Ted Allen

Vice President, Communications and Member Engagement, NIRI

Ted Allen joined the National Investor Relations Institute in May 2012 and now serves as Vice President, Communications and Member Engagement. Ted oversees NIRI’s advocacy efforts, publications, media relations, and social media outreach. He is NIRI’s primary contact for inquiries on disclosure and corporate governance issues. From 2004 to 2012, Ted served as Governance Counsel and Director of Publications at Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS), where he also was the proxy advisory firm’s primary contact for North American press inquiries. Before ISS, he practiced law as an associate with Proskauer Rose and Semmes, Bowen & Semmes, and worked as a journalist for Bloomberg News, The Deal.com, Legal Times, and newspapers in Florida and North Carolina. He is a member of the bar in the state of Maryland. Ted received his B.A. degree from Duke University, a J.D. from Georgetown University, and a master’s degree from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism. 

David Calusdian

President, Sharon Merrill Associates

David Calusdian is president of Sharon Merrill Associates, an investor relations strategic advisory firm based in Boston. He combines broad experience in investor relations, public affairs and media relations with a passion for quality service in providing Sharon Merrill Associates clients with ongoing strategic counsel as well as direct support on projects such as investor perception studies, corporate presentations, investor roadshows and analyst days. Calusdian also has significant experience in providing executive presentation coaching. Prior to joining Sharon Merrill Associates in 1995, he implemented communications programs as an account executive for Jack Walsh & Associates, a public affairs consulting firm. For nearly 10 years, Calusdian served as an adjunct instructor of investor relations, public relations and public speaking at Emerson College, where for part of that time he also directed the school's media relations efforts. He has delivered speeches and participated on investor relations panel discussions at conferences sponsored by NIRI, the NYSE, NASDAQ, Public Relations Society of America, and other professional development organizations. He is a past-president of NIRI's Boston chapter and holds Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees in communications from Emerson College.

David Martin

Principal, CamberView Partners

Before joining CamberView, Mr. Martin was a consultant in Willis Towers Watson’s executive compensation practice, where he advised clients on annual and long-term incentive plan design, compensation disclosure, and shareholder engagement. Prior to that, he served as Vice President of Research at the Society for Corporate Governance (formerly known as the Society of Corporate Secretaries and Governance Professionals). Earlier in his career, Mr. Martin worked for nearly 7 years at Morgan Stanley, including as a member of Morgan Stanley Investment Management’s corporate governance team, where he focused on proxy voting and portfolio company engagement.
 
Mr. Martin holds an M.B.A. with a concentration in accounting and finance from New York University’s Stern School of Business and a bachelor’s degree in history from Dartmouth College

Mélanie Hennessey

Vice President, Corporate Communications, NOVAGOLD

Ms. Mélanie Hennessey is NOVAGOLD's Vice President, Corporate Communications, responsible for all aspects of the Company's internal and external communications functions and investor relations activities. Ms. Hennessey has extensive experience within the precious metals mining industry particularly in investor relations, corporate communications, crisis management as well as mergers and acquisitions. She is a public speaker advocating for stakeholder engagement, the advancement of individuals aspiring to executive-level positions and women in leadership roles. Prior to joining the Company, she served in a variety of executive and senior roles with such precious metals companies as Goldcorp Inc., New Gold Inc., and Hecla Mining Company. Ms. Hennessey holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications and earned a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Ottawa.