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 startups and scaleups unlock growth across every stage of their journey.
Sid oversees all RBCx programs supporting the innovation ecosystem, including banking and advising high-growth tech companies, deploying capital through direct and fund investments, and scaling a growing portfolio of RBC-owned companies: Ownr, Mydoh, Dr.Bill 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. He is an avid supporter of tech entrepreneurs and innovators serving 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. In his spare days, Sid enjoys travel, great BBQ and practicing all the cooking and sporting activities that he wishes he was much better at.
Tony Barkett
Head, Banking
Tony Barkett leads the banking practice at RBCx, driving product and market development while guiding relationship management across the country. With over two decades of experience in technology financing, Tony brings deep industry expertise to the RBCx team.
Tony and his banking team foster meaningful partnerships that help innovative companies scale. They connect clients at every stage of growth, from startup to scale-up, with the right people, ideas, and specialized financial solutions, including dedicated specialists for the life sciences, climate, and fintech sectors.
Prior to joining RBCx, Tony served as Managing Director at Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), where he focused on supporting technology companies in Canada’s growing innovation economy. Earlier in his career, he managed SVB’s Eastern Cleantech practice and Southeast Asset Based Lending Group, delivering tailored financing solutions to tech companies at every stage of growth. Outside of work, you can find Tony on the golf course.
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. Laverna is an avid reader who spends her free time with her kids and sharing good meals with friends.
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 and 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. A lover of good food and travel, Sandra plays pickleball in her spare time.
Nicole Kelly
Head, Platform
Nicole is the Head of Platform at RBCx, where she leads marketing strategy and oversees a nationwide team of experts in research, product design, and creative. Her team drives impactful programs to connect, inspire and support investors and founders across the tech ecosystem — from startup to IPO — while advising late-stage tech clients and supporting the growth of RBCx’s portfolio companies.
Prior to RBCx, Nicole served as Director of Community at OMERS Ventures, where she developed and executed marketing and communications strategies to scale the firm’s presence across North America. With nearly a decade of experience in digital marketing and communications spanning technology, media and finance, Nicole is a dedicated mentor to women in tech, fostering the next generation of marketing leaders. In her spare time, she enjoys playing hockey with friends and family and taking 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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