Global Partners

Karl Teviotdale possesses over 20 years of experience within energy and, specifically, the Oil & Gas Industry. He has worked with large multinational operators along with smaller independent operators and service companies around the world. Prior to joining Rainmaker, Karl held a position as General Manager of Leni Gas and Oil’s Spanish Assets.
Currently, Karl is working on projects in Aberdeen including the subsea decommissioning of Shell’s Brent Delta in the North Sea. Throughout his career, Karl has built up a network of international contacts across the energy industry, and continues to build on this extensive network as the industry evolves.

Said has more than 36 years of proven track record in 4 continents having started business ventures in Canada, Germany, Luxembourg, Egypt, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates. He brings wealth of entrepreneurial and startup experience to many sectors.

Said worked, traded and had business transactions with a number of international corporations to name a few HSBC, Saudi British Bank, Cadbury, Carrefour, Van-Rijn, Ikea, Al Futaim Group, IG Wealth Management, ManGo Aviation, Skymax Travel Group GMBH.

Highlights including Start-up and Projects:
• Turned around HSBC Heliopolis Branch Credit-Operations to a model branch (Credit, Corporate Finance, Loans Admin and B&D).
• Assistant Chief Dealer, successfully managed HSBC Egypt Forex portfolio.
• Conducted preliminary study for HSBC Islamic Banking Division – AMANA Saudi British Bank
• Negotiated multimillion $ bank settlement agreements for Egypt’s 2nd largest tour operator
• Grew wholesale trading business +1200% within 2 years for a leading business conglomerate in Dubai
• Managed the sole distributorship of Michelin tires throughout Iraq 2006-2010 a successful multimillion $ logistics and distribution operation
• Successfully launched Tour Operator business in Germany with offices in Luxembourg and Egypt
• Executed “Project-Manager” role for an Aviation start-up in Saudi Arabia
• Obtained and managed supply contract €16 million / yearly for IKEA in 2003
• Coordinated merger between Cadbury Chocolate Company and Bim-Bim Egypt’s largest chocolate manufacturer

Henrique Malina is a serial entrepreneur with more than 20 years of experience in international business development. He has been helping companies from all over the world to do business in Brazil, as well as Brazilian companies to expand globally. Besides being the country manager for a Danish company in Brazil, Henrique is Rainmaker Global Business Partner. He is also a member of IBREI (Brazilian Institute of International Business Relations Development) and President of the Pharmaceutical Industry Commission on this non-profit institution.
Henrique is graduated in Business, has a MBA in Business Management and a post-graduate in International Business. He is passionate by international business development, innovative business models, global branding and international growth. His background is vast and the major industries / sectors are: health (pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, food supplements, sports supplements, pet supplements, e-health, medical devices, etc.), beauty (cosmetics, skin care, personal care, etc.), technology (software development, industry 4.0, IoT, etc.) and startups. During all those years his major asset is the relationship created within these industries.
Regardless your industry, Henrique can help you entering Brazil and/or local companies seeking for expansion. He believes in creating B2B ventures to grow innovation, brands and products.

Anthony D. McDaniels, P.E. has 14 years of experience in the oil and gas industry focusing on the upstream, subsurface production and development of wells and fields as well as executive level business development. Anthony is a Graduate of the Colorado School of Mines with a Bachelors of Science Degree in Petroleum Engineering and holds Professional Engineering Licenses in multiple US States. While attending university Anthony served simultaneously in the Colorado Army National Guard Field Artillery Battalion with one year of Active Duty attaining the rank of Sergeant (E-5). Serving in the military while in college allowed Anthony to develop experience in the sense of teamwork and leadership principles earlier than most young professionals.
After finishing college and military service Anthony spent 8 years working for larger and mid-sized oil and gas E&P. He then founded Rare Petro in 2015 to focus on consulting for day to day operations, regulatory compliance and leveraging modern technology tools and platforms to assist in those areas.
While being a Global Business Partner to Rainmaker, Anthony is currently the Principal and CEO of Rare Petro, an organization of around 30 individuals ranging from college graduates to over 40yrs of experience. In this capacity Anthony not only brings his experience but the resources and experience of the Rare Petro team to Rainmaker and any of Rainmaker’s potential clients in the energy space. In addition, Anthony, as somewhat of a serial Entrepreneur, has started other businesses both inside and outside of the energy industry and serves in advisory and board positions with other organizations ranging from retail, real estate and the general energy sector.

