Our People

Anthony Messina is the Head of Private Wealth, including the President of Guardian Partners and Managing Director for Guardian Capital Advisors LP. Previous roles at Guardian included President and CEO of Worldsource Securities and Worldsource Financial Management (2018-2021).

Prior to joining Guardian in 2016, he was instrumental in building and growing I3 Advisors, the predecessor to BNY Mellon Wealth Management Canada’s outsourced chief investment officer (OCIO) business. During his tenure as President, he served as a member of various global operating, pension, and investment strategy committees, and as director of the Canadian and Cayman Island businesses. Anthony began his career in the financial services industry at Coopers & Lybrand (now PricewaterhouseCoopers). His business experience is broad and includes investment management, venture capital, business and operations management in private and public companies.

Anthony is a graduate of the Schulich School of Business, holds the Chartered Professional Accountant designation and is a CFA® Charterholder. He is active in numerous charities, including as a director of Villa Colombo Vaughan. He is also a member of the MacKay CEO Forums, a leading CEO peer learning organization.

Matthew Baker is Vice President and Portfolio Manager for Guardian Capital Advisors LP (GCA).  He joined GCA in 2007 and has responsibility for development, implementation and management of portfolios for private clients, foundations, and corporations.

His career in the financial services industry began in 1999 when he joined TD Waterhouse, where he gained trading experience in equities, fixed income, and derivatives on the institutional trading desk.

Matthew graduated from Queen’s University School of Business. He is a CFA® charterholder and CMT (Chartered Market Technician). A member of the Toronto CFA Society, the Canadian Society of Technical Analysts (CSTA), and the Market Technicians Association (MTA) in New York, Matthew also holds the designations of Canadian Investment Manager (CIM).

Michael Barkley is Senior Vice President and Portfolio Manager for Guardian Capital Advisors LP (GCA). He joined GCA in 2004.

His career in the financial services industry began in 1994 when he joined a national retail brokerage firm. Prior to joining GCA, Michael was a senior portfolio manager at a bank-owned investment counsel in Vancouver. Previous to that, he was a partner and director in private client portfolio management for Alberta’s largest independent asset management firm.

Michael has an undergraduate degree in Economics (with High Distinction) from the University of Maine and also has a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of British Columbia. He is a CFA® charterholder, a Canadian Investment Manager, and a Fellow of the Canadian Securities Institute.

Thierry Di Nallo is Vice President and Portfolio Manager – Guardian Capital Advisors LP (GCA). He joined GCA in 2009 and has responsibility for development, implementation and management of investment portfolios for private clients, corporations, philanthropies and foundations. As a member of the GCA asset mix team, Thierry contributes to the development of GCA strategic and tactical asset allocation strategies and implementation processes.

His career in the financial services industry began in 1987 when he joined one of Canada’s largest trust companies, and subsequently, its private investment division. Previous to GCA, Thierry was a senior portfolio manager in the investment counseling division of a major Canadian chartered bank. Prior to that, he managed estate and trust investment portfolios for RBC Global Investments.

Thierry is a CFA® charterholder.

Douglas (Doug) Farley is Senior Vice President and Portfolio Manager for Guardian Capital Advisors LP (GCA).  He has responsibility for management of portfolios for non-profit organizations (foundations and endowments) and private clients, and is a member of the GCA asset mix team.

Prior to joining GCA, Doug was a senior partner and portfolio manager at one of Canada’s largest trust companies, where he managed portfolios for high net worth clients and the non-profit sector such as charitable groups.

An economist by formal training, Doug received his Honours BA (Economics) from the University of Western Ontario. He has also completed the academic credits required to obtain his MTI designation from the Trust Companies Institute. Doug is a CFA® charterholder.

Christie Rose is Vice President and Portfolio Manager – Guardian Capital Advisors LP (GCA). She joined GCA in 2008 and has responsibility for development, implementation and management of investment portfolios and policies for high net worth individuals, endowments, foundations and not-for profit organizations.

Her career in the financial services industry began in 1994 when she joined one of Canada’s largest life insurance companies as a portfolio analyst focused on asset/liability modeling and U.S. fixed income securities. Prior to joining GCA, Christie managed private high net worth (HNW) portfolios for the independent advisory channel of a global mutual fund company, as well as serving on their managed account solution, multi-manager committee. She also previously managed HNW portfolios, including coverage of trust and estate accounts, in the investment counselling area of a large Canadian bank.

Christie graduated with a BA (Economics) from University of Calgary. She is a CFA® charterholder.

Darryl Workman is Senior Vice President, Operations & Administration, Guardian Capital Advisors LP / Guardian Capital LP (GC). He joined GC in 2001 and is responsible for investment administration procedures, compliance, system integration, as well as technology infrastructure for both the private client and institutional divisions.

His career in the financial services industry began in 1987 when he joined one of Canada’s largest insurance companies and subsequently moved to the investment research division. Shortly thereafter, Darryl assumed responsibilities for the technology and operations of the investment division and carried out these responsibilities for six years. Prior to joining GC, Darryl specialized in system conversions and establishing administration processes for RBC private client firm, RT Investment Counsel.

Darryl graduated with a BA (Economics) from Trent University and has completed the Canadian Securities Course.

Mark Bodnar is a Client Portfolio Manager for Guardian Capital Advisors LP (GCA). He joined GCA in 2017 and has responsibility for development, implementation and management of investment portfolios for HNW individuals, families, and non-profit organizations.

Mark’s career in the financial services industry began in 2005 at a large credit union in British Columbia, where he held various investment-related roles in the retail banking network. He subsequently moved to RBC Dominion Securities, where prior to joining GCA, Mark worked in an Advisory capacity for ten years. His primary responsibilities included maintaining and advising HNW private wealth relationships, performing in-depth security research and analysis, and constructing client portfolios.

