Shirley Speakman

Shirley Speakman is a senior partner at Cycle Capital, based in Toronto. She sits on the boards of directors of Cycle Capital portfolio companies located across North America. These companies come from the plastics and polymers reuse and transformation industry, the Internet of Things, storage and energy efficiency.

Prior to joining the Cycle, Shirley was Director of Investments for MaRS Investment Accelerator Fund (IAF), a venture capital fund of over $40M established by the Government of Ontario to invest in early stage technology companies based in Ontario. She was also a strategic and financial advisor to companies in the biotechnology, agtech, advanced manufacturing techniques and new materials sectors. She has led numerous investments and mergers and acquisitions transactions, participated in the establishment of cross-border funds in the life sciences and agtech sectors.

Shirley is actively involved in the development of an ecosystem conducive to innovation in Canada as a member of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada and as part of her engagement with MaRS and the Center for Ontario Innovation (CIO). She is also actively involved in mentoring women entrepreneurs and investors with Canadian Women in Private Equity and as Chair of the Research Innovation and Commercialization Center. Her knowledgeable expertise in responsible investing developed with the Catalyst Fund and SVX make her a coveted resource.

Shirley was recognized as one of the 16 Canadian personalities of Clean16 and among the personalities of Canada’s Inspiring Fifty. She holds an ICD.D from the University of Toronto, an MBA from Wilfrid Laurier University and a BA in Economics from the University of Waterloo.