CapitalX Talks: Speakers

Clark Hoskin

Clark Hoskin is Senior Manager, Economic Advisory, for Deloitte. For 25 years, he has worked in tourism, destination marketing, and economic development at the community practitioner level in Ontario. After joining MDB Insight in 2020 and Deloitte in 2022, Clark has helped clients such as Destination Canada, Innovation Science and Technology Canada (ISED), Tourism Industry Association of Nova Scotia, and Tourism Industry Association of Prince Edward Island. He has worked on several destination tourism strategies, including the Ottawa Nightlife Economic Strategy. He works remotely from Norfolk County where he and his wife own and operate a tourism business.

Matthew Hobbs

Matthew Hobbs is Senior Global Trade Advisor, Global Trade & Investment, for Deloitte LLP. He has over 25 years of international trade and investment experience. Prior to Deloitte, he worked as VP Business Development for London & Partners, the trade and investment promotion agency for London, where he opened their Canada office. Matt additionally supported Toronto Financial Services Alliance (TFSA) as VP Business Development and Marketing, introducing the first international trade and investment strategy. He also held several senior positions within the UK’s Department for International Trade.

Max Tremaine

Max Tremaine started his career in Market Research, and he is a proven stats nerd. His passion for mountaineering led him to the intricate world of travel regulations, resulting in the creation of sherpa°, co-founded with Ivan Sharko. As CEO Max's primary objective is to align the sherpa° team with the travel industry, governments, and other relevant parties, trying to create a frictionless border crossing experience.

Stuart MacDonald

Stuart MacDonald, a seasoned entrepreneur, advisor, investor, and consultant, is renowned for his executive management, marketing, start-up, and sales expertise across Canada, the USA, and Europe. Best known as the founder of Expedia.ca, the Canadian branch of the global travel giant Expedia, Stuart revolutionized travel booking, making it more accessible and efficient. He served as the Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) for FreshBooks, a cloud-based accounting software for small and medium-sized businesses, and co-founded the mesh conference, a digital innovation forum. His diverse experience and innovative approach have established him as a sought-after advisor and mentor, especially for entrepreneurs facing the challenges of business growth. Over nearly two decades, Stuart's investment and advisory roles have spanned various sectors, including Enterprise Applications and Travel and Hospitality Tech. In 2021, he joined the Narrative Fund as a Venture Advisor, a San Francisco-based venture capital firm focusing on early-stage consumer tech startups. His deep understanding of the travel and tourism sector has made him a key figure in advising and investing in organizations as they adapt to the industry's digital transformation, with a strong focus on customer satisfaction, clear business strategies, and organizational design.

Erica D'Souza

Erica is a Senior Program Manager, Destination Development at Destination Canada. Erica has 13 years of experience supporting government, business, and non-profit leaders and in her previous role she was a tourism consultant that supported and worked with organizations around the globe in North America, Asia & the Pacific, and the Middle East. At Destination Canada, Erica works with destinations and communities to enable and catalyze strategies that contribute to a resilient and thriving tourism sector.

Othello Tuason

Othello Tuason, Principal at Nautilus, boasts over 25 years of corporate finance expertise, orchestrating $8 billion in mid-market and large corporate transactions. Former Chief Corporate Officer of a private telecom firm, he led operations, finance, strategy, and HR for 400+ staff. As Senior VP at KPMG, Othello elevated capital advisory and M&A services. He also spearheaded BMO Bank of Montreal's Asset Based Lending division and managed diverse portfolios in telecommunications, energy, and retail. With a stellar track record, Othello orchestrated $4 billion in transactions and raised $1 billion in debenture offerings for esteemed clients like Scott Paper and West Fraser Timber, showcasing his prowess in financial services.