Winning SR&ED / Accounting Practices

With over 18 years’ experience in information technology, including the last 14 years in professional services and consulting, Naren helps clients across all industries to file maximized and substantiated tax credit claims. His clients represent a number of industries including Telecommunications, Software/IT, Electronics, Financial Services Institutions, Aerospace and Defence, Health-IT and Bio-Technology. He assists clients in a number of areas including: determination of eligible expenditures, preparation of technical reports, review of documentation, incorporating best practices to maximize claim size and handling potential CRA matters including audit defense. Naren is heavily involved in business development initiatives, developing strategic partnerships with technology associations and working closely with start-up companies to help them get to the next level. 

Jon Irwin is a seasoned innovation advisor and SR&ED (Scientific Research & Experimental Development) specialist with an extensive track record of guiding companies through the complexities of Canada’s innovation tax incentive landscape. Over the course of his distinguished career, Jon has honed his expertise at some of the country’s leading professional services firms—including Deloitte, PwC, BDO, and MNP—where he held pivotal roles advising clients on how to strategically leverage SR&ED programs for sustainable growth. Additionally, he built a thriving SR&ED practice with Leyton in Toronto, further cementing his reputation as a trusted authority in the field. 

Across his diverse industry engagements, Jon’s meticulous attention to detail and nuanced understanding of regulatory requirements have made him a go-to expert for clients seeking to maximize their SR&ED claims. From identifying potential qualifying activities at the earliest stages of product and process development to guiding clients through careful documentation and rigorous eligibility assessments, he deftly translates complex tax policies into actionable, business-friendly strategies. This proven methodology ensures clients not only benefit from well-prepared submissions but also gain the knowledge and frameworks needed for long-term success in their R&D endeavors. 

Jon’s approach extends beyond claim preparation. He is dedicated to helping businesses embed SR&ED considerations into their innovation roadmaps, promoting a holistic, forward-looking mindset. By emphasizing proactive planning, fostering cross-departmental collaboration, and championing continuous improvement, he empowers organizations to capitalize on every opportunity that the SR&ED program offers. His leadership in workshops, webinars, and industry forums further solidifies his position as a thought leader, regularly demystifying policy changes and emerging best practices for entrepreneurs, accountants, and senior executives alike. 

With his breadth of experience at top-tier firms and a proven record of building successful SR&ED practices, Jon Irwin stands out as a pivotal figure in Canada’s innovation ecosystem. His unwavering commitment to guiding businesses toward strategic growth—one claim, one incentive, one innovation at a time—continues to drive both enterprise-level success and broader economic advancement. 

Charlie Hua is the CEO of Myo Palate, a cultivated meat company focused on building a more sustainable and innovative future for food. He graduated from the University of Toronto with a degree in Economics and has experience in venture investing, where he evaluated early-stage tech companies and traditional food and beverage businesses in the US and China. 

In addition to leading the company, Charlie also serves as Myo Palate’s financial controller. He manages bookkeeping, oversees government grant reimbursements, and has successfully filed for SR&ED multiple times.  

Charlie has always been passionate about food and is excited by the potential of cellular agriculture not only to address sustainability but also to explore new possibilities in flavor. At Myo Palate, he aims to help grow Canada’s cellular agriculture ecosystem while working toward creating unique and exciting meat flavors that could only be achieved through cultivated methods. 

Dr. Yasaman Soudagar completed her PhD in the field of experimental quantum optics at École Polytechnique of Montreal and the University of Toronto, under supervision of Dr. Aephrain Steinberg. She then worked at Attodyne (now Light Matter Interaction after a successful exit) as an industrial postdoc, designing the optical delivery of a surgical laser. In 2014 she had the idea for multi-region brain imaging for understanding the brain. She did a few months postdoc at a neuroscience lab and started her company Neurescence. Neurescence went through a high profile acquisition by Bruker last November. The team continues their effort to help brain research in Toronto, Canada. 

Yulong Sun, Ph.D. | Co-founder and CSO of Paradox Immunotherapeutics 

Dr. Yulong Sun received his PhD in medical biophysics from the University of Toronto. He provides expertise in neurogenerative protein manipulation and target engagement assays. He leads both antibody design and the development of antibody-mediated immunotherapeutic-mediated clearance assays. 
 
Dr. Sun was the winner of the inaugural Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research ECHO 2019 $250,000 pitch competition. Dr. Sun was also awarded $165,000 by Brain Canada for his work on ALS. Dr. Sun’s ALS research provided new insights into the formation of TDP-43 protein assemblies in the molecular mechanisms of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia as his PhD thesis. Dr. Sun also holds an MSc in biochemistry from the University of Toronto.