Our Senior Team

Nicole Ballestrin, CPA, CA

Founder & CEO | CFO

Nicole Ballestrin is the Founder and CEO of Aspire CFO. Nicole provides strategic and operational leadership for Aspire CFO and also delivers client services in select fractional CFO / COO roles. Nicole drives CFO standards of excellence for the Firm and is recognized as a highly dynamic leader in the Canadian accounting industry. Nicole also supports several early and growth stage companies in select client engagements as CFO, leveraging leadership expertise she has gained from over 20 years across a wide variety of industries including, technology (including SaaS), professional services, energy, retail, advertising, not-for-profit and healthcare in the public and private sectors.

Prior to founding Aspire CFO, Nicole was CFO and Head of HR at McKinsey & Company Canada, a renowned management consulting firm.  Nicole was also previously CFO at McMillan LLP and held a number of senior finance positions at Sears Canada, Nortel Networks and EY.

Nicole is a CPA, CA, and holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Toronto.

  • Katherine Ayotte, CPA | CFO


    Kate Ayotte focuses her practice on the strategic design and management of finance functions for clients in private and public markets, while also serving as a strategic advisor to CEOs, their boards and management teams across sectors and industries that include, energy - including clean-tech, construction, CPG, in both private and public markets.

    Prior to Aspire CFO, Kate held CFO roles across diverse sectors and industries including energy (oil & gas, clean-tech), CPG, real estate construction and development, property management, and complex multi-tiered trust, limited partnership, joint venture and corporate structures in both public and private business entities, for companies that included Exaltexx Inc., NewNorth Projects Ltd., Pumbline Group of Companies, among others. Kate holds expertise in corporate reorganization and development, and intellectual property management.

    Kate is a CPA and holds a CMA from SAIT. 

  • Karen Inman, CPA | CFO


    Karen Inman focuses her practice on strategic finance, leading strategic planning and the implementation of finance systems and operations in support of business growth, with a focus on the manufacturing, CPG, services, technology and transportation/logistics industries for national and multi-national companies.

    Prior to Aspire CFO, Karen held CFO and COO roles with responsibilities for overseeing finance, human resources, information systems, logistics, procurement and customer service, in manufacturing, CPG, transportation and logistics industries. Karen was CFO at multi-national port operator DP World and, was CFO and COO for promotional apparel brand Stormtech Performance Apparel. Karen began her career in audit at Kessel Feinstein, a member firm of Grant Thornton, in South Africa, and later shifted her career into Canada to work with multi-national and small-medium business enterprises.

    Karen is a CPA, and holds a bachelor and honours in Accounting Science from the University of South Africa.

  • Rebecca Ong, CPA, CFA | CFO


    Rebecca is a seasoned executive with over 30 years of experience in finance. She brings expertise in areas such as public reporting, investment banking, corporate finance, financial reporting, project financing, budgets and forecasting, and general financial management. She has worked with organizations ranging from start‑ups to multinational corporations in industries including fintech, construction, renewable energy, banking, and public accounting, with operations in Canada, the U.S., and Malaysia.

    To her, the highlights of her career include her involvement in the development, construction and operation of renewable wind projects in Canada, the development of renewable projects in Africa and Latin America, as well as the construction of the Starhill project, an iconic shopping complex in Jalan Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur. She also worked in Houston with one of the top energy producers in the world.

    Rebecca is a CPA and holds a Chartered Financial Analyst designation.

  • Chris Wong, CPA, MBA | CFO


    Chris Wong works with founders and leadership teams to bring structure and clarity to the financial operations of growing businesses. His focus is on building practical financial infrastructure, improving visibility into performance, and helping teams make better day-to-day and long-term decisions.

    His experience spans technology, SaaS, e-commerce, consumer products, and multi-entity organizations. He has worked both inside companies as a finance leader and alongside founders as an advisor, with a consistent focus on forecasting, cash flow, pricing, and the key drivers of performance.

    Prior to joining Aspire CFO, Chris held CFO and senior finance roles across public and private companies, including venture-backed SaaS businesses and TSX-listed organizations. His experience includes acquisitions, integrations, capital planning, and IPO-related work.