Gabriel Parrodi attended the Universidad Iberoamericana in Mexico and graduated as an Engineer in Telecommunications, Control and Electronics in 1975. He then received his MBA from IESE Universidad de Navarra in Barcelona, Spain in 1981 and attended the Harvard Business School of Business, where he received a NAFTA Certification for International Business in 1993.
Gabriel became the President and Founder of MensajesElectronicos SA and carries more than 30 years experience in the Electronic and Telecommunications Industry. Here, he was instrumental in product design and development for High Tech Electronics for his clients in various Government and Academic institutions. Gabriel is also the President and Founder of Intercambi SC and carries more than 20 years expertise in facilitating and supporting International business for foreign Canadian, US and Mexican companies.
Prior to this, Gabriel was CFO for Redes Via Satelite SA Satelite Communications, Mexico DF, where annual sales were $32 million USD and he facilitated four lunches to represent Arianspace for a total value of $300 million USD. He was also CEO of Meissa Telecommunications Inc., a private US teleport company in Houston, Texas.
Over his career, Gabriel has managed projects for SEMAR (Mexican Navy). This was the first Satellite network for the Mexican new Satellite generation. This project was sold on behalf of Advantech Wireless Inc. a Canadian Corporation. He also was involved with Pemex (PetroleosMexicanos) in building 18 prefabricated shelters and rooms for two offshore drilling platforms; which was later sold on behalf of Lonestar Drilling, A US Corporation.
gabriel@rainmaker-gbd.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabriel-parrodi-a5442436

International relations and business development – these are key aspects at the core of Mark Wilger’s 25 years of experience. A natural people person and experienced with multiple start-ups himself, Mark is quickly able to understand and empathize with those leading the charge into a new market. He is very familiar with cultural differences and sensitivities. He was born of Ecuadorian and German ancestry and is married to a wonderful Chinese lady. He has lived in China, for over 12 years, as well Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, Myanmar, Ecuador, Mexico, and Qatar, among others. Conversant in English, French, Spanish and Mandarin, Mark enjoys connecting with people of all cultures and backgrounds.

Mark was born and raised in Saskatoon and grew up working in family businesses in the agricultural, manufacturing, and plastics industries. He graduated with great distinction from Chemical Engineering at the University of Saskatchewan and immediately sought out an international opportunity. His international oil and gas services career started with advanced technical and management training and aggressive personnel development programs. Breaking off into another small but expanding company, Mark learned first-hand the process of starting a new company in China. He repeated this in China, again in Calgary, then in Singapore.

As General Manager, Mark oversaw and was responsible for providing full administrative and human resources support for oil and gas, petrochemical, mining, and construction companies, large and small, that started up or expanded in China. Mark was able to provide some of the resources, advice, connections, and tips that were key to their success. From cultural aspects to tax policies to the best restaurant in town, Mark openly shared his experience as well as the lessons learned by dozens of other companies that he helped do business in China. This helped many companies avoid pitfalls, saving them both time and money.

Mark moved to Calgary in 2014 as his children were getting ready for high school. He is here now and ready to share his China experience and connections with you as he helps provide you with any support you need.

Justin Hospedales is a senior business executive specializing in business development and international relations. With over 15 years of experience at some of North America’s largest marketing and financial institutions, he has increased profitability, while achieving corporate objectives by creating award-winning sales solutions.

