MANAGING DIRECTOR

Tim founded Chester & Fourth in 2021 and serves as Managing Director. He is responsible for setting the firm’s strategic direction and overseeing its thought leadership function. His main area of expertise is the study of complex organizations and systems, with a focus on extracting lessons from their past and present to advance executive decision-making, strategy design, and learning. He has worked with prominent clients in philanthropy, financial services, government, and higher education across North America and Europe. Tim holds a PhD in institutional history from McMaster University.

DIRECTOR

Brittany serves as Director, Operations and Strategic Initiatives. She is responsible for driving sustainable business growth and designing high-impact initiatives. She is a gender equity and social sustainability expert who helps organizations advance gender equality, strengthen human rights commitments, enhance decent work practices, and improve workplace diversity and inclusion. Her work has greatly accelerated the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development by Canada’s private sector. Brittany holds a PhD in international relations from McMaster University.

ADVISOR

Ross is the Research Contracts Advisor for the Faculty of Engineering at McMaster University’s Industry Liaison Office (MILO). He specializes in the review and negotiation of intricate research and partnership agreements, and fosters collaboration between industry and academia on behalf of Canada’s most research-intensive university. A seasoned expert in research and innovation, Ross previously consulted to the Bank of Montreal and played a pivotal role in the founding of Chester & Fourth. He holds a PhD in European history from the University of Toronto.

SENIOR ADVISOR

Klaus is the founder of k•d•m semi consulting, a hybrid software and management consulting firm with offices in Canada and Germany and a global partner network. An expert in helping promising start-ups on both sides of the Atlantic scale, he previously served as CEO and senior executive with leading semiconductor companies, including Motorola, WBC (an Avnet Company), ZMD, and Gennum Corp (acquired by Semtech). An electrical engineer by training, Klaus also holds an ICD.D designation for corporate directors from the University of Toronto.

ADVISOR

Samantha is a Learning Solutions Designer at the University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies, where she leads complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives that drive strategic learning outcomes. With an expert background in African history and the Digital Humanities, she brings an interdisciplinary approach to instructional design and educational strategy. Previously, she was a curriculum design consultant, digital scholarship fellow, and doctoral researcher at McMaster University. A graduate of TMU and Dalhousie, Samantha is currently pursuing a Doctor of Education at Western University.