Sam Duboc – Clifford Clark Visiting Economist

Remarks by Samuel L. Duboc to the 22nd annual Réseau Capital Convention

Biographical Notes

Samuel L. Duboc

In January 2013, Mr. Samuel L. Duboc was named the Department of Finance’s Clifford Clark Visiting Economist to support the implementation of the Government of Canada’s Venture Capital Action Plan. Since June 2012, he had been engaged by the Department to serve as a special advisor on venture capital, to lead consultations and to provide recommendations on how to increase the availability of venture capital for high-growth businesses in Canada.

Mr. Duboc founded the private equity firm EdgeStone Capital Partners in 1999. Prior to starting EdgeStone, he served as Managing Director and member of the Deals Review Committee at CIBC Capital Partners, the merchant banking division of CIBC. From 1991 to 1994, he co-founded and developed the Loyalty Group Inc. (Air Miles Reward Program), where he served as Chief Operating Officer.

Mr. Duboc currently serves on the board of directors of a number of companies, including Porter Aviation Holdings Inc., Stephenson’s Rental Services Inc., and EZShield Inc. In addition, he is a member of the Business Advisory Panel on Income Security Reform which participated in the Commission for the Review of Social Assistance in Ontario.

Mr. Duboc is the Chairman and co-founder of Pathways to Education Canada, a national organization that helps youth in low-income communities graduate from high school and successfully transition into post-secondary education. Mr. Duboc is a member of the board of directors of The Next 36, Canada’s Entrepreneurial Leadership Initiative. In addition, he is Co-Chairman and co-founder of the Pecaut Centre for Social Innovation, an organization that helps promising and successful small non-profits, charities and social enterprises scale to national and international levels.

Mr. Duboc holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from Tufts University magna cum laude and Tau Beta Pi and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School. In 2000, he was recognized as one of Canada's Top 40 Under 40 and named one of the “Most Influential” alumni of the program in 2005. Mr. Duboc is a member of World Presidents’ Organization and Chief Executives Organization.

The position of Clifford Clark Visiting Economist, established in 1983, honours the late Dr. Clifford Clark, who served as Deputy Minister of Finance from 1932 until his death in 1952. Visiting economists typically take part in policy development at the highest level and are often asked to play central advisory roles on key government initiatives. They are recruited from the ranks of prominent Canadian professionals with proven expertise in financial, economic and monetary issues in the business and academic communities.

Previous holders of this post include:

• 2009-2010: Christopher Ragan
• 2006-2008: Brian Crowley
• 2002-2004: Harold MacKay
• 1998-2001: Robert Brown
• 1996-1998: Jack Mintz
• 1994-1995: Peter Nicholson
• 1990-1991: Ken Norrie
• 1989-1990: Chuck Freedman
• 1987-1989: John Helliwell
• 1985-1986: Douglas Purvis
• 1983-1985: Douglas Peters