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Nick pioneers ventures, platforms, and initiatives around the world to achieve positive exponential impact on global grand challenges. Over the past 3+ decades, he has started one of Canada’s leading environmental strategy firms, launched an $800M investment group, founded a state-owned water company, and wrote a book on investing in emerging markets. Nick is best known for coining and developing the “cleantech” concept, introducing it to the finance and business community in 2002 while launching Cleantech Group (“CTG”), a market-leading research, networking and advisory platform that he chaired until the end of 2013. Under his leadership as “Mr. Cleantech”, CTG helped create a global innovation ecosystem, mobilized over $6B in private equity and convened thousands of decision-makers, while serving influential businesses and institutions in Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and North America. In this role, he spoke at 100’s of top events and was regularly featured in most mainstream and trade media.
Today, as Chairman of Parker Venture Management Inc. (“PVM”), Nick makes catalytic investments - presently in solar, carbon-to-value, fintech, energy storage and artificial intelligence. He currently has interests in limited partnerships focused on emerging Asia, smart cleantech, alternative health and sustainable real estate. He is also executive chair of Clean Earth Acquisitions Corporation, a US$230M SPAC listed on the NASDAQ exchange. His latest initiative is CleanAI, founded in 2022 to accelerate decarbonization and sustainability through smart digital technology.
Prior to starting CTG, Nick accumulated over 15 years’ experience forming and investing first-time funds worldwide through limited partnerships, family offices, corporate programs, endowments, and public-private partnerships. During this period, he initiated the first trans-Atlantic private equity fund for clean energy and resource efficiency, the first pan-Asian sustainability fund, the first cross-border India fund and participated in the second ever solar IPO on NASDAQ. In the 1990s, he built and sold one of the first environmental finance firms, advising on capital markets and technology, as well as helping launch several of Africa’s first PE/VC funds.
During 2011-2013, Nick was Chair of Corporate Knights (“CK”), the award-winning media company for clean capitalism, best known for the Global 100 rankings launched annually at the World Economic Forum in Davos. During this period, CK launched a research unit, secured investment partners, and won the national media award. He was also founding Chair and CEO of WaterTAP, a state-owned corporation established to promote water technology, finance, and policy innovation. During 2014-2019, Nick travelled extensively to China and SE Asia, exploring and creating cross-border technology cooperation opportunities and platforms through Global Acceleration Partners.
In recent years, Nick’s contribution to advisory boards includes the Singapore Economic Development Board, Premier’s Climate Change Advisory Panel, Ontario Centre of Excellence for Commercialization of Research and the Clinton Global Initiative where he was principal energy and climate advisor. He’s currently Co-Chair of the Centre for Mindfulness Studies and Board Member of GRE&T, the innovation arm of Alectra - second largest municipally owned utility in North America, the Energy Futures Lab, Clean Energy Canada, Centre for Social Innovation and Future of Good. From 2003-08, he was Chair of E&Co, the award-winning impact bank pioneering clean energy development in emerging and frontier markets. Nick was until recently a Distinguished Fellow of the Asia-Pacific Foundation of Canada.
Nick earned a BA Tech, Hons. (Carleton University, Ottawa), where he served on the Board of Governors, and an MBA in International Business (City University, London). He has lived and worked in Africa, Asia, Europe, and North America while currently residing in Toronto. He’s authored or edited many publications and articles related to cleantech, sustainability, finance and international business, starting with Investing in Emerging Economies in 1993, co-published by The Economist and the World Bank. Nick’s a keen swimmer, soccer fan, outdoor enthusiast, and grateful parent.