Nick pioneers sustainability-oriented ventures, platforms, and initiatives around the world, working with leading and emergent organizations to achieve exponential impact. Over the past three decades, he has started Canada’s leading environmental strategy firm, created the world’s largest innovation platform of its kind, launched an $800M investment group and founded a state-owned water company. As Chairman of Parker Venture Management Inc. (“PVM”), he makes catalytic investments – presently in solar, carbon-to-value, fintech, energy storage and artificial intelligence. Nick 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, as well Founder of The clean.AI Initiative.

Nick coined and developed 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 co-founded and 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.

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.

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.

In recent years, Nick’s contribution to advisory boards includes Singapore Economic Development Board, Premier’s Climate Change Advisory Panel, OCE 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, the 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) 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.