UM Properties is a limited partnership whose units are controlled by a University of Manitoba trust. UM Properties GP Inc. is the general partner and the independent land development company guiding the creation of Southwood Circle into a complete mixed-use community.
UM Properties is led by President and Chief Executive Officer Greg Rogers, who was hired through a national search in September 2019.
Greg is a former Winnipegger with 30 years of commercial and residential development experience in Canada and the US. His track record with large-scale development in other major centres in Canada and the U.S. provides a unique advantage to the vision and strategy for Southwood.
Greg is a leader in sustainable development. In the 1990’s he was one of the first to retrofit a Canadian portfolio of office buildings. He joined David Suzuki on a speaking tour to promote commercial office building retrofits.
Greg was also the head of a major North American homebuilder’s sustainability office. Recognized in Canada as a leader in sustainable building development, his team was responsible for one of the first net zero homes in Canada by a major builder and the first LEED Platinum office building in Ottawa.
Trudy Martens joined the UM Properties team as CFO in
February 2023.
Trudy is a CPA, CA having a 30-year career at Deloitte as well as providing investor relations and fractional CFO services to selected clients.
Trudy plays an integral role in building UM Properties strategic financial plan and leading organization’s operational mandates.
Simon Marchand joined the UM Properties team as Director, Development in February 2023.
Simon has 15 years of Development Consulting experience across Central and Western Canada on projects with total values exceeding $20B. With a focus on transit-oriented master planned communities, Simon is an industry expert in development proformas, municipal negotiation, financing, and construction. Utilizing his experience as a Quantity Surveyor alongside his Civil Engineering degree from the University of Waterloo, Simon works closely with UM Properties team to ensure operating and capital costs are monitored.
Simon’s leadership skills and expertise supports UM Properties vision of creating a complete urban community.
Ferdinand Aquino joined the UM Properties team as Construction Manager in December 2023.
Ferdinand has a Civil Engineering degree with a vast knowledge of construction over 23 years in the industry as well as working in the Philippines, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Canada.
Ferdinand’s diverse construction background strengthens UM Properties by meticulously planned and expertly executed construction strategies.
Nancy Orris-Snidal joined UM Properties as the Office Manager in March 2021.
Nancy’s previous career path spanned over many decades in the graphic arts and advertising agency sectors.
In this position, Nancy works closely with the CEO and UM Properties team to implement organizational, administrative, advertising and marketing initiatives.
Muskan Banger joined UM Properties team as a Co-op student in January 2023 and transitioned into Marketing and Communications Coordinator role in May 2023.
Muskan graduated from the Asper School of Business with a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) degree in Marketing.
Muskan applies her digital platform knowledge and technical knowledge to support the marketing and advertising efforts of UM Properties.
UM Properties is led by an 11-member Board of Directors. In keeping with corporate by-laws, the majority of directors are independent of the University of Manitoba. The current independent directors have extensive experience and knowledge of real estate development.
As Vice-President (Administration) of the University of Manitoba, Naomi Andrew leads the university’s financial, business and investment interests, human resources (including labour relations) and information systems and technology services.
Naomi joined the Office of Legal Counsel at the University of Manitoba in 2003, where her areas of focus included real estate development and leasing, commercial transactions, research and technology, and copyright. She later served as Associate Vice-President (Fair Practices and Legal Affairs) and General Counsel. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in 1995 and a Bachelor of Laws in 1999. Prior to joining the university, she practiced commercial law in Winnipeg.
Photo Credit: David Lipnowski
Michael Benarroch became President of the University of Manitoba on July 1, 2020. He is a Manitoban and former Dean of the I.H. Asper School of Business who returned to UM after having served as Provost and Vice-President (Academic) at Ryerson University.
Michael is an economist with a special interest in global economic outlook, the impact of trade on the environment and government economic policy. He is a passionate teacher and researcher, and an active advocate for equity, diversity and inclusion, and the advancement of Indigenous engagement and reconciliation. He has engaged extensively in service to community and board governance.
Mike Emslie is Chief Financial Officer / Comptroller of the University of Manitoba. He joined UM in 2021 after 14 years at the University of Winnipeg, where he was most recently Vice President, Finance and Administration and a member of the Board for the University of Winnipeg Community Renewal Corporation (UWCRC). Mike has also been in internal and external audit roles with the University of Manitoba, Manitoba Finance, the Office of the Auditor General of Canada, and Grant Thornton. He is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA), Chartered Accountant (CA), Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) and Certified Internal Auditor (CIA). He graduated from the University of Manitoba with a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) degree.
Barb Gamey is co-founder of Payworks, one of Canada’s largest national providers of payroll, human resource, time and absence management solutions. Payworks is located in Winnipeg with ten regional offices and over 300 employees across Canada.
