Simon Pollard
InvestorInvestor at Small Business Bureau – Loan Guarantee & Concessionary Loan support
Small Business Bureau
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192 people in our graph share verified history with Simon — schools, employers, funds. One of them is your warm intro.
Steve LauunlockedSimon: together at University of Toronto (2025–2026)
Simon: together at University of Toronto
×5Simon: together at Henley Business School
×3Simon: together at Wayne State University
About
Simon Pollard is Vice-President of Strategic Initiatives and Business Development at the Ontario Centre of Innovation (OCI), where he leads a team of more than 80 professionals across strategy, investment, business development and commercialization, and also heads the Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network (OVIN), which developed from the earlier AVIN initiative. Over more than 15 years, he has managed and invested over $321 million in innovation capital across sectors including AI, advanced manufacturing, electric and low-carbon vehicles, autonomous and connected technologies, life sciences, mining and clean technology. He additionally serves as a Governor on the Governing Council of the University of Toronto and as an Advisory Committee Member with Alectra Utilities, and holds M.Sc., M.S., and B.A.Sc. degrees along with a P.Eng. designation.
Contact· self-published, not guessed
Experience
- University of TorontoGovernor, The Governing Councilcurrent2025 — presentToronto, Ontario, Canada
- Ontario Centre of InnovationVice-President, Strategic Initiatives & Business Development | Executive Lead, OVINcurrent2021 — presentToronto, Canada Area
- Ontario Centre of InnovationHead of Ontario's Autonomous Vehicle Innovation Network (AVIN)2017 — 2021Toronto, ON
- Ontario Centre of InnovationBusiness Development Manager and Automotive Sector Lead2016 — 2017Toronto, Canada Area
- AUTO21 Inc.Manager of External Relations and Business Development2014 — 2016Windsor ON
- AUTO21 Inc.Business Development Officer2011 — 2014Windsor ON
- BonduelleProcess Engineering Coordinator2009 — 2010Tecumseh ON
Skills & more
Political Acumen4Team Leadership14Critical Thinking1Creativity and InnovationBusiness Networking2Leadership85Strategic Planning44Strategy18Management32Public Speaking12Negotiation3Problem Solving
+12 more
Creativity SkillsPeople ManagementInterpersonal SkillsRelationship BuildingStrategic ThinkingPersuasionAnalytical ReasoningInvestment ManagementInvestmentsCross-sector CollaborationEconomic DevelopmentSenior Stakeholder ManagementLanguages English · French
- Professional Engineer (P. Eng) — Professional Engineers Ontario
From Simon's professional profile.
Colleagues at Small Business Bureau – Loan Guarantee & Concessionary Loan support
Karen Harris
Investor at Small Business Bureau – Loan Guarantee & Concessionary Loan support
Keon Hope
Investor at Small Business Bureau – Loan Guarantee & Concessionary Loan support
Malica Dowlin
Investor at Small Business Bureau – Loan Guarantee & Concessionary Loan support
Remalio Persaud
Investor at Small Business Bureau – Loan Guarantee & Concessionary Loan support
Rita Mohabir
Investor at Small Business Bureau – Loan Guarantee & Concessionary Loan support
Ryad Adams
Investor at Small Business Bureau – Loan Guarantee & Concessionary Loan support
Shanaya Jacobs
Investor at Small Business Bureau – Loan Guarantee & Concessionary Loan support
Shazim Ibrahim
Investor at Small Business Bureau – Loan Guarantee & Concessionary Loan support
Frequently asked questions
- Who is Simon Pollard?
- Simon Pollard is Vice-President of Strategic Initiatives and Business Development at the Ontario Centre of Innovation (OCI), where he leads a team of more than 80 professionals across strategy, investment, business development and commercialization, and also heads the Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network (OVIN), which developed from the earlier AVIN initiative. Over more than 15 years, he has managed and invested over $321 million in innovation capital across sectors including AI, advanced manufacturing, electric and low-carbon vehicles, autonomous and connected technologies, life sciences, mining and clean technology. He additionally serves as a Governor on the Governing Council of the University of Toronto and as an Advisory Committee Member with Alectra Utilities, and holds M.Sc., M.S., and B.A.Sc. degrees along with a P.Eng. designation.
- Where does Simon Pollard work?
- Simon Pollard is at Small Business Bureau – Loan Guarantee & Concessionary Loan support.
- Where did Simon Pollard go to school?
- Simon Pollard studied at Henley Business School (Doctorate, Business Administration); Henley Business School (Master of Science (MSc), Business and Management Research); Wayne State University (Master of Science (MS), Industrial Engineering).
Same school
Also attended Henley Business School62
John HortonInvestor at DN CapitalIrene ArdenstedtInvestor at Luminar VenturesCharles VasletSenior Partner, Chief Revenue Officer at Emerald Technology Ventures AgSanne van ErpInvestment manager at NoaberKieran MudryyPartner at 4BIO CapitalJames ChapmanEntrepreneur in Residence at Cambridge Innovation Capital
+ 56 more
Also attended Wayne State University44
Desmond PadhiOperating Partner at Westlake Village BioPartnersSiddhi GuptaIndia Investment Analyst at Beyond Capital VenturesWilliam KaiserVenture Partner at Colle Capital PartnersAntonio LückInvestor at MatterScale VenturesMrunalini ParvataneniInvestor at DigitalDx VenturesCaroline WolaninInvestment Analyst at Plymouth Growth
+ 38 more
Also attended University of Windsor49
Jesse FastInvestor at Side Door VenturesFaraz SiddiquiSenior Director, Legal, Endeavor Catalyst at Endeavor CatalystJohn HamerManaging Partner, DCVC Bio at DCVC (Data Collective)Michael SfalcinPrincipal at Yaletown PartnersJay PatelAnalyst at Toyota VenturesDaniel JeonPartner at Ventura Capital
+ 43 more
Shared employers
Also worked at University of Toronto155
Raquel UrtasunFounder & CEO of WaabiNick FrosstCo-founder of CohereAngelaGeneral Partner at Version One VenturesGisella de la RochaVice President of Legal at MPM BioImpactGraham CareyInvestment Director - Advanced Materials at Emerald Technology Ventures AgJoel DrewryPrincipal at Versant Ventures
+ 149 more
Also worked at Ontario Centre of Innovation24
Stuart BrowneCEO at PycapAlicia PereiraVice President Marketing & Communications at Ontario Centre of InnovationClaudia KrywiakPresident and CEO at Ontario Centre of InnovationRaed KadriVice President, Strategic Initiatives and Business Development; Head of OVIN at Ontario Centre of InnovationHarman GrewalLead, Innovation Programs at Rogers Cybersecure CatalystGlenn SmithGo-to-market at Roseview Global Incubator
+ 18 more