    Chris is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) and holds an MBA from Queen’s University.

  • Katie Farrand, CPA | Controller


    Katie Farrand focuses her practice on implementation of software and new systems, providing strong oversight and detailed coordination to onboard new clients to the Aspire CFO firm. Ensuring a seamless handover from the transitional phase, she establishes foundational processes and automations with accurate and complete financial records to support a successful business. Her ongoing analysis and management help to improve profitability, efficiency, and assist in strategic decisions.

    Prior to Aspire CFO, Katie’s in-depth experience from bookkeeping and client management developed her strong ability to identify and resolve issues directly. She specialized in bookkeeping at small to medium organizations with clients across multiple industries including clean energy, IT, non-profit and retail.

    Katie completed her CFE exams towards earning her CPA and holds an Honours Bachelor of Commerce from George Brown University.

  • Swastik Mishra, CPA | Controller


    With over 15 years of global finance experience, Swastik Mishra, CPA, has built a career at the intersection of corporate strategy, technology transformation, and sustainable growth. His journey includes shaping landmark initiatives—from financing a 350MW solar project in India with SkyPower Services, to enabling Digital Colony’s $720M acquisition of Cogeco Peer 1, to leading major ERP transformation programs.

    Today, as Controller at Aspire CFO, Swastik focuses on providing organizations with clarity on financial health while helping them navigate cashflow challenges and complex transactions. Prior to Aspire CFO, he held roles at Cogeco Peer 1 Inc. and SkyPower Services, and began his career at T.R. Chadha & Co, KPIT Technologies, and BDO India. Guided by a philosophy of automation and efficiency, he empowers businesses to operate smarter, scale faster, and achieve lasting impact in rapidly evolving industries.

  • Danielle Milano, CPA, CA | Controller


    Danielle is a seasoned finance professional with over a decade of experience in audit and financial advisory across Canada and the UK. She brings a strong technical foundation and a global perspective to her role at Aspire CFO, where she supports clients in optimizing their finance functions, enhancing operational efficiency, and scaling with confidence.

    Danielle began her career in Toronto, spending three years building her expertise in assurance and client service while earning her CPA designation. She then relocated to London, UK, where she spent 6.5 years at Crowe UK, ultimately serving as a Senior Manager. During her time there, she led audit engagements for a wide range of clients—from early-stage startups to multinational corporations—across industries including professional services, manufacturing, and non-profit.

    Her international experience has equipped her with the versatility and insight to navigate complex financial environments and deliver tailored solutions that drive long-term success. 

  • Jeff Grey, CPA, CA | Controller

    With three decades of experience in finance leadership, Jeff brings deep expertise in multi-entity accounting operations and strategic financial management. As a Controller at Aspire CFO, he leverages his proven ability to deliver actionable insights to improve business performance.

    Prior to joining Aspire CFO, Jeff served as a Controller at DP World Canada, where he directed finance functions across seven companies, led a team of over 25 professionals, and spearheaded an enterprise-wide, multi-year ERP transformation. His leadership extended to strategic planning, risk management, and policy development, ensuring robust compliance and operational efficiency. He began his professional journey at Coopers & Lybrand, continuing on to roles at Caledonian Bank & Trust, Bentall Corporation, and EWOS Canada.

    Jeff combines technical expertise with a collaborative approach to help organizations navigate complexity and achieve sustainable growth.

  • Lindsay Madill, CPA, CMA| Controller


    With over a decade of experience in senior financial leadership, Lindsay partners with SMBs to drive growth, improve performance, and build sustainable operations. She brings a strategic yet hands-on approach, with a strong focus on leveraging technology, automation, and system implementation to streamline processes and unlock efficiency.

    Lindsay’s diverse background spans hospitality, retail, manufacturing, marketing, events, and real estate, giving her a well-rounded perspective on the unique challenges businesses face at different stages. Most recently, she played a key role in scaling an events division to three times its size over a three-year period.

    Known for her principled approach and thoughtful decision-making, Lindsay is passionate about solving complex problems and helping business owners gain clarity and confidence in their financial direction. She thrives on creating practical, forward-looking solutions that support long-term success.