UCeed Haskyane Student Fund - Current Student Cohort
The fund aims to create a long-term, best-in-class student education and learning experience at UCalgary; learn about venture capital and finance by managing a real dollar, private equity / VC fund.
AG Team
Ksenia Kabanova, Fund Manager
Ksenia is currently working towards a combined degree in Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Science. She recently joined UHSF and is also a part of the JDC West consulting team, as well as a Marker/Proctor for an entry-level Entrepreneurship and Innovation class. In her free time, she enjoys improving her skills in tools such as Power Query.
Declan Sander, Fund Manager
Declan is an accounting student studying on the Richard and Lois Haskayne Legacy Scholarship, the most prestigious and largest Haskayne scholarship valued at $100,000. Declan is also a member of the heavyweight men's dinos rowing team. Additionally, he is the president of Best Buddies, a club that connects community members with intellectual disabilities with University students to create lasting friendships. Declan also serves as treasurer on the Big Brothers and Big Sisters National Youth Advisory Council, where he has been able to work developing mentoring programs for at-risk youth.
Edina Thai, Fund Manager
Edina is a finance co-op undergraduate at UCalgary. She has the honour of being the only recipient of the Mawer Scholarship for Women in Finance 2023, valued at $9,000. She serves as a Teaching Assistant for the Financial Management course. Alongside her role at UHSF, she participates in Calgary Propel Impact Fund as a Fund Manager, and in Denovo Student Investment Fund as an Investment Analyst. She is extremely eager to explore novel innovations, industries, and diverse perspectives.
Kaye Bayansan, Fund Associate
Kaye is a third-year student doing a combined degree in finance and computer science and is a Marker/Proctor for a business analytics class (MGST 391). She involves herself in the student community at Haskayne through the Commerce Undergraduate Society as a director for the Community Development portfolio where she helps organize mental health and charity events that benefit the Haskayne student body and community alike. Outside of the classroom, she enjoys reading, painting, rock-climbing, and occasionally participating in case competitions held at Haskayne.
Ivan Chen, Fund Associate
Ivan is pursuing a BSc in computer science at UCalgary, complementing his BA in economics from the University of Alberta. With over seven years of experience in the finance sector, Ivan has a strong foundation in financial analysis, valuation, and data management. He has previously held roles at Plains Midstream Canada, DV Trading, Elixir of Technology, and Pure Canadian Gaming. Ivan has completed the Chartered Financial Analyst and Chartered Market Technician programs and is passionate about leveraging his technical and financial expertise to drive innovation in the venture capital space.
Sergio Plazas, Fund Associate
Sergio is in his third year of a dual JD/MBA at UCalgary. During his studies, he has held various positions, including working for start-ups and within venture capital, consulting on AI regulation, teaching assistant and as a summer law student with McLeod Law. Sergio is also pursuing a Master of Science in Data Science and Analytics from the Georgia Institute of Technology. His prior academic achievements include a Bachelor of Health Sciences (Honours) in Biomedical Sciences at the UCalgary, where he conducted research on bisphenols and infectious diseases.
Krystian Sekowski, Fund Asssociate
Krystian Sekowski is entering his third year of the JD/MBA program at UCalgary. During this time, he gained experience as a summer student at McLeod Law LLP and as a Law Student Intern at the BLG Business Venture Clinic. During his time at law school, Krystian has focused primarily on business, corporate, M&A, and energy law courses. He has also been an active volunteer with Pro Bono Students Canada (PBSC), contributing to the Hearsay Podcast.Prior to law school, Krystian studied both piano and organ performance, along with orchestral conducting, across Europe and North America.
Energy Team
Adam Stosky, Fund Manager
As an engineer with over five years' experience in R&D, Adam has a passion for innovation which has ultimately fostered his interest in venture capital. He graduated from UCalgary with a BSc in mechanical engineering and is currently taking his evening MBA. Currently a product designer at DIRTT, Adam creates industrialized construction systems designed to reduce construction waste. With his experience in developing innovative products, Adam is excited to step into a role where he can help promising startups secure funding to guide them to the commercialization stage.
Raffay Ilyas, Fund Manager
Raffay is working towards his MSc in Immunology. He graduated with a degree in Biomedical Science (honours) with first-class distinction and is set to explore the realm of immunity. Raffay has worked with various organizations and startups, such as Nimble Science and Mental Health Virtual Assistant, which kindled his interest in the venture capital space. Aside from academics, Raffay commits his time to volunteering with the Alberta Health Service, writing grants for charities, and mentoring young students to develop their scientific reasoning and skills related to research.
Kabir Parmar, Fund Manager
Kabir is in his fifth year of BComm studies specializing in finance at UCalgary. He has acquired diverse experience in strategy consulting and commercial real estate with Monitor Deloitte and Jones Lang LaSalle, where he focused on energy transition, decarbonization strategies, and financial analysis. As Co-Captain of Team Haskayne for JDC West, he developed a strong analytical background allowing him to make meaningful contributions to UHSF. His team’s first-place finish at the Milgard Invitational Case Competition on Social Responsibility, underscores his ability to excel in high-stakes, strategy-focused environments.
