Event
What Makes an Effective Charitable Board in 2024 and Beyond?
Olivier H. Rivas
Principal, Canada
Olivier has led a dual career as a lawyer and trusted business advisor, working closely with senior leaders, founders, and investors across sectors. His background spans economic development, international business, and legal practice, giving him a pragmatic understanding of how organizations grow, govern, and sustain momentum.
Professional Focus
- Licensed lawyer with 10 years’ experience in business and economic development
- Executive- and board-level recruitment for not-for-profits, SMEs and large corporations, as well as PE-backed and emerging ventures
- Proven business expertise including business development, foreign direct investment, partnerships, international expansion, legal compliance, program and project management
- Broad functional know-how including finance, legal, HR and communications
- Fluent in French and English
Business Expertise
- Director of Business Development at Montréal International, a leading economic development agency; prior roles included FDI Project Director and Project Manager
- Lawyer at Galileo Partners, a boutique firm focused on business immigration law
- Articling placement at Miller Thomson, a national full-service business law firm (part of legal licensing process)
- Earlier roles at a venture-backed startup, a tech transactional law firm, and an early-stage venture capital fund
Additional Expertise
- Social Impact
- Not-for-Profit
- Travel, Hospitality & Leisure
Areas of Expertise
Education & Certifications
- License to practice law, Québec Bar
- Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from Université Laval
- Bachelor of Commerce (BComm) in finance from Concordia University
- Major in media and communications from Université de Montréal
Case Studies
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Driving Liquidity Strategy Leadership for a Transforming Private Credit Platform
Boyden partners with a leading private credit asset manager to appoint a Director of Fund Liquidity to support complex global fund structures and evolving investor demands.
Building Institutional Investment Operations Leadership for a Mission-Driven Family Office
Boyden partnered with a leading family office and its affiliated foundation to appoint a Head of Institutional Investment Operations capable of designing and implementing a scalable operational platform to support a growing investment portfolio and long-term philanthropic objectives.
Strategic Turnaround: A CFO’s Role in Rebuilding Culture and Financial Leadership
Boyden supports a major charter school network with the recruitment of the right CFO to bridge strategy, execution, and collaboration.
Thought Leadership
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Boyden Report Series
As social impact organisations stir our conscience, where does your organisation stand?
Social Impact Report: Analysing the trends and companies reshaping the role of enterprise in society, with expert insights from Boyden's Global Social Impact Practice Members
Blog
The High-Stakes Season of Hiring
A clear-eyed look at today’s nonprofit hiring landscape, where heightened risk, talent shortages, and cautious candidates are reshaping how organizations approach retention, recruitment, and long-term workforce strategy.
Blog
Destigmatizing Coaching: A Call to Leaders
Explore how leaders can destigmatize executive coaching by reframing it as a strategic investment in growth, performance, and organizational culture rather than a signal of poor performance.
Blog
Middle Managers: The Untapped Growth Engine in Mid-Market Firms
Discover why middle managers are the hidden growth drivers in mid-market firms and how investing in their development can unlock strategic execution, team cohesion, and long-term performance.
News & Events
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In the Media
Canadian Recruitment Trends and Use of AI
Forbes named Boyden Canada the No. 5 executive recruiting firm in its 2026 rankings. Regional Managing Partner Brent Cameron highlighted the importance of human judgment, trust, and relationships in executive search, despite the growing use of AI.
Press Release
Calgary Co-op Proudly Announces New CEO
Boyden is pleased to share the appointment news of Andrew Clarke, a recruitment co-led by Catherine Van Alstine, Ron Burkholder, Nicole Bendaly, Glenn Eberth and Mackenzie Jones
Contact Olivier H. Rivas today and let's get started