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Jonathan Aikman

Lecturer
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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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Appointment Type

Continuing Adjunct

Academic Area

  • Finance

Interest Topics

Faculty Details

Profile

Full Bio

Jon Aikman is the founder of an artificial intelligence consulting firm, and the owner of a law firm. He also holds academic appointments as an adjunct faculty member at Queen’s University and Cornell University, where he teaches courses on fintech, finance, and investments. His academic portfolio includes instruction on alternative investments, artificial intelligence and finance, global financial management, advanced portfolio management, crypto economics, impact investments, and fintech for graduate students and executives.

Jon’s professional career spans leadership roles in finance, investment management, and corporate law. He previously served as Chief Investment Officer and Portfolio Manager for an exempt market dealer and alternative investment firm, where he managed a private debt fund that earned the Portfolio Management Association of Canada award for exceptional investment fund performance. He also held the role of Managing Director at a publicly listed alternative investment firm with a global focus on hedge funds, private equity, and private debt. In this capacity, he led the research, acquisition, and management of alternative investment portfolios across jurisdictions in North America, Europe, and Asia.

Earlier in his career, Jon served as Vice President and Counsel a bulge bracket investment bank in London, U.K. He also practiced corporate finance law at a prestigious "silver circle" law firm in London, where he specialized in structuring, capital raising, and transactions for hedge funds and private equity.

Jon holds a Juris Doctor from Queen’s University and an MBA from the University of Oxford (Brasenose College). He has also completed advanced certifications in artificial intelligence and fintech from MIT and holds the Chartered Investment Manager (CIM) designation. Additionally, he is a licensed lawyer in Ontario and England & Wales and has earned an advanced certification in ESG Investments from the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Institute in the U.K.

Jon is a dedicated contributor to the academic and financial communities. He serves on the investment committee of the Victoria University Endowment and Pension Fund at the University of Toronto and is a member of the advisory board for the Master of Financial Innovation & Technology program and Master of Finance programs at Queen’s University. His expertise in financial regulation and risk management has been recognized through his participation in a Federal Reserve of Chicago think tank focused on systemic risk and market stability.

In 2006, Jon was appointed a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (RSA), recognizing his contributions to industry and society. He is also the author of When Prime Brokers Fail (Bloomberg Press, 2010), a widely regarded book that examines the 2008 global financial crisis and is completing another book on Alternative Investments.

Academic Degrees

MBA (2006)
University of Oxford, UK

JD (1999)
Queen’s University, Canada

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

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

Academic Experience

Smith School of Business | Queen’s University
Lecturer, term adjunct (2011 - Present)

Cornell University | Canada
Adjunct Lecturer (2020 - Present)

University of Toronto | Canada
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

Courses Taught

Smith School of Business, Queen’s University

2021

  • MFIN/MBA/MMIE, Impact Investments: Smith Enrichment Program
  • MFIN, Alternative Investments
  • MFIN, Artificial Intelligence & Finance
  • MIB, Finance for Global Managers

2020

  • MFIN, Equity Analysis & Valuation (1)
  • MFIN, Equity Analysis & Valuation (2)
  • MFIN, Alternative Investments
  • MFIN, Artificial Intelligence & Finance
  • MIB, Finance for Global Managers
  • MBA, Advanced Portfolio Management

2019

  • EMBA, Fintech: Executive Program
  • MIB, Finance for Global Managers
  • MFIN/MBA/MMIE, Fintech Innovation and Technology
  • MBA, Financial Strategies
  • MBA, Advanced Portfolio Management
  • MFIN, Alternative Investments
  • MFIN, Artificial Intelligence & Finance

2018

  • MIB, Finance for Global Managers
  • MFIN, Alternative Investments
  • MFIN, Artificial Intelligence in Finance

2017

  • MFIN, Alternative Investments

2016

  • MFIN, Introduction to hedge funds

2015

  • MFIN, Introduction to hedge funds

2014

  • MFIN, Introduction to hedge funds
  • MFIN, Derivatives

2013

  • MFIN, Introduction to hedge funds

2012

  • MFIN, Introduction to hedge funds

University of Toronto

2019

  • MBA, Hedge Funds: Advanced Research

2018

  • MBA, Introduction to hedge funds & broker-dealers

2017

  • MBA, Introduction to hedge funds & broker-dealers
  • Exec. ICBC, Global Leadership Development Program (UTM)

2016

  • MBA, Introduction to hedge funds & broker-dealers

2015

  • MBA, Introduction to hedge funds & broker-dealers

2014

  • MBA, Introduction to hedge funds & broker-dealers

2013

  • MBA, Derivatives, Options and Futures
  • MBA, Introduction to hedge funds & broker-dealers
  • BCom, Corporate Finance

2012

  • MBA, Introduction to hedge funds & broker-dealers

2011

  • MBA, Introduction to hedge funds & broker-dealers

2010

  • MBA, Introduction to hedge funds & broker-dealers

 

University of Guelph

2014

  • 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