Ali Radwan, Fund Manager
Ali is pursuing his BComm with a focus on finance from the Haskayne School of Business. He has a multifaceted work experience that ranges from internship duties at Suncor Energy to data analytics at the Business Development Bank of Canada. Ali has been an active member of the university community, serving as an External Director for the Haskayne Students Association (HSA), Vice President of Operations of Finance at the HSA, and participating in the Accenture Community Consulting Project.
Parker Jorginson, Fund Associate
Parker is pursuing a BComm in finance. For three years he balanced academics with a junior hockey career on Vancouver Island. Professionally, he was a financial analyst at Inter Pipeline and TransCanada Turbines, where he developed financial analysis and strategic planning skills. Beyond finance, Parker has contributed to the development of young hockey players as a skills development coach. He is driven by a strong work ethic, a passion for education, and an aspiration to excel in high finance, ultimately aiming to reach a managing director level.
Mursal Karimi, Fund Associate
Mursal is a fourth-year student in a combined major in finance and international relations. She is excited to deepen her understanding of venture capital through her experience with UHSF. Mursal also serves as the director of finance for the Women in Politics Club. She actively volunteers for several non-profit organizations including Empowered Futures and Canadian Women for Women in Afghanistan. Mursal aspires to establish a career in venture capital and impact investing, asset management, or public finance. She is particularly interested in driving projects that prioritize equity, accessibility, and sustainability.
Hannah Li, Fund Associate
Hannah has a BSc in Life Sciences, a BEd and is currently pursuing her MBA at the Haskayne School of Business. She is passionate about sustainability and finance and currently works as an ESG Project Coordinator at Stok, a sustainability consulting firm, where she supports corporate climate strategies and ESG initiatives. Her previous experience as a secondary school teacher sharpened her communication and stakeholder engagement abilities. She is committed to responsible growth and innovation, and through UHSF, she looks forward to contributing to entrepreneurial ventures and expanding her expertise.
Maged Own, Fund Associate
Maged is an engineer with a Master's in energy and environmental systems, registered with APEGA He is currently working towards an MBA with a focus in finance. Maged is experienced in shale and tight oil, pipelines, water management, and utilities. Passionate about continuous learning and solving challenges, Maged has added completed several learning opportunities including Business Foundations (Wharton), Data Science (IBM), and AWS Cloud Practitioner certifications.
Prime Team
Jennifer Erickson, Fund Manager
Jennifer is currently pursuing her MBA (finance) at UCalgary. Throughout her career in life sciences research, she witnessed first-hand the challenges that researchers face in transforming bench-level discoveries to commercialization. She was inspired to join UHSF so she could further explore the role of venture capital in bringing these discoveries to market. Outside of her studies, Jennifer enjoys spending time outside, in the mountains and on the water, and supporting Crohn’s and Colitis Canada.
Shahoon Kahn, Fund Manager
Science innovation is often lead by start-ups in our communities, however many of these startups face challenges in the initial phases of their development. To support these ventures, Shahoon joined the UHSF to bridge the divide between groundbreaking research and practical application. Shahoon graduated with honors from the Bachelor of Health Sciences in Biomedical Sciences program in 2022. Currently, he is working towards his MSc in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.
Arunima Nath, Fund Manager
Arunima has a Master of Pharmaceutical Sciences in Controlled Drug Delivery Systems and is currently studying for her MBA at UCalgary. She has over 12 years of experience in ensuring compliance with Health Canada and USFDA regulations for drug approvals, product launches, and cannabis products.
Abel Amenu
Abel is entering his third year at Haskayne School of Business, pursuing a BComm in finance. At Haskayne he has participated in case competitions, allowing him to develop analytical critical thinking skills. Winning the UCCA X HSA case competition provided the opportunity to learn a microcosm of the consulting industry. Abel is excited about identifying early-stage startups and catapulting their journeys to create a lasting impact within their communities. He plans to use the skills developed in classes and case competitions to help add value to the UHSF.
Oyedade Shokunbi
Oyedade (Dade) is pursuing her MBA and will specialize in finance. She has a bachelor’s degree in economics and over eight years’ experience in the finance industry, that includes investment banking, venture capital management and investment advisory. About five years ago, Dade joined a sector-agnostic VC firm investing in sub-Saharan Africa. She championed investment in an early stage agri-business platform that connects the agro business value chain and has since morphed into the first and largest commodity exchange in its region, leveraging technology to deliver great returns.
Anna Thai, Fund Associate
Anna is an MBA candidate at UCalgary who is also a CDAP Digital Advisor, PMP and 9x Salesforce Certified. With experience in the mining and industrial process equipment industries, Anna supported the ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management system implementation to optimize business processes. Transitioning to the telecom industry, she became a technical leader in an enterprise environment where she helped the business automate tasks by translating executive needs into system requirements. Anna has also applied her knowledge across multiple utility, SaaS, insurance, and oil and gas businesses to grow workflow automation.