TEAM
Strategic Investing. Innovative Technology. Expert Solutions.
Our dynamic team is positioned to take on challenges and bring meaningful and impactful solutions to the table.
Paul Dadwal
FOUNDER AND CEO
Paul is a successful entrepreneur and founder of several technology businesses. He is a sole entrepreneur that invests in start-ups that make a difference to society. He has built an extensive network of colleagues in capital markets that support him to ensure his investments win. Previously, Paul was in law enforcement, serving as Superintendent with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). The RCMP is Canada’s federal and national police. At RCMP, Paul served with distinction over nineteen years and led several high-profile law enforcement investigations. He has received numerous awards such as the International Association of Chiefs of Police 40 under 40 Award, the Queens Jubilee medal and Governor General’s commendation.
Erik Cash
Managing Director, United States
Eric has worked in all facets of the United States securities markets from Retail and Institutional Equity Sales to Investment Banking. He has been a public company CEO and CFO as he has both an MBA and CPA. In his latest endeavor he assisted a private company to obtain Bridge Investment which will lead to a follow on S-1 and NASDAQ IPO. He resides in New York.
Kevin Torvik
Head of Client Management
Kevin’s diverse professional experience includes being a senior adviser to Canada’s minister of national defense, multiple leadership roles within law enforcement and as an executive in the private sector.
He has proven success in intergovernmental negotiations, multilateral international relations and exceptional results in building relationship networks. His volunteer efforts include co-founding two very successful youth empowerment initiatives that have benefited thousands of participants nationwide.
Brittany Whitmore
Chief Marketing Strategist
Brittany has over a decade of experience in marketing communications leadership with extensive expertise in venture-backed startups. She calls herself a “Professional Noisemaker” and is the CEO of Exvera Communications, which specializes in public relations for innovative companies.
Formerly, she served as an executive in-house for a SaaS startup, and as a member of the founding team for a compliance startup for decentralized finance; she has also held multiple advisory roles.
Brittany created the first TEDxWomen conference in Vancouver, was named to BC Business Magazine’s Top 30 Under 30, and was also named one of Langara College’s Outstanding Alumni.
Jeffrey S. Herd
Advisor
Dr. Jeffrey Herd is a Senior Principal Staff in the Advanced Technology Division at MIT Lincoln Laboratory. In his current role, he provides organizational and technical leadership for the creation, development and fielding of new technologies, the solving of complex technical problems, and the optimization of multi-faceted system and platform concepts. Dr. Herd is a nationally recognized expert in radar, sensor and electronic warfare systems with an extensive knowledge of ground, sea, air and space-based sensors, and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems. He has published over 70 technical journal and conference papers with 14 issued patents, and is a Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). Dr. Herd received his BS, MS, and PhD degrees in electrical engineering from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.
ARJUN GREWAL
Defense and Security Technology Practice Lead
Arjun Grewal is a seasoned leader with over 20 years in the Canadian Armed Forces, including 13 years with the Canadian Special Operations, where he played pivotal roles in the Global War on Terror, intelligence operations, and counter-terrorism missions.
After retiring from decorated service, Arjun transitioned to the private sector, taking on leadership positions at IBM Cloud and Business Analytics, where he gained deep expertise in enterprise operations and emerging technologies.
As CEO of Ventus Respiratory Technologies, Arjun leveraged his military and corporate experience to lead innovative respiratory protection capabilities for military and public safety personnel. Arjun sits on the Board of Directors for Liberty Defense (TSXV: SCAN) and is an advisor to F1 Academy Team Nicole Havrda Racing where he continues to help shape the future of defence technology in the dual-use vertical.
Rick Unrau
STRATEGIC ADVISOR – DEFENSE TECHNOLOGY & CAPITAL MARKETS
Rick Unrau brings over 30 years of executive leadership spanning telecommunications, technology, and emerging defense innovation.
He is recognized for guiding multiple technology ventures through strategic growth, capital market expansion, and cross-sector integration in the drone, data, and national-security domains.
- Former CEO and Director of a publicly traded technology firm specializing in defense-aligned innovation and frontier drone technology.
- Previously President of Stratocom Solutions, leading aerial-data operations for utilities and energy infrastructure—integrating long-range drones into critical data and surveillance applications.
- Extensive experience overseeing financial structuring, operational scaling, and governance across high-growth, defense-related sectors.
- Merges strategic finance with defense innovation.
- Deep understanding of government relations, counter-drone systems, and infrastructure surveillance technologies.
- Proven record of leading organizations through regulatory compliance, private placement financing, and market expansion.
Rick’s background in both capital markets and defense-technology commercialization positions him as a cornerstone within Ari & Co’s strategic growth framework—bridging financial capability with operational deployment in national-security environments.
DARREN MILLER
Founder & Technologist – Defense Robotics & Counter-Drone Innovation
Darren Miller is a veteran Canadian technologist and founder with over 25 years of experience in R&D, operations, and advanced manufacturing, specializing in autonomous drone defense, surveillance, and airborne data systems.
- Founder and President of one of Canada’s pioneering drone-defense and airborne-technology enterprises.
- Visionary behind several subsidiaries advancing counter-drone detection, drone delivery, and long-range UAV data systems.
- Extensive technical expertise integrating 5G networks, AI, and autonomous robotics for defense, energy, and aviation sectors.
- Oversaw numerous strategic acquisitions and partnerships enhancing Canada’s defense technology footprint.
Darren provides the technical and operational backbone to Ari & Co’s defense strategy—translating emerging drone and counter-UAS capabilities into scalable solutions aligned with national-security objectives.
His leadership bridges applied R&D with commercial readiness, supporting Ari & Co’s mission to advance homegrown defense technology and sovereign infrastructure security.
Geoff C. Dawe
Technical Advisor – RF Systems, Counter-UAS, and Defense Innovation
With over 40 years in wireless communications and RF engineering, Geoff Dawe is a driving force in the development of counter-drone, radar, and phased-array technologies for commercial and defense applications.
- General Partner at RaGE Systems (Massachusetts), leading RF-based counter-UAS innovations under U.S. DoD contracts.
- Former executive at Skyworks, M/A-COM, and Analog Devices—helped develop hundreds of RF and wireless products for both military and telecom markets.
- Raised over $150 million in venture and public funding, delivering more than 100 electronic products to market.
- Holds multiple patents and has authored 50+ technical papers on RF and electronic warfare systems.
Geoff’s work directly complements Ari & Co’s growing emphasis on drone defense, radar detection, and national security integration, bridging North American defense corridors across Boston, Ottawa, and Vancouver.
ANALYSTS
Blaise Shota
Sector Analyst
Ian Paul
Company Analyst
Ruminator, ideator, creator—Paul is incredible in so many ways. Investment ideas emerge everywhere. Paul brings them to life.
– Phil Mesman, CFA
Portfolio Manager, Head of Fixed Income, Picton Mahoney