Neil is the Principal and Founder of The Blended Capital Group. Prior to his current role, he was an owner, director, and President of Castlemain (2017 – 2021), a leading advisory firm serving Indigenous nations, communities and peoples with expertise in governance, negotiation, economic development, lands, infrastructure and strategic engagement and communications. He also led the Economic Development, Lands, and Infrastructure practice area for much of his tenure at Castlemain.
Prior to joining Castlemain, Neil co-founded Grand Basin Group, an investment and advisory firm, which was acquired by Castlemain in February 2017. During this period, Neil also served as the Lead of the Business Development Team (BDT), serving 25 First Nations Commercial Fishing Enterprises on the west coast of Canada, operating under DFO’s PICFI program. The BDT (comprised of five team members) was absorbed into Castlemain as part of Grand Basin Group in 2017.
From 2008 to 2012, Neil was the Director of Economic Development Projects at Coast Opportunity Funds, a First Nations economic development and conservation organization with $116 million under management. At Coast Funds he worked on financing approximately 100 projects with 20+ First Nations in British Columbia, spanning a broad range of sectors, activities and objectives. Neil has an accomplished background in international finance and investment banking, primarily with Standard Chartered Bank and American Express Bank in Singapore.
Neil completed the Directors Education Program (Rotman School of Management/Beedie Business School) and received his ICD.D designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors in September 2022. He completed a Master of Resource Management (MRM) at Simon Fraser University in 2006, with a focus on environment, development, and non-market valuation. He also received a Graduate Certificate in Development Studies from Simon Fraser University in 2006. Neil received his undergraduate degree in Economics and Economic History at the University of Cape Town, South Africa.