Mark graduated from Simon Fraser University on the Dean’s Honour Roll as an accomplished student athlete, with a Bachelor of Business Administration (Finance) degree. He is a CFA® Charterholder, a member of and volunteer with the CFA Society of Vancouver and a Canadian Investment Manager (CIM).

Steven Rowles is a Client Portfolio Manager for Guardian Capital Advisors LP (GCA). He joined GCA in 2017 and has responsibility for development, implementation and management of investment portfolios and policies for individuals and families in Western Canada.

Steven’s career in the financial services industry began in 1995 with F.P.C. Investments. He subsequently joined Phillips, Hager & North Investment Management in 1996 as a private client advisor. Prior to joining GCA, Steven spent over 12 years in Asia. In Hong Kong, he was the Global Market Strategist for CFC Seymour, an independent fixed income services company where he provided macroeconomic and foreign exchange research. In Singapore, he was the Head of Marketing and Product for Firth Investment Management, a boutique firm focused on long-only equity investments. Subsequently, he was the Head of Business Development for a start-up macro fund managed by Maiora Asset Management.

Steven graduated from the University of British Columbia with a BA in History (minoring in Economics). He is a CFA® charterholder.

Micha Choi is a Client Portfolio Manager, Guardian Capital Advisors LP (GCA). She joined GCA in 2020 and has a responsibility to work with and manage portfolios and asset mix for high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth individuals and families, and private foundations and endowments. Micha leads efforts to expand GCA’s private client business and co-founded Guardian Women, an initiative aimed at serving female private clients, in 2021.

Micha’s career in the financial services industry began in 2007 when she joined CI Investments. While there, she held roles as an Administrator and Investment Policy Specialist in the Private Client Group. Before joining GCA, Micha spent nine years at Burgundy Asset Management, managing investment portfolios for institutional and private clients.

Micha graduated with a BA (Economics) from the University of British Columbia. She holds the CFA® and CFP® designations. Micha is a member of the Waterloo Chapter of the International Women’s Forum of Canada (IWFC), an affiliate of IWF, a distinguished global community of women leaders.

Ala Ramahi is a Client Portfolio Manager for Guardian Capital Advisors LP (GCA). He joined GCA in 2014 and assumed his current role in 2022. He collaborates in the management of investment portfolios for HNW individuals, families, and non-profit organizations, as well as developing relationships with clients and partners.

Ala’s career in the financial services industry began in 2012 when he joined Guardian Capital as a summer intern. In 2014, Ala joined GCA’s operations group where he held roles in portfolio administration and trading. Prior to his current role, Ala spent five years as an Analyst, supporting portfolio managers in constructing portfolios, individual securities research, and maintaining client relationships.

Ala graduated with a BA (Economics) from the University of Waterloo. He is a CFA® Charterholder.

Erik Brandt is a Client Portfolio Manager, Guardian Capital Advisors LP (GCA). He joined GCA in 2020 and has a responsibility to work with and manage portfolios and asset mix for high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth individuals and families, and private foundations and small endowments. Erik will play an integral part in developing and leading business initiatives to expand GCA’s private client business.

Erik’s career in the financial services industry began in 2004 when he joined CI Investments. While there, he progressively assumed more responsibility, ultimately acting as an Account Manager servicing institutional insurance clients. Directly before joining GCA, Erik spent eight years at Stonegate Private Counsel most recently as a Director, Investment Management. While at Stonegate Private Counsel, Erik helped them rapidly grow their business while being actively involved in supporting his clients and overseeing portfolio models and strategies.

Erik graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Laurentian University. He holds the CFA® and CIM® designations.

Sean Convey is a Client Portfolio Manager for Guardian Capital Advisors LP (GCA). He joined GCA in 2019 and collaborates in the development, implementation and management of investment portfolios and policies for individuals, and developing partnerships with advisors.

Sean’s career in the financial services industry began in 2013, when he joined one of Canada’s largest independent full-service investment dealers. Initially as an associate, Sean transitioned into an advisory capacity within the private client division for a period of five years. His primary responsibilities included maintaining and advising high net worth private wealth relationships, constructing client portfolios, and performing macro-economic and security specific research and analysis.

Sean earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree, graduating with distinction, earning a double major in Finance and Marketing. He is a CFA® Charterholder.

Jessi Hilton is a Client Portfolio Manager for Guardian Capital Advisors LP (GCA). He joined GCA in 2023 with the responsibility of working directly with clients in the development, implementation and ongoing management of their investment portfolios.

Jessi’s career in the financial services industry began in 2016 when he joined Odlum Brown, an independent, full-service investment firm, as an investment assistant. Over the years, he progressively assumed more senior roles; directly before joining GCA, Jessi was an Associate Portfolio Manager for that firm.

Jessi graduated from the University of British Columbia with a Bachelor of Commerce degree. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA®) Charterholder and holds the Personal Financial Planner (PFP^®) designation.

Sasha Evans is a Client Portfolio Manager for Guardian Capital Advisors LP (GCA). She joined GCA in 2023 with the responsibility to develop, implement and manage client investment portfolios.

Sasha has over 15 years of experience in the investment industry. Before joining GCA, Sasha was an Associate Portfolio Manager at a British Columbia investment management firm and worked in a direct client-facing role. Her main responsibilities included the implementation and ongoing management of clients’ investment portfolios.

Sasha graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Simon Fraser University. She is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA®) Charterholder and holds the Personal Financial Planner (PFP^®)  and Canadian Investment Manager (CIM®) designations. Sasha continues to be involved with SFU as a mentor in business and also volunteers with the CFA Institute in a variety of capacities.