Justin understands the many challenges corporations face in the complex global business environment. Whether driving new business opportunities in emerging markets or navigating through complicated regulatory issues with elected officials, Justin brings a unique approach to achieving results and solving problems.

Justin is a graduate from Acadia University with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in Political Science. He went on to obtain post-graduate certificates from Harvard University, Google, and Mortgage Professionals, Canada.

justin@rainmaker-gbd.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinhospedales/

Scott McNear is an accomplished energy professional with 10 years of experience in the oil and gas industry. His primary focus is upstream development and subsurface production of wells with a strong background in waterflood and enhanced oil recovery field management. Scott graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Petroleum Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines and a Master of Business Administration from Texas Tech University. He also holds Professional Engineering Licenses for Petroleum Engineering in several U.S. states.

As a Global Business Partner, Scott utilizes industry experience to leverage his network and connect clients with potential opportunities. Scott also serves as Engineering Manager for RARE PETRO, which assists Rainmaker and its clients keep a pulse on key developments and trends in the energy space. He is a strong believer in continued improvement to operational efficiency and communication throughout the oil and gas sector.

Peter-Patrick, Austro-Canadian by birth, is a senior business leader & entrepreneur with deep background in management. As a corporate leader, he cultivated a substantive international strategic growth track record of securing multi-million revenues in competitive markets such as the Americas, MENA, CIS, and the EU. Experience includes management of start-ups both relating to organic growth and growth through mergers & acquisitions. Mr. Baumgartner brings to the table his own exceptionally developed professional network comprising major operators, government bodies and business relations.

Beyond his ties to Canada, Peter-Patrick has lived in France, Germany, and Austria, where he now resides. As such, his reach is deep in all of Continental Europe. He is an expert in identifying his clients’ specific needs and creating opportunities for business growth focused on, but not limited to:
• AEC Industry: Architecture, engineering and construction.
• Energy Industry: from traditional to futuristic; oil & gas through to hydrogen.
• Tech Industry: Software and IT.
• Transportation Industry: Logistics and shipping.
• Manufacturing Industry: Equipment and material manufacturing.
• Health Industry: Products & solutions, including those ignited by Covid-19.

Liz De Swart is an accomplished global business consultant and generalist with over 15 years experience in a wide array of sectors including consumer, fashion and lifestyle goods, luxury goods and services, and wholesale and retail business development with a focus on corporate social responsibility and sustainable growth. As Founder and principal management consultant at Van der Mijl & Company, Liz and her team have a passion for helping individuals and teams to leverage their unique ideas and create sustainable growth for their brands. Always eager to get to the heart of a business’ story, Liz’s fine-tuned analytical approach allows her to provide personalized, highly impactful solutions and get people excited about implementing them.
As a management consultant Liz brings several benefits as a Global Rainmaker Partner from a local and international perspective, having often managed vertically integrated platforms for start-ups and SMEs. She acquired a unique educational background having studied in the Netherlands at the Amsterdam Fashion Institute, a division of the University of Amsterdam Applied Sciences; a degree that covers all aspects of the consumer goods industry supply chain, including product management, production, and manufacturing.
Liz has also been involved in the local community, donating time to sit on a jury panel at the University of Mount Royal in Calgary for a program that develops the understanding of innovations and entrepreneurship. Students were exposed to experienced entrepreneurs and meet learning outcomes by participating in experiential activities and competitions. She also participated on the Apparel Technology Industry Advisory Committee for The Fashion Institute of Olds College in Calgary, where she provided input into the programming, faculty, and opportunities for perspective students.

