Canada India Foundation (CIF).

National Convenor, Canada India Foundation
President & CEO, Karma Candy Inc
Co-Founder, Osellus Inc.& Osellus Asia Pacific Co. Ltd
Chairman, POA Educational Foundation
Chair, UNICEF Canada India HIV/AIDS Campaign
Board Member, First Nations Financial Management Board
Board Member, Ontario Investment & Trade Advisory Council
Board Member, Brainhunter Inc. (TSX: BH)

A philanthropist at heart and an entrepreneur with passion, Aditya Jha's life journey in Canada is a living example of how one can build a successful career/ venture and in the process help cause of Canada, a land of dreams for new migrants.  Through his entrepreneurial feats of actualizing one's dream even with high risk taking, as well as his acts of generous giving to those outside his community; he has demonstrated a rare sensitivity towards the needs of the country he emigrated to and adopted as his own.  

An entrepreneur in pursuit of excellence
 
Aditya is President & CEO of Karma Candy Inc, one of North America's largest contract manufacturer of branded and premium private label chocolate and candy products. It manufactures for some of the top national and international confectionery brands, as well as for global retailers. He acquired this highly reputed, large confectionery manufacturing business in Hamilton, Ontario (formerly of Cadbury Adams Canada). Within first year of acquisition, this business (http://www.karmacandy.ca/) is a major turn-around story. Prior to this, he co-founded a software company, Isopia Inc., Canada after having a successful career at Bell Canada as General Manager, eBusiness and Product Marketing. In July 2001, despite the downturn in the technology industry, Isopia was a major acquisition by Sun Microsystems Inc., USA. Subsequently, he co-founded another software product company, Osellus Inc., Canada and Osellus Asia Pacific Company Limited, Thailand. A bon vivant, his newest exciting acquisition is one of Toronto's longest established fine-dining restaurant in Yorkville called Prego Della Piazza (http://www.pregorestaurant.ca/). He also has business interest in hotel, real estate and fast-food industry.

Nurturing entrepreneurs in poorest section of Canada- the aboriginals & supporting higher education!
 
Aditya sponsors and is running a unique initiative (fifth year) in the area of Venture Philanthropy working with the office of the Grand Chief of Nishnawbe Aski Nation as well as Ryerson University and Trent University to nurture entrepreneurship within aboriginal communities of Canada (http://www.projectbeyshick.com/). This initiative is empowering Canadian aboriginals to participate in local and corporate ventures, thus enabling them to become equal partners in the economic prosperity of Ontario and, indeed, Canada.  
 
Aditya also founded his private charitable foundation (POA Educational Foundation) in 2001 and has created endowments ($815,000) at four institutions (Ryerson University, York University, Trent University and George Brown College), and these endowments grant in total thirteen (13) scholarship awards ($40,000 annually) to students (large focus on students from the aboriginal community of Canada). He is the Chairperson for UNICEF Canada India HIV/AIDS campaign ($3 Million) and was one of the Cabinet Members for Ryerson University Business School's capital campaign ($72 Million).
 
He has also supported ($230,000) other projects: with Ryerson University a research project on Economic Value of Indo-Canadians; Pathways Education Program for the inner-city kids of Regent Park community in Toronto; funding York University for Canada-India research initiative; Share the Music program of Roy Thomson Hall through endowment to give Canadian aboriginal youth access to best musical performances in Toronto; Defibrillator project at the Trillium Hospital, Mississauga; Toronto International Film Festival as Gold Patron; Canadian Museum of Human Rights; 50 student residence for kids from landless families in Bihar, India ; and Nelson Mandela Children's Fund and various other charitable causes. He also supported award for the Top 20 under 20 program (Entrepreneurship category) and the yearly $15,000 Business Plan & $5,000 Career Plan Contest award for the First Nation individual participating in Project Beyshick.
 
Making the foundation strong by catching them young
 
Most recently, Aditya has undertaken an initiative working closely with Non Resident Nepalese Association and Friends of Nepal and his Nepalese charitable organization Knowledge Nepal 2020 and provided 100 laptops & over 50 desktops to schools in Janakpur and Kathmandu in Nepal. 

Accolades and awards that reflects pursuit of excellence
 
Aditya is the appointee of Government of Canada to the Board of Directors of First Nations Financial Management Board, of Government of Ontario to Ontario Investment & Trade Advisory Council (OITAC), one of the Co-founders of Canada India Foundation and was also on the Board of Indo Canada Chamber of Commerce.
 
Aditya is being honoured with Honorary Doctorate at Ryerson University's Ted Rogers School of Management 2009 Fall Convocation ceremony on October 21, 2009. He was awarded the 2008 Desi News Grant's Community Achievers Awards and was finalist in the Top 25 Canadian Immigrants 2009 contest for achievement and contributions that have positively changed the face of Canada since arrival. The Indo Canada Chamber of Commerce (ICCC) awarded its 2004 "Technology Achievement Award" to Aditya for his achievements in the field of Technology. He was awarded CEO award in 1998 from BCE Inc. for his innovative work at Bell Canada; President's Award at Bell Nexxia in 1999 and was selected as President's Club member at Bell Canada in 1997. Aditya was the Keynote speaker at the 16th Annual Nishnawbe Aski Nation Business Awards in 2006 and AIM for SEVA annual Gala in 2007. 

Professional achievements: the intellectual capital
 
He was an Adjunct Faculty at the National University of Singapore (1989-94). He has been an invited speaker at the Schulich Business School, York University; Rotman Business School, University of Toronto; and University of Ontario Institute of Technology as well as at the events of other prominent organizations. Aditya has published/presented papers in several international journals/conferences, has served as Editorial Review Board member of two prestigious journals and has been invited speaker at various international conferences (USA, Paris, Holland, Canada, Hong Kong, Singapore, India etc.) as well as has moderated three business roundtables for increased trade linkages between India and Canada. Aditya started his professional career after investing 4½ years as Research Scholar at School of Computer & Systems Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, India.