Our Leadership
Meet some of the team helping us transform Canadian innovation.
Sid Paquette
Head, RBCx
Sid Paquette is the Head of RBCx – the technology and innovation arm of RBC dedicated to helping Canadian tech and life sciences companies scale across every stage of their growth journey.
In this role, Sid is responsible for transforming the way Canada’s largest financial institution supports the unique banking, capital and operational needs of innovative tech founders as they bring their bold ideas to life. He leads a highly specialized platform of advisors and technical experts who help companies scale by connecting them to the most relevant advice, ecosystem partners, and financial solutions. As part of his mandate, Sid also has oversight of RBCx’s growing in-house portfolio of companies, which include Dr.Bill, Ownr, Mydoh, and Houseful.
Prior to RBCx, Sid was a Managing Partner of one of the largest Canadian venture capital firms where he led several multi-stage investments in high-growth technology companies. As a serial tech investor and disruptor at heart, he is deeply engaged in the North American tech and innovation ecosystem. He has been an avid supporter of tech entrepreneurs and innovators through his various roles as an investor and board member of several scaling tech companies, including 360insights, Klue, League, and Xanadu.
Sid holds a Bachelor of Arts (BA) from York University, Juris Doctor (J.D.) from Osgoode Hall Law School, Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Wilfrid Laurier University and a Master of Taxation (MTax) from the University of Waterloo.
Tony Barkett
Head,Banking
Tony leads our national technology and innovation banking practice, supporting tech companies of all sizes, across all startup stages. He provides strategic oversight of product and market development, and heads our national relationship management and credit advisory teams.
Prior to RBC, Tony was the Managing Director for Silicon Valley Bank, focused on helping technology companies thrive in Canada’s growing innovation economy. Previously, Tony managed SVB’s Eastern Cleantech practice and worked with technology companies under $100M. Prior to this role, Tony managed SVB’s Southeast Asset Based Lending Group.
Over the course of more than twenty years supporting the tech ecosystem, Tony has provided a variety of financing solutions to technology companies at every stage.
Shikha Bhuchar
Head, Strategy and Investments
Shikha leads Strategy and Investments at RBCx, driving strategic growth and innovation for RBC businesses and portfolio companies. Shikha and her team identify market opportunities aligned with RBC’s objectives and directs capital into high-potential funds and early-stage tech ventures. Shikha also leads the Crypto and Decentralized Strategy team at RBCx, focused on equipping RBC and building the capabilities necessary to harness the potential of decentralized finance.
Previously, Shikha co-founded Arrive, one of RBC’s pioneering in-house organic ventures. Arrive is a digital platform dedicated to supporting newcomers with the tools and information needed to transition successfully to Canada. Under her leadership, Arrive expanded to three countries, empowered over 200,000 newcomers, and established itself as RBC’s first pre-arrival newcomer service.
With 15+ years in financial services, Shikha excels in digital transformation, strategy development, and program delivery. She holds a BBA and MBA from the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management. A former Team Canada rhythmic gymnast, Shikha now mentors young athletes.
Laverna Chow
Vice President, Operations & Strategic Initiatives (OSI)
Laverna leads the Operations & Strategic Initiatives team and is responsible for driving strategy development and execution, effective operations, enablement, finances, and risk management for RBCx. She also oversees several RBCx Centres of Expertise, including data, analytics, and customer experience.
With over a decade of experience in Capital Markets, banking product management, regulatory strategy, and operations, Laverna is a proven, results-driven leader delivering business growth, efficiencies, and enhanced client and employee experiences. Through her leadership, her teams have achieved workforce efficiencies benefiting 4,000+ operations agents and have transformed digital and automation capabilities for investment and credit products. Laverna also played a key role in overseeing the data migration and integration of operational processes for RBC in its acquisition of the former HSBC Bank of Canada.
Prior to joining RBC, Laverna worked at the Ontario Securities Commission and at a national law firm. She holds a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) from McGill University, as well as a Juris Doctor (J.D.) and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Queen’s University.
Sandra Cruz
Head, HR
Sandra is a strategic and collaborative senior HR professional with over 25+ years of experience in large Canadian financial institutions. As the Head of HR for RBCx, she leads a team focused on leadership & talent activities, partnering with senior executives to develop workforce strategies and provide talent advice to drive business outcomes.
