As a consultant, he is a recognized facilitator, business planner, and strategic change advisor who has an extensive background in public, private and not-for-profit sectors. He has assisted in the development and review of countless business plans for start-up companies. Ross has implemented major business changes in a number of organizations and has experience in conducting organizational reviews in both the public and the not-for-profit sector. He has extensive business networks throughout Atlantic Canada.

About Us

Ross Finlay is President of Grey Matter Development and is a co-founder and Director of the – Atlantic Canada’s association for private investors.

Ross has been an angel investor since 2000; as well, he has assisted a number of companies raise private equity.

Public Sector: Mr. Finlay spent sixteen years in progressive management and executive positions in the Ontario Public Service. In those sixteen years he was Director of Human Resources for two ministries, Project Manager for the Ontario Video Tape Classification System, Chief Negotiator for the Inter-Provincial Agreement on Video Tape Classifications, Director of the Ontario Theatres Branch, Manager of Staff and Organizational Development, and Senior Management Development Consultant.

Private Sector: Mr. Finlay has senior management experience with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, the worlds largest consulting firm. Also, he was on the executive management team with Solution Inc. Ltd., a Halifax-based software development company.

Not-for-Profit Sector: Ross was Executive Director of the Human Resources Professionals Association of Ontario. He has implemented major business changes in a number of organizations. As well, Ross was President of the Technical Service Council, a national organization specializing in human resource consulting, research, placement, executive search and outplacement, primarily in scientific, engineering and technical fields.

"What Finlay represents is a new generation of managers and executives, schooled in all the new design, distribution and management technologies." [PARA] The Financial Post, 1993ing community service.

Ross brings added value to his consulting through his unique blend of experience and competence. His background includes full P & L accountability, strategic planning, development of new visions and initiatives, budgeting and financial planning, and human resource management. He has proven leadership and consulting skills, particularly in the implementation of change. As a professional trainer and speaker at numerous conferences, Ross has over twenty years of program design and presentation experience. He has been acknowledged for his presentations to the business community by many organizations including: The Niagara Institute, The C.D. Howe Institute, The Board of Trade of Metropolitan Toronto and The Canadian Council of Professional Engineers. Some comments from a recent program he delivered are:

• The content that will be most useful to me is knowing how to cope with various stages my staff are going through.”
  
• The whole session was very useful!”
  
• I appreciated your level of enthusiasm and the use of real examples and humour - this makes learning fun.”
  
• Excellent quality - tough job!!”
  
• The course was awesome.”
  
• Mr. Finlay was one of the best trainers I have ever heard.”

Ross is an active member of the Canadian Engineering Human Resources Board, The Boards of Trade of Halifax and Metropolitan Toronto and has been an volunteer with the Halifax Dance, the United Way, the Girl Guides of Canada, the Heart and Stroke Foundation, The Twin Oaks Memorial Hospital Foundation, the Eastern Shore Business Association and the YMCA. He has also been a regular columnist with Atlantic Business Magazine.

In 2002, he was a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Medal for outstanding community service.