innovation ecosystem, Chris founded East Coast Connected and serves on multiple boards supporting entrepreneurship, including Chair of Ignite Atlantic and Board Member of Evergreen Canada. He holds a Bachelor of Laws and an MBA from Dalhousie University, a BA (Honours) in Mass Communications from Carleton University, and completed Stanford’s LEAD Corporate Innovation program.
Lewis Smith
Director
Lewis Smith is a deal-maker and strategist with 25+ years of experience developing innovative solutions in clean energy, infrastructure, and technology. He is currently Founder and CEO of Veridite, providing advisory services for green hydrogen, renewable natural gas, biocarbon, carbon capture, and renewable power projects. Previously, he served as Chief Commercial Officer at CHAR Technologies Ltd., where he led development, financing, and strategic partnerships for build-own-operate projects converting low-value feedstocks into high-value energy and carbon products. Lewis has also provided strategic advisory services to cleantech and energy companies, supporting major transactions and business development initiatives. He holds an LLM in International Business Law from the London School of Economics, an LLB from York University – Osgoode Hall Law School, and a BA in Financial and Economic Studies from Western University.
Andy Horsnell
Independent Director
Andy Horsnell has over 30 years of experience helping community-based enterprises become more sustainable and impactful, working with hundreds of nonprofits and social enterprises across Canada and the U.S. He is the founder of Social Enterprise Solutions, co-founder of Authenticity Consulting LLC, Common Good Solutions CIC, and Flourish Community Development Co-operative Ltd., and serves as part-time Executive Director of the Centre for Local Prosperity. Andy is also a consulting associate at Horizons Community Development Associates and volunteers as a board director and treasurer for several social enterprise organizations. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Acadia University, an Accounting Diploma from Kingstec Community College, and certificates in Adult Training (Acadia), Competency-Based Learning (Holland College), and completed the Synergia Institute residential program in Italy.
Christopher Googoo
Independent Director
Christopher Googoo has been instrumental in the development and growth of Ulnooweg Development Group, the Ulnooweg Education Centre and The Ulnooweg Indigenous Communities Foundation over the last 25 years. As the most senior person at Ulnooweg, Chris has provided leadership and critical institutional knowledge to the flourishing of the organization. His most recent works have been involved in the creation and implementation of the new national Indigenous Peoples Resilience Fund, implementation of Ulnooweg Education Centre’s STEAM based education under the Science and Innovation program and the recent acquisition of 200 acres of old growth forest land Asitu’l~sk (formerly Windhorse Farm), focused on creating a space for healing and education.
Recently appointed to the Board of Research Nova Scotia, Chris is also a member of the Investment Committee of Boann Capital, and Co-chair of the Indigenous Peoples Resilience Fund. His governance experience spans numerous boards, including the Centre for Local Prosperity, Rural Communities Foundation of Nova Scotia, Impact Organizations of Nova Scotia, Halifax Chamber of Commerce, Innova Corp, Atlantic Provinces Chamber of Commerce, and the National Aboriginal Capital Corporation Association.
The Backr Team
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Marc Almon
CEO
Filmmaker, entrepreneur, and community-builder committed to strengthening Nova Scotia’s economic future through innovation and shared ownership
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Ismet Puhovac
Business Analyst
See LinkedIn Profile
Partner & Owner with expertise in Data Analysis and Business Strategy -
Nicola Parker
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Joanne Bath
Fundraising Advisor
Ask Joanne what drives great fundraising, and she’ll tell you it starts with people: their stories, their hopes, their belief that they can make change happen.That belief is what built Kittiwake, a national philanthropic consulting firm
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Julie Robinson
Counsel
Julie is a Partner at McInnes Cooper practicing in the areas of corporate finance and securities law, and corporate and business law
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Nic Fieldsend
Marketing & Video Consultant
25 years experience in content creation, strategy and live production, my expertise is in both creative and client service
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Andrew Henrickson
Accountant
Andrew G. Henrikson is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CGA) and Licensed Public Accountant based in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. Since 2003, he has led Henrikson & Associates Inc., providing comprehensive accounting, tax planning, and business consulting services. He specializes in compilation and review engagements, corporate and personal tax returns, and strategic financial projections to help clients raise capital.