Barb sits on the Winnipeg Blue Bombers Board of Directors, the Business Council of Manitoba’s Board of Directors and the TELUS Manitoba Community Board, and has served as United Way Winnipeg’s 2018 Campaign Chair. She is also the Chancellor of the University of Winnipeg and sits on the Board for the University of Winnipeg Foundation. She is an ongoing supporter of numerous other community and charitable organizations.
Adam is the Chair of MLT Aikins LLP and has acted as co-practice group coordinator of the firm’s Winnipeg Commercial Practice Group since 2017. Adam’s practice focuses on the area of taxation, mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, commercial transactions and estate planning with a particular focus on professionals and business succession. His practice is national in scope, having acted for both public and private corporations across Canada.
Having been active in the community since starting his practice, Adam has previously been the chairperson of Habitat for Humanity Manitoba, the chairperson of the Jewish Federation of Winnipeg and most recently competed a term as chairperson of the Combined Jewish Appeal for Winnipeg, having led a campaign that raised a record $6.2 million. Professionally, Adam has served as the chair of the Manitoba Bar Association tax subsection, on the board of directors of the Estate Planning Council of Winnipeg and has spoken and presented for the Canadian Tax Foundation, STEP Canada and the Estate Planning Council of Winnipeg and to many industry groups on tax planning, corporate governance and business succession. Adam has been a teacher in the Bar Admissions Course and for the University of Manitoba Faculty of Law in Solicitors Transactions.
Lynette Magnus is a designated Chartered Accountant with over 25 years of experience in accounting, finance and corporate planning. She is a graduate of the University of Manitoba with a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) degree. Most recently, she was Vice-President and Corporate Controller at Manitoba Telecom Services. Lynette serves as Chair of the Board of Governors and Audit & Risk Management Committee at the University of Manitoba, is a member of Council and the Audit & Risk Management Committee for the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba and is a community volunteer with the Stroke Recovery Association of Manitoba.
Linda retired as Deputy Minister of Local Government responsible for the Emergency Measures Organization, at the end of 2013. Linda joined the Province as a housing policy analyst in 1993, served as a Treasury Board analyst. She went on to hold numerous positions within the Department of Housing, including CEO of the Manitoba Housing and Renewal Corporation, where she was instrumental in the development of the Province’s Waverley West Lands.
She continues to serve on several not-for-profit, municipal and provincial Boards. Linda holds a master’s degree in city planning and is a Fellow of the Canadian Institute of Planners (CIP).
After successfully executing the Manitoba Indigenous Summer Games in 1998, Christian was asked to lead the 2002 North American Indigenous Games Host Society in Winnipeg, Manitoba. This achievement was one of the main considerations in Christian Sinclair being named to the “Top 40 under 40 Executives in Canada” in 2003.
With a wealth of organizational knowledge and experience in the corporate board room and First Nation Council Chambers, Christian Sinclair is a highly sought after negotiator and project manager for both Aboriginal communities and mainstream Corporations seeking to engage in major resource development.
Arni Thorsteinson is President and principal of Shelter Canadian Properties Limited. He has over 45 years of experience in real estate development and finance. Arni is a founder of Lanesborough, Huntingdon, Temple and White Rock Real Estate Investment Trusts, which are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange. He is lead Director of Onex Corporation and Bird Construction Company. Arni also serves on the Boards of the Friends of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, the Michaelle Jean Foundation and Historica Canada.
Arni obtained his Chartered Financial Analyst designation in 1974 and also holds Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) and Doctor of Laws (honoris causa) degrees from the University of Manitoba.
An alumnus of the University of Manitoba Faculty of Architecture, Bob Ellard is a 40-year veteran of the design and architecture industry with experience in both the corporate and post-secondary educational sectors.
As Vice-President, Facilities Management and Development at the University of Calgary from 2008 to 2013, Bob led the West Campus Development Trust, including recruiting the initial Board of the Trust and hiring the first CEO. Prior to joining the University of Calgary, he was Vice-President, Architecture and Interior Design (facilities planning and operations) at Stantec. A member of the Saskatchewan Order of Merit, Bob has a long track record of professional and community service.
An alumnus of the University of Manitoba, Robert (Bob) Silver is an accomplished business and community leader. As President and co-owner of Western Glove Works, he has helped grow the company’s revenues to upwards of $190 million. Bob is co-owner of the Warehouse One and Urban Barn retail chains, as well as the Winnipeg Free Press, Brandon Sun, CanStar Weeklies and Derksen Printers. He has served on many boards, including CentrePort Canada, the Business Council of Manitoba and the First Peoples Economic Growth Fund. He spearheaded the redevelopment of the Millennium Library, led the Grow Winnipeg initiative of the Jewish Federation and served as Chair of Destination Winnipeg and the United Way of Winnipeg. He has also served as Chancellor of the University of Winnipeg. Bob has received an Order of Manitoba, an Order of Canada and an honourary doctorate from the University of Manitoba.
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