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Jonathan Aikman

Lecturer

Overview

Jon is a Lecturer at Smith School of Business, Queen’s University in the finance area. He has taught courses on alternative investments, impact investments, artificial intelligence and finance, finance for global managers, advanced portfolio management, fintech and other graduate and executive courses.

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Academic Area

  • Finance

Interest Topics

Faculty Details

Profile

Full Bio

Jon is a Lecturer at Queen’s University and other leading universities. He teaches graduate and executive courses in the Master of Finance, MBA, MFIT, and MMA. 

Jon is currently researching the application of artificial intelligence in financial and legal services applications, including with environmental, social and governance issues. 

Jon is the co-founder of an artificial intelligence firm, NordaI Analytics and is the founder of Matrix Law, a law firm. Previously, Jon was Chief Investment Officer and Portfolio Manager for an alternative investment firm focused on alternative equity and private debt strategies. He was previously with Citigroup investment bank in London, U.K. Jon has a law degree from Queen’s University, an MBA from Oxford University, and has completed advanced certificates on artificial intelligence and fintech from MIT. Jon is a Chartered Investment Manager and qualified lawyer in Ontario, England & Wales. 

He sits on the investment committee of the endowment and pension fund of Victoria College at the University of Toronto. He was a member of a think-tank with the Federal Reserve of Chicago focusing on risk management and systemic risk issues. 

He is the author of “When Prime Brokers Fail” published by Bloomberg Press.

Academic Degrees

Fintech: The Future of Commerce (Certificate) - Artificial Intelligence (Certificate)
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (2018)

MBA
University of Oxford, Saïd Business School, Brasenose College (2006)

JD, Juris Doctor
Queen’s University, Law School (1999)

MA, Philosophy of Science and Ethics
University of Guelph (1996)

BA (Honours), Philosophy
University of British Columbia (1994)

Academic Experience

Smith School of Business, Queen’s University
Lecturer (2024 - Present)
Adjunct Lecturer (2011 - 2024)

SC Johnson College of Business, Cornell University
Adjunct Lecturer (2020 - Present)

Rotman School of Management & UTM, University of Toronto
Lecturer (2009 - Present)

Publications

2021 “Modern Investments”, Book (in progress)

2019 “Hedge Funds: The Complete Guide”, Course, Udemy

2016 “Time for a second look at your prime broker?”, Commentary, HFM

2013 “Hedge Fund Dreams Face Tough Reality”, Globe & Mail Newspaper, January 31

2012 “Paradigm Shift”, Hedge Fund Journal

2012 “The Evolution of Prime Brokerage”, White Paper, Royal Bank of Scotland 

2011 “A weaker position in a more dangerous world”, Article, Canadian Hedge Watch  

2010 “When Prime Brokers Fail”, Book, Bloomberg Press / John Wiley & Sons

Teaching

Smith School of Business, Queen’s University Courses (Finance)

Period

University

Level

Courses

2021

Queen’s

MFIN/MBA/MBIE

Impact Investments: Smith Enrichment Program

2021

Queen’s

Graduate (MFIN)

Alternative Investments

2021

Queen’s

Graduate (MFIN)

Artificial Intelligence & Finance

2021

Queen’s

Graduate (MIB)

Finance for Global Managers

2020

Queen’s

Graduate (MFIN)

Equity Analysis & Valuation (1)

2020

Queen’s

Graduate (MFIN)

Equity Analysis & Valuation (2)

2020

Queen’s

Graduate (MFIN)

Alternative Investments

2020

Queen’s

Graduate (MFIN)

Artificial Intelligence & Finance

2020

Queen’s

Graduate (MIB)

Finance for Global Managers

2020

Queen’s

Graduate (MBA)

Advanced Portfolio Management

2019

Queen’s

Executive (MBA)

Fintech: Executive Program

2019

Queen’s

Graduate (MIB)

Finance for Global Managers

2019

Queen’s

MFIN/MBA/MBIE

Fintech Innovation and Technology

2019

Queen’s

Graduate (MBA)

Financial Strategies

2019

Queen’s

Graduate (MBA)

Advanced Portfolio Management

2019

Queen’s

Graduate (MFIN)

Alternative Investments

2019

Queen’s

Graduate (MFIN)

Artificial Intelligence & Finance

2018

Queen’s

Graduate (MIB)

Finance for Global Managers

2018

Queen’s

Graduate (MFIN)

Alternative Investments

2018

Queen’s

Graduate (MFIN)

Artificial Intelligence in Finance

2017

Queen’s

Graduate (MFIN)

Alternative Investments

2016

Queen’s

Graduate (MFIN)

Introduction to hedge funds

2015

Queen’s

Graduate (MFIN)

Introduction to hedge funds

2014

Queen’s

Graduate (MFIN)

Introduction to hedge funds

2014

Queen’s

Graduate (MFIN)

Derivatives

2013

Queen’s

Graduate (MFIN)

Introduction to hedge funds

2012

Queen’s

Graduate (MFIN)