Alastair Clyne is a passionate Scot and a widely respected Business Director and Project Leader with 30 years’ plus International experience across over 60 counties.
This experience extends from growing business into new Global markets, developing collaborations, technology transfer, and joint ventures, to achieving major delivery success (multi-sector, multi-location) with major projects and project management for clients such as the World Bank, USAID, EU, DFID, ADB, etc., National Governments, and NGOs.
As a Rainmaker, Alastair is focused on establishing and stimulating new enterprise, strategy, and leadership, whilst creatively positioning new business models, policies, and solutions.
Moving into 2023, key priorities are to address the Global post-COVID inertia that is inhibiting, suppressing, and failing many projects, businesses and enterprises; and to fight generally against under-achievement, under-development and inequality.
Currently this is particularly manifested within Alastair’s coffee plantation business (Heroica) located in the amazing high lands of the Philippines and his “sister” Carbon Accreditation/Climate Change mitigation enterprise (Silva) which was established to support impoverished farmer, rural/agroforestry and coastal communities across the Global South to secure vital new Carbon/Blue Carbon income, food security, and operational best practice.
Alastair is committed and passionate about delivering such innovative and proactive responses; in this instance to the unacceptable supply chain positioning and the increasingly impacting climate/business challenges; and in many other sectors to raise local/National enterprise and optimism whilst improving performance, skills, and outcomes.

Hugh Fraser is a Scottish corporate/commercial lawyer, based in the Middle East since the early 2000s and with over 30 years of experience in the international energy industry.

He is the founder and Managing Partner of Hugh Fraser International (HFI) and specialises in Middle East business expansion ventures for businesses with advanced energy technology and know-how.

Hugh was appointed to the GlobalScot business advisory network by the First Minister of Scotland in May 2017.

He served as the Managing Partner of the Middle East office of the Houston-based law firm Andrews Kurth Kenyon (2013-2017), the founder and Managing Partner of the original Hugh Fraser International Legal Consultancy in the United Arab Emirates (2003-2013) and the former Group Head of Legal at John Wood Group PLC (1996-2003).

Hugh is a member of The Law Society of Scotland, The Society of Petroleum Engineers and The European Association of Geoscientists and Engineers. He is an authorised legal consultancy licence holder in the Emirate of Dubai.

Ken has er twenty five years’ experience of working for global oil and gas service companies in operational, technical support, HSEQC, business development and senior management roles. He has worked in Africa, Asia Pacific, Europe and the Middle East.

Currently a resident in Jakarta Indonesia, Ken has lived and worked throughout the Far East since 1994 when he moved to Singapore for a UK company as the Region Engineer before progressing to Regional Product Line Manager and then Group Area Manager, China. He played a large role in the development of new regional markets for them before embarking as an independent business advisor in mid 2001. Here he worked with Advertising, Education, E-commerce, FMCG, Manufacturing, both Up & Midstream Oil & Gas industries providing a range of advice. This has included: Identification of local JV / M&A Targets; Raising Project Finance, International Trade and Business Development; Market Assessments and Competitive Analysis; Tender Management; Contract Management, including dispute resolution; Risk Assessment, Strategic Planning and acting as an external advisor to local Government departments.

Ken’s Far East experience covers Australia, Brunei, Cambodia, China, East Timor, Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Russia (Sakhalin), Singapore, South Korea, Thailand and Vietnam.

Over the years of living and working here, Ken has an excellent understanding of what it takes to work successfully within these cultures.

Lynda is an expert in attracting, maintaining and accelerating Foreign Direct Investment opportunities. With over 25 years of experience working in both the public and private sector, she has been instrumental in assisting international economic development organizations, investment promotion agencies, special economic zones & corporates around the globe.

Ms. Arsenault sits on the Regional Board of The American Chamber of Commerce in Canada and is a member of The Council of American States in Canada (CASC). Ms. Arsenault holds a Master’s Degree in E-Commerce (MEC) from Dalhousie University, an undergraduate degree from Saint Mary’s University and has obtained the Designation – Certified International Trade Professional CITP©/FIBP© through The Forum for International Trade Training (FITT). She has also gained multiple diplomas in international business, management and web page designer.

As a Rainmaker Global Business Partner and a micro influencer with 10K+ connections on LinkedIn – 6K on Twitter, she looks forward to promoting your jurisdiction to her global network and matching the right investor.