Sandra joined RBC as part of the HSBC Canada acquisition in 2024. She held progressively senior roles in Human Resources, including most recently as Head of HR for Commercial Banking and Capital Markets for 10 years. She holds a BA in Sociology & Criminology from Carleton University and an Advanced Human Resources Management certificate from the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management.
Nicole Kelly
Head, Platform
Nicole is the Head of Platform at RBCx, the technology banking and innovation arm of the Royal Bank of Canada. In this role, Nicole is responsible for creating the overall marketing strategy, and leads a nationwide team of marketing leaders across Canada. Nicole and her team are focused on driving forward the RBCx mission of being a true partner for technology companies from startup to IPO by building meaningful programs and opportunities to connect, inspire and support founders and investors. Nicole also serves as an advisor to late-stage technology clients within the banking practice in addition to the technology companies within the RBCx Ventures portfolio.
Previously, Nicole was the Director of Community at OMERS Ventures, the venture investing arm of the Ontario Municipal Employee Retirement System. She was responsible for the development of the marketing and communications strategy and execution as the firm scaled across North America. Prior to joining OMERS, Nicole spent nearly a decade in digital marketing and communications across a variety of sectors, including technology, media and finance.
Nicole has experience across a wide range of marketing disciplines and strategy, including event management, lead generation, public and investor relations, partnerships, branding and performance. She is an active mentor to women in tech to bolster the next generation of marketing leaders. In her spare time, Nicole likes to play hockey with her friends and family and take road trips on her motorcycle.
Angie Lamarsh
Vice President, Data & AI Strategy, Commercial Banking
Angie Lamarsh is the Vice President, Data & AI Strategy, Commercial Banking at RBC where her team is responsible for the delivery of data products and AI solutions across Commercial Banking.
With over a decade in financial services, Angie joined RBC in 2024 as Head of Sustainability across Personal and Commercial Banking, leading sustainability strategy execution. Previously at HSBC Bank Canada, she built the national sustainable finance practice and held multiple corporate banking roles managing portfolios of public and private companies.
Angie is passionate about post-secondary education and serves as Board Chair Emeritus at Simon Fraser University. She currently sits on the board of Windmill Microlending. An outdoor enthusiast, in her free time Angie can be found running, skiing or chasing her nieces around a soccer field.
Maris Lush
Interim CEO, Dr.Bill
Maris is the Interim CEO of Dr.Bill, a leading Canadian digital health platform that simplifies and streamlines medical billing for physicians. With more than a decade of leadership experience at the intersection of healthcare, finance and technology, Maris brings a unique lens to her role by championing physician-centric solutions aimed at reducing non-clinical workload and empowering providers to focus more time on patient care.Maris holds a Masters Degree in Globalization Studies from McMaster University, and is passionate about advancing system-level change that improves the day-to-day experience of clinicians and contributes to a more sustainable publicly funded healthcare system.
Shohreh Mouri
Vice President, Ventures Technology
Shohreh Mouri is the VP of Ventures Technology at RBCx, responsible for the technology build, delivery, and operation of all Ventures technology. She also sits on the RBCx Senior Management Team (SMT), providing technology leadership and direction for RBCx’s tech banking practice, including the RBCx Platform.
Prior to this role, Shohreh led the strategic direction, modernization, and implementation of technology for RBC’s Advice Centers. Her work spanned conversational AI for voice and chat, call management, advisor desktop, fraud prevention, voice biometrics, workforce management, and other technologies supporting over 7,500 advisors and more than 70 million interactions per year.
Shohreh is also the co-Lead of RBC’s Women in T&O Employee Resource Group, where she is committed to fostering a supportive environment for womens career advancement and talent retention in technology and operations.
Alison Wilkie
Associate General Counsel, RBC Law Group
Alison leads a team of lawyers that support RBCx and RBC’s enterprise digital initiatives. With over 20 years of industry experience, Alison expertly enables her business partners to transform and deliver digital products and services. She also leverages her knowledge of emerging technologies to advise on innovative transaction structures and negotiate complex technology, M&A, and collaboration agreements.
Prior to joining RBC, Alison practiced corporate law at one of Canada’s leading law firms. Alison holds a BA from McMaster University and a LLB from Osgoode Hall Law School.
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