Introduction to hedge funds

University of Toronto Courses (Finance)

Period

University

Level

Courses

2019

Toronto

Graduate (MBA)

Hedge Funds: Advanced Research

2018

Toronto

Graduate (MBA)

Introduction to hedge funds & broker-dealers

2017

Toronto

Graduate (MBA)

Introduction to hedge funds & broker-dealers

2017

Toronto

Graduate – Exec. ICBC

Global Leadership Development Program (UTM)

2016

Toronto

Graduate (MBA)

Introduction to hedge funds & broker-dealers

2015

Toronto

Graduate (MBA)

Introduction to hedge funds & broker-dealers

2014

Toronto

Graduate (MBA)

Introduction to hedge funds & broker-dealers

2013

Toronto

Graduate (MBA) 

Derivatives, Options and Futures

2013

Toronto

Graduate (MBA)

Introduction to hedge funds & broker-dealers

2013

Toronto

Undergraduate

Corporate Finance (Commerce undergrad program)

2012

Toronto

Graduate (MBA)

Introduction to hedge funds & broker-dealers

2011

Toronto

Graduate (MBA)

Introduction to hedge funds & broker-dealers

2010

Toronto

Graduate (MBA)

Introduction to hedge funds & broker-dealers

 University of Guelph Course (Philosophy)

Period

University

Level

Courses

2014

Guelph

Undergraduate

The Philosophy of Finance

Presentations

Speaking

2020 “Blue Ocean Strategy”, Globe Series (Vancouver, CA)

2019 “Current issues in Risk Management”, Queen’s University (Toronto, CA)

2009 - 2019 World Alternative Investment Symposium Canada, Speaker (Niagara, CA)

2015 “Hedge Fund Investing”, High Commission of Canada (Hong Kong, CN)

2015 “Securities Lending and Short Bans”, lecture for Guotai Junan (Shanghai, CN)

2015 “Global Hedge Funds” lecture series for investors (Tokyo, JP, Singapore, SG) 

2014 “Global Legal Issues in Derivatives & Prime”, Lecture for Axiom (New York, US) 

2012 Institutional Investor, Speaker, Synthetic Finance (London, UK)

2012 Royal Bank of Scotland, Speaker for institutional clients (London, UK)

2009 CIBC World Markets, Investment Bank, Speaker (Toronto, CA)

Awards

2018, Portfolio Investment Award (Calgary, CA)
PMAC Award for the Pinnacle Absolute Return Trust

2016, Nominated for Professor of the Year, Queen’s University (Kingston, CA)
MFIN Program

2013, Excellence in Teaching Award, Rotman, University of Toronto (Toronto, CA)
MBA Program

2006, Royal Society of Arts (RSA) (London, UK)
Entrepreneurship award & RSA fellow

1997 - 1999, Queen’s Law School, Queen’s University (Kingston, CA)
Robinson-Ryan Award (1999)
Queen’s Legal Aid Award for excellence in legal services (1997)

1996, Blakes LLP Law School Entrance Scholarship (Toronto, CA)
Law School Academic Entrance Scholarship

Service

Advisory Positions

2020 – Current, Financial Innovation and Technology Program, Queen’s Univ. (Kingston, CA) Advisory Board Member

2016 - Current, Victoria University at the University of Toronto, Board of Regents (Toronto, CA)
Investment Committee Member, Pension & Endowment

2018 - 2019, Vise AI, Advisor (San Francisco, US)
Advisor, AI-driven investment management firm

2014 - 2016, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, Working Group Member (Chicago, US)
Member, Working Group for “Confronting Systemic Risk & Ensuring Stability.” 

Volunteer & Research Positions

2019 - Current, Institute of Sustainable Finance (ISF) (Toronto, CA)
Independent research on sustainable finance and ESG issues

2017 - Current, Finposium.com
Founder of website and conference

2014 - 2016, Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary
Director, Board of Directors

2012 - 2014, University of Guelph Alumni Association
Director, Board of Directors

1996 - 1999, Queen’s Legal Aid
Volunteer Group Leader & Caseworker

Memberships

 

2016 - Current, Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence (US)
Member

2008 - Current, Law Society of the England & Wales (London, UK)
Solicitor on the Roll

2001 - Current, Law Society of Upper Canada (Ontario, CA)
Barrister & Solicitor

2014 - 2019, New York State Bar Association (New York, US)
Member 

2014 - 2019, American Bar Association (US)
Business & International Section Member

2014 - 2016, Alternative Investment Management Association (Toronto, CA)
Research Committee

 

Qualifications & Skills

2021, Certificate in ESG Investing, CFA Society, UK

2021, Approved as Advising Representative (Portfolio Manager) and Dealing Representative (Exempt Market Dealer) by the OSC

2012 - Current, Chartered Investment Manager (CIM), CSI

2017, Derivatives & Options Licensing Course 

2017, Futures Licensing Course 

2011, Portfolio Management Course

2011, Investment Management Techniques Course  

2010, Partners, Directors & Officers Course