Like most creative thinkers, Melodie is a visionary. She is known for her enthusiasm and for her ability to connect people, ideas, interests and causes that spark new ventures, partnerships and projects. She has demonstrated an ability to develop uncanny brand strategy and design for multiple sectors including agriculture, energy, tourism, real-estate, industrial, hospitality, government and not-for-profit.
As a proud Metis she is fiercely committed to bridging the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities, helping to create business opportunities and leverage partnerships.
Melodie is passionate about community and has held board positions and led the branding efforts for the Calgary Chamber, Yellowstone to Yukon (Y2Y) Conservation Initiative, Calgary Business Diversity and AgricultureForLife and Ducks Unlimited.
Since founding Mosaic in 1995, she has worked with a broad range of local and international clientele. Including North America’s first purpose built science center, TELUS Spark, Y2Y (Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative), Brighton Cares (AB), Kate Energy (AB), Filtrum Construction (QC), Brookfield Residential (AB), Ensign Energy Services (AB), Georg Fischer Central Plastics (TX), Charter Plastics (PA), Youthlink Calgary Police Interpretive Centre (AB), Calgary Police Foundation (AB), TELUS Spark Science Centre (AB). YWCA (AB) and Averill Hospitality (MT).
Melodie worked in television, newspaper and private industry prior to founding Mosaic in 1995. Her educational background includes graduating from the Ontario College of Art – Communication and Design and Sheridan College – 3D animation and multi-media. As an executive creative director she is well versed in working with a variety of media including; video, print, web, advertising, PR, social and rich media.
Melodie’s mantra is to be a catalyst for positive change. She thrives in environments that recognize the vital importance of sustainability: social, economic and environmental. Her passion is helping organizations and companies find their brand truth and tell their stories.
Melodie is passionate about nature, connections, and helping people and she moves comfortably between the bush and the boardroom.

After more than 28 years of Military service, with a long and distinguished senior officer career in the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), Nir pivoted his executive experiences of leadership, commanding, and management, to the front end of the business and innovation sector. With a vision to empower Israel-Canada relationships and creating a bilateral economic corridor between the countries, Nir has Founded Israel-Canada Strategic Network (ICaN), and acting as Senior Vice President for the Israel-Canada Chamber of Commerce. Nir has successfully created a strong business network, both on the sub-diplomatic and the private sectors. As a serial entrepreneur Nir is highly involved in the Israeli-Canadian innovation ecosystems and promoting several innovative projects and startup ventures.

Education:
BA in Philosophy studies at Haifa University, a Graduation diploma from the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) National Security Program (NSP), and an additional ‘Magna Cum Laude’ MA in National Security Studies at Haifa University, Business Management Diploma form ‘Tafnit’ program at the Business School of the Open University.

Security and Defense background:
188th Armored Brigade Commander, Golan Heights Division Deputy Commander, J3 for the Northern Corp, and more.

Business background:
Owner & CEO at Israel-Canada Strategic Network (ICaN).
Senior Vice President for Israel-Canada Chamber of Commerce (ICCC).
Co-Founder & CEO at EurekaPro Technology.
Business Strategy Director at Patternox.
MassChallenge Israel judge & mentor.

Tony Agbonkhese is a Rainmaker Global Partner for Africa.

His education includes a Bachelor’s in Business Administration (BBA), Certified Management Accountant (CMA, CPA), Master of Business Administration (MBA), and an extension Certificate in Project Management.

With a passion for Africa’s development and opportunity creation, Tony has successfully collaborated with several corporations across the globe in varied sectors seeking to expand their operations and presence in Africa. He has also worked with numerous African companies to develop and increase their global and local presence.

Tony has over 15 years experience, specializing in international trade, business development, consulting, and advisory services. In addition, he has managed accounting and project teams for over a decade. He also finds time to give back to his community by lecturing, speaking and provided tutelage at Canadian Colleges and Universities.